SAMPLE PEER EVALUATION EXERCISE
Using Peer Evaluation and Grade Redistribution to Minimize Social Loafing and Improve Effectiveness in Temporary Teams.*

Purpose: To use an objective peer evaluation process combined with possible grade redistribution to minimize social loafing and improve the effectiveness of student teams
Group size: Use existing class project teams
Time required: 30–60 minutes to define and agree on peer evaluation criteria (60 minutes at the end of term to evaluate each other and agree on contribution percentage)
Materials needed: Writing materials

INSTRUCTIONS:
Part 1: Early in the Team’s Development
1. In your OB project team, in one of your early meetings, brainstorm and agree on five to ten criteria that you will use to evaluate each other. Examples of criteria could be high-quality work, punctuality at meetings, open communications, etc.
2. Define these criteria (your expectations of each other) using action verb sentences. For example, to define “high-quality work,” one action verb sentence could be: “Proofreads work to ensure absence of spelling and grammatical errors.” See the examples of action verbs that follow.

Examples of Action Verbs to Define Peer Evaluation Criteria
Abides Brings Discusses Keeps Proofreads
Advises Checks Displays Leads Plans
Agrees Clarifies Ensures Listens Researches
Analyzes Communicates Follows Meets Responds
Argues Coordinates Gives Notifies Stays
Arrives Demonstrates Helps Participates Suggests
Asks Develops Initiates Prepares Treats

3. Insert your criteria into the team evaluation template provided, adding as many columns as necessary. In the example given, it is assumed that there are four members in the team. Adjust the template so that there is one column per team member plus one extra column for the assessor on the left. The four lines under each team member’s name (in each category) are for each person’s rating of that individual, including his or her self-rating. For example, the four ratings in the column called “John” contain three ratings given by John’s team mates (Sue, Chris, and Sam) and one given by John, evaluating himself.

Part 2: Early Check-In and Grade Redistribution
1. Upon completion of the early deliverable team task, conduct a peer evaluation as a team using the criteria you developed.
2. Follow the grade redistribution steps provided in the example to calculate each of your individual contribution percentages (ICPs). Use the ICP to calculate each of your grades.
3. Use this check-in to improve your peer evaluation document and your team’s effectiveness

Part 3: Upon Project Completion
1. Upon completion of your project, complete your peer evaluations of each other using the team evaluation template and calculate each team member’s ICP according to the step-by-step instructions below.

Example Team Peer Evaluation Template for Four-Person Team
Criteria
5 = Excellent 4 = Very good
3 = Good 2 = Fair 1 =Very poor
Asses-sor
John
Sue
Chris
Sam

Criteria 1: High Quality of work
Proofreads work to ensure absence of spelling and grammatical errors. Includes full references for all research. Follows guidelines on the course outline. Explains underlying OB concepts.

John
Sue
Chris
Sam

5
4
4
4

5
5
5
5

4
5
4
5

2
2
2
4

C1 AVERAGE SCORE

4.25

5

4.5

2.5

Criteria 2:

John
Sue
Chris
Sam

4
3
3
3

4
5
4
4

4
4
4
5

3
3
4
5

C2 AVERAGE SCORE

3.25

4.25

4.25

3.75
Criterion 3:
John
Sue
Chris
Sam
5
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
4

C3 AVERAGE SCORE

4.25
4.25
3.75
3.75

Individual’s Total Average Score