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Understanding performance ratings: dynamic performance, attributions, and rating purpose
1Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Singapore Management University, 50 Stamford Road, Singapore. jreb@smu.edu.sg
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|January 21, 2010
Summary
Performance ratings are influenced by how performance changes over time and the rater's purpose. These findings offer insights into performance attributions and rating accuracy for managers.
Area of Science:
- Organizational Psychology
- Human Resources Management
- Performance Management
Background:
- Understanding how dynamic performance influences employee evaluations is crucial.
- Attributions of performance (ability, effort, causality) and rating purpose (administrative, developmental) are key factors in performance appraisal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how dynamic performance characteristics (mean, trend, variation) affect performance attributions and ratings.
- To examine the interaction between dynamic performance and rating purpose on performance evaluations.
- To extend findings across different cultures and managerial experience levels.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted, analyzing performance data and rater judgments.
- Study 1 focused on attributions of dynamic performance.
- Study 2 examined the interplay between dynamic performance and rating purpose.
Main Results:
- Performance mean and trend influenced judgments of ratee ability and effort.
- Performance variation affected the locus of causality attributions.
- Performance mean had a greater impact on administrative ratings, while trend and variation influenced developmental ratings more.
- Performance trend interacted with mean and variability to predict overall ratings.
- Main effects were replicated across cultures and with experienced managers.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic performance characteristics significantly impact performance attributions and ratings.
- The purpose of performance ratings moderates the influence of performance dynamics.
- These findings enhance our understanding of performance appraisal in diverse contexts.
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