PEER EVALUATION IN SELF-MANAGING WORK GROUPS

A series of 3 experiments with business students examined how a rater' s relative performance affects peer ratings. In Study 1, with 36 group s consisting of 178 Ss, outstanding contributors were the most discrim inating evaluators. In Study 2, with 39 groups consisting of 186 Ss, i ndividuals rated their own performance as well as that of their peers. Once again, outstanding contributors were the most discriminating eva luators, and self-evaluations were higher than the respective ratings received from peers. In Study 3, with 12 groups consisting of 61 Ss, b elow-average and average contributors may have discounted their indivi dual performance outcomes by making allowances for external factors th at affected their contributions. Together, these studies indicate that self-other comparisons in a work group influence peer-performance eva luations.