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Trial Title Sticky Stereotypes: Supervisor Identity Sticky Stereotypes: Manager Identity
Abstract Research shows that U.S. employers still exhibit racial biases against Black job seekers, and Black employees in predominantly white workplaces often experience higher turnover rates and fewer promotions than their counterparts. However, limited research has examined whether and how the racial identity of business leaders may disrupt discriminatory practices and behavior. Evidence suggests that diverse leadership among high-ranking individuals in a company can lead to increased managerial and staff diversity. Our proposed study examines how Black leadership in the talent management process impacts the screening of diverse job candidates. To investigate this, we will post an authentic job opening for research assistants and recruit freelance hiring professionals to assist us in the initial round of application reviews. Prior to review, the hiring professionals will be randomly assigned to Black or White supervisor. Our experiment will investigate whether the racial identity of the supervisor influences how hiring professionals evaluate diverse talent and make hiring recommendations. Research shows that U.S. employers still exhibit racial biases against Black job seekers, and Black employees in predominantly white workplaces often experience higher turnover rates and fewer promotions than their counterparts. However, limited research has examined whether and how the racial identity of business leaders may disrupt discriminatory practices and behavior. Evidence suggests that diverse leadership among high-ranking individuals in a company can lead to increased managerial and staff diversity. Our proposed study examines how Black leadership in the talent management process impacts the screening of diverse job candidates. To investigate this, in a field experiment, we will post an authentic job opening and recruit freelance hiring professionals to assist us in the initial round of application reviews. Prior to review, the hiring professionals will be randomly assigned to a Black or White hiring manager. Our experiment will investigate whether the racial identity of the hiring manager influences how hiring professionals evaluate diverse talent and make hiring recommendations. In a series of pilots on Prolific before launching the full experiment, we will investigate how the race and gender identity of hiring managers affect evaluations of diverse talent and hiring recommendations for a fictitious job. We will recruit individuals on Prolific with hiring and entrepreneurial experience to participate in these pilots.
Last Published April 30, 2025 09:10 AM December 11, 2025 10:26 AM
Intervention (Public) To investigate this, we will post an authentic job opening for research assistants and recruit freelance hiring professionals to assist us in the initial round of application reviews. Prior to review, the hiring professionals will be randomly assigned to a supervisor. In a field experiment, we will post an authentic job opening and recruit freelance hiring professionals to assist us in the initial round of application reviews. Prior to review, the hiring professionals will be randomly assigned to a hiring manager.
Intervention End Date December 31, 2025 June 30, 2026
Primary Outcomes (End Points) hiring recommendations by race, perceived fit of candidates by race interview and hiring recommendations by applicant race; evaluations of candidates by race
Primary Outcomes (Explanation) quantitative scores and relative ranks
Experimental Design (Public) Prior to review, the hiring professionals will be randomly assigned to a supervisor. They will see their name, a picture, and a short bio of the supervisor. Prior to review, the hiring professionals will be randomly assigned to a hiring manager. They will see their name, a picture (in some arms), and a short bio.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms 750 screeners assigned to each supervisor arm 750 screeners assigned to each manager arm
Power calculation: Minimum Detectable Effect Size for Main Outcomes TBD
Keyword(s) Behavior, Firms And Productivity, Labor Behavior, Firms And Productivity, Gender, Labor
Intervention (Hidden) Prior to review, the hiring professionals will be randomly assigned to either a Black or White supervisor. Our experiment will investigate whether the racial identity of the supervisor influences how hiring professionals evaluate diverse talent and make hiring recommendations. Prior to application review, the hiring professionals will be randomly assigned to either a Black or White hiring manager. Our experiment will investigate whether the racial identity of the hiring manger influences how hiring professionals evaluate diverse talent and make hiring recommendations.
Secondary Outcomes (End Points) characteristics prioritized by the hiring manager
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