An Examination of the Memory-Judgment Relation in a Performance Appraisal Context (Cognitive Processes)
Ambrose, Maureen Louise
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/69667
Description
Title
An Examination of the Memory-Judgment Relation in a Performance Appraisal Context (Cognitive Processes)
Author(s)
Ambrose, Maureen Louise
Issue Date
1986
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Psychology, Industrial
Abstract
Very little is known about cognitive processes that underlie decisions in organizations. The benefits of a cognitive approach in two of the most important organizational decisions, selection and performance appraisal, are discussed. The current study examines the relation between memory for specific information about a target person and various evaluations of that target person. A distinction between retrieval judgment processes and computational judgment processes is made. Retrieval judgment processes are hypothesized to occur when the judgment is formed at the time the information is acquired. The judgment is then stored in memory independently from specific items of information. When required, the judgment is retrieved. The specific information may also be retrieved, but no relation between retrieved information and judgment is expected. For computational judgment processes, the relevant judgment is not formed at the time information is acquired. Consequently, when the judgment is required, the specific information is retrieved from memory and a judgment is computed on the spot. A relation between the retrieved information and the judgment is therefore expected.
In the current study a laboratory experiment was conducted in which information about an individual was presented at three separate sessions. The type of impression formed at the time of information acquisition (Work/Interpersonal), the number of relevant judgments made (One/Two), the type of memory task (Recall/Recognition), and the order of memory and judgment (Memory-Judgment/Judgment-Memory) were varied. Comparisons of the mean Interpersonal and Work judgments were also made between adjective anchored rating scales and BARS. Additionally a field study was conducted to examine the hypothesized processes in an organizational setting.
The results generally support the predictions. That is, the correlations were higher in conditions where computational judgments were hypothesized to occur than where retrieval judgments were expected. In addition, some support for the hypotheses was found even when recognition memory was examined. The field study results also provide partial support for the hypotheses.
A detailed discussion of the results, implications for organizational research, and future directions for research on retrieval and computational judgment processes is provided.
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