ABSTRACT

The job interview is still one of the most widely used personnel selection tools that might, however, be prone to bias especially when stigmatized applicants are being evaluated. In response to the growing concerns regarding labour market shortages and adverse impact in personnel selection, we conducted two experimental studies that investigated potentially biasing effects of initial impression formation, its origin and development over two interview stages (i.e., rapport building and interview). Building on theory of heuristics, we considered effects of facial stigma, which are rarely investigated as a source of bias despite their prevalence. Using eyetracking methodology, Study 1 shows that cognitive (i.e., attention to visual and verbal information) and motivational (i.e., Need For Cognitive Closure) processes in the rapport-building stage drive anchoring in later decision-making, which led to lower hiring intentions of facially stigmatized versus equally qualified non-stigmatized applicants. Study 2 further investigates the partially blind interview technique to isolate these processes and to extend findings in a face-to-face (structured) interview setting. In addition, Study 2 provides evidence that interview bias against facially stigmatized applicants results from a lack of adjustment in the interviewers’ decision-making process. We conclude with a discussion of implications for both research and practice.

摘要

求职面试仍然是使用最广泛的人员选拔工具之一，然而，尤其是在对受污名的申请人进行评估时，该工具容易产生偏见。为了应对人们日益关注的劳动力市场短缺和人员选择的不利影响，我们进行了两项实验研究，调查了初始印象形成，其起源和发展的两个访谈阶段（即融洽关系和访谈）的潜在偏见效应。在启发式理论的基础上，我们考虑了面部污名的影响，尽管这些现象普遍存在，但很少被调查为偏见的来源。研究1使用眼动追踪方法显示了认知（即，对视觉和言语信息的关注）和动机（即，建立关系的阶段需要“认知封闭”，这会在以后的决策中扎根，这导致面部污辱的人和合格的，没有污名的申请人的招聘意愿降低。研究2进一步研究了部分盲人访谈技术，以隔离这些过程并扩大面对面（结构化）访谈环境的发现。此外，研究2提供的证据表明，面试受歧视的申请人的面试偏见是由于面试官的决策过程缺乏调整而导致的。最后，我们讨论了对研究和实践的影响。研究2进一步研究了部分盲人访谈技术，以隔离这些过程并扩大面对面（结构化）访谈环境的发现。此外，研究2提供的证据表明，面试受歧视的申请人的面试偏见是由于面试官的决策过程缺乏调整而造成的。最后，我们讨论了对研究和实践的影响。研究2进一步研究了部分盲人访谈技术，以隔离这些过程并扩大面对面（结构化）访谈环境的发现。此外，研究2提供的证据表明，面试受歧视的申请人的面试偏见是由于面试官的决策过程缺乏调整而造成的。最后，我们讨论了对研究和实践的影响。