Thursday, October 30, 2014

Facebook Page for Philippine Psychometrician Reviewer is temporary offline



Many are asking what happened to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/psychometricianreviewer)  it is currently offline. We will reactivate the FB page once the result is out. We are also trying to prevent discussion on the licensure exam's content so we do not break on our oath of non-disclosure. Well we believe that you discuss it with your classmates, reviewmates, friends and family members but we do not want it to happen on our FB page and on this site. But definitely we are interested to know how was your experience with this historic event. We will be posting blog posts about it in our next posts.

Next week will be back and hope that you can be part of the initiatives we have in the pipeline. Until then...

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Good luck and kita-kits as oath taking



A blessed Sunday to all! 

As we all wind up our review, we would like to share to our new likers some of the posts we made previously about the kind of exam announced during the orientation by the PRC Psychology Board and several links for strategies in answering multiple choice exam.

I would also like to thank all our dedicated co-admins of our Facebook page who shared their time, effort and creativity in making our page more fun, interesting, interactive and informative. We also would like to thank all of you readers and FB likers for having actively participated and exchanged with us. We hope in our small ways we were able to be of help to inform and update, shared quizzes and links, among others for this first ever Board Licensure Examination for Psychometrician.  

We wish everyone good luck and good wishes and may we all see each other at the oath taking comes December 2014.

So, at your leisure time try to read some of the links below which might be of help to you. From our FAQ:


7.2 What is outcome-based assessment?

Dr. Imelda Virgina G. Villar, Board Member of the Board of Psychology of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in her presentation at the Orientation for the Psychology Licensure Exam held on 18 June 2014, she informed a full packed PSSC Auditorium that Psychology will be the first profession to offer Outcome-based Board Exam in the Philippines. Aside from the Board Licensure Examination for Psychologists and Psychometricians (BLEPP) being implemented this coming October for the first time is another milestone in the history of Psychology in the Philippines.








Multiple choice tests

Taking Multiple Choice Exams


Test Taking Tips


Multiple Choice Test Taking Tips

Strategies for Answering Multiple Choice Questions





Saturday, October 25, 2014

Person with disability to take the 2014 Licensure Exam for Psychometrician


This should inspire us all, a person with disability (PWD), a blind woman is going to take the licensure exam. This  is another historic event for this board exam. She must be really talented for finishing up a degree in Psychology at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM).

I wish her to pass the exam, to inspire those of us without disabilities and those with disabilities, that we too can also pass the exam. I am happy and congratulate the Psychology Board and PRC for not not discriminating, instead allowing a PWD in taking the board exam, indeed everyone deserves to be registered and licensed, provided they pass the exam,  no matter what the person's physical condition is. 


Links of related laws:


RA 7277  Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
http://www.ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/republic-acts/republic-act-7277/


RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF DISABLED PERSONS 
CHAPTER I – Employment 
SECTION 5. Equal Opportunity for Employment       

No disabled persons shall be denied access to opportunities for suitable employment. A qualified disabled employee shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of employment and the same compensation, privileges, benefits, fringe benefits, incentives or allowances as a qualified able-bodied person. Five percent (5%) of all casual, emergency and contractual positions in the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Health; Education, Culture and Sports; and other government agencies, offices or corporations engaged in social development shall be reserved for disabled persons.




TITLE THREE       
PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST DISABLED PERSONS 

CHAPTER 1       
Discrimination on Employment 

SECTION 32. Discrimination on Employment       

No entity, whether public or private, shall discriminate against a qualified disabled person by reason of disability in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, promotion, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. The following constitute acts of discrimination: 

(a). Limiting, segregating or classifying a disabled job applicant in such a manner that adversely affects his work opportunities; 

(b). Using qualification standards, employment tests or other selection criteria that screen out or tend to screen out a disabled person unless such standards, tests or other selection criteria are shown to be jobrelated for the position on question and are consistent with business necessity; 

(c). Utilizing standards, criteria, or methods of administration that: 1). have the effect of discrimination on the basis of disability; or 2). perpetuate the discrimination of others who are subject to common administrative control; 

