Date of Award

Spring 1991

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Program/Concentration

Psychology

Committee Director

Robert M. McIntyre

Committee Member

Terry L. Dickinson

Committee Member

Barry Gillen

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.P65K36

Abstract

Through interactions with others in the assessment center, an assessor may be exposed to potentially biasing information (priming). Research from other fields indicates that raters will use this prior information in making judgments. This study examined priming in a simulated assessment center, using a 2 (primed or unprimed) by 2 (trained or untrained) by 2 (prestige-relevant or relevant-only source of information) within-subjects design. A total of 136 participants observed and rated the behavior of three candidates. Primes describing behaviors engaged in by each candidate were presented before participants observed them. All information was presented by either a professor or a graduate student. Results found priming effects on behavioral observations but not on dimension ratings. Priming positively affected trained participants' notes but negatively affected their behavioral checklists. These results imply that priming is relevant to the assessment center technique. The findings also support the notion that distinct cognitive processes are involved in observing behavior and making ratings.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/hxre-sw05

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