Does True Halo Affect Observed Halo?

The distinction between true and illusory halo is predicated in part on the assumption that true halo affects observed halo. However, there is little evidence that differences in true halo will lead to differences in observed intercorrelations among ratings. We examined the proposition that true halo affects observed halo. Subjects viewed sets of videotapes that varied widely in true halo and rated them under immediate or delayed rating conditions. Results showed that true halo has some impact on observed halo but that this impact is relatively small. In particular, extreme differences in true halo were necessary to produce reliable differences in observed halo. In addition, results suggested that the halo effect, defined as overestimating the true correlation among dimensions, occurs only when the true intercorrelations are small. Practical implications of the results are discussed.