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Abstract
The present study proposed that the relationship between job familiarity, rater experience, and the restriction of range of candidate interview ratings would be mediated by raters' confidence in their ratings. Participants were 102 diverse raters who completed 5 questionnaires: Experience as a Rater, Familiarity with Job, Confidence in Ratings, Demographic Information, and the Rater Score Sheet. Support was found for the expectation that rater experience was positively related to the variability of ratings. Therefore, the more interview experience a rater had, the more candidates' scores varied, and the less restriction of range occurred. Seventeen percent of this sample exhibited restricted scores indicative of central tendency. Future research possibilities include additional research regarding what factors influence restriction of range, whether it represents central tendency, leniency, or severity, and exploring what other moderating or mediating variables may affect the variability of ratings.
