|
Field
Abstract
|
Before
This study investigates the impact of gender and racial diversity on team innovation, satisfaction, and performance, addressing a significant gap in field experimental literature on diversity (Bertrand and Duflo, 2017). Utilizing a unique setting of a three-day intensive design thinking event at a US private university, the study randomizes over 900 predominantly first-year students into varied gender team compositions. The design is aimed at measuring the real-world implications of diversity in a controlled, yet dynamic problem-solving environment. Using both self-reported survey data, objectively evaluated performance data, and administrative data, we aim to provide a nuanced understanding of how diversity influences team dynamics and outcomes. It seeks to contribute robust empirical evidence to the economic discourse on the costs and benefits of diversity.
|
After
This study extends the existing literature on the dynamics of diverse teams by leveraging a natural experiment. It involves college students working in teams on real-world design challenges in a natural setting with heightened incentive. Around 900 students are randomly assigned into teams with varying gender compositions, including all-male, male-majority mixed gender, balanced mixed gender, and female-majority mixed gender configurations. Using administrative and survey data, this study seeks to provide insights into both objective performance metrics and subjective personal experiences.
|
|
Field
Last Published
|
Before
January 23, 2024 12:56 PM
|
After
February 01, 2024 12:45 AM
|
|
Field
Primary Outcomes (End Points)
|
Before
Team Innovation:
• Number of ideas generated by the teams during the brainstorm sessions.
• Originality & Innovativeness score of their solution as evaluated by their mentors and independent evaluator.
Team dynamics:
• Satisfaction
• Sense of unity
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Conflict resolution
• Decision making
• Engagement
• Morale
Team performance
• Individual performance
• Team performance as evaluated by their mentors and independent evaluator.
|
After
Team performance
• Individual performance
• Team performance
Team Innovation:
• Number of ideas generated by the teams during the brainstorm sessions.
• Originality & Innovativeness score of their solution as evaluated by their mentors and independent evaluator.
Team dynamics:
• Satisfaction
• Sense of unity
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Conflict resolution
• Decision making
• Engagement
• Morale
|
|
Field
Planned Number of Observations
|
Before
~920
|
After
~900
|
|
Field
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
|
Before
• All male: ~185
• All male: ~ 164
• Mixed gender - male dominant: ~135
• Mixed gender - balanced: ~152
• Mixed gender - female dominant: ~260
|
After
• All male: ~343
• Mixed gender - male dominant: ~112
• Mixed gender - balanced: ~176
• Mixed gender - female dominant: ~247
|