The Future of Education
The Impact of Evaluation Source on Trust: The Mediating Role of Perceived Fairness
Marcel Schindler, Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (Germany)
Vitus Haberzettl, Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (Germany)
Abstract
The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Human Resource Management has fundamentally transformed organizational decision-making, particularly in evaluative processes such as performance appraisals and candidate screening [1]. While AI systems promise enhanced objectivity and efficiency, their implementation often encounters significant skepticism, a phenomenon known as algorithm aversion [2]. This research investigates the underlying psychological mechanisms of this resistance by examining the impact of the evaluation source—human versus AI—on trust [3], identifying perceived fairness [4] as a critical mediator in this relationship. Utilizing a quantitative experimental approach with a sample of $N=62$, a mediation analysis was conducted using the JAMM module in jamovi, following established regression-based frameworks [5]. The empirical results demonstrate a significant trust gap, with human evaluators receiving substantially higher trust ratings than AI systems. Most importantly, the analysis reveals a full mediation effect: the lower levels of trust attributed to AI evaluations are entirely explained by a decrease in perceived fairness. Once fairness is accounted for, the direct influence of the evaluation source on trust becomes non-significant. These findings suggest that algorithm aversion in HRM is primarily driven by concerns regarding procedural justice rather than a rejection of technology itself. Consequently, organizations must prioritize transparency and explainability [6] to foster employee acceptance. This study contributes to the literature on AI trust by identifying fairness as the central lever for overcoming resistance in automated HRM contexts.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Human Resource Management, Trust in Automation, Algorithm Aversion, Perceived Fairness, Mediation Analysis
REFERENCES
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