Samantha applied as an outside sales rep for a new sales territory. Part of the selection process included an assessment test that measures successful sales characteristics. Samantha scored particularly high on the test. During the interview, Christopher, the hiring manager, had some concerns about how well Samantha would fit into the company culture, but when he learned how high she scored on the test, he immediately decided to hire her. What bias could be at work in this situation?
- Halo effect
- Knowledge-of-predictor effect
- Cultural-noise effect
- Stereotyping effect
Answer(s): B
Explanation:
Answer option B is correct. The knowledge-of-predictor effect occurs when an interviewer is aware that a candidate has scored particularly high or low on an assessment test and allows this to affect the hiring decision. The halo effect (A) occurs when the interviewer allows a single positive characteristic of the candidate to overshadow other considerations. Cultural noise (C) occurs when a candidate gives answers they think the interviewer wants to hear. Stereotyping (D) occurs when the interviewer makes assumptions about a candidate based on generalizations about the group the candidate belongs to (for example, women). See Chapter 4 for more information.
Chapter: Workforce Planning and Employment
Objective: Staffing Programs