Replication Data for: Making it to the PhD: Gender and student performance in sub-Saharan Africa

This dataset investigates factors influencing the performance of doctoral students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) at African universities within sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on gender-based differences. The data were collected from March to May 2020 using an online survey administered via SurveyMonkey. This survey was part of a larger research initiative undertaken by the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) to inform the development of a gender strategy for the program. RSIF, a flagship program of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), aims to strengthen applied science, engineering, and technology (ASET) capabilities in Africa for socio-economic transformation.

The survey, available in both English and French, was completed by 227 alumni (163 women and 64 men) who had pursued a STEM PhD at a university in sub-Saharan Africa within the last 20 years. Due to the absence of a comprehensive sample frame of recent PhD students in STEM at SSA universities, probability sampling was not feasible. Participants were recruited through multiple channels, including postings on the RSIF website, outreach to African university professors, collaborations with organizations promoting women in STEM (e.g., Mawazo Institute and Portia), and networks of former PhD students from the 11 RSIF African host universities (AHUs).

The survey collected data on a wide range of variables, including: demographics, socioeconomic status, PhD funding sources, motivation for pursuing a doctorate, psychosocial wellbeing during PhD training, perceptions of gender stereotypes and discrimination, university resources (e.g., scientific writing courses, gender and diversity offices), PhD performance, PhD completion status, and persistence in STEM fields. Before participating in the survey, respondents were presented with a standard informed consent form outlining the study's voluntary nature, data confidentiality, potential risks and benefits, expected duration, and the types of information requested. Of the initial 262 individuals who completed the survey, the final sample comprised 227 respondents after removing those from universities outside of SSA.