The Leniency Scale: Is it Really Independent of Ratee Behavior?

Abstract

Although the leniency scale was proposed as a method to measure a lenient tendency and has been advocated as a method for removing error from performance ratings and leader descriptions, there exists little research to support its use. This study was aimed at examining the efficacy of the leniency scale as a measure of a leniency disposition. A total of 135 participants under one or both of two instructional sets (describe your current instructor; describe your last instructor) were asked to complete the leniency scale and a performance evaluation of their current instructor. Results showed that the leniency scale completed under one instructional set was unrelated to the same scale administered under the second instructional set, suggesting that the scale may not measure a leniency disposition. Moreover, the relationship between the leniency scale and leniency depended upon the target of the leniency scale.

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