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" I think it's extremely hard for social science. It's really hard to be NOT biased if you're a part of the hypothesis you're trying to prove." That's why mech

" I think it's extremely hard for social science. It's really hard to be NOT biased if you're a part of the hypothesis you're trying to prove." That's why mechanisms such as control groups and blind analyses exist. It also bears saying that researchers consist of all types, not necessarily part of the demographic affected and some study results (including those on diversity) were invalidations of their hypotheses, with some studies having been repeated elsewhere with similar results. "However I would like to ask, if you look at actual real world stats..." The studies I've seen showing positive effects of diversity have also been based on actual statistics and many assessed several sectors, not just tech. That many startups in a specific region are similar based on demographics doesn't invalidate benefits of diversity.

cocktailpeanuts 9y ago
> The studies I've seen showing positive effects of diversity have also been based on actual statistics and many assessed several sectors, not just tech. That many startups in a specific region are similar based on demographics doesn't invalidate benefits of diversity. I was specifically talking about the startup context. I think it's simply wrong for these diversity consultants to abuse their PC power to spread false information. And going further, my point was that these people use controlled research results to make their point when the real world demonstrates plenty of evidence showing that it doesn't work that way. Think of any successful company (not just tech but historically) and see how many of them won over their competition in their early days because they worried about creating a diverse team when they were 5 people bootstrapping. You won't see many. Most businesses succeed by building or providing products/services people want. That's the most important thing as an entrepreneur. Nowadays I see entrepreneurs and VCs bragging on social media how their firm has "achieved diversity" because they have 50% women and 50% black, etc. That's the last thing you should be worried about during your early days in startup journey.

cocktailpeanuts 9y ago

> The studies I've seen showing positive effects of diversity have also been based on actual statistics and many assessed several sectors, not just tech. That many startups in a specific region are similar based on demographics doesn't invalidate benefits of diversity. I was specifically talking about the startup context. I think it's simply wrong for these diversity consultants to abuse their PC power to spread false information. And going further, my point was that these people use controlled research results to make their point when the real world demonstrates plenty of evidence showing that it doesn't work that way. Think of any successful company (not just tech but historically) and see how many of them won over their competition in their early days because they worried about creating a diverse team when they were 5 people bootstrapping. You won't see many. Most businesses succeed by building or providing products/services people want. That's the most important thing as an entrepreneur. Nowadays I see entrepreneurs and VCs bragging on social media how their firm has "achieved diversity" because they have 50% women and 50% black, etc. That's the last thing you should be worried about during your early days in startup journey.