Study: chat-based screening aids candidates with disability

New research from Sapia.ai suggests that chat-based screening tools can level the playing field for candidates with a disability. Conducted with global responses from 595 self-reporting a disability and 595 randomly selected individuals without a disability, the study controlled for gender, race, and answer length distributions.

Presented at the Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology conference in the United States, the study revealed a minimal difference in the candidate passing rate between those reporting a disability and those without. The data specifically focused on individuals declaring dyslexia, autism, or a stutter. Results indicated the percentage of candidates who passed the initial screen using the Sapia.ai platform, with the practical impact across groups measured as the effect size.

The results showed that 35.63% of those without a disability proceeded to the second round of screening, compared to 30.86% of those with a disability, yielding an effect size of 0.25. The effect size indicates a potentially noticeable, but not substantial, impact.

Breakdown by specific disabilities revealed that individuals on the autism spectrum had a passing rate of 31.94% with an effect size of 0.14. Candidates with dyslexia showed a passing rate of 32.72% and an effect size of 0.24, while those with a stutter had a passing rate of 32.69% with an effect size of 0.18.

Sapia.ai's technology functions by posing five questions to candidates via an AI-powered chat platform. There is no time limit for candidates to complete their responses, allowing them ample time to edit and think through their answers. Most candidates finish the chat within thirty minutes on average. Based on the responses, the technology generates an overall score and ranking of candidates, aligning their results with the required traits and skills for the role.

Barb Hyman, CEO and founder of Sapia.ai, commented, "Our latest research adds yet another argument for the use of chat-based tools in your recruitment process. Not only are they preferred by women candidates, but they level the playing field for those applying with a disability. Candidates with a disability already fight against unconscious bias in the hiring process. Many of the tasks allocated to them during recruitment -- such as video interviewing -- discriminate against them. This data shows that a chat-based interviewing, as an initial means of screening, ensures your second-round candidate pool fairly represents all aspects of the community."

Sapia.ai aims to improve diversity outcomes by helping eliminate unconscious bias in candidate screening. The company's platform, available in over 10 languages, aims to accommodate even those who do not speak English as a first language, thereby putting all talent at ease during the hiring process.

The organisation positions itself within the realm of ethical AI solutions, contributing significantly to the scientific discourse on AI’s role in hiring processes. Trusted by numerous global brands, Sapia.ai accelerates and enhances recruitment and promotion processes with its conversational, Natural Language Processing (NLP)-based chat AI. The platform assesses and screens talent at scale, offering insights for both candidates and hiring teams.