Relative effect of applicant work experience and academic qualification on selection interview decisions: A study of between-sample generalizability

Abstract

This study examined the relative effect of 2 job-relevant factors, work experience and academic qualifications, on selection-interview decision making. The results for managers and students were compared in a 2 × 3 × 2 (Work Experience × Academic Qualifications × Sample) factorial design. 12 videotapes of simulated interviews were used, with 2 hypothetical job candidates representing each of 6 treatment conditions. Based on omega squared statistics, results show that for managers, the effect of work experience was consistently greater than that of academic qualifications. For students, the effect of academic qualifications was relatively larger than that of work experience. Decision type moderated between-sample effect differences. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of predictor utilization in interview decision making. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)