Premium
THE CONTRAST EFFECT IN THE SELECTION INTERVIEW
Author(s) -
KOPELMAN M. D.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
british journal of educational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.557
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 2044-8279
pISSN - 0007-0998
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8279.1975.tb02975.x
Subject(s) - contrast (vision) , psychology , selection (genetic algorithm) , social psychology , applied psychology , artificial intelligence , computer science
S ummary . An experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of preceding interviewees' performance on the assessment of a third candidate's interview. Mock interviews of candidates applying for medical school were recorded on video‐tape, and were rated by 60 subjects. A highly significant contrast effect was obtained, but it accounted for only 11 per cent of total decision variance. A candidate's own standard of performance is by far the most important factor determining his rating. The contrast effect is most influential in the assessment of candidates of intermediate performance, but it is suggested that one group of researchers may have over‐estimated its importance.