Which error results from rating employees near the middle of a scale?

• A. Central Tendency
• B. Halo Effect
• C. Leniency
• D. Strictness

Answer: (A)

Central tendency bias is at work when a rater avoids using the extremes of a scale and clusters ratings around the middle. If you see many employees rated near the center on a standard 1–5 or 1–7 scale, that pattern fits central tendency. It happens when raters want to be fair, feel uncertain about how to judge, or hope to avoid conflict, leading to ratings that don’t differentiate performance levels.

This is distinct from the halo effect, where one favorable attribute inflates the overall rating across multiple areas, or from leniency bias (treating everyone too kindly) and strictness bias (rating harshly at the low end). Central tendency specifically describes the crowding of scores in the middle, not a consistent upward or downward tilt or a skew from a single characteristic.

Understanding this helps explain why performance data can lose nuance, with high performers not standing out and low performers not being marked clearly. To reduce central tendency, use clear behavioral anchors, provide rater training, calibrate across raters, and consider methods like forced distributions to encourage broader use of the scale.