AGE, RACIAL, AND GENDER BIAS AS A FUNCTION CRITERION SPECIFICITY - A TEST OF EXPERT TESTIMONY

We examined a common expert witness theme in EEO cases that rating bias in the form of ethnic, age, or gender differences in personnel decisions based on performance appraisals is moderated by criterion specificity or rating scale format. Few studies have investigated this issue and results do not support the position that the more objective or specific criteria for assessment will result in smaller differences between groups based on age, gender or ethnic classification.