Staff survey on awareness of gender bias in ATHENA RPOs and RFOs

Task 2.3.1 from WP2 required the collection of data on awareness of gender bias to staff from the ATHENA RPOs and RFOs. An online survey was distributed among the staff of the ATHENA consortium institutions developing a gender equality plan (GEP). ATHENA institutions were requested that the sample was representative as much as possible, meaning this to consist proportionally of female/male, junior/senior positions and staff by occupations depending of the total staff composition in each institution.

The aim of the staff survey is:

To identify how aware are the respondents on gender equality in science and research institutions. 

To identify the biases/stereotypes related to the women´s and men´s role in science and research institutions.

To identify gender imbalances and disadvantages in:

Recruitment and promotion,

Gaining academic/scientific degree,

Participation in decision making,

Working conditions and workload,

Work-life balance

Experiences in harassment

The staff survey results will complement the results of the interviews and focus groups to provide a comprehensive picture of gender equality imbalances in the particular institution.

The staff survey was realised through a standardised questionnaire developed by the WP2 coordinator (UVSK SAV) and approved by the Project Coordinator.

The questionnaire consisted of 8 sections devoted to the particular gender areas- dimensions of interest:

Introduction

Information on the respondents ´current job

Information of respondents´ background

Opinions and perception of gender equality in research

Recruitment and career development

Striving for scientific/academic degree

Gender balance in decision-making positions

Workload and work-life balance

Bulling and harassment

Each section contained 4 – 8 closed and open questions. 

The results of the data served as support for the WP2 gender equality audit and assessment of procedures and practices at organizational level in D2.3 – Gender equality reports.