Addressing Inequity in the Engineering Education Research Community: Asian Researchers' Signaling Strategies to Counter Discrimination

Despite the widely acknowledged benefits of diversity and inclusion within the engineering field, underrepresentation of certain faculty demographics persists. Asian faculty, while not traditionally classified as minoritized, also confront issues such as stereotype threat. The existing literature offers limited evidence on the unique adversities faced by, and strategies used by, Asian faculty. This study seeks to fill this research gap by investigating the signaling strategies Asian researchers utilize to counteract discrimination. Grounded in a composite theoretical framework integrating statistical discrimination theory and signaling theory, this study uncovers that Asian engineering faculty strategically use low prevalence words in their scholarly publications to demonstrate competence and counter discrimination. Our findings enhance our understanding of the adversities and coping strategies of Asian engineering faculty, thus providing valuable insights into fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive academic environment.