The Influence of Gender of Senior Researchers on Research Practice in Sports and Exercise Science and Medicine

Abstract

There are gender-based differences in research practices in medicine, but these differences have not been examined in the broad fields of sports and exercise science and medicine. In this study, we determined whether senior author gender influences study design, study topic, and reporting practices in sports and exercise science and medicine. We analysed 509 articles published in the first issue of 2023 for all Quartile 1 sports science journals according to SCImago Scientific Journal Ranking (SJR). We extracted data on gender of senior author and authorship team; study design, topic, and cohort; and reporting practices. Men were senior authors on 411 articles (81%). Senior author gender was associated with study design (p < 0.001): men published more observational studies and opinion pieces than women, and women published more qualitative research than men. Senior author gender was not associated with study topic: physical activity (p = 0.412), exercise (p = 0.732), or sport (p = 0.123). Senior author gender was not associated with studies published with clinical populations (p = 0.609), but women published more studies with healthy populations than men (p = 0.006). There were no gender differences in reporting practices. Senior author gender may influence different aspects of research practice and design in sports and exercise science and medicine. However, underrepresentation of women senior authors limits our ability to draw gendered comparisons and firm conclusions.