Date
8-6-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Robyn Brown
Keywords
curated social media, impression management, impression formation, dual process theory, cybervetting, personal brand, whole-person hiring, organizational fit
Disciplines
Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Benson, Stacey G., "Navigating the Digital Impression: A Grounded Theory Exploration of Impression Management, Personal Social Mediacuration, Cybervetting, and Whole-Person Hiring in the Hiring Process" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7336.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7336
Abstract
The interaction between job seekers and hiring managers within the social media space was examined through this grounded theory research. Undergraduate college students training to work in local Christian organizations and the hiring managers seeking to hire them were the two participant types who provided the rich data for this study. Study participants included 22 undergraduate students nearing graduation from a Christian university (in 3 focus groups) and 17 hiring managers from Christian churches and organizations who participated in individual interviews. Data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. The study gathered data from both groups to discern how social media curation decisions are made and how they shape the impressions formed by hiring managers. Four major themes emerged from the student participants: digital self presentation, faith-driven social media use, professional self positioning, and moral/social responsibility. Cybervetting as standard practice, red flags and disqualifying factors, positive indicators and green flags, alignment with organizational/cultural values, and evaluation mindset and ethical considerations were the key themes that emerged from the hiring manager interviews. As a result of researching this issue from two different participant perspectives, a deeper understanding of the relationship between social media curation and cybervetting was gained which led to the development of the Co-Constructed Digital Identity Loop. This theory describes how job seekers intentionally curate their online identities in anticipation of cybervetting, while hiring managers use that online information to assess character, values, and organizational fit. This unique dynamic highlights the growing role of social media in whole-person hiring and offers insight into the role of online personal branding.
