A measure of multidimensional polarization for categorical diversity data

Bruno Trezzini ()

Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, 2013, vol. 47, issue 1, 313-333

Abstract: Numerous indices measuring the degree of heterogeneity or homogeneity of small and large social entities exist. However, only recently has interest in multidimensional inequality and diversity grown. The novelty lies in looking at multiple dimensions of diversity simultaneously by asking how it is patterned across different attributes. The group faultline concept, which has gained some popularity in organizational research, is an instantiation of patterned multidimensional diversity in the context of small groups. Faultlines are thought to increase the potential for intragroup conflict. The paper provides a conceptual and operational elaboration of the group faultline concept and develops an index of patterned multidimensional diversity for categorical data based on the notion of multidimensional bipolarization. The application of this index to some illustrative group constellations leads to the conclusion that it is a valid, albeit not perfect, operationalization of faultline strength. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Keywords: Multidimensional diversity; Group polarization; Group faultlines; Index development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s11135-011-9500-7 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:47:y:2013:i:1:p:313-333

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/11135

DOI: 10.1007/s11135-011-9500-7

Access Statistics for this article

Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology is currently edited by Vittorio Capecchi

More articles in Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().