Cassandra Paul
@cassandrapaul.bsky.social
Physics & Astronomy | Science Education Professor (she/her)
STEM education researcher, PER, parent of 3, runner, lover of the outdoors and Sci-Fi/Fantasy fiction
STEM education researcher, PER, parent of 3, runner, lover of the outdoors and Sci-Fi/Fantasy fiction
Thanks for the kind words!!!
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Thanks for the kind words!!!
In this study, the retake opportunities were built into regular class time. Students who didn’t want to take advantage of the opportunity would just leave class early. Perhaps that makes a difference.
October 31, 2025 at 10:20 PM
In this study, the retake opportunities were built into regular class time. Students who didn’t want to take advantage of the opportunity would just leave class early. Perhaps that makes a difference.
Thanks for the kind words!
October 31, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Thanks for the kind words!
It’s potentially the same phenomenon, but- If stakes cause anxiety and anxiety causes the gender gap - which thing actually causes the gap? Instructors can control stakes- but they can’t necessarily control anxiety. Exam Stakes are a course structure causing a bias against women. We can change this.
October 31, 2025 at 8:21 PM
It’s potentially the same phenomenon, but- If stakes cause anxiety and anxiety causes the gender gap - which thing actually causes the gap? Instructors can control stakes- but they can’t necessarily control anxiety. Exam Stakes are a course structure causing a bias against women. We can change this.
We also got a nice write-up by Physics World! @physicsworld.bsky.social
physicsworld.com/a/lowering-e...
physicsworld.com/a/lowering-e...
Lowering exam stakes could cut the gender grade gap in physics, finds study – Physics World
The gender gap in exam results was much larger in the high-stakes classes that did not allow retakes
physicsworld.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
We also got a nice write-up by Physics World! @physicsworld.bsky.social
physicsworld.com/a/lowering-e...
physicsworld.com/a/lowering-e...
These 3 independent results can all be explained by the hypothesis that exam stakes introduce a bias (measurement error) against women in intro physics, and that course structures (retake options, or lower stake assessments) can eliminate them. 🫳🎤
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
These 3 independent results can all be explained by the hypothesis that exam stakes introduce a bias (measurement error) against women in intro physics, and that course structures (retake options, or lower stake assessments) can eliminate them. 🫳🎤
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Finally, controlling for quiz grades (arguably the best predictor of success on a final exam) did not remove the gender gap on the final exam. Said plainly: for women and men who have the same quiz scores, women would perform lower on the final exam.
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Finally, controlling for quiz grades (arguably the best predictor of success on a final exam) did not remove the gender gap on the final exam. Said plainly: for women and men who have the same quiz scores, women would perform lower on the final exam.
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
We found that that the higher the stakes were on the assessment, the bigger the gender gap on the assessment was.
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
We found that that the higher the stakes were on the assessment, the bigger the gender gap on the assessment was.
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
We did a separate analysis to find if the “stakes” of the exam predicted the gap. We define “high stakes” as exams that count for larger percent of course grade (final exam) “medium stakes” as quizzes, and “low stakes” as first attempt on exam in retake class. link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
We did a separate analysis to find if the “stakes” of the exam predicted the gap. We define “high stakes” as exams that count for larger percent of course grade (final exam) “medium stakes” as quizzes, and “low stakes” as first attempt on exam in retake class. link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Furthermore women actually do BETTER than men on the first try of the exam (though not significantly so) so it’s not that women need the extra opportunity to make up for differences in preparation. link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Furthermore women actually do BETTER than men on the first try of the exam (though not significantly so) so it’s not that women need the extra opportunity to make up for differences in preparation. link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
It turns out that women are just as likely to take advantage of the retake opportunity as men so that does not explain why gender gap disappears. (*While gender is non-binary, our data is almost entirely binary. See paper for details on non-binary/unknown gender data.) link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
It turns out that women are just as likely to take advantage of the retake opportunity as men so that does not explain why gender gap disappears. (*While gender is non-binary, our data is almost entirely binary. See paper for details on non-binary/unknown gender data.) link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
In our latest work we explore why the gender gap went away. For example- Are women more likely to take advantage of the retake opportunity? Or do women do better on the second attempt (presumably because they need more practice due to differences in prior preparation)? link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
High-stakes exams inflate a gender gap and contribute to systematic grading errors in one introductory physics series
A study in introductory physics suggests high-stakes exams are causing a gender gap, rather than measuring it.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
In our latest work we explore why the gender gap went away. For example- Are women more likely to take advantage of the retake opportunity? Or do women do better on the second attempt (presumably because they need more practice due to differences in prior preparation)? link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
One of those course structures was a “retake exam option”: where students are allowed to retake any exam (same topic different test) if they want to. We found that in intro physics courses where retakes were allowed, there was no gender gap (when there otherwise was). link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Attributing equity gaps to course structure in introductory physics
Changes to the structure of introductory physics courses can eliminate some demographic grade gaps.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
One of those course structures was a “retake exam option”: where students are allowed to retake any exam (same topic different test) if they want to. We found that in intro physics courses where retakes were allowed, there was no gender gap (when there otherwise was). link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
In 2023 @djphysicswebb.bsky.social and I argued that courses can be centered as the “cause” of course level equity gaps in higher education because changes to the course structure eliminated equity gaps. link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Attributing equity gaps to course structure in introductory physics
Changes to the structure of introductory physics courses can eliminate some demographic grade gaps.
link.aps.org
October 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
In 2023 @djphysicswebb.bsky.social and I argued that courses can be centered as the “cause” of course level equity gaps in higher education because changes to the course structure eliminated equity gaps. link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/...
Thank you for the kind words! We are excited about these results too.
October 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Thank you for the kind words! We are excited about these results too.
Thank you for the kind words!
October 23, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Thank you for the kind words!
Thank you for the boost and the kind words!!!
October 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Thank you for the boost and the kind words!!!
Thank you for the kind words!
October 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Thank you for the kind words!
Thanks for the kind words words. Good luck at the faculty meeting! 😉
October 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Thanks for the kind words words. Good luck at the faculty meeting! 😉
Thanks for reading our paper, Dan! I appreciate the kind words!
October 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Thanks for reading our paper, Dan! I appreciate the kind words!