Criterion Validation of Two Approaches to Performance Appraisal : The Behavioral Observation Scale and the Relative Percentile Method

We compared the criterion validity of a new “relative” performance appraisal format (percentile-based ranking) to that of an “absolute” format (BOS) in a sample of 88 unit managers. Overall, our results suggest that the relative format has higher criterion-related validity than does the absolute format. These findings contradict conventional wisdom that format-related differences in measures of performance are minimal and that relative approaches to performance appraisal are inferior