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A Randomized Study to Assess the Effect of Including the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Results on Reviewers Scores for Underrepresented Minorities.

ABSTRACT: Whether requiring Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) results for PhD applicants affects the diversity of admitted cohorts remains uncertain. This study randomized applications to two population health University of California San Francisco PhD programs to assess whether masking reviewers to applicant GRE results differentially affects reviewers' scores for underrepresented minorities (URM) applicants from 2018-2020. Applications with GRE results and those without were randomly assigned to reviewers to designate scores for each copy (1-10, 1 being best). URM was defined as self-identification as African American/Black, Filipino, Hmong, Vietnamese, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. We used linear mixed models with random effects for applicant and fixed effects for each reviewer to evaluate the effect of masking the GRE results on the overall application score and whether this effect differed by URM status. Reviewer scores did not significantly differ for unmasked versus masked applications among non-URM applicants (b=0.15; 95% CI: [-0.03, 0.33]) or URM applicants (b=0.02, 95% CI: [-0.36, 0.40]). We did not find evidence that removing GREs differentially affected URM compared to non-URM students (b for interaction= -0.13, 95% CI: [-0.55, 0.29]). Within these doctoral programs, results indicate that GRE scores do not harm nor help URM applicants.

SUBMITTER: Dang KV

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8408352 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ObjectiveBiomedical informatics attracts few underrepresented racial minorities (URMs) into PhD programs. We examine graduation trends from 2002 to 2017 to determine how URM representation has changed over time. We also examine academic job placements by race and identify individual and institutional characteristics associated with URM graduates being successfully placed in academic jobs.Materials and methodsWe analyze a near census of all research doctoral graduates from US-accredited institutions, surveyed at graduation by the National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates. Graduates of biomedical informatics-related programs were identified using self-reported primary and secondary disciplines. Data are analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions.ResultsDuring the study period, 2426 individuals earned doctoral degrees in biomedical informatics-related disciplines. URM students comprised nearly 12% of graduates, and this proportion did not change over time (2002-2017). URMs included Hispanic (5.7%), Black (3.2%), and others, including multi-racial and indigenous American populations (2.8%). Overall, 82.3% of all graduates accepted academic positions at the time of graduation with significantly more Hispanic graduates electing to go into academia (89.2%; P < .001). URM graduates were more likely to be single (OR = 1.38; P < .05), have a dependent (1.95; P < .01), and not receive full tuition remission (OR = 1.37; P = .05) as a student. URM graduates accepting an academic position were less likely to be a graduate of a private institution (OR = 0.70; P < .05).Discussion and conclusionThe proportion of URM candidates among biomedical informatics doctoral graduates has not increased over time and remains low. In order to improve URM recruitment and retention within academia, leaders in biomedical informatics should replicate strategies used to improve URM graduation rates in other fields.

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A Randomized Study to Assess the Effect of Including the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Results on Reviewers Scores for Underrepresented Minorities.

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