Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated race-group similarity effects as a form of interviewer bias in selection
interview ratings. Social Identity Theory predicts that interviewers would assign higher ratings to
interviewees of the same social group (the so-called in-group) primarily through the mechanism of
similarity attraction. Research findings up to now have lent only partial support to this hypothesis.
This study argues that interview structure may help to explain inconsistent research findings since
structure could inhibit the functioning of the similarity-attraction mechanism. The present research
pursued two objectives, namely (1) to determine the degree to which race-group similarity (between
interviewer and interviewee) exerts a biasing effect on selection interview dimension ratings, (2) to
determine whether same-group bias increases when interview structure is experimentally
diminished. This experimental study manipulated the degree of structure in interviews (high- and
low-structured conditions) and compared the degree to which race group similarity effects were
evident under each condition. Interviews were simulated by showing video-taped interview
segments to a sample of participants and asking them to rate interview dimensions on rating scales
that had been compiled to reflect the degree of structure in each condition. The data were analysed
using Hierarchical Linear Modelling (HLM) and multiple regression analysis to determine whether
similarity effects were present in the interview rating data. The results support the hypothesis that
racial similarity effects are found under low-structured conditions, as well as the hypothesis that
interview structure moderates the influence of similarity effects. However, racial similarity effects
were also found with the highly structured condition. Although these effects were smaller than in
the low-structured condition, they were statistically significant. Future research should attempt to
replicate this study as a field study to test the generalisability of the findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek onderhoudvoerdersydigheid in die vorm van
rasgroepsoortgelykheidseffekte in seleksie-onderhoudbeoordelings. Sosiale Identiteitsteorie
voorspel dat onderhoudvoerders diegene van dieselfde rasgroep (die sogenaamde ingroep) met hoër
beoordelingstellings sal aanslaan, primêr deur die werking van die soortgelykheidaangetrokkendheidsmeganisme.
Navorsingsresultate tot op hede leen slegs gedeeltelike steun aan
hierdie hipotese. Hierdie studie argumenteer dat die rede vir teenstrydige navorsingbevindinge
moontlik die gevolg van die bemiddelende effek van onderhoudstruktuur kan wees, aangesien
struktuur moontlik die funksionering van die soortgelykheid-aangetrokkendheidsmeganisme kan
inperk. Die studie streef dus twee doelwitte na, nl. (1) om die mate waartoe
rasgroepooreenstemming tussen die onderhoudvoerder en onderhoudnemer ’n sydige invloed op
onderhouddimensietellings uitoefen te bepaal en (2) om te bepaal of soortgelykheidseffekte
toeneem namate onderhoudstruktuur eksperimenteel verlaag word. ’n Eksperimentele ontwerp is
gebruik waarbinne onderhoudstruktuur (hoog- en laag gestruktuurde toestande) in video-opnames
van onderhoude nageboots is. ’n Groep beoordelaars het hierdie stimilusmateriaal beoordeel aan die
hand van beoordelingskriteria wat opgestel is om die mate van struktuur binne elke toestand te
reflekteer. Gevolglik is die mate van rasgroepsoortgelykheidseffekte binne elke struktuurtoestand
vergelyk. Die navorsingsdata is met gebruik van Hiërargiese Lineêre Modellering (HLM) en
veelvoudige regressie ontleed om die teenwoordigheid van soortgelykheidsydigheid te bepaal. Die
resultate steun die hipotese dat rassoortgelykheidseffekte onder laaggestruktuurde toestande
voorkom, asook dat onderhoudstruktuur ’n modererende rol speel. Nietemin is soortgelyke effekte
ook onder die hoog gestruktuurde toestand gevind. Alhoewel hierdie effekte kleiner as onder die
laaggestruktuurde toestand was, was dit steeds statisties beduidend. Toekomstige navorsing kan
poog om ‘n soortgelyke ondersoek as ‘n veldstudie te onderneem om die moontlikheid van
veralgemening van die resultate te bepaal.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20166 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Hauptfleisch, Daniel Benjamin |
| Contributors | De Kock, Francois Servaas, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Department of Industrial Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 159 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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