EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW ON TRIAL - LINKING INTERVIEW STRUCTURE WITH LITIGATION OUTCOMES

The authors linked interview structure and litigation outcomes concept ually and empirically. Using legal and psychological literatures, they established a conceptual link based on reduced opportunities for diff erential treatment through standardization, reduced potential for bias through increased objectivity, and increased job relatedness. Analyzi ng decisions regarding 84 disparate-treatment claims and 46 disparate- impact claims in federal court cases, they established an empirical li nk between interview structure and how judges explained their verdicts . The 17 aspects of interview structure were scored in these cases. Th ey collapsed into 3 composite: objective-job related, standardized adm inistration, and multiple interviewers, Most items and composites were significantly related to favorable verdicts for defendants in bath ty pes of claims. The objective-job related composite was mast highly rel ated, followed by standardized administration. It is concluded that st ructure enhances interview reliability and validity, and it is also li nked to litigation outcomes.