(d). Providing less compensation, such as salary, wage or other forms of remuneration and fringe benefits, to a qualified disabled employee, by reason of his disability, than the amount to which a non-disabled person performing the same work is entitled; 

(e). Favoring a non-disabled employee over a qualified disabled employee with respect to promotion, training opportunities, study and scholarship grants, solely on account of the latter’s disability; 

(f). Re-assigning or transferring a disabled employee to a job or position he cannot perform by reason of his disability; 

(g). Dismissing or terminating the services of a disabled employee by reason of his disability unless the employer can prove that he impairs the satisfactory performance of the work involve to the prejudice of the business entities; Provided, however, That the employer first sought provide reasonable accommodations for disabled persons; 

(h). Failing to select or administer in the effective manner employment tests which accurately reflect the skills, aptitude or other factor of the disabled applicant or employee that such test purports to measure, rather than the impaired sensory, manual or speaking skills of such applicant or employee, if any; and 

(i). Excluding disabled persons from membership in labor unions or similar organization. - 

See more at: http://www.ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/republic-acts/republic-act-7277/#sthash.nlmRBRd8.dpuf



RA 10524 AN ACT EXPANDING THE POSITIONS RESERVED FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

http://www.gov.ph/2013/04/23/republic-act-no-10524/

Friday, October 24, 2014

Licensure Exam for Psychometrician Handling Identification and Answer Sheet


Identification Sheet, Answer Sheet


Handling of Examinee Identification Sheet/Answer Sheets

  • Check if the Serial Number of Examinee Identification Sheet/Answer Sheets are the same for all the sheets. If there is any discrepancy, return the set to your Room Watchers for replacement. The Serial Number is NOT the examination number. It has nothing to do with your examination.
  • Check if there are defects or unnecessary marks on your Examinee Identification Sheet/Answer Sheets.
  • Check if the number of Answer Sheets corresponds to the number of examination subjects.
  • Do not fold or mutilate, take extra care and keep clean your Examinee Identification Sheet/Answer Sheets.
  • Before detaching an answer sheet, check if the brown envelope is yours and the set inside belongs to you.


How to Mark Your Examinee Identification Sheet/Answer Sheets

  • Use standard No. 2 pencil only
  • Do not use too much pressure
  • Shade like this  not like these .
    Make the shading dark.
  • Strictly no erasures allowed


How to Accomplish Examinee Identification Sheet


Brown Envelope
Print your name on the top left corner and your seat number on the top right corner.

Handling of Test Question Sets

  • Indicate your seat number at the right top corner of page 1
  • Check if the number of pages of Test Question Set is complete and no misprint. If there is any problem, return the set to your Room Watchers for replacement.
  • Mark A or B on the answer sheet to indicate the set of Test Question assigned to you.
  • You can use your Test Question Set as your Scratch .
  • Keep the Test Question Set stapled until the end of examination.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Venues for the 2014 Board Licensure Exam for Psychometricians


Please check below if your name is listed. Per PRC instructions: Bring your Notice of Admission when you verify your school/building assignment. Visit your school/building assignment prior to the day of examination.





Source - http://www.prc.gov.ph/licensure/?id=26

Official count of examinees totaled to 3,268 coming from different Philippine schools and universities. Below is the school-surname assignments:


ST. JUDE -
DON QUIJOTE COR. DIMASALANG, SAMPALOC, MANILA
SURNAMES  AB - CA


MLQU
QUIAPO, MANILA
SURNAMES CA-JO


UE
RECTO AVENUE, MANILA
SURNAMES JO - ZU



Map of venues - https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zBUD4IkjmfcQ.kJp8iEi5EpXE


We have been receiving private messages in our Facebook page of individuals whose names are not on the list, below is our suggestion, while awaiting for official reply from PRC. Please not that tomorrow, Friday, 24 October and Monday, 27 October are the only remaining working days before the exam:




Hey guys! I went to PRC this morning and apparently, those who submitted last Oct. 8 have not been included in the list. The list for the room assignments was computer generated daw and when they posted it, they haven't added the names of those who applied manually (PRC's system broke down last Oct. 8 so they had to process the applications manually). Anyway, all you have to do is go to PRC and show them your NOA and OR, and they'll include you in the list and give you your room assignment na. Like what Mr. Tino said, look for Ms. Jackie. She's very accommodating. Goodluck to us all! :)

