Performance Rating Validity: The Relationship of Objective and Subjective Measures of Performance

Abstract

Substantial research has been conducted on how various factors such as personal traits of ratees and raters, organizational contexts, and rating format affect per formance ratings. However, a question receiving considerably less attention has been the degree to which actual differences in job performance account for variations in performance ratings. This study examined the relationship be tween subjective and objective performance measures for vocational/rehabilita tion counselors. No relationship was found between the subjective and objective measures. Evidence was found to suggest that the subjective measure reflected more the quality of the interpersonal relationship between the supervisor and the subordinate as opposed to either the quality or quantity of the subordinate's performance.