TRAINING EVALUATION

TRAINING EVALUATION

1. Definition: The systematic collection of descriptive and judgmental information necessary to make effective training decisions related to the selection, adoption, value, and modification of various instructional activities.

2. PURPOSE

   • Decide whether to continue/discontinue training programme
   • Gain information on how to improve future training
   • Show how training contribute to organisation's objectives and goals
   • Identify the strengths and weaknesses of training programmes, which can lead to changes as needed

3. BARRIERS

   • Conducting an evaluation is not an easy process
     • Time, resources, expertise
   • Many factors beyond the programme itself can affect whether employee performance improves, making it difficult to evaluate the impact of training
     • Economy, equipment, policies and procedures, other HR efforts, resource availability
   • People associated with HRD programmes may be afraid of criticism and programme cuts if the evaluation shows that the programme is ineffective

4. DATA COLLECTION METHODS

   • Interview
   • Questionnaire
   • Direct observation
   • Tests and simulations
   • Archival performance data

5. ETHICAL ISSUES CONCERNING EVALUATION RESEARCH

   • Confidentiality
   • Informed consent
   • Withholding training
   • Use of deception
   • Pressure to produce positive results

6. STEPS IN TRAINING EVALUATION

   • Step 1: Identify purposes of evaluation
   • Step 2: Select evaluation method
   • Step 3: Design evaluation tools
   • Step 4: Collect data
   • Step 5: Analyse and report results

7. KIRKPATRICK'S FOUR-LEVEL TRAINING EVALUATION MODEL

   • Level 1 - Reaction
     • Trainee's perception about the programme (effectiveness/customer satisfaction)
   • Level 2 - Learning
     • Whether learning has taken place (knowledge, skills, attitudes)
   • Level 3 - Behaviour
     • Whether there is a change of behaviour as a result of training
   • Level 4 - Results
     • Final results that occurred because employees attended the training