Source link - https://www.facebook.com/psychometricianreviewer/posts/284952808381872

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Venue for Psychologist Licensure Exam 2014

Please inform your friends and classmates on the venue of their board  exam which will be at the MLQU. Per data there will only be 48 examinees from 15 schools that will take up the first ever licensure exam for Psychologists. Below is the breakdown of schools and examinees (UST has the highest number of examinees followed by PUP):

ADVENTIST UNIV OF THE PHIL.- 1
ASSUMPTION COL-MAKATI - 1
ATENEO DE DAVAO - 4
ATENEO DE MANILA- 5
D.L.S.U.-MANILA - 4
D.L.S.U.-LIPA- 1
FEU-MANILA -3
LYCEUM P.U.-BATANGAS - 2
M. L. Q. U. - 3
PLM - 2
PUP - 6
ST. LOUIS UNIV. -1
U.P.-DILIMAN - 2
UST - 12
XAVIER UNIVERSITY - 1

TOTAL  =  48

Source - http://www.prc.gov.ph/licensure/?id=26

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Possible Venues based from the Criminologists Licensure Exam

Image sourc - http://scadmissions.com/pics/SAT.test.center-2.jpg

Looking at the School/Room assignment of the licensure exam for Criminologist at http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/CRIM1014ra_Mla.pdf  - this could also be the possible test/exam venues for Psychometrician exam as well. Examinees for the Criminologists totaled more than  5,586 (Pdf pages of 266 with average 21 examinees per page {highest number is 25}). We are projecting that for the Psychometrician licensure exam there would be more or less 6,000-9,000 examinees. So depending on the number of examinees and the distribution of surnames we can pattern the venues after the Criminologist licensure exam. 

Note that we are posting this room venues for you to familiarize yourself with the location of these testing centers. This is not the final testing centers for Psychometrician Licensure Exam. So try to use google map and locate these venues and familiarize yourself with landmarks and transport of those places. By next week we expect to have the final venue.


Surnames and Schools


AB - CL                               (Surname)
M. L. Q. U.                          (School Name)
QUIAPO, MANILA             (Address)  


CL - FA
LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE
MENDIOLA, MANILA

FA - HA
CARITAS FAMILY COLLEGE
LACSON AVE., STA. CRUZ, MANILA


HA - MA
COLLEGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
MENDIOLA, MANILA


MA - PA 
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY
STA. CRUZ, MANILA


PA - RO
CENTRAL COLLEGES OF THE PHILS.
AURORA BLVD., STA. MESA, MANILA


RO - Z
ST. JUDE COLLEGE
DON QUIJOTE ST., COR DIMASALANG SAMPALOC MLA.


Note - possible venues, not yet final, we will finalize as soon as we get the final list - meantime study this map and the directions to those venues. Click/mouse over baloons for more details.


Tuesday, October 14, 2014

NOW FINAL: Davao Not a Test Center for 2014 Psychometrician Licensure Exam

updated 15 October (9:28 PM)

Message from Dr. Cue:

It's final Davao is not a test center for either the Psychologist or Psychometrician board exams this year. Dir Liamzon made an appeal, but the Commission did not and could not approve the request due to technical considerations which could not be compromised. Our apologies...



Original post - October 14, 2014


Yesterday we receive the good news that Davao will be a testing center for the 2014 Psychometrician Licensure Exam. We were so glad and congratulated test takers from Davao. We also message Dr. Cue thanking her for granting such request. But unfortunately, we got the above reply of Dr. Cue to our message. 

With the changes at PRC it seem that such request remains hanging after former Chair Manzala left PRC. So with the Acting Chair not supportive of the move and with just few days remaining before the exam,  we hope that Davao test takers can get a concrete and final answer the soonest possible time.


updated 15 October 2014 (12:54 AM)

Meanwhile this the update from Baguio City from one of our likers, 









Sunday, October 12, 2014

Links to AP Psychology Quizzes


(Note this exam is for US high school graduates, once they passed  the exam, 
they will not take Psychology 101 in college anymore.)


