Unconscious bias in the HRM literature: Towards a critical-reflexive approach

Autor(en)
Kai Inga Liehr Storm, Lea Katharina Reiss, Elisabeth Anna Günther, Maria Clar-Novak , Sara Louise Muhr
Abstrakt

This article presents a systematic review of the human resource management (HRM) literature to document how the term “unconscious bias” is defined, theorized, and operationalized in a sample of 518 articles in the field. The review identifies four main thematic streams in which unconscious bias is commonly discussed: (1) the biased individual; (2) bias as binary; (3) bias in moments of decisions; and (4) bias as a fixable issue. Based on this thematic mapping of the literature, a critical-reflexive approach is outlined to shed light on and challenge taken-for-granted assumptions, interrogate how arguments are brought forth and open up new avenues for future research. This article contributes to the existing HRM literature in three ways. First, it shows patterns in existing theory, making explicit the inconsistencies and tacit assumptions in the ways in which unconscious bias is theorized in HRM research. Second, it presents a critical-reflexive approach to researching unconscious bias. Third, based on this approach, it suggests avenues for future research on how to move beyond these inconsistencies and assumptions.

Organisation(en)
Institut für Lehrer*innenbildung
Externe Organisation(en)
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU)
Journal
Human Resource Management Review
Band
33
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2023.100969
Publikationsdatum
09-2023
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
502026 Personalmanagement, 504013 Gender Mainstreaming
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 5 – Geschlechtergleichheit
Link zum Portal
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/de/publications/unconscious-bias-in-the-hrm-literature-towards-a-criticalreflexive-approach(b09fe046-5e6f-4543-a17e-f094301ecbd5).html