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I think science might be overstating it a bit. There are some indicators for some things. For example the first article unfortunately doesn't include a link to

I think science might be overstating it a bit. There are some indicators for some things. For example the first article unfortunately doesn't include a link to the actual paper, so we don't know what tests they used on the groups. I am willing to bet that for specific problems, qualification trumps diversity. For example, to build a new nuclear reactor, putting ten nuclear physicists together would yield better results than 10 random diverse people. Also, seeing as recently a major share of psychology papers has been found to have serious methodological flaws, I would take this one with a grain of salt, too.

fmitchell0 10y ago
The thought that qualification has a direct correlation to perceived binary problems, like building a nuclear reactor, is exactly the reason why this problem exists. I reference it in my talk (not on the last slide), but I invite you to read the story of Valeria Aurora (it's been referenced on HN before): http://bit.ly/1WZiNYQ http://bit.ly/1WZiNYQ Her unique experience perspective to a mathematical problem is quintessential. The same is true for the women featured in the Hidden Figures movie. Concluding that 'hard science' and 'hard math' realms don't benefit from diversity and only knowledge is why tackling this problem is so hard.
- facepalm 10y ago
  Ugh - come on, you seriously suggest only a feminist would have listened to a fellow human being and have been able to come up with a solution? She (Valeria) framed it that way because she is a feminist. That is just an anecdote, not science. There have been thousands, perhaps even millions of bugs fixed in Unix over time. What makes this one so special that only a feminist could have fixed it? Likewise, you can not prove things with movie references. I haven't seen "Hidden Figures", but it was obviously made to make a certain point, so they would insert stories "proving" their point.

fmitchell0 10y ago

The thought that qualification has a direct correlation to perceived binary problems, like building a nuclear reactor, is exactly the reason why this problem exists. I reference it in my talk (not on the last slide), but I invite you to read the story of Valeria Aurora (it's been referenced on HN before): http://bit.ly/1WZiNYQ http://bit.ly/1WZiNYQ Her unique experience perspective to a mathematical problem is quintessential. The same is true for the women featured in the Hidden Figures movie. Concluding that 'hard science' and 'hard math' realms don't benefit from diversity and only knowledge is why tackling this problem is so hard.

facepalm 10y ago
Ugh - come on, you seriously suggest only a feminist would have listened to a fellow human being and have been able to come up with a solution? She (Valeria) framed it that way because she is a feminist. That is just an anecdote, not science. There have been thousands, perhaps even millions of bugs fixed in Unix over time. What makes this one so special that only a feminist could have fixed it? Likewise, you can not prove things with movie references. I haven't seen "Hidden Figures", but it was obviously made to make a certain point, so they would insert stories "proving" their point.