Stability of performance: an interactionist perspective

Article Abstract:

The stability of performance and the reliability of its measurement have long been sources of discussion and research in personnel psychology. In the present study, the long-term stability of performance was assessed within an interactionist framework. This framework indicates that an interaction between the person and the situation determines performance and, subsequently, its stability. Specifically, the stability of student ratings of faculty teaching were examined over a 6.5 year (13 semester) interval. Results indicated that, consistent with the interactionist perspective, teaching ratings were most stable for faculty members teaching a particular course (i.e., more stable than ratings of faculty or ratings of courses). In additional analyses, the pattern of stability over time was explored; the results suggest that an asymptote is reached rapidly. Implications for criterion data collection in personnel studies are discussed. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Psychological aspects, Performance, Human resource management, Psychological research

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A passion for service: using content analysis to explicate service climate themes

Article Abstract:

Climate is conceptualized as employee perceptions of one or more strategic imperatives made manifest through work place routines and rewards. Service was the strategic imperative studied here. Notes from 97 panel interviews with 350 financial service company employees were analyzed for content to explicate the themes panelists use when asked to discuss the service climate of their organization. Quantitative analyses of the 33 coded themes revealed the routines and rewards most strongly related to service passion: responsiveness to consumers, hiring procedures (who and how), training (availability and content), and the way service is delivered. Some themes were also significantly related to a survey measure panelists completed giving their perceptions of customer views of service. Both the substantive findings and the content analysis methodology are discussed and implications for future climate research are identified. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Financial services industry, Financial services, Services, Corporate culture, Customer service, Services industry, Service industries

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Changes in raters' perceptions of subordinates: a catastrophe model

Article Abstract:

Prior information bias refers to the influence of previous information on subsequent evaluations of an employee. In the present study, a cusp-catastrophe mathematical model of this bias was proposed. The catastrophe model predicts that there are two patterns by which the biasing effect of prior information diminishes over time. One pattern predicts a smooth, continuous decrement in the bias, whereas the other pattern predicts a sudden, catastrophic decrement. Raters' locus of causality attributions were predicted to differentiate between these two patterns. Results partially supported our hypotheses. Implications of the results for the prior information bias and for future catastrophe modeling efforts are discussed. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Organizational research, Employee performance appraisals, Performance appraisals, Prejudices, Prejudice

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