When good performance in one area influences evaluations in other areas, what is this appraisal error called?

The appraisal error known as the halo effect occurs when a good performance in one area positively influences evaluations in other areas of an individual's performance. This means that if a person excels in a particular aspect of their job, such as communication skills, evaluators might unconsciously assume that they also perform well in unrelated tasks, like technical skills or teamwork. This effect can lead to biased assessments, where the overall evaluation is skewed by a single positive attribute.

Understanding the halo effect is essential in performance evaluations because it highlights the importance of objectively assessing each area of performance without allowing one exceptional aspect to overshadow others. Evaluators should be aware of this bias to ensure a more accurate and fair appraisal process.