The Impact of Trainee Characteristics on Transfer of Training Over Time

<p>Given that organizations invest a considerable amount of time and money into the training and development function, it is imperative that trainees transfer the learned material back to the job and continue to use the knowledge/skills. Yet, most studies have not assessed the transfer process over time (i.e., maintenance). Based on the lack of empirical investigation of maintenance, the current study had two goals: (1) to identify <em>which</em> factors are most important for skill maintenance (2) to identify when factors are most important to skill maintenance. To these ends, a model was developed and tested that examines the trainee characteristics that influence maintenance. Specifically, the model posited that pre-training trainee characteristics (self-efficacy for learning and motivation to learn) would exhibit a weak and indirect effect on maintenance while post-training and delayed measures of trainee characteristics (utility reactions, self-efficacy to transfer, and motivation to transfer) and learning (declarative and procedural knowledge and skilled performance) would emerge as key determinants of maintenance. The model also distinguished between the use and the <em>effectiveness of use</em> of trained knowledge/skills. It was expected that trainee characteristics would be differentially related to maintenance depending on the timing of measurement and the distinction between use and effectiveness. Two hundred thirty-one accounting students or professionals completed a 2-hour Excel training program. Of those, only 100 completed a 1-month follow-up and 40 completed a 2-month follow-up. Generally, the model was unsupported due to a lack of significant relationships. Possible reasons for the lack of support include a loss of power due to attrition and the specific context of the study — a voluntary online training program marketed to undergraduates. Directions for future research including continuing to examine trainee characteristics and incorporating work environment factors are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Bauer, Kristina N.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Richard N. Landers
• James M. Henson
• Pilar Pazos-Lago

• Motivation
• Online
• Trainee characteristics
• Transfer of training
• Educational Psychology
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifier

9781303528835

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:psychology_etds-1135