title: Balancing Fairness and Efficiency: The Impact of Identity-Blind and Identity-Conscious Accountability on Applicant Screening.
abstract: This study compared two forms of accountability that can be used to promote diversity and fairness in personnel selections: identity-conscious accountability (holding decision makers accountable for which groups are selected) versus identity-blind accountability (holding decision makers accountable for making fair selections). In a simulated application screening process, undergraduate participants (majority female) sorted applicants under conditions of identity-conscious accountability, identity-blind accountability, or no accountability for an applicant pool in which white males either did or did not have a human capital advantage. Under identity-conscious accountability, participants exhibited pro-female and pro-minority bias, particularly in the white-male-advantage applicant pool. Under identity-blind accountability, participants exhibited no biases and candidate qualifications dominated interview recommendations. Participants exhibited greater resentment toward management under identity-conscious accountability.
authors.affiliation: Henry W. Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Self
authors.affiliation: School of Law, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mellers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Philip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Tetlock
authors.affiliation: Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: J Angus D
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hildreth
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010560:Personnel Selection; D012941:Social Responsibility; D055815:Young Adult