Disher Natalie G, Guerra Antonio L, Haeffel Gerald J
Department of Psychology, The University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.
Br J Soc Psychol. 2021 Jul;60(3):808-825. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12443. Epub 2021 Jan 19.
The purpose of this experiment was to test the effect of gender on knowledge attribution using a Justified True Belief (JTB) framework. A 2 (gender: male, female) × 3 (knowledge case: knowledge control, Gettier, ignorance control) experimental design was used with a sample of 420 U.S. adults. Contrary to hypotheses, participants attributed similar levels of knowledge to male and female agents across all knowledge conditions; participants also rated males and females as equally likely to have the 'right' answer across knowledge conditions. However, knowledge was more likely to be attributed to luck (as opposed to ability) for female agents than it was for male agents across knowledge conditions and scenarios. This result suggests that while overt forms of gender bias may be fading, more covert forms still exist. Secondary analyses also showed that the JTB methodology was not robust to scenario type or knowledge condition. Comprehension was affected by both knowledge condition (knowledge vs. Gettier/ignorance) and the specific content of the hypothetical scenario presented (e.g., squirrel vs. jewelery). These confounds should be addressed in future JTB studies as it is possible that differences between knowledge and Gettier cases are due to misunderstanding the scenarios rather than beliefs about knowledge. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
