Research seminar: Prof Martin Kilduff
Seminar Title: Reducing Homophily through Psychological Safety: Evidence from Organizational Networks
Abstract: Members of historically underrepresented groups, such as Black Americans, experience greater in-group association, i.e., homophily that restricts the formation of out-group ties that cross demographic boundaries. In this paper, we investigate the psychological underpinnings of underrepresented group members' homophily in instrumental social networks, specifically knowledge exchange. We show that psychological safety reduces stereotype threat for members of underrepresented groups thereby weakening homophily and fostering greater engagement in instrumental social networks. We conducted six studies in a leading financial group, including long-wave longitudinal surveys and experiments. We suggest that psychological safety frees people from the deadlock imposed by stereotype threat and social network homophily.
Bio: Martin Kilduff is Professor of Organizational Behavior, Director of Research, and Head of the Organizations and Innovation group at the UCL School of Management in London, UK. His research focuses on interpersonal social networks in organizations. He also has research and teaching interests in organization theory and the philosophy of science. Martin has written three co-authored books on social networks. He publishes widely in leading management and social psychology journals including Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, Administrative Science Quarterly, and Journal of Applied Psychology. He helped pioneer the micro-foundations movement in social network research in terms of the personality and cognitive underpinnings of social network interactions. Martin was editor in chief of the Academy of Management Review and associate editor of Administrative Science Quarterly. He served as chair of the Organization and Management Theory Division of the Academy of Management. Martin has served on the faculties of INSEAD, Penn State, University of Texas at Austin, and Cambridge University. He earned a PhD in organizational behavior from Cornell University. Martin is a Fellow of the Academy of Management. His research on social networks was recognized by the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Social Networks Society in 2025.
Note: Tea, coffee, and pastries will be provided in front of Café Jolt (Lower Ground Floor) at 2 pm.
Photographs will be taken during this seminar and may be shared on social media. If you do not wish to appear, please notify tbs.research@tcd.ie.