Bias in the background? The role of background information in asynchronous video interviews

Asynchronous video interviews (AVIs) have become popular tools for applicant selection. Although AVIs are standardized, extant research remains silent on whether this novel interview format could introduce new forms of bias. Because many applicants complete AVIs from their homes, their video background could provide evaluators with information about stigmatizing features that (a) are usually “invisible” in traditional selection contexts but become observable in AVIs, (b) are not always legally protected, and (c) can impact evaluators' judgments. Across three experimental studies, we examined how cues indicating parental status (Study 1), sexual orientation (Study 2), and political affiliation (Study 3) can impact perceptions of applicant warmth and competence and ratings of interview performance and potential work performance. The effect of background information varied by stigmatized feature. Applicants depicted as parents were perceived to be higher on warmth and received higher interview performance ratings but were not evaluated more negatively on competence or potential work performance. There was no effect of sexual orientation on any outcome variables. However, applicants who supported the same political party as the evaluator were viewed as warmer and received higher ratings of interview performance and potential work performance. Thus, organizations should encourage applicants to use neutral backgrounds.