a behavior-based rating procedure used in employee evaluation. Raters are presented with examples of good, average, and bad behaviors for a job and told to evaluate the performance of the employee in terms of whether it is better than, the same as, or poorer than each of the three behaviors. The performance rating is assigned on the basis of the pattern of responses, the highest score being given to employees rated “better than” on all three behaviors and the lowest rating being given to those rated “poorer than” on all three. Compare behaviorally anchored rating scale; behavioral observation scale. See also critical-incident technique.