What is primacy bias in the context of interviewing?

Primacy bias refers to the cognitive tendency to give more weight or importance to the information or candidates that are presented first in a sequence. In the context of interviewing, this means that when interviewers assess candidates, they may unconsciously favor the first candidates they interview. This can affect their judgment and decision-making, as their initial impressions can set a benchmark that influences how they perceive subsequent candidates.

This bias is particularly relevant in interview scenarios because first impressions can strongly impact the overall evaluation of a candidate's qualifications and fit for the position. When an interviewer encounters a strong candidate first, they might subconsciously compare all following candidates against that initial standard, which can lead to an unfair advantage for those who are interviewed first and possibly a disadvantage for others who follow.

Other options regarding relevant experience, internal candidates, or the inclination to interview numerous candidates do not align with the definition of primacy bias and do not capture the influence of the initial presentation of information on judgment.