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Competition , Subjective Feedback, and Gender Gaps in Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Lovasz

    (Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Toth Kalman u. 4. Budapest, 1097 Hungary and University of Washington Tacoma, 1900 Commerce Street, Tacoma, WA 98402-3100, USA)

  • Boldmaa Bat-Erdene

    (Eotvos Lorand University, Pazmany Peter setany 1/a, Budapest, 1117 Hungary)

  • Ewa Cukrowska-Torzewska

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Długa 44/50, 00-241 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Mariann Rigo

    (University of Düsseldorf, Institute of Medical Sociology, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany)

  • Agnes Szabo-Morvai

    (Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Toth Kalman u. 4. Budapest, 1097 Hungary and University of Debrecen, Economics Department, Böszörményi út 132, Debrecen, 4032 Hungary)

Abstract

We study gender differences in the impacts of competition and subjective feedback, using an online game with pop-up texts and graphics as treatments. We define 8 groups: players see a Top 10 leaderboard or not (competitiveness), and within these, they receive no feedback, supportive feedback, rewarding feedback, or "trash talk" (feedback type). Based on 5191 participants, we find that competition only increases the performance of males. However, when it is combined with supportive feedback, the performance of females also increases. This points to individualized feedback as a potential tool for decreasing gender gaps in competitive settings such as STEM fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Lovasz & Boldmaa Bat-Erdene & Ewa Cukrowska-Torzewska & Mariann Rigo & Agnes Szabo-Morvai, 2021. "Competition , Subjective Feedback, and Gender Gaps in Performance," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2101, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:has:discpr:2101
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender Gaps; Competition; Supervisory Feedback;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management

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