The Advanced Placement Psychology (AP Psychology, or AP Psych) course and corresponding exam are part of College Board's Advanced Placement Program. This rigorous course is tailored for students interested in the field of psychology and as an opportunity to earn Advanced Placement credit or exemption from a college-level psychology course.

The exam includes two sections: a 70 minute multiple choice section (100 questions) and a 50 minute free response section (2 prompts). The multiple choice provides two-thirds of the grade and the free-response provides the remaining third.

Beginning with the May 2011 AP Exam administration, total scores on the multiple-choice section are based only on the number of questions answered correctly. Points are no longer deducted for incorrect answers. Grading (the number of points needed to get a certain score) is slightly more strict as a result.

Source:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP_Psychology


Links of  Quizzes


Psychological Disorders
http://appsychology.com/HowPass/MC%20quizes/Psychological%20Disorders/psychological_disorders.htm


Research Methods
http://appsychology.com/HowPass/MC%20quizes/Research%20Methods/research_methods.htm


Intelligence
http://appsychology.com/HowPass/MC%20quizes/Intelligence/intelligence.htm


Personality
http://appsychology.com/HowPass/MC%20quizes/Personality/personality.htm


Brain
http://appsychology.com/HowPass/MC%20quizes/The%20Brain/the_brain.htm





(10-12-14=678h)

What to wear and bring for the Psychometrician Licensure Exam


We continue to receive questions about what to wear and bring for the licensure exam. Please refer tot he list below for the PRC  prescribed dress code for male and female. Please note that we added with collar to be more decent and professional looking.

1) For female - school uniform or white blouse or T-shirt with collar

2) For male -  school uniform or white polo shirt or T-shirt with collar (tucked-in)












Sources:

http://www.prc.gov.ph/page.aspx?id=5

http://www.prc.gov.ph/licensure/?id=26

http://www.prc.gov.ph/page.aspx?id=3


Related Links:

General Instruction to Examinees found in your NOA
http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/09/general-instruction-to-examinees-found.html

Program of the Psychometrician Licensure Examination
http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2014/09/program-of-psychometrician-licensure.html

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Evaluating Training Programs: Kirkpatrick's 4 Levels


image source -http://www.astdla.org/Resources/Pictures/Kirkpatrick%20Evaluation%20Model.png


The Kirkpatrick Model of Training Evaluation


Donald Kirkpartick has developed a very popular evaluation model that has been used since the late 1950s by the training community. The focus is on measuring four kinds of outcomes that should result from a highly effective training program.

Kirkpatrick’s model includes four levels or steps of outcome evaluation:

·       Level 1 Evaluation—Reaction

·       Level 2 Evaluation—Learning

·       Level 3 Evaluation—Behavior

·       Level 4 Evaluation—Results

I will discuss each of these steps in some detail, including how to design these evaluations.



Level 1—Reaction

Here your goal is to measure participants’ reactions to the training program. You should measure their reactions immediately after the program. Level one evaluation should not just include reactions toward the overall program (e.g., Did you like the program?); it should also include measurement of participants’ reactions or attitudes toward specific components of the program, such as the instructor, the topics, the presentation style, the schedule, audiovisuals, etc. Furthermore, each of these components can be further broken down into sub-components for evaluation (e.g., you can ask participants to evaluate specific characteristics of the instructor, the presentation, etc.). In short, level one evaluation is far more than just the measurement of overall customer satisfaction.

Learning (Level two outcomes) and transfer of learning (Level three outcomes) are unlikely to occur unless participants have positive attitudes toward the training program. Therefore, it is important to determine participants’ reactions to the training program. Also, positive reactions are important because managers are more likely to eliminate unpopular training programs. Finally, the measurement of specific aspects of the training program can provide important information about what aspects of the training program can be improved in the future.

Level 1 evaluation relies on the measurement of attitudes, usually through the use of a questionnaire. It is important to include closed-ended items (including rating scales) as well as open-ended items on your questionnaire. Here are two open-ended items that I like:

·       In your view, what were the three most important weaknesses of the program?

