Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

2-2024

Abstract

Purpose The gender composition of teams remains an important yet complex element in unlocking the success of collaboration and performance in the metaverse. In this study, the authors examined the collaborations of same- and mixed-gender dyads to investigate how gender composition influences perceptions of the dyadic collaboration process and outcomes at both the individual and team levels in the metaverse. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on expectation states theory and social role theory, the authors hypothesized differences between dyads of different gender compositions. A blocked design was utilized where 432 subjects were randomly assigned to teams of different gender compositions: 101 male dyads, 59 female dyads and 56 mixed-gender dyads. Survey responses were collected after the experiment. Findings Multilevel multigroup analyses reveal that at the team level, male dyads took on the we-impress manifestation to increase satisfaction with the team solution. In contrast, female and mixed-gender dyads adopted the we-work-hard-on-task philosophy to increase satisfaction with the team solution. At the individual level, impression management is the key factor associated with trust in same-gender dyads but not in mixed-gender dyads. Originality/value As one of the pioneering works on gender effects in the metaverse, our findings shed light on two fronts in virtual dyadic collaborations. First, the authors offer a theoretically grounded and gendered perspective by investigating male, female and mixed-gender dyads in the metaverse. Second, the study advances team-based theory and deepens the understanding of gender effects at both the individual and team levels (multilevel) in a virtual collaboration environment.

Keywords

Gender, Effort, Collaboration, Impression management, Dyad, Virtual team, Virtual world, Trust, Satisfaction, Multilevel, Metaverse, Multigroup

Discipline

Communication Technology and New Media | Databases and Information Systems | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication

Research Areas

Data Science and Engineering

Publication

Internet Research

Volume

34

Issue

1

First Page

149

Last Page

173

ISSN

1066-2243

Identifier

10.1108/INTR-08-2022-0690

Publisher

Emerald

Copyright Owner and License

Publisher

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-08-2022-0690

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