Effects of Background Cues on Videoconference Interview Ratings

Authors

Deborah M. Powell, University of GuelphFollow
Maria V. Kavanagh, University of GuelphFollow
Bethany E. Wiseman, University of GuelphFollow
Audrey Hodgins, University of GuelphFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0001-6901-5671

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/pad.2023.01.003

Abstract

Interviewers regularly make personality-related attributions in interviews, whether purposefully or not. In this study, we examined whether changing a contextual cue in a videoconference interview (the cleanliness of the room where the interviewee is located) influenced interviewers’ ratings of interviewee conscientiousness and interview performance ratings. We conducted a between-subjects experiment (N = 389) and manipulated three factors: background cleanliness (clean vs. messy) x location (office vs. home) x gender of job candidate (man vs. woman). The dependent variables were conscientiousness ratings and interview performance ratings. There was a main effect of cleanliness on conscientiousness and on interview performance ratings; these results were consistent in both the office and the home setting. The findings may inform best practices for participants in videoconference interviews.

Recommended Citation

Powell, Deborah M.; Kavanagh, Maria V.; Wiseman, Bethany E.; and Hodgins, Audrey (2023) "Effects of Background Cues on Videoconference Interview Ratings," Personnel Assessment and Decisions: Number 9 : Iss. 1 , Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/pad.2023.01.003
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/pad/vol9/iss1/3

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Corresponding Author Information

Deborah M. Powell

dpowell@uoguelph.ca