·       In your view, what were the three most important strengths of the program?

It is important to learn the weaknesses, as well as the strengths, in order to improve a program. Do not be afraid to ask about program weaknesses!

When having participants fill out questionnaires, it is best not to have them put their names on the instruments because of the advantages of anonymity over confidentiality. If they do not put their names on the instruments, you can assure anonymity and they may be more  likely to be more honest in their answers.

The following point applies to all four levels of Kirkpartick’s outcome evaluation, but I will only state it here: Evaluators should establish performance standards on the outcomes, when possible, so that the four steps in the logic of evaluation can be utilized and evaluative judgments can be made. Also, don’t forget Kirkpatrick’s last piece of advice to communicate the results because utilization of evaluation results will not happen without dissemination and communication.

Here are a few advantages of level one evaluation:

·       You will know how the participants felt about the training event.

·       It may point out content areas that trainees felt were missing from the training event.

·       It will tell you how engaged the participants felt by the training event.

·       It can provide information about overall participant reaction as well as participant feedback and evaluation of specific aspects of the training event.

·       Detailed level one evaluation can provide formative evaluation information that can be used to improve future versions of the training program (e.g., you can fix the things the participants disliked about the program and add the things they felt was missing).



Level 2—Learning

Here your goal is to determine what the training program participants learned during the training event. Because the training instructor should have specific learning objectives, one hopes to find clear learning outcomes. Learning outcomes can include changes in knowledge (e.g., What are the key differences between Windows 95 and Windows ME?), skills (Can the participant upload a new operating system to a computer), or attitudes (Have participants’ attitudes toward computers improved?). Some training events will emphasize knowledge, some will emphasize skills, some will emphasize attitudes, and some will emphasize multiple learning outcomes. The evaluation should focus on measuring what was covered in the training event (i.e., the learning objectives).

Level two evaluation should be done immediately after the training event to determine if participants gained the knowledge, skills, or attitudes. A couple of issues here are (a) how shall one measure knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and (b) what research design should be use to demonstrate improvement in level two outcomes?

First, let’s talk about the measurement of level two outcomes. Knowledge is typically measured using already available or instructor constructed achievement tests (i.e., tests designed to measure the degree of learning that has taken place). In the training environment, these tests are usually criterion-referenced. Note that norm-referenced tests are traditional standardized tests that are constructed to maximize individual differences and to allow comparison of individuals to an external norming group. A normal curve often characterizes the performance distribution of the norming group. In contrast, criterion-referenced tests are constructed to determine whether learners have mastered one or more learning objectives and these tests include a cutoff point (pass/fail). The results of criterion-referenced tests often take the form of a negatively skewed curve, where the vast majority of the learners have reached or surpassed the criterion or cut-off point (i.e., the point at which one must reach in order to pass the test) and only a few learners have lower scores. In constructing a criterion-referenced test, you should develop a pool of items potentially measuring the content, have a panel of experts examine the items, pilot test the selected items, and analyze each item for item difficulty (i.e., the percentage of people who answer the item correctly), item discrimination (i.e., the high performers should be more likely to get the item correct than low performers if it is a good item), and distractor effectiveness (are the distractors working well?). Eliminate items with poor performance on difficulty (i.e., items that are too hard or too simple), discrimination (i.e., items that the low/less knowledgeable performers are more likely to get correct than the high/knowledgeable performers), and items whose distractors do not work well (e.g., an item where all incorrect responses are for only one distractor). 


Skills typically require some kind of motor or manual response on the examinee’s part, or some kind of manipulation; therefore, a performance test is used. A performance test is just a test that requires the test taker to create a product or demonstrate a process. Obviously the goal is to determine whether each person can perform the skills they have been taught in the training event. For example, if the learning objective was to learn to make repairs to computers, a performance test would be required to determine whether a person can install a power supply or a computer chip in a computer. If the learning objective was to learn how to make effective public speeches, the participants would need to be evaluated on actual speeches that they give to the group. Some performance elements can be included on  traditional paper-and-pencil tests (e.g., essay writing, drawing skills, etc.). In the training environment, performance tests are likely to be criterion-referenced (i.e., participants’ scores are compared to a cutoff point).

