Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction Emotional intelligence plays a vital role in all areas of both personal and work life. To determine whether training and development has an effect on the level of Emotional Intelligence (EI) of leaders is therefore of utmost importance. Research purpose The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of EI training and development programmes on leaders across industries. Motivation for the study The motivation for this study is to determine whether EI training does have an effect on the participating managers within various industries and is thereby showing a return on investment. Research design, approach and method The purpose of the study is explanatory in nature. A pre-experimental research design was adopted through the use of a one-group pre-test and post-test design. This design resulted in quantifiable data that was compared across industries. The data was collected through a quantitative, 360 degree Questionnaire used in practice. Main findings EI training does have a positive and significant effect on the participants in the study. Significant changes occurred across the participants' average EI scores on all the instrument's nine items as well as the overall EI score. Results showed a significant increase in EI skills across all industries. What was interesting in the results were the significantly different industry average EI scores before and after the training intervention. However, despite those significant baseline differences the study found no significant difference in the positive increase of the participating managers' overall EI scores. Future research / Limitations Future studies could determine whether a difference might exist between the level of EI of males and females. In order to overcome the sample limitation it would be beneficial to obtain a larger sample with the inclusion of more industries for comparison purposes. The use of a control group, a registered instrument and more statistically advanced techniques could also be considered in future. Conclusion Results showed that in the current study, EI can be increased across industries regardless of the EI baseline the individuals started with before the training intervention. This ultimately results in a return on investment for the organisation's monetary investment in EI training as an intervention. / Mini Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Human Resource Management / MCom / Unrestricted

Despite the fact that oil and gas companies invest heavily in training, there are considerable evidences to show that evaluation of the training is seldom undertaken, which leads to failure in determining the effectiveness of training. Kirkpatrick's four levels model (1959) sets out to be the key evaluation criteria to measure the effectiveness of training which has been used for more than 50 years to assess training effectiveness. This study focuses on the evaluation and improvement of Kirkpatrick's four levels model. It argues that Kirkpatrick's four levels model (1959) fails to account for factors such as work environment, individual factors, training characteristics, and their impact on training effectiveness. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the moderating variables of training characteristics and evaluate their subsequent impacts on Kirkpatrick's four training outcomes (reaction, learning, behaviour and results) and on intention to transfer learning. The objective of this study is to identify those training variables (pre-training interventions and activities, trainee readiness, training environment, training methods, trainer performance and behaviour, training content and objectives) and their effect on improving employee performance. In this study, training characteristics are referred to as pre-training interventions and activities, trainee readiness, training environment, training methods, trainer performance and behaviour, training content and objectives. To achieve the aim of this study, quantitative research was adopted. The study was conducted at three separate times (pre-training, immediately after completion and post-training 2-3 months). The hypotheses were tested by selecting a sample of n1 = 406, n2 = 402, n3 = 391 trainees in health and safety training working in national oil and gas companies located in Oman by using convenience sampling. Structural equation model (AMOS) software is used to validate the research model. The study has contributed to the field of training evaluation by developing Kirkpatrick's four levels model through an the examination of the impact of training characteristics on Kirkpatrick's four levels (reaction, learning, behaviour and results) and on intention to transfer learning in the national oil and gas industry in Oman before and after training was completed. The findings indicated that pre-training intervention and practices were positively and significantly related to expectations of training outcomes, and only trainee readiness was found to be positively and significantly related to the expectations of training environment and expectations of trainer performance and behaviour. The result confirmed the positive and significant correlation between reaction and learning, and between behaviour and results. Moreover, the results indicated that trainer performance and behaviour were positively and significantly related to the two training outcomes: reaction and learning; and in addition, training environment had a strong and positive impact on learning. Training content and objectives were positively and significantly related to behaviour. ii Nevertheless, pre-training interventions and activities had an insignificant effect on expectations for the training outcomes. Further, trainee readiness had an insignificant effect on expectations for the training environment and on expectations of trainer performance and behaviour. Learning had an insignificant effect on intention to transfer learning. The training environment and training methods were not found to be positively and significantly related to reaction. Training methods were not found to be positively and significantly related to learning. Further, the training characteristics, such as the training environment, training methods and trainer performance and behaviour had an insignificant impact on intention to transfer learning. The findings did not support that training characteristics had a moderating role on the relationship between training outcomes. This research has empirically investigated the moderating effects of training characteristics on the relationship between reaction, learning, intention to transfer learning, behaviour and results. This study has contributed to the literature empirically by showing that pre-training interventions and activities were the strongest factor contributing to expectations of the training environment, as well as to expectations of trainer performance and behaviour. Trainee readiness was the strongest factor contributing to expectations of the training outcomes. Furthermore, this study has contributed to the extant literature empirically by showing that trainee reaction is related significantly to trainee learning. This study has contributed to the literature by showing that trainer performance and behaviour was the strongest factor contributing to reaction. Furthermore, the training environment (followed by trainer performance and behaviour) was the strongest factor supporting learning. This study has further contributed to the extant literature empirically by showing that behavioural change is related significantly to results. This study also shows that training objectives (followed by training content) was the strongest factor affecting behaviour. From a practical perspective, the findings of this research have significant and practical implications for instructors, training designers, managers and supervisors when creating effective training programmes. In addition, this study contributes a framework for the practice of evaluating training effectiveness.

