Bridging Domains in Workplace Demography Research: A Review and Reconceptualization

Abstract

Research on unraveling the complex effects of workplace demography has grown exponentially in the past two decades, reflecting enduring academic interest in the topic. This research spans multiple macro and micro theoretical domains and has examined demography effects at individual, group, or firm levels of analysis. However, past research in this area has revealed equivocal and inconclusive findings. Based on a review of more than two decades of research, the authors present the argument that future developments in this research will occur not in isolation at a specific level of analysis but rather at the interstices of multiple levels. The authors offer a framework for future research that bridges macro and micro domains as a way to resolve past discrepant findings in this area of research.