Jw. Hedge et Ms. Teachout, Exploring the concept of acceptability as a criterion for evaluating performance measures, GROUP ORG M, 25(1), 2000, pp. 22-44
Although the value of an appraisal system traditionally has been judged acc
ording to reliability and validity indexes, more recent discussion suggests
that user acceptance may be critical to a system's successful implementati
on and continued use. This study examined the notion of using acceptability
as a criterion for evaluating performance appraisal techniques. Data analy
ses indicated that motivation to rate, trust in others, and situational con
straints were predictive of acceptability for both supervisors and job incu
mbents. In addition, differences in acceptability were found across rating
sources and rating forms, with supervisors' perceptions more favorable than
job incumbents' and a global rating form significantly less acceptable to
all raters. Results are discussed in terms of usefulness of an acceptabilit
y criterion in applied research.