The Role of Binary/Nonbinary Pronouns in Employment: A Study of Perception and Bias in Job Candidate Evaluation

Hagen, Tessel (2024) The Role of Binary/Nonbinary Pronouns in Employment: A Study of Perception and Bias in Job Candidate Evaluation. Master thesis, Psychology.

Text FinalDraftMasterThesisTHagenS39892082324.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (555kB)

A thesis is an aptitude test for students. The approval of the thesis is proof that the student has sufficient research and reporting skills to graduate but does not guarantee the quality of the research and the results of the research as such, and the thesis is therefore not necessarily suitable to be used as an academic source to refer to. If you would like to know more about the research discussed in this thesis and any publications based on it, to which you could refer, please contact the supervisor mentioned.

Abstract

This thesis investigates the impact of having pronouns on CVS on job candidate evaluations, focusing on competence, likability, and suitability perceptions in hiring contexts. Using a between-subject experimental design, the study examines whether nonbinary pronouns (they/them) influence these perceptions differently than binary pronouns (he/him) or the absence of pronouns. The study involved 239 participants who evaluated manipulated resumes. Results showed no significant direct effect of pronouns on the outcomes. However, high levels of sexual prejudice significantly lowered likability for candidates using nonbinary pronouns, indicating subtle bias. These findings highlight the complexities of gender identity expression in job applications and underscore the importance of addressing underlying biases in hiring practices to promote workplace equality. The research calls for further studies with diverse samples to enhance understanding and develop inclusive hiring strategies.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Koc, Y.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Applied Social Psychology (ASP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	05 Sep 2024 13:14
Last Modified:	05 Sep 2024 13:14
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4359

Actions (login required)

View Item