Dissertation Title
Are Women's Salary Levels Affected by Gender? A Dual Analysis Based on Social Structures and Economic Rationality
Research Question
What is the research question you are investigating in your dissertation research project?: How does gender independently influence women's salary levels, and how do social structures and economic rationality.
Research objectives
What are the research objectives you intend to achieve by conducting your dissertation research project?: To quantify the extent to which gender independently affects women's salary levels, controlling for variables such as education, experience, and industry. To analyze how structural factors and economic rationality jointly perpetuate wage gaps
Please define your research strategy
What is the key literature, key theory you are applying? (max 200 words)
This core theory revolves around how gender affects women's salary levels, analyzing key literature on the gender wage gap and labor market dynamics.Blau & Kahn (2017) provide the latest data on the gender wage gap, highlighting that while the gap has narrowed, it still persists and cannot be fully explained by human capital variables such as education and experience.Goldin (2014) proposes the "temporal flexibility" theory, arguing that the current gender wage gap is primarily driven by women's need for work flexibility rather than direct gender discrimination.Correll, Benard, & Paik (2007) explore the "motherhood penalty", demonstrating that mothers face significant wage penalties compared to childless women and men.
Name three key articles you are planning to use in your dissertation? (max 200 words)
Blau, F. D., & Kahn, L. M. (2017). The gender wage gap: Extent, trends, and explanations. Journal of Economic Literature. doi: 10.1257/jel.20160995
Goldin, C. (2014). A Grand Gender Convergence: Its Last Chapter. doi:10.1257/aer.104.4.1091
Correll, S. J., Benard, S., & Paik, I. (2007).Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty?
doi:10.1086/511799
What are the assumed research gaps in existing literature? (max 200 words)
Existing studies often isolate economic or sociological perspectives, neglecting their interplay, such as Under-researched dynamics in emerging sectors (e.g., tech, fintech), where gender roles may differ from traditional industries and Insufficient focus on non-Western contexts, particularly China's unique sociocultural and policy landscape.
What is your research methodology? (max 150 words)
A quantitative methodology using secondary data is best suited. Using regression analysis to tests influences on women's salary affected by gender independently and interactions between social structures and economic variables. Data can be collected from financial databases (e.g., Bloomberg, Refinitiv).
What is your expected contribution to theory and practice? (max 150 words)
This research contributes to theory by economic theory with sociological structural analysis. Practically, it guides corporations in designing anti-discrimination protocols and equitable promotion systems. It also empowers investors to evaluate firms'gender equity performance as a marker of long-term viability.
Please specify what type of data you plan to collect or use in your research, and what is your research methodology?
Data collection (select one)
Secondary data collection (you are using existing data)
What is your main research methodology (select one)
Qualitative research methodology
Quantitative research methodology