Abstract:

The scientific testing is a particular methodology within the field of management. In France, the term “scientific testing” is used to note the distinction with the “legal testing”. The scientific testing is a field experiment which allows an artificial reproduction of a potentially favorable situation in order to demonstrate unjustified preferences during a recruitment process. The objective of the testing is to reveal discriminatory hiring practices. However, and despite numerous testings, particularly in France, this method seems to suffer from an inaction in the managerial framework and weaknesses on the legal framework. In addition, this method tends to show its limits on the quantitative ground. Consequently, and to overcome these shortcomings, this paper pursues the dual objective of discussing managerial consequences of testing results and of a more complete approach of this method.