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First Impressions Matter. Interview Interactions and Interviewers' Subjective Measures

Author

Listed:
  • Doorley, Karina

    (Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin)

  • Sierminska, Eva

    (Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER))

Abstract

This note uses a unique dataset for Germany which contains interviewer-rated physical appearance assessments of survey respondents both before and after the interview to address three questions. Firstly, after the first impression of an individual's physical appearance, what characteristics make people appear more or less attractive to interviewers? We find that these differ widely by respondent gender. Second, how does this second impression vary by interviewer characteristics? We note differences by interview gender, education and age which has implications for the design of surveys which attempt to abstract "objective" measures of respondent characteristics from interviewers. Lastly, is the first impression of physical appearance most important in determining income or is there also a role for the second impression? Here we find that while it is the first impression which matters, the correlation between interviewer-rated attractiveness and income is higher if it is recorded by somebody of the same gender.

Suggested Citation

  • Doorley, Karina & Sierminska, Eva, 2023. "First Impressions Matter. Interview Interactions and Interviewers' Subjective Measures," IZA Discussion Papers 15949, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15949
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hamermesh, Daniel S & Biddle, Jeff E, 1994. "Beauty and the Labor Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(5), pages 1174-1194, December.
    2. Anindya Sen & Marcel-Cristian Voia & Frances R. Woolley, 2010. "Hot or Not: How Appearance Affects Earnings and Productivity in Academia," Carleton Economic Papers 10-07, Carleton University, Department of Economics.
    3. Biddle, Jeff E & Hamermesh, Daniel S, 1998. "Beauty, Productivity, and Discrimination: Lawyers' Looks and Lucre," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 16(1), pages 172-201, January.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • J70 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - General

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