Investigating Effects of Providing Information and Professional Experience on Production of Stories in Response to Past-Behavior Questions

Past-behavior questions invite applicants to describe their behavior in a past work-related situation, that is, to tell a story about that situation. However, applicants often fail to produce stories in response to such questions. In two experiments (n = 91 and n = 102), we investigated the effects of providing information about questions and professional experience (2 × 2 between-subjects design) on the production of stories and interview performance. In Experiment 1, providing information and professional experience did not affect story production, but professional experience increased performance. In Experiment 2, we enhanced the manipulation of information, giving more explicit guidance about expected responses and increasing the contrast in professional experience. Experienced participants received better performance ratings than inexperienced ones. Neither providing information nor professional experience affected the production of stories, but both affected performance. Story narrative quality was coded post hoc in both studies. Providing information and professional experience did not affect narrative quality in Experiment 1 but did in Experiment 2. Results add to our understanding of individual differences affecting responses to past-behavior questions and have practical implications for facilitating appropriate responses.