Experimental Design Details
This study began in the spring semester of 2024, when we conducted a survey of students enrolled in Principles of Economics courses across four departments. That semester, a total of 12 Principles of Economics courses were offered, taught by 9 instructors, including 4 female and 5 male teachers. The courses were scheduled on different days and times throughout the week, and students could enroll in any course based on their availability. At the end of March 2024 (the 6th week of the spring semester), we surveyed 247 students who were attending these classes. The survey collected data on students' demographic characteristics, their intended major, and their views on careers related to economics.
Our target group was female students taking the Principles of Economics course. Therefore, we focused on role models that could attract and inspire young women. To this end, we invited three female economists to help select the role models. We first discussed the availability of scholars who had participated in the China Female Economists Forum, considering their influence, career span, and research areas, and ultimately selected 16 role model candidates. We contacted these candidates via email and WeChat, asking if they would be willing to write an introduction for the e-book, focusing on their career challenges and achievements, influence and social responsibility, mentors and role models, and work-life balance.
To ensure that the number of students in the experimental and control group classes was approximately equal, we randomly assigned classes for the role model intervention based on class size. Starting in April, we distributed the e-book four times and administered two quizzes aimed at motivating students to read the e-book and increasing participation in the project. Beginning in June, we conducted a survey of the students to assess the impact of the two-month intervention.