Experts use compensatory strategies more often than novices in hiring decisions

Abstract

Previous research focusing on decision making has reported that most novices use an extensive set of cues in a compensatory way to make their decisions (i.e., compensatory strategies), whereas most experts use a limited set of relevant cues in a non-compensatory way (i.e., non-compensatory strategies). We tested the generalizability of these conclusions in a personnel selection context with students as novices and recruiters as experts. In a realistic setting, we investigated the effect of expertise on a subjective and an objective measure of decision making strategies. Results showed that, in contrast with previous research, both novices and experts mostly used compensatory strategies and that experts used them more often than novices. Further, consistently with previous research, experts allocated more importance than novices to cues predicting future job performance. We discussed theoretical and practical implications of our Findings.