Self-Esteem as a Source of Raters' Bias in Peer Evaluation

Abstract

Peer rating has received considerable attention with regard to biasing factors that emanate either from the group situation or from the raters' and ratees' interpersonal relationships. This study examined self-esteem, one of yet a third source of biasing factors—intrapersonal characteristics of the rater—which might affect peer evaluations. A sample of 93 undergraduate and gtaduate students enrolled in six classes rated class members' performance on oral presentations and then completed a measure of self-esteem. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial analysis of variance showed self-esteem had a significant effect on peer ratings. Implications for validity of peer ratings given by raters of high and low self-esteem are discussed. In support of past findings, affinity was also shown to have a significant effect on ratings.