Rationale: Observers rate the same behaviors differently based on the perceived characteristics of the subjects. For example, female musicians were more likely to be hired when a “blind” audition process was used, during which the hiring committee is not aware of the sex of any of the auditioning musicians.¹ Observers, too, were found to rate the behaviors of those who were of their own sex differently.² Even accents made a difference. People viewed speakers with accents like theirs as being more knowledgeable than different-accent speakers, even when the different-accent speaker was more knowledgeable.³

Rationale: Because of the potential for bias, the less demographic information known about those being observed/interviewed, the more accurate the objective data. However, there are instances when it is important to have more advanced knowledge about those being observed/interviewed in order to help direct what is being looked for in the observation or the specific questions asked in the interview. When working with deaf populations, it is important to know the communication mode that is used; i.e. American Sign Language, an assistive listening device, lip reading and speech, Mexican Sign Language, etc.