Procedural
Bias
Insert Annotated References
Alteration of original document
Chair: “Thanks for agreeing to serve on this year’s
committee. Among the cases you will consider is Patty Shen’s, which is
unusual in that she is one of the first faculty members to receive a year’s
leave under the university’s active service modified duties program. Another reason she is coming up now is
because I suggested to Patty, and she agreed, that she ought to come up this
year and not last because of productivity issues.” [he leaves the room] [best practices, communication of chair with P&T
committee]
Green: “We’ll consider Patty Shen’s case first. We’ll talk about the three general areas-- research, teaching, and service. Let’s start by considering research.”
Wong: “It looks like she has a sufficient number of publications in good journals for a six-year record. Are we supposed to take into account all the time she’s had to accumulate that record? I guess we don’t count the pregnancy year, but shouldn’t we count the next year?”
Tomei: “I would say that we wouldn’t expect much productivity in the active service modified duties year of leave, but there should be a bit more publications in the following year. So I’m unclear about the one year delay.”
Green: “I agree with Caroline that there are enough high quality publications in high quality places. The extra year does raise some questions, but I think there were lingering health problems.”
Wong: “George, how do you know that?”
Green: “I called the reviewer who was candid about Patty’s situation, because she alluded to medical issues in her letter. These appear legitimate.”
Tomei: “I can’t believe we didn’t know that she had medical problems. I’m glad you can explain that.”
Wong: “If she really had severe medical problems, why didn’t she ask for another leave?”
Green: “Initially, Patty thought it was minor, but it turned out to be more severe. The evidence is that she was lined up to do this prestigious talk and had to cancel at the last minute.”
FIRST USER INTERVENTION
YOU 1: active service modified duties leave makes sense, but the second year for health problems is not documented
YOU 2: it’s hard to discern how productive she’ll be in the future now that she’s a mother with additional responsibilities. Maybe she has been active lately just to get tenure. [bias report on gender; GT survey on leave and family issues; best practices]
*YOU 3: she was active and productive before pregnancy and illness. After that, she got back to a productive trajectory. And even when she was less productive, she accomplished more than our average faculty member.
Green: “If there is no more discussion on research, we’ll now turn to teaching. All indications are that Patty has been a fine teacher and has done excellent work in the classroom overall.”
Wong: “It looks like that once she had a child, her teaching scores dipped. During that period her research and teaching both suffered.”
Tomei: “Well, even then teaching scores are at the department average or above. I liked the syllabus and some of the class exercises when I observed her class. Comments from students included in the package are excellent.”
Green: “We’re trying to forecast over time. She has shown her excellence in the past, and in the present she’s very good. My prediction is she will always be a solid teacher.”
SECOND USER INTERVENTION
YOU 1: Indications from students suggest that she’s a good teacher and will continue to be so.
YOU 2: Evidence is not definitive regarding her future performance.
*YOU 3: Teaching was improved after pregnancy and illness, but that could be a temporary gain.
Green: “Patty did good service early on, although after her illness she has not continued because of family and health issues. But that’s understandable.”
Wong: “It might be understandable but is it acceptable if others have to do more?”
Tomei: “I think that each of us has different issues and can do different kinds of service. She’s working with the center she helped develop and that is useful service.
YOU 1: Just how important is service anyway?
YOU 2: I think everyone who is part of the community ought to do something.
YOU 3: Her reduction in her service imposed costs on everyone else.
*YOU 4: Her service is acceptable.
Green: I think Patty’s research is good, her teaching is acceptable or better, and her service meets the minimum expectation.