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The Effects of the Structured Interview on Reducing Biases Against Pregnant Job Applicants

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Abstract

Some research has been conducted on the discrimination faced by pregnant women in the workplace. Few studies, however, have specifically investigated how this bias is manifested in employment or hiring decisions. The current study was designed to examine possible bias during structured interviews. Participants watched a videotaped scenario in which candidates were interviewed for a job. The 2 × 2 × 2 experimental conditions were varied to represent a structured or an unstructured interview, a pregnant or nonpregnant interviewee, and the open position of either a high school teacher or sales representative. Results indicate an overall bias against pregnant women and suggested that the structured interview reduces this bias.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey

    Jennifer DeNicolis Bragger

  2. Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey

    Eugene Kutcher, John Morgan & Patricia Firth

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  1. Jennifer DeNicolis Bragger
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  2. Eugene Kutcher
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  3. John Morgan
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  4. Patricia Firth
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Bragger, J.D., Kutcher, E., Morgan, J. et al. The Effects of the Structured Interview on Reducing Biases Against Pregnant Job Applicants. Sex Roles 46, 215–226 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019967231059

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