Behavioral Observation Scales

1. Definition of Behavioral Observation Scales (BOS)

• Behavioral Observation Scales is frequency rating of critical incidents that worker has performed.
• The BOS was developed by Latham & Wexley (1977) who believed that both graphic rating scales and BARS require supervisors to make vague judgments.
• The BOS is a list of critical incidents behaviors which the supervisor has to rate in terms of frequency.

2. Rating scales

We use 5 scales as follows to identify frequency of behavior.

• Never
• Seldom
• Sometimes
• Generally
• Always

3. Identification of critical incidents

Items indicate either desired or undesired aspects of work performance, for examples :
• Worker misses workdays ________
• Worker never needs her/his work to be double checked _______

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