ACCURACY IN PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS

Rating accuracy, measured as agreement with expert ratings and as ability to predict behavior, was investigated in a sample of student teachers and school administrators evaluating the classroom performance of a focal teacher. Predictive accuracy was significantly related to accuracy as agreement with experts on the performance dimension most closely associated with the behavior predicted. Also, the two accuracy measures were more strongly related when the ratee's behavior was predicted first, followed by performance evaluation than when the ratee's performance was evaluated first, followed by behavioral prediction. An examination of various rater characteristics revealed that raters' perceived similarity to the ratee in attitudes about teaching were related to both accuracy measures. Implications for performance accuracy research and rater accuracy training are discussed. © 1992.