Graphic Rating Scales:

• This method is ALSO called as linear rating scales or simple rating scales method
• Judgement about the performance are recorded on a scale
• The appraisers are given the forms which carries the various CRITERIA on which the employees are to be rated
• It is a simple and quick method, which makes it popular

Ranking method:

• The employees are rated from best to worst on some characteristics
• The rater chooses the best and the worst employees from a group and rates them. 
• He then chooses the second best and worst set and goes on
• The reliability and validity of this method is under doubt as it may suffer from rater’s bias, fluctuating performances or varying standards. 

Paired comparison method:

• Under this method each employee is rated against all the members in the group. 
• It could be FAIRLY applied where the number of employees are less. 
• This method is time consuming. 
• The performance is compared to other employees rather than specific job criteria

Forced distribution method:

• This method is developed to prevent the raters from rating too high or too low. 
• In this method, the raters are required to spread their employee EVALUATIONS in a prescribed distribution. 
• It eliminates central TENDENCY and leniency biases.

Graphic Rating Scales:

Ranking method:

Paired comparison method:

Forced distribution method: