Skip to main content
Log in

Tell Me Sweet Little Lies: How Does Faking in Interviews Affect Interview Scores and Interview Validity?

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Business and Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Interviews are a prevalent technique for selection and admission purposes. However, interviews are also viewed as potentially fakeable, raising the question of whether interviewees’ faking behavior impairs the quality of selection decisions. To address these concerns, our study examined whether interviewees can actually improve their interview score by faking and the role that interviewee ability factors play in interview faking. We also explored the effect of faking on criterion-related validity with regard to successfully predicting interviewees’ task and contextual performance. We conducted simulated interviews in an honest and an applicant instruction condition using a within-subjects design. In line with our hypotheses, interviewees were able to improve their interview scores when asked to respond as an applicant. The size of the improvement of these interview scores correlated with interviewees’ cognitive ability and their ability to identify the targeted interview dimensions. Concerning the effects of faking on criterion-related validity, we found that academic performance was better predicted in the applicant instruction condition whereas contextual performance was better predicted in the honest condition. Thus, it appears that claims that “faking impairs criterion-related validity” are too simplified and that we have to consider the kind of criterion predicted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. It should be noted that Ingold et al. (2015a) called their questionnaire a measure of IM. However, given that they used a subset of items from Levashina and Campion’s (2007) Interview Faking Behavior Scale (i.e., of deceptive IM), we consider this assessment a measure of self-reported faking.

  2. In the interest of transparency, we want to acknowledge that we have recently published an article in which one of the studies used the same sample as the present paper but with a decidedly different focus, different research questions, and hypotheses. In this other article (Buehl & Melchers, 2017), we described two studies that focused on individual difference variables as antecedents of the occurrence and effectiveness of interview faking. Data from the present study were used for Study 2 in that article. Specifically, we used the same indicator of faking (the regression-adjusted difference score that is described later in this section) and interview performance in the applicant condition as our DVs and tested GMA as a moderator for the effect of self-reported faking behavior (used as a manipulation check in the present article) on faking and on interview performance. However, neither the difference score between the two interview conditions nor any of the criterion variables from the present article were used in the other article nor were any issues related to criterion-related validity investigated.

References

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Barbara Körner, Karin Eigenseer, Jan-Philipp Schulz, Sina Bulling, Evelyn Schuwerk, Tina Gösel, and Cora Grässle for help with the data collection and/or coding of the videotapes.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Anne-Kathrin Buehl or Klaus G. Melchers.

Appendix

Appendix

Items from the short form of the Interview Faking Behavior Scale from Levashina and Campion (2007) in the German translation from Ingold et al. (2015a) which we adapted to the university context:

  • I have overstated or embellished answers beyond a reasonable description of the truth.

  • I have modified or adapted answers to fit the degree program.

  • I have created the impression of a fit with the degree program or university in terms of beliefs, values, or attitudes.

  • I built stories by combining or arranging study experiences to provide better answers.

  • I cooked up better answers.

  • I answered based on the experiences or accomplishments of others.

  • I did not mention some things in order to improve answers.

  • I disguised or concealed aspects of my background to create better answers.

  • I improved answers by separating from negative events or experiences.

  • I expressed beliefs, values, or attitudes held by the interviewer or the university.

  • I insincerely praised or complimented the interviewer or organization.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Buehl, AK., Melchers, K.G., Macan, T. et al. Tell Me Sweet Little Lies: How Does Faking in Interviews Affect Interview Scores and Interview Validity?. J Bus Psychol 34, 107–124 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-9531-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-9531-3

Keywords

Navigation