THE INFLUENCE OF INDIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE ON RATINGS OF PRESENT PERFORMANCE - THE EFFECTS OF JOB FAMILIARITY AND RATER TRAINING

In a 2 x 2 x 2 crossed factorial design, trained or untrained subjects viewed a videotape and evaluated performance on either a familiar (co llege lecturer) or unfamiliar (salesperson) job. Prior to viewing the videotape, some subjects reviewed positive information about the ratee 's prior performance, whereas other subjects did not review any prior performance information. To determine whether assimilation or contrast effects occurred, we compared ratings provided by subjects who review ed positive information about prior performance with ratings provided by subjects who did not review any prior performance information. A th ree-way interaction was obtained. Ratings of performance on the famili ar job by untrained or trained subjects revealed only a small assimila tion effect. However, when rating performance on the unfamiliar job, a large assimilation effect was observed among untrained subjects, wher eas a large contrast effect was observed among trained subjects. The r esults indicate that rater error training may reverse, rather than red uce or eliminate, rating errors that arise from knowledge of a ratee's prior performance. Implications for further understanding and reducin g assimilation and contrast effects are discussed.