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Effects of Gender Diversity on Performance and Interpersonal Behavior in Small Work Groups

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Abstract

We examined the separate and combined impact of gender composition and training method on both the performance and interpersonal behaviors exhibited in small work groups. Participants were scheduled in groups of three for two 1-h sessions that occurred 1 week apart. In Session 1, groups were trained to assemble the AM portion of a radio. In Session 2, groups were tested on their training. Analyses indicated that groups whose members were trained together took longer to assemble their radios and made more errors than groups whose members were trained apart. No performance differences were found between mixed-gender and same-gender groups. However, women were less task-oriented in mixed-gender than in same-gender groups, but men were more task-oriented in mixed-gender than in same-gender groups. Further, solo women were less talkative than women in the majority, whereas men were more talkative when they were solos rather than in the majority. Implications for the nature of training and gender composition in groups in the workplace are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, USA

    Larissa Myaskovsky

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, USA

    Emily Unikel & Mary Amanda Dew

  3. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA

    Mary Amanda Dew

  4. Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, USA

    Mary Amanda Dew

  5. Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive C (151-C), Pittsburgh, PA, 15240

    Larissa Myaskovsky

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  1. Larissa Myaskovsky
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  2. Emily Unikel
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Correspondence to Larissa Myaskovsky.

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Myaskovsky, L., Unikel, E. & Dew, M.A. Effects of Gender Diversity on Performance and Interpersonal Behavior in Small Work Groups. Sex Roles 52, 645–657 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-3732-8

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