Performance appraisal is defined as the systematic review and evaluation of an employee's job performance and the provision of feedback. While the goal is for performance appraisals to be objective, rater biases and errors can unintentionally influence ratings. Research on performance appraisals examines the best rating formats, the impact of rater errors and biases, the effects of social context versus rating errors, and how the appraisal process impacts ratees. While most research is from Western cultures, some studies show performance appraisals may differ across cultures due to varying psychological processes and workplace relationships.