THE EFFECTS OF INTERVIEWERS ATTRIBUTIONAL AND REASONING STYLES ON HIRING DECISIONS

This research replicated and extended the work of Struthers, Colwill, and Ferry (1992) on decision making and reasoning in the interviewing process. Interview transcripts which varied the candidate's past work history, as well as the locus and stability of the stated reason for l eaving the previous job, were used as stimuli. Participants rated the likelihood they would hire or reject that candidate for a hypothetical position, as well as their hopefulness and expectations about the can didate's future success. Work history had the greatest impact on inter viewers' perception of a candidate, although other attributional infer ences were used especial ly when candidates were viewed favorably.