Data from: More than a token photo: humanising scientists enhances student engagement

Despite broad consensus that highlighting counter-stereotypical scientist
role models in educational materials promotes equity and success, the
specific elements that make these materials effective remain untested. Are
pictures of counter-stereotypical scientists enough to communicate to
students that scientists come from a variety of backgrounds, or is
additional information required? To parse the effects of including visual
depictions and humanising information about scientists featured in biology
course materials, we distributed three randomised versions of assignments
over several academic terms across 36 undergraduate institutions (N
> 3,700 students). We found that the inclusion of humanising
information about scientists was key to increasing student engagement with
the biology course materials. Structural equation modelling revealed that
the extent to which students related to scientists mediated the positive
effect of humanising descriptions on student engagement. Further, our
results were strongest among students who shared one or more excluded
identity(s) with the featured scientists. Our findings underscore the
importance of providing students with examples of humanised and relatable
scientists in classrooms. Rather than simply adding a photo to increase
representation, showcasing scientists as actual people (enjoying hobbies,
experiencing setbacks, etc.) is a promising intervention to engage
students with identities systemically excluded from biology.