Peer Effects under Different Relative Performance Feedback and Grouping Procedures

Thiemann, Kathrin; Wallmeier, Niklas

doi:10.1628/jite-2021-0008

All research

Journal article2021Measuring performance

Peer Effects under Different Relative Performance Feedback and Grouping Procedures

Kathrin Thiemann and Niklas Wallmeier

Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics 177(2), 178–204

Journal Cite

A schematic, not the measured sizes: men performed better when the feedback compared them with the best peer, women when it compared them with the average. How groups are formed matters in the same way: men gained from randomly formed groups, women from groups formed by ability.

In short

A lab experiment on peer groups and feedback: who gains from comparing with the best, and who from comparing with the average?

What we find

Men perform better when they compare themselves with the best peer; women perform better when they compare with the average.
Men gain from randomly formed groups, women from groups formed by ability.
Both patterns follow from different, nonlinear reactions to the reference point.

Cite

Kathrin Thiemann and Niklas Wallmeier (2021). “Peer Effects under Different Relative Performance Feedback and Grouping Procedures.” Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics 177(2), 178–204. https://doi.org/10.1628/jite-2021-0008

@article{thiemann2021peer,
  author = {Thiemann, Kathrin and Wallmeier, Niklas},
  title = {{Peer Effects under Different Relative Performance Feedback and Grouping Procedures}},
  year = {2021},
  journal = {Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics},
  volume = {177},
  number = {2},
  pages = {178--204},
  doi = {10.1628/jite-2021-0008}
}