Attitudes are measured with questionnaires similar to the questionnaires described for level one evaluation. You will typically have the participants give their ratings for various items (responding with Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree or with other rating scales), and you should include some open-ended items to allow participants to respond in their own words (e.g., How do you feel about diversity in the workplace?). 

Second, Kirkpartick also briefly discusses the issue of research design. He suggests that you include a control group in your design when possible, and he briefly mentions using a pretest measure when possible.

To give you a better idea of the design issues here, I will review several experimental research designs. For more information on these designs, go to Johnson/Christensen’s Educational Research and/or read about them in the lectures on the homepage for our textbook (at http://www.coe.usouthal.edu/bset/Faculty/BJohnson/Homepage/Supporting/textbook.htm)


Visual Depiction                  
 of the Design                                 Design Name                       
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
          X       O2               Posttest-only nonequivalent
                   O4               control group design
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

O1    X       O2               One-group pretest-posttest design

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

O1     X       O2               Pretest-posttest nonequivalent
----------------                control group design
O3               O4

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

R  O1    X     O2             Randomized pretest-posttest
R  O3             O4               control group design  (Note: this
design has random assignment to
groups)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

O1 O2 O3 OX  O5 O6 O7 O8   Interrupted time-series design

-------------------------------------------------------------------------


Here is the basic logic of analysis for each of the designs just listed. The counterfactual, discussed in an earlier lecture, is estimated slightly differently in some of these designs, which means that the comparison may be different from design to design. Generally, you will check each of the following comparisons for practical significance.

·       For the posttest-only nonequivalent control group design you compare the two posttest means (i.e., O2 with O4)

·       For the one-group pretest-posttest design you compare the pretest mean with the posttest mean (i.e., O2 with O1)

·       For the pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design you compare the change in the experimental group (O2 minus O1) with the change in the control group (O4 minus O3)

·       For the randomized pretest-posttest control group design you compare the change in the experimental group (O2 minus O1) with the change in the control group (O4 minus O3). The word “randomized” in the title of this design means that the participants must be randomly assigned to the groups, which “equates” the groups on extraneous variables.

·       For the interrupted time-series design, you compare the baseline series results (O1 O2 O3 O4) with the experimental series results (O5 O6 O7 O8), looking for differences in slope and differences in level of outcome.

Note that the posttest-only nonequivalent control group design is by far the weakest of the designs shown above (because you have no idea what group differences existed before the intervention), and the strongest design is the randomized pretest-posttest control group design because the groups are formed through random assignment (which makes the groups probabilistically equal on all known and unknown extraneous variables).

With the above review of the commonly used research designs, Kirkpartick’s discussion of designs should make a little more sense. Kirkpartick tends to take a very pragmatic stance toward design, claiming that one should use the best design possible, but, at the same time, one should also consider what is cost effective and practical to use in the organization undergoing evaluation. He believes that some data are virtually always better than no data at all. 

Here are few advantages of level two evaluation:

·       Demonstrating participant learning should help trainers in promoting their training program.

·       Knowledge of level two evaluation can help in interpreting the results of level three evaluation (e.g., if level three results do not occur, it may because of workplace factors and not because of any flaw in the training program).

·       Detailed level two evaluation can provide formative evaluation information that can be used to improve future versions of the training program (e.g., you may find certain learning objectives that are not being met).



Level 3—Behavior

Here your goal is to find out if training program participants change their on-the-job-behavior (OJB) as a result of their having attended and participated in the training program. If the behavior change does not occur, you also want to find out why the change did not occur. The level three question is, Did the training have a positive effect on job performance? Level three evaluation specifically involves measuring the transfer of knowledge, skills, and attitudes from the training context to the workplace

Remember that level one and level two outcomes are still important because participants generally need to react positively to the training program (level 1 outcome) and they need to learn the material (level 2 outcome) if they are going to be motivated and able to apply what they have learned when they return to their jobs.

