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. 2021;36(5):921-940.
doi: 10.1007/s10869-020-09714-3. Epub 2020 Sep 10.

It Takes More Than a Good Camera: Which Factors Contribute to Differences Between Face-to-Face Interviews and Videoconference Interviews Regarding Performance Ratings and Interviewee Perceptions?

Johannes M Basch  1 , Klaus G Melchers  1 , Anja Kurz  1 , Maya Krieger  1 , Linda Miller  1
Affiliations

It Takes More Than a Good Camera: Which Factors Contribute to Differences Between Face-to-Face Interviews and Videoconference Interviews Regarding Performance Ratings and Interviewee Perceptions?

Johannes M Basch et al. J Bus Psychol. 2021.

Abstract

Due to technological progress, videoconference interviews have become more and more common in personnel selection. Nevertheless, even in recent studies, interviewees received lower performance ratings in videoconference interviews than in face-to-face (FTF) interviews and interviewees held more negative perceptions of these interviews. However, the reasons for these differences are unclear. Therefore, we conducted an experiment with 114 participants to compare FTF and videoconference interviews regarding interview performance and fairness perceptions and we investigated the role of social presence, eye contact, and impression management for these differences. As in other studies, ratings of interviewees' performance were lower in the videoconference interview. Differences in perceived social presence, perceived eye contact, and impression management contributed to these effects. Furthermore, live ratings of interviewees' performance were higher than ratings based on recordings. Additionally, videoconference interviews induced more privacy concerns but were perceived as more flexible. Organizations should take the present results into account and should not use both types of interviews in the same selection stage.

Keywords: Applicant reactions; Impression management; Job interviews; Privacy concerns; Social presence; Technology-mediated interviews.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Structural equation model for the mediation analyses related to Hypotheses 2a, 2c, 3b, and 4. Non-significant paths are shown with dashed lines
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Structural equation model for the mediation analyses related to Hypothesis 5b. Non-significant paths are shown with dashed lines
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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