Social Class Diversity in Teams: The Moderating Effects of Perspective Taking and Conflict Resolution Norms on Team Viability
Open Access
Author:
Williamson, Jason
Graduate Program:
Psychology
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
July 09, 2019
Committee Members:
Susan Mohammed, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Alicia Ann Grandey, Committee Member Jose Angel Soto, Committee Member
Keywords:
Social Class Diversity Teams Perspective Taking Conflict Resolution
Abstract:
In team research, the effects of social class diversity have largely been ignored to the detriment of the organization science field. Answering the recent call to investigate the effects of social class diversity in teams, this study examined social class as an under-researched form of diversity operating in teams. In 132 student project teams, this study examined the relationship between social class diversity and viability as moderated by perspective taking and conflict resolution norms. The key findings were that the effect of social class diversity on teams’ willingness to continue working together in the future depended on the extent to which members see their teammates’ points of view and the degree to which members have norms in place to resolve conflict. Importantly, teams with more social class diversity, that were not able to see their teammates’ points of view or develop conflict resolution norms, had less desire to continue working together. Given these promising results and the ongoing importance of social class inequality in organizations, future research should continue to examine social class in a team context.
