A behavior observation scale (BOS) is an appraisal method that measures behavior against levels of performance and also measures the frequency with which the behaviors occur. It is commonly used in the medical arena to assess pain and other medical conditions, as well as job performance in school and work environments, and other uses. The instruments of BOS are ordinal scale questionnaires (usually rating on a 1-5, or 1-7 scale). The question is typically related to the frequency or intensity of the symptom of behavior.
In employment, white collar or supervisory tasks are more likely to be evaluated with BOS than blue collar tasks. Federal and state laws, which vary by state, apply to the use of such tests as a pretext for discriminating against employees on the basis of race, religion, sex, age or disability.
