Diversity in Teams: Collaboration and Performance in Experiments with Different Tasks

This study explores the impact of demographic diversity on teamwork in higher education. Using an experimental design, we find that diversity enhances team performance on creative tasks but hinders it on standard tasks. Additionally, diversity influences teamwork quality in a U-shaped pattern, suggesting that extremely homogeneous or heterogeneous groups collaborate more effectively, while moderately diverse groups face challenges. This paper contributes to understanding the distinct effects of diversity on team creativity and cohesion, emphasizing the role of demographic characteristics in shaping team dynamics.