Learning is likely to transfer only if the conditions in the work setting are favorable for transfer. In addition, there are obviously many things that trainers can do to increase the likelihood of transfer. In other words, transfer is affected by “training factors” before trainees go back to their workplace as well as “workplace factors” that operate in their workplace when they return. Here are two sets of factors that make transfer more likely to occur:

A. These are some factors in the training program or event that can help facilitate transfer of learning:

·       The training or learning environment or context or culture is made to be similar to the actual work environment or context or culture of the organization (this is called situated learning). Learning that takes place in “authentic” contexts is more likely to by used later.

·       Provide real world examples and actual experience performing and practicing the behaviors.

·       Make sure trainees understand the general principles behind the behaviors (called “transfer through principles”).

·       Explain the importance and applicability of the future on-the-job behaviors (i.e., motivate the trainees)

B. These are some factors in the receiving organization that can help facilitate transfer of learning:

·       The organizational culture and climate support change.

·       The participant’s direct supervisor and others with whom he or she works support and/or facilitate the participant’s new behaviors through direct extrinsic rewards such as help, encouragement, praise, increased freedom and responsibility, pay increases, and recognition.

·       The participant gains intrinsic reinforcement from applying his or her new knowledge, skills, or attitudes (i.e., he or she likes what was learned and enjoys performing the new related behaviors).

·       The participant has the opportunity to use his or her new knowledge or skills on the job.

So how does one design a level three evaluation? Here are Kirkpartick’s recommendations:

1. Use a control group if possible. That is, use the strongest design that is feasible.

2. Allow time for the behavior change to take place.

3. Evaluate both before and after the program if practical. Again, use the strongest design that is feasible.

4. Survey and/or interview one or more of the following: trainees, their immediate
supervisor, their subordinates, and others who often observe their behavior. The more the evidence, the better.

5. Get 100 percent response or a sampling.

6. Repeat the evaluation at appropriate times.

7. Consider cost versus benefits.

Level three is often harder than level one and level two evaluation because behavior changes at the workplace are often harder to measure than reaction and learning directly after the training event. You must give the behavior time to transfer and collect data at the workplace.

Probably the most common design used for level three evaluation is the one-group pretest-posttest design (i.e., get a baseline measure of the behavior you plan on training, train the participants, and then measure the participants’ behavior again after the training). If you are able to include a control group, you will be able to use the pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design (i.e., in addition to measuring the training participants before and after the training, you also find a set of similar people, who do not undergo training for the control group, and you measure these control group participants’ behavior before and after the training program). Earlier (above) I showed the comparisons you make for the different designs during data analysis.

In the one-group pretest-posttest design the estimate of the counterfactual (i.e., what would have happened to the participants if they had not participated in the training) is the participants’ pretest measure. In the pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design, the estimate of the counterfactual is the change taking place in the control group. Remember: you want the change in the training group to be greater than the counterfactual change.

Note that it would be really nice to be able to use the randomized pretest-posttest control group design; however, usually, random assignment to the training and nontraining groups will not be feasible.

Kirkpartick also discusses another popular design for measuring transfer of learning (i.e., for measuring level three outcomes). He never labels the approach, but it is formally called the retrospective survey design. He points out that you can survey (using questionnaires or interviews) the training participants, the participants’ supervisors or managers, and the participants’ subordinates. The design is called a “retrospective” design because you are asking the participants (or the others) to think back (i.e., in retrospect) to their behavior before the training program and then compare it to their current level of behavior, and, finally, to decide if the behavior has changed. You should ask for specific examples behavior changes. You can also use the retrospective survey design with the training participants’ managers and subordinates, asking them if the participant’s behavior has changed. The more corroboration you get across the different sources, the stronger the evidence of transfer.

The retrospective survey design is generally is a weaker design than the experimental designs discussed earlier because the actual pretest behavior is not measured directly. However, the retrospective survey can still provide useful and sometimes convincing data. Kirkpatrick speaks highly of the retrospective design, probably because it is so simple to carry out and because it tends to be cost effective (i.e., it doesn’t cost a lot of money to administer questionnaires).  

Here are a few advantages of level three evaluation:

·       Provides measurement of actual behavior on the job, rather than only measuring or demonstrating positive reaction and/or learning. This is important because you want to have actual on-the-job results from the training program.

