Influence of female applicants' mode of dress on interviewers' perception of personal characteristics and subsequent hiring recommendations for middle management positions

An incomplete block design incorporating two simultaneous blocking variables (person and showing sequence) was used to isolate the effect of costume. Three-way least squares analysis of variance was used to test the hypotheses. Least squares means and standard errors were used to evaluate the sensitivity of the design in deter mining the effect of costume independently of other effects.

The results showed costume to have both a positive and signifigcant effect on the perception of each of the personal characteristics and on subsequent hiring recommendations. The findings led to the conclusion that a female applicant's mode of dress does provide an avenue for conveying the personal characteristics necessary for middle management and for improving the favorability of hiring recommendations received by the applicant.