Gender differences in research output among university faculty in North America

Purpose Gender differences persist in the labor market across both academic and nonacademic contexts. These differences remain a prominent focus of scholarly inquiry within academia. Analyzing gender differences in academic output among university faculty is crucial for advancing the scientific community. This study aimed to investigate gender differences in research output among academics in North America. Design/methodology/approach Data were obtained from the Web of Science database, including all publications by university faculty between 2013 and 2022. This study was grounded in the perspectives of human capital and institutional resources. Correlation analysis, regression modeling and intergroup difference tests were conducted to explore gender differences in research output among faculty in Library and Information Science (LIS). Findings Of the 12 hypotheses proposed, 8 hypotheses received support, whereas four hypotheses did not. The results indicated that the male faculty in LIS produced more academic papers than their female counterparts. The number of faculty members gradually declined with the increase in the total number of papers, with a more pronounced decrease among female academics. Female faculty exhibited lower levels of human capital and institutional resources than their male counterparts. The deficiency in these areas was identified as a pivotal influencing factor contributing to the lower research output of female faculty, with professional title and disciplinary quality serving as key contributors to gender differences. Furthermore, gender moderated the effect of human capital on research output, whereas no significant gender-based differences were observed in returns on institutional resources. Originality/value Unlike previous studies on gender and research output, this study primarily investigated the relationship between gender and research output among faculty in North American universities. It revealed substantial gender gaps in both the quantity and quality of research, thereby highlighting the influential role of human capital and institutional resources. The impact of human capital varied significantly by gender.