Gender Differences in the Cost of Corrections in Group Work

TL;DR

This study examines how gender influences perceptions of corrections in group work, revealing that corrections are generally disliked and reduce collaboration regardless of the correctioner's gender, impacting group efficiency.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence that corrections are costly in group settings and that gender does not significantly alter this perception, highlighting implications for workplace collaboration.

Findings

People dislike collaborating with those who correct them.

Corrections by women are perceived as negatively as by men.

Correcting reduces willingness to collaborate, affecting group performance.

Abstract

Corrections among colleagues are an integral part of group work, but people may take corrections as personal criticism, especially corrections by women. I study whether people dislike collaborating with someone who corrects them and more so when that person is a woman. People, including those with high productivity, are less willing to collaborate with a person who has corrected them even if the correction improves group performance. Yet, people respond to corrections by women as negatively as by men. These findings suggest that although women do not face a higher hurdle, correcting colleagues is costly and reduces group efficiency.