The consequences of halo "error" in performance ratings: A field study of the moderating effect of halo on test validation results.

Performance ratings of 294 clerical workers in a validation study of clerical ability tests indicated that halo, measured as the standard deviation across dimensions, consistently moderated the relationships between dimension ratings and scores and valid tests. Greater halo resulted in higher validity coefficients, and also was related to higher performance ratings. The results of this study contradict the traditionally held view of halo as a rating «error», and are consistent with recent laboratory studies that have found accuracy and halo positively related