The Effects of Halo and Leniency on Cooperating Teacher Reports Using Likert-Type Rating Scales

Abstract

This study evaluated the adequacy of a Likert-type rating scale cooperating-teacher report. Results demonstrated, using a total of 161 elementary and secondary student teachers, the significant presence of a leniency error and the halo effect. The degree of each of these rating errors suggested highly questionable validity of the report as a whole. Cooperating teachers were heavily influenced by the instructional process and the self-confidence of the student teacher. Results further suggested intra- and inter-individual comparisons on the basis of the evaluations to be inappropriate due to the range restriction and the overabundance of superior ratings.