Central tendency bias

How it is used

Use when raters avoid high and low categories; this concerns rating behaviour rather than a statistical average.

Example sentences

1. Central tendency bias hid the difference between employees who exceeded targets and those who struggled.

   Compression into middle categories reduces useful differentiation.

2. The training used contrasting work samples to expose central tendency bias.

   Different evidence tests whether a rater still assigns nearly identical scores.

Common collocations

• reduce central tendency bias
• central tendency bias in ratings

Related terms

• appraisalA formal assessment of an employee's work over a period, usually in a meeting with their manager; the word is mainly British for a performance review.
• performance reviewA regular formal meeting in which a manager and an employee discuss how well the employee has done their job, agree on a rating and set goals for the next period.

More terms: Performance Management

• KPI
• target
• benchmark
• underperform
• performance improvement plan
• SMART goals
• 360-degree feedback
• talent management
• stretch goal
• balanced scorecard
• strategy map
• management by objectives