Is Halo Error a Property of the Rater, Ratees, or the Specific Behaviors Observed?

The stability of halo errors when the ratees, the specific behavioral episodes observed, or both varied was studied. In a laboratory study, halo errors were highly unstable when either the ratees or the ratee behaviors varied (average stability coefficients were.20 and.18 when ratee behavior or both ratees and and their behavior varied, respectively), but halo errors were moderately stable when the ratees and the specific performance segments viewed were kept constant. In a field study using actual teacher ratings in which the ratee, the ratee's role, or the semester in which ratings were obtained was varied, very low stability coefficients were again found. The results suggest that halo error is not a stable characteristic of the rater or the ratees but rather is partly a characteristic of the unique rating situation. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.