Rater Evaluation Errors

When evaluating an employee’s performance, be aware of the following evaluation errors:

Definition Example Recency Effect The tendency to evaluate an Terry gave her employee a low rating on employee’s performance based Teamwork and Cooperation because he did on his/her most recent not solicit input from another department behavior in the last project. However, throughout the year, Terry had actively worked with other groups from various departments. Halo Effect The tendency to make Pat’s outstanding communication skills generalizations from one caused his manager to give him high ratings aspect of the employee’s on other competencies where he actually performance to all other needed development. behaviors Similar-to-me Effect The tendency of a rater to rate Karen was a manager who was happily employees who resemble married with two children. She tended to themselves more highly than rate other women with families higher than other employees who are their performance warranted. different from the rater Central Tendency The tendency to rate Michael did not want to confront his employees in the middle even employee with negative feedback therefore when their performance he gave him with a Successful Performer warrants a higher or lower rating on all the assigned competencies. rating Positive or Negative The tendency to rate Diane rates all her employees lower than Leniency employees higher or lower they deserve because she has created than their performance impossibly high standards for Exceptional warrants Performance. Contrast Effect The tendency to evaluate Chris had an outstanding employee on his employees in comparison to team that always exceeded expectations their peers rather than against and therefore gave all other employees the standards of their jobs Successful Performer – Minus ratings when in fact they met the expectations of the job.

Ways to improve rater accuracy:  Focus on behavior over time  Gather behavioral examples to validate performance  Look for patterns and trends  Verify your understanding with the employee

DOAS Human Resources Administration 1 Revised 5/2012