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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Computer Science
First Advisor
Amiangshu Bosu
Abstract
Despite the benefits of diversity and inclusion, the software industry, particularly in FLOSS and STEM fields, suffers from low representation of women due to gender bias, discrimination, and non-inclusive environments, leading to higher attrition rates and missed opportunities for talent enrichment. My dissertation focuses on promoting diversity and inclusion in software development by identifying, quantifying, and mitigating gender biases. The first study examines the frequency and effects of gender biases, highlighting that biases in career development and task selection are most prevalent, with women and LGBTQ+ individuals disproportionately affected due to demographic and workplace factors. The second study investigates the influence of contributors' gender on code review outcomes across 1,010 FOSS projects, utilizing regression models to analyze how gender and related factors impact pull request acceptance, review intervals, and participation. The third study develops SGID4SE, an automated tool for identifying gender-biased and misogynistic content in software engineering communications, achieving high precision and accuracy through a BERT-based model. Collectively, these studies provide insights, tools, and recommendations to address gender bias and foster more inclusive computing environments.
Recommended Citation
Sultana, Sayma, "Identifying And Developing Intervention To Mitigate Gender Bias Among Software Developers" (2025). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4269.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4269