Performance Evaluation Trait Validation

Abstract

The Navy is undergoing several personnel management system changes that impact the daily lives and promotions of all naval personnel. A large part of this change is updating the traits and associated values statements that are graded on individuals’ performance evaluations. The Navy has drafted 8 traits, 39 sub-traits, and 82 value statements (TVS) that need to be evaluated to determine their credibility within Navy doctrine. This thesis synthesizes current civilian and military literature on performance evaluations and promotions to better frame the new TVS. This thesis then compares the new TVS against Navy doctrine and other military services’ officer evaluations to evaluate TVS validity. The results show that the new trait and value statements have much in common with Navy doctrine and other military services’ officer evaluations. This thesis recommends that the Navy develops a single document that defines performance standards; later, surveys should be fielded that further compare these TVS with Navy promotions to determine TVS’s predictive validity.