Peer rating has received considerable attention with regard to biasing factors that emanate either from the group situation or from the raters' and ratees' interpersonal relationships. This study examined self-esteem, one of yet a third source of biasing factors—intrapersonal characteristics of the rater—which might affect peer evaluations. A sample of 93 undergraduate and gtaduate students enrolled in six classes rated class members' performance on oral presentations and then completed a measure of self-esteem. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial analysis of variance showed self-esteem had a significant effect on peer ratings. Implications for validity of peer ratings given by raters of high and low self-esteem are discussed. In support of past findings, affinity was also shown to have a significant effect on ratings.
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