FYI, here's the study I was talking about

  • News
  • Thread starter Chemicalsuperfreak
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Study
In summary, a study conducted by Bertrand and Mullainathan (2003) found that job applicants with African-American names were significantly less likely to receive callbacks compared to those with white names. This discrimination also affected the reward for having a better resume. The study suggests that training programs may not be enough to overcome discrimination in the hiring process. The experiment also revealed that employers were more likely to discriminate based on the neighborhood the applicant lived in, regardless of race. However, there was little variation in discrimination levels across different industry categories and employer types. Another finding was that employers in more African-American neighborhoods were slightly less likely to discriminate.
  • #1
Chemicalsuperfreak
225
0
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
"The 50 percent gap in callback rates is statistically very significant, Bertrand and Mullainathan note in Are Emily and Greg More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination (NBER Working Paper No. 9873). It indicates that a white name yields as many more callbacks as an additional eight years of experience. Race, the authors add, also affects the reward to having a better resume. Whites with higher quality resumes received 30 percent more callbacks than whites with lower quality resumes. But the positive impact of a better resume for those with Africa-American names was much smaller.
"While one may have expected that improved credentials may alleviate employers' fear that African-American applicants are deficient in some unobservable skills, this is not the case in our data," the authors write. "Discrimination therefore appears to bite twice, making it harder not only for African-Americans to find a job but also to improve their employability."
From a policy standpoint, this aspect of the findings suggests that training programs alone may not be enough to alleviate the barriers raised by discrimination, the authors write. "If African-Americans recognize how employers reward their skills, they may be rationally more reluctant than whites to even participate in these programs."
The experiment, conducted between July 2001 and January 2002, reveals several other aspects of discrimination. If the fictitious resume indicates that the applicant lives in a wealthier, or more educated, or more-white neighborhood, the callback rate rises. Interestingly, this effect does not differ by race. Indeed, if ghettos and bad neighborhoods are particularly stigmatizing for African-Americans, one might have expected them to be helped more than whites by having a "good" address.
Further, discrimination levels are statistically uniform across all the occupation and industry categories covered in the experiment. Federal contractors, sometimes regarded as more severely constrained by affirmative action laws, do not discriminate less. Neither do larger employers, or employers who explicitly state that they are "Equal Opportunity Employer" in their ads.
Another finding is that employers located in more African-American neighborhoods in Chicago are slightly less likely to discriminate. There is also little evidence that social background of applicants – suggested by the names used on resumes – drives the extent of discrimination.
 
  • #3
I'd like to compare this study to the study done several years ago that showed another comparision of names, not race related but with similar results.
Are you familiar with the study I'm referring to?
 
  • #4
Originally posted by kat
I'd like to compare this study to the study done several years ago that showed another comparision of names, not race related but with similar results.
Are you familiar with the study I'm referring to?
Is it one with male and female names, kat?
 

FAQ: FYI, here's the study I was talking about

What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of the study is to investigate or explore a specific topic or research question and gather data or evidence to support or refute a hypothesis.

What type of study was conducted?

The type of study conducted can vary depending on the research question and methodology. It could be a survey, experiment, observational study, case study, or a combination of these methods.

Who conducted the study?

The study was most likely conducted by a team of researchers or a specific individual who has expertise in the field of study. They may be affiliated with a university, research institution, or a scientific organization.

How was the data collected and analyzed?

The data was collected through various methods such as surveys, experiments, or observations. It was then organized, cleaned, and analyzed using statistical tools or qualitative analysis methods to draw conclusions and make interpretations.

What are the implications of the study?

The study's implications refer to the potential impact or significance of the findings on the scientific community, society, or a specific field of study. It can also discuss the limitations of the study and suggest future research directions.

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Back
Top