NCJ Number
46003
Journal
POLICE LAW QUARTERLY Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 29-33
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A BRIEF GENERAL CONSIDERATION OF PERSONNEL PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL SYSTEMS IS PRESENTED, AND THE PREFERABILITY OF A FORCED-CHOICE EVALUATION SYSTEM OVER OTHER TYPES IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IDEALLY, AN APPRAISAL SYSTEM SHOULD SERVE AS A TOOL FOR SYSTEMATICALLY AND OBJECTIVELY EVALUATING THE EMPLOYEE'S CAPABILITIES. MOST RATING SYSTEMS RELY ON A NUMERICAL RATING SCALE. HOWEVER A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS OCCUR IN THE USE OF SUCH A SYSTEM: SOCIALIZATION BETWEEN SUPERVISORS AND SUBORDINATES MAY INFLUENCE THE RATINGS, A TENDENCY EXISTS TO OVERRATE ALL QUALITIES RATED, AND POLICIES REQUIRING JUSTIFICATION FOR EXTREME RATINGS MAY RESULT IN A TENDENCY TO LIMIT RATINGS TO A MIDDLE RANGE. THESE ERRORS SERIOUSLY REDUCE THE VALIDITY OF THE RATING AND REDUCE ITS UTILITY AS A MEANS OF PROVIDING REWARD OR RECOGNITION, PROVIDING EMPLOYEE GUIDANCE, OR IDENTIFYING TRAINING NEEDS OR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL. IN ADDITION, RATING SYSTEMS MAY SERVE AS A MOTIVATIONAL DEVICE WHICH FOSTERS GOOD PERFORMANCE. TO AVOID MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE OHIO STATE POLICE HAVE BEEN USING A FORCED-CHOICE EVALUATION METHOD. THE FORCED-CHOICE METHOD CONSISTS OF 20 TO 25 INDEPENDENT SETS OF PHRASES. EACH SET CONTAINS FOUR POSITIVE STATEMENTS OF QUALITIES DESIRABLE IN A POLICE OFFICER WHICH DIFFER IN DEGREE. FOR EACH SET THE SUPERVISOR SELECTS TWO PHRASES WHICH BEST DESCRIBE THE EMPLOYEE. THE SUPERVISOR THEN TURNS THE RESULTS OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR WHO REVIEWS THE RESULTS IN TERMS OF AN ESTABLISHED PREFERENCE INDEX COMPILED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR. BASED ON THIS ANALYSIS, THE ADMINISTRATOR WILL ADD HIS OWN COMMENTS AND IDENTIFY TRAINING NEEDS. RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION ARE THEN DISCUSSED WITH THE EMPLOYEE. THIS DISCUSSION SERVES A NUMBER OF PURPOSES. IT STIMULATES GREATER EMPLOYEE EFFICIENCY AND BETTER PREFORMANCE AND IMPROVES JOB SATISFACTION BY ENCOURAGING PRIDE IN THE EMPLOYEE'S SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE, PROVIDING FEEDBACK, AND INFORMING THE EMPLOYEE THAT HE IS CONSIDERED HELPFUL AND VALUABLE TO HIS ASSOCIATES AND SUPERIORS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE FORCED CHOICE METHOD OF POLICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION MAY RESULT IN AN IMPROVED AND MORE EFFECTIVE WORK FORCE. (JAP)