UNDERSTANDING FRAME-OF-REFERENCE TRAINING - THE IMPACT OF TRAINING ON THE RECALL OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Research on the cognitive mechanisms underlying frame-of-reference (FOR) rater training is extended by examining the impact of FOR training on the recall of performance information. It was hypothesized that the shared performance schema fostered by FOR training would serve as the basis for information processing, resulting in better recall for behavioral performance information as well as more accurate ratings of individual ratees. FOR-trained subjects (N = 174) produced more accurate performance ratings, as measured by L. Cronbach's (1955) differential accuracy and differential elevation components, than did control-trained subjects (N = 142). FOR-trained subjects also recalled more behaviors, representing more performance dimensions, and exhibited less evaluative clustering and a larger relationship between memory and judgment. No differences were found between control and FOR subjects on measures of recognition accuracy. Implications for the evaluative judgment process are discussed.