Amanda Winter worked as a public engagement coordinator at Safe Food Alliance until three months ago when her manager, Laura Morris, promoted her to the position of a sustainable food campaigner. However, soon after this, Laura noticed that Amanda was facing major difficulties in achieving campaign milestones and the project was falling behind schedule due to her lack of performance. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument that Laura was influenced by the halo effect in her decision to promote Amanda?
A) Laura is known to micromanage most of her projects.
B) Laura uses cultural stereotyping in order to speed up the process of decision making.
C) Laura has made good hiring decisions in the past and is known to be an unbiased judge of character.
D) Laura sat in on only one of Amanda's presentations prior to giving her the promotion.
E) Laura worked closely with Amanda over a period of eight months.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When we draw a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic, such as intelligence, sociability, or appearance, a halo effect is operating. A single trait is allowed to influence the overall impression of the person being judged. The fact that Laura sat in on only one of Amanda's presentations prior to giving her the promotion indicates that she was influenced by the skills that Amanda displayed during that single encounter. Her decision was not based on a comprehensive evaluation of Amanda's abilities and performance. The fact that Laura is known to micromanage most of her tasks weakens the argument that Laura experienced the halo effect. The fact that Laura uses cultural stereotyping in order to speed up the process of decision making is irrelevant to the argument because it talks about a halo effect and not cultural stereotyping. If Laura has made good hiring decisions in the past and is known to be an unbiased judge of character, it weakens the argument that she was influenced by the halo effect. If Laura worked closely with Amanda, she is most likely to know her strengths and weaknesses and would not be influenced by the halo effect.

Amanda Winter Worked as a Public Engagement Coordinator at Safe