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Journal of Business and Psychology

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01-03-2015

Examining Applicant Reactions to the Use of Social Networking Websites in Pre-Employment Screening

Authors: J. William Stoughton, Lori Foster Thompson, Adam W. Meade

Published in: Journal of Business and Psychology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Purpose

Social networking websites such as Facebook allow employers to gain information about applicants which job seekers may not otherwise share during the hiring process. This multi-study investigation examined how job seekers react to this screening practice.

Design/Methodology

Study 1 (N = 175) employed a realistic selection scenario examining applicant reactions to prospective employers reviewing their social networking website. Study 2 (N = 208) employed a simulated selection scenario where participants rated their experience with a proposed selection process.

Findings

In Study 1, social networking website screening caused applicants to feel their privacy had been invaded, which ultimately resulted in lower organizational attraction. Applicants low in agreeableness had the most adverse reactions to social networking website screening. In Study 2, screening again caused applicants to feel their privacy had been invaded, resulting in lower organizational attraction and increased intentions to litigate. The organization’s positive/negative hiring decision did not moderate the relationship between screening and justice.

Implications

The results suggest organizations should consider the costs and benefits of social media screening which could reduce the attractiveness of the organization. Additionally, applicants may need to change their conceptualization of social networking websites, viewing them through the eyes of a prospective employer.

Originality/Value

This investigation proposed and tested an explanatory model of the effects of screening practices on organizational outcomes demonstrating how electronic monitoring, privacy, and applicant reactions can be integrated to better understand responses to technological innovations in the workplace.

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Results of manipulation check items with respect to consistency of screening (a moderator) revealed no differences between the inconsistent screening condition and their consistent screening counterparts, see Table 1; moreover, consistency did not satisfy the conditions for model building and was accordingly dropped from further analysis.

Study 2 also collected data on screening consistency, background analysis revealed a lack of efficacy in the manipulation, therefore this data were dropped from further analysis.

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Title: Examining Applicant Reactions to the Use of Social Networking Websites in Pre-Employment Screening
Authors: J. William Stoughton
Lori Foster Thompson
Adam W. Meade
Publication date: 01-03-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Business and Psychology / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0889-3268
Electronic ISSN: 1573-353X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-013-9333-6

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