BEYOND SIMPLE DEMOGRAPHIC EFFECTS: THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONAL DEMOGRAPHY IN SUPERIOR-SUBORDINATE DYADS.

Abstract

Previous research on individual demographic characteristics has typically examined only direct effects on outcomes such as work attitudes and behavior. This investigation examined the multivariate effects of six demographic variables—age, gender, race, education, and company and job tenure—on superiors' ratings of performance and liking for subordinates and subordinates' role ambiguity and conflict. A field study of 272 superior-subordinate dyads produced results that support the notion that increasing dissimilarity in superior-subordinate demographic characteristics, referred to here as “relational demography,” is associated with lower effectiveness as perceived by superiors, less personal attraction on the part of superiors for subordinates, and increased role ambiguity experienced by subordinates. These effects were found even after we controlled for the effects of simple demographic variables.