Do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference? Understanding scientists' perceptions
Researchers in the environmental studies and sciences play a critical role in influencing real-world decision-making and policies. However, interference during research and sharing of results has been documented in Canada and around the world. Further, research has shown that workers from marginaliz...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | FACETS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0006 |
| _version_ | 1797378962157993984 |
|---|---|
| author | Samantha M. Chu Manjulika E. Robertson Anika Cloutier Suchinta Arif Alana R. Westwood |
| author_facet | Samantha M. Chu Manjulika E. Robertson Anika Cloutier Suchinta Arif Alana R. Westwood |
| author_sort | Samantha M. Chu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Researchers in the environmental studies and sciences play a critical role in influencing real-world decision-making and policies. However, interference during research and sharing of results has been documented in Canada and around the world. Further, research has shown that workers from marginalized social identitie(s) experience discrimination in the workplace. Whether interference in research is related to social identity has never been examined. Using a mixed-methods design, we surveyed 741 environmental researchers in Canada to understand the relationship between social identity (gender, disability status, 2SLGBTQI+ status, race, and perception of racial identity) and reported experiences of interference. Results found that researchers with marginalized identities experienced worse outcomes across 11 of the 25 quantitative measures. For example, most marginalized groups experienced significantly greater fear of misrepresentation by media and (or) fear of negative career consequences due to public commentary, and racialized and disabled persons reported greater external interference in their work (e.g., from management and workplace policy). Given these findings, we express concern that the experience of interference in research can (1) threaten the personal well-being of marginalized researchers, (2) limit the representativeness of information disseminated, thererby impacting environmental decision-making and policy, and (3) contribute to inequities in representativeness of marginalized researchers in environmental sciences in Canada. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:15:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99730ff6579942839774acfe76caad8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-1671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:15:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | FACETS |
| spelling | doaj.art-99730ff6579942839774acfe76caad8a2023-12-22T17:33:18ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712023-01-01812310.1139/facets-2023-0006Do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference? Understanding scientists' perceptionsSamantha M. Chu0Manjulika E. Robertson1Anika Cloutier2Suchinta Arif3Alana R. Westwood4Dalhousie University. Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, CanadaSchool for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University. Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, CanadaRowe School of Business, Dalhousie University, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Life Science Centre, Dalhousie University 1355 Oxford Street PO BOX 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, CanadaSchool for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University. Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, CanadaResearchers in the environmental studies and sciences play a critical role in influencing real-world decision-making and policies. However, interference during research and sharing of results has been documented in Canada and around the world. Further, research has shown that workers from marginalized social identitie(s) experience discrimination in the workplace. Whether interference in research is related to social identity has never been examined. Using a mixed-methods design, we surveyed 741 environmental researchers in Canada to understand the relationship between social identity (gender, disability status, 2SLGBTQI+ status, race, and perception of racial identity) and reported experiences of interference. Results found that researchers with marginalized identities experienced worse outcomes across 11 of the 25 quantitative measures. For example, most marginalized groups experienced significantly greater fear of misrepresentation by media and (or) fear of negative career consequences due to public commentary, and racialized and disabled persons reported greater external interference in their work (e.g., from management and workplace policy). Given these findings, we express concern that the experience of interference in research can (1) threaten the personal well-being of marginalized researchers, (2) limit the representativeness of information disseminated, thererby impacting environmental decision-making and policy, and (3) contribute to inequities in representativeness of marginalized researchers in environmental sciences in Canada.https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0006social identity factorsinterference in sciencemarginalized groupsenvironmental studies and sciencesenvironmental researchers |
| spellingShingle | Samantha M. Chu Manjulika E. Robertson Anika Cloutier Suchinta Arif Alana R. Westwood Do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference? Understanding scientists' perceptions FACETS social identity factors interference in science marginalized groups environmental studies and sciences environmental researchers |
| title | Do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference? Understanding scientists' perceptions |
| title_full | Do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference? Understanding scientists' perceptions |
| title_fullStr | Do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference? Understanding scientists' perceptions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference? Understanding scientists' perceptions |
| title_short | Do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference? Understanding scientists' perceptions |
| title_sort | do environmental researchers from marginalized groups experience greater interference understanding scientists perceptions |
| topic | social identity factors interference in science marginalized groups environmental studies and sciences environmental researchers |
| url | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0006 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samanthamchu doenvironmentalresearchersfrommarginalizedgroupsexperiencegreaterinterferenceunderstandingscientistsperceptions AT manjulikaerobertson doenvironmentalresearchersfrommarginalizedgroupsexperiencegreaterinterferenceunderstandingscientistsperceptions AT anikacloutier doenvironmentalresearchersfrommarginalizedgroupsexperiencegreaterinterferenceunderstandingscientistsperceptions AT suchintaarif doenvironmentalresearchersfrommarginalizedgroupsexperiencegreaterinterferenceunderstandingscientistsperceptions AT alanarwestwood doenvironmentalresearchersfrommarginalizedgroupsexperiencegreaterinterferenceunderstandingscientistsperceptions |