Paired comparison,

Definition of Paired comparison:

1. Method of evaluation in which each employee and job is compared with each other employee and job. Employee comparisons are performed usually on the basis of overall performance, whereas job-evaluations are usually on the basis of skill, knowledge, and time required in their performance. Scores derived from paired comparison are often compared with the standard deviation and mean of all scores to arrive at standard Scores for future comparisons. Total number of employees (or jobs), however, places a limitation on this method because such comparisons require N(N - 1) ÷ 2 pairs (where N is the number of employees or jobs being compared). Hence, a firm with just 10 employees (or jobs) will have 45 pairs to be compared.

2. (usually with hyphens) designating or relating to this method (also in plural).

3. method of paired comparisons noun (also method of paired comparison) a method of statistically comparing a pair or set of pairs of objects, in which a subject expresses (voluntarily or involuntarily) a preference for one member of each pair over the other, used especially in cases where a quantitative comparison is more difficult, not possible, or not relevant.