THE EFFECTS OF SOURCE CREDIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE RATING DISCREPANCY ON REACTIONS TO MULTIPLE RATERS

Using multiple feedback sources, the present study investigated the ef fects of source credibility and performance rating discrepancy on reci pients' reactions. Individuals performed an ambiguous group task, rate d their own performance on the task, and were later provided bogus fee dback ostensibly from their peers and an expert rater. Individuals rea cted toward the feedback and the source of the feedback as a function of the rating discrepancy and credibility of the feedback source. Gene rally, more credible sources and their feedback were evaluated more fa vorably. However, as predicted, this effect was overcome by performanc e rating discrepancy in the predicted conditions. The results show the importance of studying the interactive effects of message and source characteristics on individuals' reactions.