Influence on Assessment

Presented by
Capt. Rodolfo A. Aspillaga
Introduction

• When planning assessment, the assessor must be aware of

various influences on the assessment process.
• This section will guide you in this respect.
• Assessment should be unobtrusive and should not interfere
with workplace activity
• All assessors can be influenced by number of factors and it is
helpful to be aware of the most common influences so that
you can try to avoid them
A sense of direction

• Unplanned assessment will result in inaccurate judgements.

• Always be clear about what evidence you are looking for in any
assessment situation
• BE FAMILIAR WITH AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPECIFIED
STANDARDS
An illusion of validity

• It is very easy to observe someone or to review written

evidence and conclude that “this is good”.
• The issue at hand is not whether or not an individual does
“good work”
– the issue is whether the evidence you are currently
assessing provides valid proof that the required standards
are being met
- Evidence can be of high quality but have nothing
whatsoever to do with the particular area of competence
which you are assessing!
Stereotyping
• Stereotyping is never useful in an assessment situation.
• Your concern as an assessor is to collect and evaluate relevant
evidence of actual performance - This has nothing to do with
categorizing people!
Halo and Horns Effects

• A very common source of inaccurate judgement is due to

preconceived ideas about a person’s performance.
• These ideas may be based on the fact that you actually like the
person concerned (they have a halo), or that you don’t like
them (they have horns) – or that they usually do good or
excellent work.
• Take note: The reverse works as well – maybe they do or don’t
like you!
• None of these considerations should affect your judgement.
Your concern is the actual evidence presented.
Hawthorne Effect

• People act differently when they know they are being

assessed.

• Competence-based assessment is continuous and should

therefore be carried out under normal conditions on everyday
basis.
• Assessment should be unobtrusive!
Contrast Effect

• Competence-based assessment is individualized assessment.

• It is concerned with individual performance, not a comparison
or contrast with how other people perform.

• You should be careful to avoid comparing and contrasting the

group of candidates for whom you are responsible!
Wrap-up: Influence on Assessment

• A sense of direction
• An illusion of validity
• Stereotyping
• Halo and Horns Effects
• Hawthorne Effect
• Contrast Effect
END OF SECTION