Why and under what circumstances is a hypothesis-consistent testing strategy preferred in interviews?

Jacques Philippe Leyens, Benoit Dardenne, Susan T. Fiske

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two studies examined hypothesis-consistent questions under goals of information seeking and empathy. In Study 1, observers rated the informativeness and empathy of questions classified as diagnostic or leading, and as matching or not matching a hypothesis (extroversion-introversion). In an impression formation setting, observers rated both matching and diagnostic questions as especially informative, but in an impression verification setting, they rated leading questions as especially informative. Across settings, matching and leading questions both displayed empathy. In Study 2, participants expected to interview an introverted or extroverted person, under either an information-seeking or an empathy goal. Interviewers favoured matching questions, especially under an empathy goal. Interviewers also selected more diagnostic than leading questions. Interviewers and observers both consider matching questions informative, with the added benefit of showing empathy to smooth the interaction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)259-274
Number of pages16
JournalBritish Journal of Social Psychology
Volume37
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1998

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Psychology

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