Size does matter: How varying group sizes in a sample affect the most common measures of group diversity


Biemann, Torsten ; Kearney, Eric



DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428109338875
URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/109442810...
Additional URL: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2010-13266-010
Document Type: Article
Year of publication: 2010
The title of a journal, publication series: Organizational Research Methods : ORM
Volume: 13
Issue number: 3
Page range: 582-599
Place of publication: Thousand Oaks, CA
Publishing house: Sage
ISSN: 1094-4281 , 1552-7425
Publication language: English
Institution: Business School > ABWL, Personalmanagement u. Führung (Biemann 2013-)
Subject: 330 Economics
Keywords (English): group diversity , group size , group outcomes , operationalization of diversity
Abstract: Work group diversity can be conceptualized in different ways (i.e., variety, separation, and disparity), and the appropriate operationalization of a diversity dimension depends on which of these diversity types researchers have in mind. Based on prior work on the measurement of the different types of diversity, we show that the most common diversity indexes (i.e., Blau’s index, Teachman’s index, standard deviation, mean Euclidean distance [MED], Gini coefficient, and coefficient of variation) are systematically biased whenever they are used in field studies in which the overall sample comprises groups of varying sizes. Using simulated data, we illustrate this bias inherent in all of the common diversity measures. This bias can lead to erroneous conclusions concerning the impact of group size and the relationship between group diversity and group outcomes. We offer bias-corrected formulas and suggest that diversity researchers henceforth use these adjusted versions when investigating the effects of group diversity in organizational settings.




Dieser Datensatz wurde nicht während einer Tätigkeit an der Universität Mannheim veröffentlicht, dies ist eine Externe Publikation.




Metadata export


Citation


+ Search Authors in

+ Page Views

Hits per month over past year

Detailed information



You have found an error? Please let us know about your desired correction here: E-Mail


Actions (login required)

Show item Show item