Diversity and teamwork in random groups.

Last registered on November 29, 2022

View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title

Diversity and teamwork in random groups.

RCT ID

AEARCTR-0009918

Initial registration date

August 18, 2022

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published

September 19, 2022, 4:31 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated

November 29, 2022, 12:18 PM EST

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country

United States of America

Region

Primary Investigator

Name

Ornella Darova

Affiliation

Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name

Anne Duchene

PI Affiliation

University of Pennsylvania

Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status

In development

Start date

2022-08-30

End date

2023-01-31

Keywords

Behavior, Education, Firms & Productivity, Gender

Additional Keywords

JEL code(s)

Secondary IDs

Prior work

This trial is based on or builds upon one or more prior RCTs.

Abstract

We implement a field experiment on team diversity in an undergraduate class of introductory Economics. Small groups with random compositions are generated, and they are assigned several common tasks. We study the impact of a multidimensional measure of diversity based on gender, race, migration status and socio-economic background on collaboration, group dynamics and group performance, with a focus on in-group and out-group dynamics. We further analyse individual impacts such as individual performance in the class, aspirations, and general student well-being. Finally, we investigate optimal group composition according to performance and other welfare functions including non-cognitive outcomes.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation

Darova, Ornella and Anne Duchene. 2022. "Diversity and teamwork in random groups.." AEA RCT Registry. November 29. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.9918-1.1

Sponsors & Partners

Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)

We implement a field experiment on team diversity in an undergraduate class of introductory Economics. Small groups with random compositions are generated, and they are assigned several common tasks that are a relevant part of the class and of their learning process. We study the impact of a multidimensional measure of diversity based on gender, race, migration status and socio-economic background on collaboration, group dynamics and group performance, with a focus on in-group and out-group dynamics. We further analyse individual impacts such as individual performance in the class, aspirations, and general student well-being. Finally, we investigate optimal group composition according to performance and other welfare functions including non-cognitive outcomes.

Intervention Start Date

2022-08-30

Intervention End Date

2023-01-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)

We study the impact of a multidimensional measure of diversity based on gender, race, migration status and socio-economic background on collaboration, group dynamics and group performance. We use class scores, group tasks assignments and self-reported measures of group collaboration, conflict, beliefs on other group members, free riding, work burden distribution among group members.

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)

We further analyse individual impacts such as individual performance in the class, aspirations, and general student well-being. We use grades, students' educational choices on further classes in Economics and on their majors, self-reported measures of aspirations, feeling welcome, self-esteem. We moreover analyse the impact of diversity and the presence of URMs in groups on students' beliefs on others' abilities.

Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

We implement a field experiment on team diversity in an undergraduate class of introductory Economics. Each student is randomly assigned to a small group of students. As a result, each student is exposed to a random intensity of group diversity.

Experimental Design Details

Randomization Method

Randomisation done in office by a computer.

Randomization Unit

Student.

Was the treatment clustered?

Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters

About 150-200 groups.

Sample size: planned number of observations

About 600 students.

Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms

The measure of diversity (a continuous variable) going to each working group is drawn from a normal distribution in this experimental design.
Each student is exposed to a random level of multidimensional diversity as a result of the random composition of the group they are assigned to. Groups can span from very homogeneous (similar individuals in terms of gender, race/ethnicity and socio-economic background), to very heterogeneous.

Taking a low degree of diversity as being the control arm, we have 300 observations (about 75-100 groups) in the control arm and 300 observations (about 75-100 groups) in the treatment arm.

Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)

Supporting Documents and Materials

IRB