Abstract
This study explored possible mediators of gender bias in work behavior ratings. However, we believed it important to do so by first attempting to create a decision-making environment that better reflected the cognitive demands imposed on raters in work settings. Accordingly, 74 participants, mostly White and middle class students, read a vignette that depicted the work behavior of a male or female police officer. All participants attended to another task while reading the vignette and did so while under a perceived time limit; then, immediately or 5 days later, they completed a work behavior questionnaire. As expected, more effective work behaviors were attributed to men than women—but only when ratings were delayed. Further analyses revealed that a systematic response bias was responsible, whereas selective memory played no role. Specifically, participants adopted a more liberal decision criterion when attributing effective work behaviors to men than women. These results help to illuminate the dynamics of discrimination and provide direction for future research efforts.
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Martell, R.F. What mediates gender bias in work behavior ratings?. Sex Roles 35, 153–169 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01433104
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01433104