the performance appraisal milieu: a multilevel analysis of context effects in performance ratings

The purpose of this study was to take an inductive approach in examining the extent to which organizational contexts represent significant sources of variance in supervisor performance ratings, and to explore various factors that explain contextual rating variability. using archival field performance rating data from a large state law enforcement organization, we used a multilevel modeling approach to partition the variance in ratings due to ratees, raters, as well as rating contexts. results suggest that much of what often be interpreted as idiosyncratic rater variance, actually reflect systematic rating variability across contexts. in addition, performance-related and non-performance factors including contextual rating tendencies accounted for significant rating variability. supervisor ratings represent the most common approach for measuring job performance, and understanding the nature and sources of rating variability is important for research and practice. given the many uses of performance rating data, our findings suggest that continuing to identify contextual sources of variability is particularly important for addressing criterion problems, and improving ratings as a form of performance measurement. numerous performance appraisal models suggest the importance of context; however, previous research had not partitioned the variance in supervisor ratings due to omnibus context effects in organizational settings. the use of a multilevel modeling approach allowed the examination of contextual influences, while controlling for ratee and rater characteristics.