The effect of sexual orientation discrimination on hiring intention: An experimental research

LGBTI+ individuals are subjected to discrimination and harassment in almost every field of life. This study aims to examine discrimination against LGBTI+ individuals during hiring process in Turkey and to reveal possible discrimination in terms of applicant's sexual orientation and biological sex by using a fictitious scenario. Following an experimental method, the study used hiring intention, taste-based discrimination and statistical discrimination in measuring sexual orientation discrimination. Factors causing discrimination were determined as sexual orientation (homosexual/heterosexual) and biological sex (male/female) and accordingly, 4 different fictitious resumes were generated. The study was conducted with the participation of 224 graduate students who identify themselves as heterosexuals. Participants were asked to imagine themselves as an employer and to screen the resume of a fictitious job candidate for a sales consultant position. Thereafter, participants were asked to answer some questions borrowed from Baert and De Pauw (2014), about hiring intention, taste-based discrimination and statistical discrimination. In order to test hypotheses of the present research, 2X2 Between-Groups Factorial ANOVA analysis is conducted with the average scores of variables and questionnarie items serving as dependent variables. Findings showed that job candidate's sexual orientation had significant effects on taste-based discrimination and also on statistical discrimination, however not on hiring intention. It was also not observed any significant effect of binary interaction of candidate's sexual orientation and biological sex on dependent variables. Lastly, a significant effect of triple interaction of candidate's sexual orientation, candidate's biological sex and participant's biological sex is reported on statistical discrimination. This study, which revealed discrimination faced by LGBTI+ individuals in the work environment, will be an efficient guide for managers and recruitment specialists who wants to take action in diminishing anti-gay attitudes and behaviours. Moreover, the findings of the study will also enlighten future studies. Keywords Sexual orientation, discrimination, intention to hire, gender, LGBT, experimental study