Km. Kacmar et al., AN EXAMINATION OF AUTOMATIC VS CONTROLLED INFORMATION-PROCESSING IN THE EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW - THE CASE OF MINORITY APPLICANTS, Sex roles, 30(11-12), 1994, pp. 809-828
Based on the automatic vs. controlled attention argument, this paper t
ested the contention that the amount of job-relevant information given
to decision makers prior to the employment interview will influence o
utcomes for minority candidates. Subjects included 160 undergraduate s
tudents composed of 64% female, 90% White, 2% Black, 7% Hispanic, and
1% Asian or Pacific Islander. Results indicated that in the high infor
mation condition, Black applicants received the highest evaluations an
d decision makers reported the most confidence in their decisions rega
rding Black applicants. However, even though there were significant di
fferences in the ratings of minority candidates, they were not hired m
ore frequently than White applicants. Possible explanations for these
findings are discussed in terms of theory and practice.