How Educational Background Influences Recruitment Evaluation: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials
This study used event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine how candidates’ educational background (elite vs. non-elite universities) and prior internship experience (Fortune 500 vs. non-Fortune 500 enterprises) influence recruitment evaluations. Thirty-two participants completed a 2 × 2 within-subje...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/6/832 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849433817272549376 |
|---|---|
| author | Bin Ling Yihan Wang |
| author_facet | Bin Ling Yihan Wang |
| author_sort | Bin Ling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study used event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine how candidates’ educational background (elite vs. non-elite universities) and prior internship experience (Fortune 500 vs. non-Fortune 500 enterprises) influence recruitment evaluations. Thirty-two participants completed a 2 × 2 within-subjects design task. Behavioral data indicated that applicants with Fortune 500 internships and graduates from elite universities received higher evaluation scores. ERP results revealed that Fortune 500 experience elicited larger P200 amplitudes (reflecting early attention). Crucially, this effect was modulated by educational background as only candidates from elite universities showed both enhanced P200 and reduced N300 amplitudes (suggesting efficient later processing). These findings indicate that recruiters dynamically allocate attention based on academic prestige (P200) and evaluate semantic congruence between education and employer reputation (N300), providing neurophysiological evidence for educational bias in hiring. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2824724ae06b4449aca48ed0da7ef44c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-2824724ae06b4449aca48ed0da7ef44c2025-08-20T03:26:53ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-06-0115683210.3390/bs15060832How Educational Background Influences Recruitment Evaluation: Evidence from Event-Related PotentialsBin Ling0Yihan Wang1Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaBusiness School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaThis study used event-related potentials (ERPs) to examine how candidates’ educational background (elite vs. non-elite universities) and prior internship experience (Fortune 500 vs. non-Fortune 500 enterprises) influence recruitment evaluations. Thirty-two participants completed a 2 × 2 within-subjects design task. Behavioral data indicated that applicants with Fortune 500 internships and graduates from elite universities received higher evaluation scores. ERP results revealed that Fortune 500 experience elicited larger P200 amplitudes (reflecting early attention). Crucially, this effect was modulated by educational background as only candidates from elite universities showed both enhanced P200 and reduced N300 amplitudes (suggesting efficient later processing). These findings indicate that recruiters dynamically allocate attention based on academic prestige (P200) and evaluate semantic congruence between education and employer reputation (N300), providing neurophysiological evidence for educational bias in hiring.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/6/832internship enterpriseelite universityERPsP200N300 |
| spellingShingle | Bin Ling Yihan Wang How Educational Background Influences Recruitment Evaluation: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials Behavioral Sciences internship enterprise elite university ERPs P200 N300 |
| title | How Educational Background Influences Recruitment Evaluation: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials |
| title_full | How Educational Background Influences Recruitment Evaluation: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials |
| title_fullStr | How Educational Background Influences Recruitment Evaluation: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Educational Background Influences Recruitment Evaluation: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials |
| title_short | How Educational Background Influences Recruitment Evaluation: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials |
| title_sort | how educational background influences recruitment evaluation evidence from event related potentials |
| topic | internship enterprise elite university ERPs P200 N300 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/6/832 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT binling howeducationalbackgroundinfluencesrecruitmentevaluationevidencefromeventrelatedpotentials AT yihanwang howeducationalbackgroundinfluencesrecruitmentevaluationevidencefromeventrelatedpotentials |