The selective perception of managers revisited

Results of a systematic replication of studies by Dearborn and Simon and by Walsh suggest that differences in their conclusions resulted from differences in their experimental procedures. Managers are broader perceivers when they are encouraged to identify more problems. Also, contrary to Walsh's and others' theories, in this replication belief structure did not mediate the relationship between functional experience and selective perception. In addition, predominantly negative relationships were found between areas of experience and perceptions, indicating that functional experience may produce selective imperception as well as selective perception.