Nature Podcast

Racist ratings linger in five-star systems — a thumbs up could fix that

Feb 19, 2025

Lauren Rivera, a Kellogg School of Management researcher, dives into how a simple switch from five-star ratings to a thumbs up/thumbs down system can eliminate racial bias in job evaluations on online platforms. She discusses a study of nearly 70,000 ratings, revealing how complex systems can perpetuate discrimination. Rivera also emphasizes the broader implications for equity in hiring practices, while the podcast touches on quirky topics like cockatoos’ gourmet tastes and historical climate research from Transylvania.

31:45

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Episode guests

Lauren Rivera

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Quick takeaways

Switching from a five-star rating to a thumbs up/thumbs down system can significantly reduce racial discrimination in online evaluations.

The implementation of simplified ratings raises concerns about worker motivation and potential impacts on engagement that require further research.

Deep dives

Impact of Rating System Changes on Racial Discrimination

Changing the rating system from a five-star scale to a thumbs up/thumbs down approach can effectively reduce racial discrimination in online performance evaluations. A study revealed that under the five-star system, workers classified as non-white received lower average ratings compared to their white counterparts, leading to discrepancies in pay. However, when the rating system was simplified to binary ratings, these disparities disappeared, resulting in equal average feedback regardless of race. This indicates that the nature of the rating system significantly influences users' biases and perceptions during the evaluation process.

Intro

1min

Eliminating Racial Bias with Simple Ratings

10min

Exploring Discrimination Reduction, Avian Flavor Preferences, and Historical Climate Insights

4min

Understanding Academic Retractions

13min

Vaccine Skepticism and Health Priorities

4min

Closing Thoughts and Advertisements

2min

01:14 A simple switch to reduce racist ratings

A study of almost 70,000 ratings showed that racial discrimination could be eliminated from an online platform by switching from a five-star rating system to a thumbs up or down. The platform connected customers to workers who performed home repair jobs, and prior to the shift people categorised by the study authors as ‘non-white’ had lower ratings and got paid less than their white counterparts. Through follow up studies the authors also showed that the five-star system allowed people to impart their personal opinions, whereas a thumbs up or down just focused them on whether a job was good or bad. The team hopes this could be an easy-to-implement shift to tackle racial discrimination.

Research Article: Botelho et al.

News and Views: Racial bias eliminated when ratings switch from five stars to thumbs up or down

11:24 Research Highlights

Experimental evidence that cockatoos like flavouring their food, and the harsh climate of sixteenth century Transylvania.

Research Highlight: Gourmet cockatoos like to fancy up their food

Research Highlight: Transylvanian diaries reveal centuries-old climate extremes

14:05 An analysis of retraction hotspots

A Nature investigation has revealed where the most retractions come from, with hospitals in China and institutions in India and Pakistan topping the list. Retractions are a normal part of science and may be a sign of necessary scrutiny, but they can also signal misconduct and use of paper mills. Features Editor Richard Van Noorden joins us to discuss what this means for science and tackling sloppy research.

Nature: Exclusive: These universities have the most retracted scientific articles

22:43 Briefing Chat

Layoffs in the US’s Environmental Protection Agency, reactions to the DEI purge at NASA, and what RFK Jr.’s role as secretary of Health and Human Services could mean for health research.

Nature: ‘Targeted and belittled’: scientists at US environmental agency speak out as layoffs begin

Nature: NASA embraced diversity. Trump’s DEI purge is hitting space scientists hard

Nature: Vaccine sceptic RFK Jr is now a powerful force in US science: what will he do?

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