The purpose of this research study was to determine characteristics of entering vocational students in Kentucky Area/State vocational schools and to develop a computerized diagnostic instrument and tutorial package for assisting students in the mastery of necessary basic skills in mathematics. After specific math skills were identified in which proficiency is required of vocational education students, item pools were constructed for each skill. The skill item pools were validated using approximately 500 public school students throughout the grades of four through eight in public schools of Harlan County, Kentucky, Lee County, Virginia, and Washington County, Tennessee. The items within each item pool were found to be statistically equivalent. Computer programs were coded in the BASIC language using the item pools to randomly select and generate a diagnostic instrument and tutorial program relevant to the basic math skills. Three randomly generated forms of the diagnostic instrument were sent to 100 students in twenty area state vocational schools of Kentucky for normalization and form validation. The diagnostic instrument showed a strong positive coefficient of reliability with an average of.95 over the three forms used in the normalization process. There was no significant difference between the mean raw scores of the three forms. A 67 percentile score was found to be the norm which was to be statistically equivalent to the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) at the 8.75 grade equivalent. An experiment was conducted using vocational students at Hazard State Vocational School as subjects to determine the affects of the tutorial package on basic math skill mastery using equivalent forms of the diagnostic instrument for pretesting and posttesting. Results of the experiment indicated that the computer managed instruction tutorial package had a significant affect in increasing posttest scores of the experimental group over the control group. It was concluded that the problem of constructing a computerized diagnostic math instrument and tutorial package capable of enhancing mastery of basic math skills to assist vocational students in gaining entrance into vocational school was achieved. A recommendation was made for further research and development to use the random item pool model for other development of computer assisted instruction (CAI) software.

