About QSDI
With support from the City College of New York’s (CCNY) Grove School of Engineering and the Colin Powell School of Civic and Global Leadership, Dr. Gilda Barabino and Dr. Paolo Gaudiano have recently launched the Quantitative Studies of Diversity and Inclusion initiative. The primary objective of the QSDI initiative is to work toward the establishment of a CCNY-based QSDI Center that focuses on theoretical and applied research on Diversity & Inclusion (D&I), as well as non-degree-granting training, and public programming.
The impetus for creating QSDI is the recognition that most D&I efforts across private and public sectors are focused on qualitative approaches, often motivated primarily by considerations of social responsibility. Moreover, the qualitative nature of most D&I programs leads to trial-and-error approaches, which translate to costs and risks as initiatives yield disappointing results, and sometimes backfire. QSDI’s quantitative approach links diversity and performance to create a strong financial incentive, while providing actionable steps for successful implementation of D&I initiatives.
QSDI’s research methodology is rooted in Complexity Science, an interdisciplinary approach combining behavioral, social, and computer science. QSDI is the first academic research center dedicated to the application of Complexity Science in D&I.
The QSDI approach provides a rich set of research opportunities, ranging from detailed studies of individual behavior to systems-level analysis of societal issues. The approach can also be used by organizations to explore the likely impact of different D&I initiatives, creating significant opportunity to link the research to real-world applications.
With its diverse student body and faculty, CCNY is ideally suited to host QSDI; at the same time, given its interdisciplinary approach, QSDI provides a common framework that can be of help to many existing and new research initiatives throughout CUNY.
Beginning in the Fall of 2017, QSDI will engage in collaborations with partners from academic entities, government agencies and foundations. QSDI will also establish an Industry-University Research Consortium focused on the application of its research to solving specific problems in the private sector.
The impetus for creating QSDI is the recognition that most D&I efforts across private and public sectors are focused on qualitative approaches, often motivated primarily by considerations of social responsibility. Moreover, the qualitative nature of most D&I programs leads to trial-and-error approaches, which translate to costs and risks as initiatives yield disappointing results, and sometimes backfire. QSDI’s quantitative approach links diversity and performance to create a strong financial incentive, while providing actionable steps for successful implementation of D&I initiatives.
QSDI’s research methodology is rooted in Complexity Science, an interdisciplinary approach combining behavioral, social, and computer science. QSDI is the first academic research center dedicated to the application of Complexity Science in D&I.
The QSDI approach provides a rich set of research opportunities, ranging from detailed studies of individual behavior to systems-level analysis of societal issues. The approach can also be used by organizations to explore the likely impact of different D&I initiatives, creating significant opportunity to link the research to real-world applications.
With its diverse student body and faculty, CCNY is ideally suited to host QSDI; at the same time, given its interdisciplinary approach, QSDI provides a common framework that can be of help to many existing and new research initiatives throughout CUNY.
Beginning in the Fall of 2017, QSDI will engage in collaborations with partners from academic entities, government agencies and foundations. QSDI will also establish an Industry-University Research Consortium focused on the application of its research to solving specific problems in the private sector.