Does DE&I Training Work?

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Overview

This page includes resources on whether DE&I trainings work, focusing particularly on assessments of those trainings held in corporations and other private sector entities; and on assessments of those trainings often required as part of professional licensing. For information about DE&I training efforts as part of the curriculum in professional schools, see Legal Education and Other Professional Education.

General Discussions

Materials discussing DE&I trainings generally or in multiple contexts

  • Katerina Bezrukova et al., A Meta-Analytical Integration of Over 40 Years of Research on Diversity Training Evaluation [Electronic version], Cornell University, SHA School site.

Link: https://perma.cc/3ZM9-CMV9


  • Edward H. Chang et al., Does Diversity Training Work the Way It’s Supposed To?, Harvard Business Review, Jul. 9, 2019.

Link (Soft Paywall): https://hbr.org/2019/07/does-diversity-training-work-the-way-its-supposed-to


  • Edward H. Chang et al., The Mixed Effects of Online Diversity Training, 116 PNAS 7778–7783 (2019).

Link: https://perma.cc/3GUR-S277


  • Calvin K. Lai et al., Reducing Implicit Racial Preferences: I. A Comparative Investigation of 17 Interventions, 143 Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 1765 (2014).

Link (preprint): https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/ktgwv


  • Calvin K. Lai et al., Reducing Implicit Racial Preferences: II. Intervention Effectiveness Across Time, 145 Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 1001–1016 (2016).

Link (preprint): https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/ygscv


  • Elizabeth Levy Paluck & Donald P. Green, Prejudice Reduction: What Works? A Review and Assessment of Research and Practice, 60 Annu. Rev. Psychol. 339–367 (2008).

Link: https://perma.cc/SDT7-Q8U5


  • David Pedulla, Diversity & Inclusion Efforts that Really Work, Harvard Business Review, May 12, 2020.

Link (Soft Paywall): https://hbr.org/2020/05/diversity-and-inclusion-efforts-that-really-work


Medical/Healthcare

Materials focusing on evaluating DE&I trainings and outcomes in the medical and healthcare field

  • Ellen Foster Curtis, Janice L. Dreachslin & Marie Sinioris, Diversity and Cultural Competence Training in Health Care Organizations: Hallmarks of Success, 26 The Health Care Manager 255–262 (2007).

(Paywall)


  • Crystal Jongen et al., Cultural Competence in Health: A Review of the Evidence (2018)

Link (Worldcat): http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1006871696

Business/Management

Materials focusing on evaluating DE&I trainings and outcomes in relation to business and management, including human resources and corporate initiatives.

  • Paula Caligiuri, Cultural Agility: Building a Pipeline of Successful Global Professionals, (2012).

Link (Worldcat): http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/795504483


  • Sarah Green Carmichael, Next Steps for Companies That Pledged to Do Better on Diversity, Bloomberg Businessweek, Aug. 10, 2020

Link (Soft Paywall): https://www.bloomberglaw.com/product/blaw/document/QEV50UDWX2PW?criteria_id=65007a500cc7f339c4fd73c72d95a702


  • Frank Dobbin & Alexandra Kalev, Why Diversity Programs Fail, Harvard Business Review, 2016.

Link (Soft Paywall): https://hbr.org/2016/07/why-diversity-programs-fail


  • Carol T. Kulik et al., The Rich Get Richer: Predicting Participation in Voluntary Diversity Training, 28 Journal of Organizational Behavior 753–769 (2007).

(Paywall)


  • Rohini Anand & Mary-Frances Winters, A Retrospective View of Corporate Diversity Training From 1964 to the Present, 7 AMLE 356–372 (2008).

(Paywall)


Education/Academia

Materials focusing on evaluating DE&I trainings and outcomes in academic administration for all levels of education.

  • Aaron Baugh & Reginald F. Baugh, Assessment of Diversity Outcomes in American Medical School Admissions: Applying the Grutter Legitimacy Principles, 12 Sustainability 5211 (2020).

Link: https://perma.cc/9RXC-ZWZ7


  • Rebecca O’Connor et al., Short-Term Outcomes of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Institute for Nursing Faculty, 58 Journal of Nursing Education; Thorofare 633–640 (2019).

(Paywall)


  • Jessi L. Smith et al., Now Hiring! Empirically Testing a Three-Step Intervention to Increase Faculty Gender Diversity in STEM, 65 BioScience 1084–1087 (2015).

Link: https://perma.cc/RN3A-YBDA