To meet global market competition and knowledge economy era, enterprise has put accent on developing its own human resource. Many corporations expect to become a learning organization to deal with the situation and, therefore, they have paid much attention to the function of internal education and training for employees. To build an effective employee-training system has become a critical process in enterprise management. However, common routine training activities cannot reach the goal of internal training. To meet the problem, ¡§Corporation University (CU)¡¨ was born. Some international companies have built up their corporation universities which have brought advantages and benefits to organization. The phenomenon has made the concept of CU spread out worldwide. Some native companies followed them to build their CUs. However, it is not sure whether the practical working conditions of native CU can meet the standard of CU. This study takes case study as research methodology and research targets contains two international and four native CUs. In this study, the fundamental background, organizational framework (operation system), operational situation (including components of instructors and learners¡Bcourse planning and content¡Bways to proceed learning course¡Bfund resource and expenditure¡Bevaluation and verification for learning) and working efficiency for each CU were discussed to acquire the whole practice of each CU. Additionally, the related literature was reviewed and CUs were summarized as four types of function levels by past researchers: training and development¡Borganization learning¡Bknowledge management¡Bstrategic management. Moreover, based on the classifications, the research targets are classified and analyzed to explore the reasons why they were built and examine their working efficiency. By examining the research targets with their fundamental backgrounds and operational situations, it is shown that the function levels of native CUs cannot be labeled as ¡§strategic management¡¨ mostly. After surveying the practical operations of four native CUs, several problems are discovered as follows: native corporations build their CUs because of popularization not need; a feasibility study is not conducted before setting up their CUs and the function level of CU is not clear; CU only play a role of extension of internal education and training system for employees; there are some problems for native CUs to work with academy institutions; there is room of improvement in instructors and courses of native CUs; learning resources of CU cannot be acquired by each employees; learning evaluation and verification are not implemented seriously by CU¡¦s executives. Therefore, base on the discovered problems and explored issues, this study provides some specific suggestions for companies who have operated CUs practically and a referable direction for following researchers.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the extent of instructors at TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Department of Foreign Languages regard in-service training programs crucial for their professional development. Another aspect of the study was to identify the professional needs of the instructors teaching preparatory classes as well as to determine the preferred instructional methods of an INSET program. The final aim of the study was to determine whether there are statistically significant differences between novice and experienced instructors regarding their needs and expectation of an in-service training program.The study was conducted among thirty-nine instructors who are teaching preparatory classes at TOBB ETU, DFL. The chairperson of the DFL also took part in the study. Data from the 39 instructors were collected through questionnaires which were developed to uncover the opinions of instructors in terms of the characteristics of effective in-service training programs, to identify the needs of the instructors and determine the instructional methods preferred in-service training program. The questionnaires included both Likert scale and open-ended items. Moreover, 50-minute lessons of 10 instructors were video recorded. Video recordings aimed to identify the needs of the instructors that should be addressed through an in-service training program. Finally, interviews were conducted with 10 instructors whose classes were video recorded. The aim of the interviews was to enable the instructors to reflect on the findings of the questionnaires and the video recordings. Another interview was conducted with the chairperson of the DFL to uncover to what extent his perceptions about in-service training activities correlate with those of the instructors. Data collected through the instruments were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Close-ended items were analyzed via the SPSS program and mean scores for each item were calculated besides an independent sample t-test. The qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The results of the study revealed that the instructors believe INSET is crucial for their professional development, they would like to keep on track with new developments in the field of ELT and participate in seminars and conferences as part of INSET programs. In terms of the professional needs, it was found that instrcutors need to be trained on teaching speaking skills and pronunciation, written and oral correction, promoting student autonomy, dealing with classroom management problems, teaching mixed-ability groups, raising language awareness of students and reflecting on their own experience. The t-test results demonstrated that there was a statistical significance between the answers of novice and experienced instructors concerning being trained in &lsquo / teaching vocabulary,&rsquo / &lsquo / teaching grammar&rsquo / and &lsquo / improving in written and oral correction strategies.&rsquo / It was found that experienced teachers are particularly interested in training sessions on teaching grammar, teaching vocabulary, and improving written and oral correction strategies. As a result of the findings, an ongoing INSET program model was proposed for the Department of Foreign Languages at TOBB ETU.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the in-service teacher training program implemented for the newly hired teachers in the School of Foreign Languages (SFL) at Middle East Technical University. The study was conducted with the help of three groups of participants who were the trainees who participated in the training program in the 2004-2005 academic year, the experienced teachers who were current members of the SFL and the teacher trainers. Data from the 12 trainees were collected through two questionnaires which were developed to identify the needs of the trainees at the start of the program and their degree of satisfaction at the end. Moreover, an interview was conducted with the trainees. Data from the 4 teacher trainers were collected through a questionnaire and it aimed to identify their expectations from and satisfaction with the program. 45 experienced teachers, on the other hand, were involved in the study to understand whether they need in-service training. The questionnaires included both Likert scale and open-ended items. Data collected through the instruments were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Closed-ended items were analyzed via the SPSS program and mean scores for each item were calculated. To identify if there is any statistically significant difference between the mean scores, a paired-sample t-test was calculated. The qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The results of the study revealed that the trainees especially need to improve their practical teaching skills which are immediately necessary in the new setting. Their degree of satisfaction was also found to be high. The results about the experienced teachers showed that they did not feel the need to enroll in an in-service training program. The findings about the teacher trainers revealed that they are generally happy with the program although they listed some suggestions for improvement.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1930. / Published also as Teacher's College, Columbia University, Contributions to education, no. 414. Bibliography: p. 54.

This study examined the effectiveness of intelligent tutoring system instruction, grounded in John Anderson's ACT theory of cognition, on the achievement and attitude of developmental mathematics students in the community college setting. The quasi-experimental research used a pretest-posttest control group design. The dependent variables were problem solving achievement, overall achievement, and attitude towards mathematics. The independent variable was instructional method. Four intact classes and two instructors participated in the study for one semester. Two classes (n = 35) served as experimental groups; they received six lessons with real-world problems using intelligent tutoring system instruction. The other two classes (n = 24) served as control groups; they received six lessons with real-world problems using traditional instruction including graphing calculator support. It was hypothesized that students taught problem solving using the intelligent tutoring system would achieve more on the dependent variables than students taught without the intelligent tutoring system. Posttest mean scores for one teacher produced a significant difference in overall achievement for the experimental group. The same teacher had higher means, not significantly, for the experimental group in problem solving achievement. The study did not indicate a significant difference in attitude mean scores. It was concluded that using an intelligent tutoring system in problem solving instruction may impact student's overall mathematics achievement and problem solving achievement. Other factors must be considered, such as the teacher's classroom experience, the teacher's experience with the intelligent tutoring system, trained technical support, and trained student support; as well as student learning styles, motivation, and overall mathematics ability.

This work defines the concept, advantages and risks of outsourcing of training and development of employees. The practical part of this work is a case study which goal is to choose a supplier for long-term development of employees of Prague company in English language.