Gender Bias in Behavioral Research: The Busara Agenda on Improving Gender Inclusive Research in the Global South

Abstract

Data-driven policy-making is the most effective way to alleviate poverty and improve human welfare. However, these policies are only as good as the data they are based on, and it appears that much of this data is systematically biased against women. This poses a crucial problem not just for policy design, but for the practice of science itself. Unfortunately, resolving this gendered research gap has remained a low priority in science, and many researchers treat it as an extraneous nuisance to their work. But women represent half of the world, so any effective and accurate scientific contribution must prioritize understanding and incorporating their experiences into the research process. Otherwise, we risk reinforcing a “world designed for men.” This research agenda outlines questions and topics to help us improve our understanding of gender bias in the research process.