Unveiling Discrimination: Exploring Multicultural Challenges in Modern Societies Through a Large-Scale Field Experiment on Sports Clubs
with Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez, Petr Parshakov, Thadeu Gasparetto, and Helmut Dietl
Abstract: Modern societies are becoming more multicultural and diverse, comprising individuals who have migrated from a multitude of different countries. Openness towards diverse members, however, is often limited. Research shows that this is a consistent problem in many areas, such as housing, labor market, dating, or sports. The socioeconomic position is important and often neglected when examining discrimination. In this experiment, we perform a large scale field experiment and contact more than 10,000 sports clubs in Germany. We compare the response rates across sports and between foreign groups. The results reveal a high level of discrimination that significantly differs between sports.
with Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez, Petr Parshakov, Thadeu Gasparetto, and Helmut Dietl
Abstract: Modern societies are becoming more multicultural and diverse, comprising individuals who have migrated from a multitude of different countries. Openness towards diverse members, however, is often limited. Research shows that this is a consistent problem in many areas, such as housing, labor market, dating, or sports. The socioeconomic position is important and often neglected when examining discrimination. In this experiment, we perform a large scale field experiment and contact more than 10,000 sports clubs in Germany. We compare the response rates across sports and between foreign groups. The results reveal a high level of discrimination that significantly differs between sports.
Together but not scrambled? Ethnic discrimination and a low-cost intervention
with Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez, Petr Parshakov, and Helmut Dietl
Abstract: We conduct a large-scale field experiment in which we test the efficiency of an intervention: a regional sports research center sends an email to a random selection of around 600 amateur soccer coaches. In this email the coaches find a link with a two-minute video in which two famous Swiss soccer player point towards the important role that soccer can play in promoting inclusivity and reducing racism in society. Two weeks later, we send fictitious applications asking to join an amateur club. We use either typical Swiss- or foreign-sounding names. We compare the response rate for Swiss- and foreign-sounding names as well for coaches who received the video and those that did not. The results are ambiguous. In general the intervention had no positive effect. However, looking at the open rate, i.e., specifically at clubs that actually watched the videos, we find that the video had a positive effect.
with Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez, Petr Parshakov, and Helmut Dietl
Abstract: We conduct a large-scale field experiment in which we test the efficiency of an intervention: a regional sports research center sends an email to a random selection of around 600 amateur soccer coaches. In this email the coaches find a link with a two-minute video in which two famous Swiss soccer player point towards the important role that soccer can play in promoting inclusivity and reducing racism in society. Two weeks later, we send fictitious applications asking to join an amateur club. We use either typical Swiss- or foreign-sounding names. We compare the response rate for Swiss- and foreign-sounding names as well for coaches who received the video and those that did not. The results are ambiguous. In general the intervention had no positive effect. However, looking at the open rate, i.e., specifically at clubs that actually watched the videos, we find that the video had a positive effect.
Different perspectives. How viewers evaluate men and women athletes.
with Sofya Kulikova, Iuliia Naidenova, Petr Parshakov, and Daria Semenova
Abstract: Previous research shows that people have a preference for men’s sport only as long as they know that the athletes are male. In this research, we replicate these findings but for esport. Using an eye-tracking software we examine how and if respondents watch men’s sport and women’s sport differently. The results are important as they show if the preference is caused by a different behavior by the viewer or because of biased behavior. We want to know age, nationality, and gender of all respondents. The respondents then watch esports videos. An eye tracking software tracks what parts of the screen the respondents watch when they see men or women athletes. We inform all respondents before the start that the task includes eye tracking. The respondents can freely decide to participate.
with Sofya Kulikova, Iuliia Naidenova, Petr Parshakov, and Daria Semenova
Abstract: Previous research shows that people have a preference for men’s sport only as long as they know that the athletes are male. In this research, we replicate these findings but for esport. Using an eye-tracking software we examine how and if respondents watch men’s sport and women’s sport differently. The results are important as they show if the preference is caused by a different behavior by the viewer or because of biased behavior. We want to know age, nationality, and gender of all respondents. The respondents then watch esports videos. An eye tracking software tracks what parts of the screen the respondents watch when they see men or women athletes. We inform all respondents before the start that the task includes eye tracking. The respondents can freely decide to participate.
How to increase sports club participation? Results from a natural field experiment.
with Espen Sagen and Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez
Abstract: Sports clubs play a huge role for social integration, societies, and physical fitness for children in many countries. However, many groups are underrepresented. In this paper, we examine the results from a natural field experiment. We provide elementary school students in Rogaland (Norway) with information about sports clubs in their vicinity. After two months, we observe if this intervention increased the number of children joining a sports club. The findings are relevant for governing institutions and policy-makers as the setting makes it possible to scale the experiment up. Researchers studying social integration may find the novel method used here of considerable interest.
with Espen Sagen and Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez
Abstract: Sports clubs play a huge role for social integration, societies, and physical fitness for children in many countries. However, many groups are underrepresented. In this paper, we examine the results from a natural field experiment. We provide elementary school students in Rogaland (Norway) with information about sports clubs in their vicinity. After two months, we observe if this intervention increased the number of children joining a sports club. The findings are relevant for governing institutions and policy-makers as the setting makes it possible to scale the experiment up. Researchers studying social integration may find the novel method used here of considerable interest.
