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University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The use of criminal background checks: does type of offense influence likelihood to interview, likelihood to hire, and salary?

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

To protect organizations from liabilities and litigation, background checks are becoming increasingly common during the hiring process. Correspondingly, many individuals have committed criminal offenses which often excludes them from being selected for a job. This study examines the effects of criminal offenses, such as those often identified through background checks, on selection decisions such as interviewing, hiring, and starting salary. For this study, a résumé with an accompanying background check similar to what is used in many organizations were provided to professionals and to undergraduate psychology and business students at a midsized university located in the southeastern United States. As hypothesized, criminal offenses were found to negatively impact job applicants on selection decisions except salary.

Degree

thesis:*
Grantor dc:publisher
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sentell, Brittany
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Weathington, Bart L.
  • Biderman, Michael D.; O'Leary, Brian J.
  • College of Arts and Sciences

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Language dc:language
English, eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/441
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholar.utc.edu:theses-1583

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Base URL
scholar.utc.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sentell, Brittany. The use of criminal background checks: does type of offense influence likelihood to interview, likelihood to hire, and salary?. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, https://scholar.utc.edu/theses/441