Abstract
When performances are evaluated they are very often presented in a sequential order. Previous research suggests that the sequential presentation of alternatives may induce systematic biases in the way performances are evaluated. Such a phenomenon has been little studied in Economics. Using a large data set of performance evaluation in the Idol series (N=1522), this paper presents new evidence about the systematic biases in sequential evaluation of performances and the psychological phenomenons at the origin of these biases.

JEL codes: D81, Z1
Keywords: order effects, memory, television show

We frequently make judgments and decisions about information which is presented to us in a sequential manner. This in particular is the case when we have to quickly assess the performance of individuals within a pool of contestants: job interviews, singing auditions, political debates, or even dating evenings.

The psychological literature suggests that sequential presentation of information may in uence the way each piece of information is processed and recorded.

Studies in economics (Neilson 1998) and marketing (Novemsky and Dhar 2005) have also found that a choice in a situations of sequential choices may be dependent of the history of the sequence. This issue is of special importance for situations of performance evaluation. If there is any effect of the order in which people are assessed on the final evaluation of individual performances, it means that the evaluation process is biased. Stated simply, what should be completely irrelevant information (the passing order) plays a significant role in the evaluation process. ...

Download Last shall be First: A field study of biases in sequential performance evaluation on the Idol series

PAPER, PDF FORMAT, 282KB, 21PAGES.

Lionel Page
Westminster Business School
University of Westminster 35, Marylebone Road
NW1 5LS, London, UK
Katie Page
Department of Psychology
Royal Holloway University of London
TW20 0EX, Egham, UK
March 4, 2008

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