Perception of Physically Impaired Job Applicants: Effect of Dress, Credentials, and Rater's Sex

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Abstract
Male and female managerial level employers evaluated bogus physically impaired job applicants for whom dress and credentials had been varied. The research design was a 3x2x2 factorial, with the independent variables being applicant's appropriateness of dress (high, moderate, low), applicant's credentials (high, low), and respondent's sex (male, female). The dependent variables were personal characteristics ratings, recommendations to hire the applicant, and entry-level salary assignment. Both dress and credentials had a significant effect on ratings of personal characteristics as a group. Recommendations to hire were affected by dress and by credentials. Entry-level salary was affected by dress but not by credentials.