Investigating social integration via local language acquisition
with Hammad Shaikh and Jiaqi Zou
Abstract: We aim to investigate the relationship between cultural assimilation via learning the local language and non-native individuals’ ability to socially integrate in Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary. Namely, we examine non-natives’ chance to participate in the local apartment rental market and/or opportunity to try out for local recreational sports teams, disambiguating between two dimensions of assimilation –language proficiency and a signal of language-learning effort.
with Hammad Shaikh and Jiaqi Zou
Abstract: We aim to investigate the relationship between cultural assimilation via learning the local language and non-native individuals’ ability to socially integrate in Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary. Namely, we examine non-natives’ chance to participate in the local apartment rental market and/or opportunity to try out for local recreational sports teams, disambiguating between two dimensions of assimilation –language proficiency and a signal of language-learning effort.
A Controlled Experiment on Skin Color Disparities in Soccer: Unraveling Referee Decision-Making Patterns.
with Thadeu Gasparetto, Iuliia Naidenova, and Petr Parshakov
Abstract: In this project, we show participants soccer videos, but we change the skin color of the players. We have four groups; perpetrator and victim are both black, both white, the perpetrator is white and the victim is black, and the perpetrator is black and the victim is white. We than ask respondents to evaluate fouls and to punish the perpetrator (nothing, yellow card, red card). The results are important as they clearly present if discrimination is present.
with Thadeu Gasparetto, Iuliia Naidenova, and Petr Parshakov
Abstract: In this project, we show participants soccer videos, but we change the skin color of the players. We have four groups; perpetrator and victim are both black, both white, the perpetrator is white and the victim is black, and the perpetrator is black and the victim is white. We than ask respondents to evaluate fouls and to punish the perpetrator (nothing, yellow card, red card). The results are important as they clearly present if discrimination is present.
Take One for the Team. Directing and Contributing Team Performance.
with Iuliia Naidenova, Petr Parshakov, and Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez
Abstract: In knowledge-intensive areas, team leaders face the challenge of balancing directing and contributing roles, which implies coordinating the team's actions while delivering their own performance. There is little evidence of how team leaders' behavior influences team performance. We exploit a rich dataset to assess how directing and contributing leaders operate in specialized teams facing dynamic interdependent tasks. Using more than 300,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive intra-match player observations, we analyze the performance of team leaders compared to other team members and how this relationship influences team performance. We find that team leaders underperform compared to team members. However, the more the in-game leader sacrifices his individual performance, the higher the team's win rate. The results are robust to different specifications and include individual team characteristics and contextual factors. The findings show team leaders' contributing efforts, underline the importance of directing tasks, and call for further theoretical and empirical research.
with Iuliia Naidenova, Petr Parshakov, and Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez
Abstract: In knowledge-intensive areas, team leaders face the challenge of balancing directing and contributing roles, which implies coordinating the team's actions while delivering their own performance. There is little evidence of how team leaders' behavior influences team performance. We exploit a rich dataset to assess how directing and contributing leaders operate in specialized teams facing dynamic interdependent tasks. Using more than 300,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive intra-match player observations, we analyze the performance of team leaders compared to other team members and how this relationship influences team performance. We find that team leaders underperform compared to team members. However, the more the in-game leader sacrifices his individual performance, the higher the team's win rate. The results are robust to different specifications and include individual team characteristics and contextual factors. The findings show team leaders' contributing efforts, underline the importance of directing tasks, and call for further theoretical and empirical research.
The importance of testing recommendations in the field. An experiment with football players.
with Thadeu Gasparetto and Petr Parshakov
Abstract: The outcome of a single penalty in football can decide games and put millions of supporters in misery or ecstasy. Improving the chances to score a goal through a penalty has enormous societal and economical implications. In this paper, we examine the outcome of a penalty if players, coaches, or a random allocation chooses where to shoot. We set up a field experiment in one of the most successful youth academies in the world. The players either decide themselves where to shoot or the coach tells them where to shoot. The coaches do not reveal if their decision is based on a random allocation or their own choice. All players are highly skilled, including prospective and current Brazilian national players. The experiment shows two important findings. First, the outcome is the best when players choose where they want to shoot. Second, players are more likely to miss the target when they do not choose themselves.
with Thadeu Gasparetto and Petr Parshakov
Abstract: The outcome of a single penalty in football can decide games and put millions of supporters in misery or ecstasy. Improving the chances to score a goal through a penalty has enormous societal and economical implications. In this paper, we examine the outcome of a penalty if players, coaches, or a random allocation chooses where to shoot. We set up a field experiment in one of the most successful youth academies in the world. The players either decide themselves where to shoot or the coach tells them where to shoot. The coaches do not reveal if their decision is based on a random allocation or their own choice. All players are highly skilled, including prospective and current Brazilian national players. The experiment shows two important findings. First, the outcome is the best when players choose where they want to shoot. Second, players are more likely to miss the target when they do not choose themselves.