·       Level three outcomes are required for level four outcomes (i.e., they are the intervening variables or factors that lead to level four outcomes); therefore, it is good news when level three outcomes are found.

·       Most level three outcomes are intrinsically useful, even if level four outcomes (i.e., final organizational or business results) are never fully demonstrated (e.g., it is useful to have managers who are effective listeners and supportive, or employees who know how to do basic work on their computers, or employees who act respectfully toward employees from different ethnic or cultural groups).

·       In many situations, evidence of level one outcomes, level two outcomes, and level three outcomes will be sufficient evidence of the merit and usefulness of a training program. This is especially true when all of these provide evidence of positive results of the training program.


Level 4—Results

Here your goal is to find out if the training program led to final results, especially business results that contribute to the “bottom line” (i.e., business profits). Level four outcomes are not limited return on training investment (ROI). Level four outcomes can include other major results that contribute to the well functioning of an organization. Level four includes any outcome that most people would agree is “good for the business.” Level four outcomes are either changes in financial outcomes (such as positive ROI or increased profits) or changes in variables that should have a relatively direct effect on financial outcomes at some point in the future.

Here are some examples of different kinds of level four outcomes:

·       Improved quality of work.

·       Higher productivity.

·       Reduction in turnover.

·       Reduction in scrap rate (i.e., less wasted resources).

·       Improved quality of work life.

·       Improved human relations (e.g., improved vertical and horizontal communication)

·       Increased sales.

·       Fewer grievances.

·       Lower absenteeism.

·       Higher worker morale.

·       Fewer accidents.

·       Greater job satisfaction.

·       Increased profits.

Here are Kirkpartick’s recommendations for level four evaluation:

1. Use a control group if practical. In other words, use the strongest experimental design that is feasible.

2. Allow time for results to be achieved. In other words, many level four outcomes will take some time to occur.

3. Measure both before and after the program if practical. Again, use the strongest experimental design that is feasible.

4. Repeat the measurement at appropriate times. Repeated measurement (e.g., using the time-series design) can provide data on the long term pattern of results.

5. Consider costs versus benefits. You may not want to perform a level four evaluation if the costs of that evaluation are high in comparison to the potential benefits or impacts of the training program.

Level four evaluation is difficult in the sense that it is quite difficult to establish firm evidence that a training program was the key or only source that produced the level four outcomes. For example, time has to elapse after the training program in order for these outcomes to occur. Other factors may also occur during that time period. Second, it is hard to isolate the effect of the training program because there are usually many additional causal variables operating on the level four outcome variables (i.e., the training event is just one of many potential causes). Level four outcomes are often more distal outcomes, rather than proximal outcomes of a training program. For these reasons, the evidence obtained from level four evaluation is usually weaker than the evidence obtained from lower level evaluations, especially levels one and two which are relatively easy to document.

For an example of distal, level four outcomes (increased productivity and profits) here is a potential outcome line that ends with the level four results:

Program à Reactions à Learning à Behavior à Productivity à Increased profits.

Level four outcomes tend to fall far down outcome lines, which means that many intervening factors must take place in order for the level four outcomes to take place. This means that we should not be overly optimistic in expecting large level four outcomes from  single training programs.

In general, we should try to develop an impact theory to help us to understand the operation of level four outcomes. If you really want a training program to have a positive level four outcome, it is probably wise to make the training program a component of a larger organizational performance program package that is designed to produce level four changes.

A common design for documenting level four outcomes is the interrupted time-series design, although the other experimental designs with control groups are also frequently called for, depending on the kinds of outcomes you want to measure. For example, some data are frequently recorded at regular intervals (sales, turnover, accidents) making these variables easy to measure over time forming time-series data (you just have to get these secondary data). Other level four results will be more difficult to obtain because pre-training data may not be available (e.g., data on worker morale, quality of work life, improved communication). If pre-training data are not routinely recorded, you will have to make sure the data are recorded at least once before the training event is implemented. If the data are recorded multiple times before the training event, the interrupted time-series design may be used. If data are recorded only once before the training event, the one group pretest-posttest design is possible, or, even better, the pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design may be feasible.