Publication Date

2024

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Santuzzi, Alecia M.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

In recent years, organizations have begun paying more attention to hiring people with disabilities because of evidence supporting direct and indirect benefits to the organization. The business case for disability outlines the economic benefits for hiring those with disabilities, such as lower rates of turnover and absenteeism. Despite the motivations to hire those with disabilities, this population continues to suffer from higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. The current project attempts to shed light on the mechanisms that can improve the effectiveness of hiring motivations and disability hiring rates. In two experimental studies, the effect of the business case on individual motivations and how these motivations subsequently impact impression formation and performance-related judgments was explored. Study 1 exposed participants to either the business case or control message and measured their effect on impression formation, motivation to process individuating information, and performance-related decisions for a job applicant who either disclosed a disability or did not. Study 2 built on these findings by manipulating accuracy and value motivations in the same job application scenario and examining the impact on impressions of the applicant after being exposed to new individuating information. While the results of these studies failed to support the predictions made in the hypotheses, exploratory analyses yielded noteworthy results. Future studies should continue to explore individual difference variables that may impact the effectiveness of organizational policies and practices that strive for the integration of workers with disabilities in the workplace.

Extent

130 pages

Language

en

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS