The Art and Science of 360-Degree Feedback, Second Edition

Selecting Raters

Various research studies indicate that, as noted above, the source of the feedback is often the most important factor in determining whether the recipient accepts or rejects it. The critical characteristic of a reliable source is credibility, which is based on two key attributes—expertise and trustworthiness. The recipient must believe the rater is familiar enough with his or her role and work, and with his or her performance of them, to make an accurate judgment. The recipient must also trust the source’s motives—is the feedback intended to be constructive, or does the rater have an ax to grind? Are the recipient and the rater in some sense competitors? In general, the more a recipient believes in raters’ credibility, the ...