Thanking the World: Exploring gender-based differences in acknowledgment patterns and support systems in theses

Abstract

Research on acknowledgment sections of scientific papers has gained significant attention, but there remains a dearth of studies examining acknowledgments in the context of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs). This paper addresses this gap by investigating the sources of support for male and female researchers in completing their master's or doctoral theses, focusing on the discipline of Library and Information Science (LIS). We utilize a novel method of extracting the various types of support systems that are acknowledged in 1252 ETDs using BERT models. The most prominent forms of support acknowledged by researchers are academic, moral, financial, and religious support. While there were no significant gender-based differences in religious and financial support, the ratio of academic to moral support acknowledged by researchers showed strong gender-based variation. Additionally, advisors displayed a preference for supervising same-gender researchers. By comprehending the nuances of support systems and the unique challenges faced by researchers of different genders, we can foster a more inclusive and supportive academic environment. The insights gained from this research have implications for improving mentoring practices and promoting gender equality in academia.