Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/237549 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
CERS-IE Working Papers No. CERS-IE WP - 2021/5
Publisher: 
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Budapest
Abstract: 
We study the impact of the gender composition of a scoreboard on the persistence and performance of players in an online game. Players were randomly selected into eight groups, defined along two dimensions: they saw high or average scores on a scoreboard (score level), and within each of these, they saw either 3 male, 2 male and one female, 1 male and 2 female, or 3 female names associated with the scores (gender composition). Based on 1140 participants, we find that males are generally less responsive to performance information on other participants. Compared to the baseline of all male names on the scoreboard, females play fewer games when they see only female names, but more games when they see mixed gender names with high scores. Their performance (best score) increases significantly when they see at least one female name and high scores. This result is in line with the importance of female-specific reference points - or role models - in encouraging females' participation and higher performance in competitive settings. It supports the use of policies aimed at providing these, such as the introduction of female role models and the public acknowledgement of high performing females.
Subjects: 
Gender Gaps
Competition
Performance Feedback
Gender Composition
Reference Point
JEL: 
I20
J16
J24
M54
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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