Explaining Gender in the Journals: How Submission Practices Affect Publication Patterns in Political Science

15 Pages Posted: 12 Jun 2018

See all articles by Paul A. Djupe

Paul A. Djupe

Denison University - Department of Political Science

Amy Erica Smith

Iowa State University - Department of Political Science

Anand Edward Sokhey

University of Colorado at Boulder

Date Written: May 26, 2018

Abstract

In a recent study, Teele and Thelen (2017) carefully document what amounts to the substantial underrepresentation of female-authored scholarship in a broad selection of political science journals. To better understand what might be driving their reported patterns, we present the results of an original, individual-level survey of political scientists conducted in the spring of 2017. Confirming Teele and Thelen’s speculation concerning what might underlie the gender gap in publication, our evidence points to differences in submission rates – a pattern that appears to be particularly pronounced for the “Top Three” journals in the discipline. Leveraging original survey items, we pursue additional explanations for this submission dynamic, finding that both methodological specialization and risk aversion may play roles. Importantly, we also conclude that men and women get differential returns on their investments in co-authorship: while male and female respondents report identical propensities to coauthor, co-authorship appears to boost submission and publication rates much more strongly for men than women. We discuss the implications of our findings for ongoing conversations about inequality in political science.

Keywords: professionalization; publication; gender; political science

Suggested Citation

Djupe, Paul A. and Smith, Amy E. and Sokhey, Anand Edward, Explaining Gender in the Journals: How Submission Practices Affect Publication Patterns in Political Science (May 26, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3185156 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3185156

Paul A. Djupe

Denison University - Department of Political Science ( email )

Granville, OH 43023
740-587-6310 (Phone)

Amy E. Smith (Contact Author)

Iowa State University - Department of Political Science ( email )

Ames, IA 50011
United States

Anand Edward Sokhey

University of Colorado at Boulder ( email )

1070 Edinboro Drive
Boulder, CO 80309
United States

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