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A qualitative study of the transfer of learning

A qualitative study of transfer of learning was conducted during a two-week residential continuing education course. The participants of the course were forty-four middle-management level bankers from banks in the northeast region of Canada. The course, presented by the Institute of Canadian Bankers, and entitled Banking Management, was more theoretical than skills-oriented in nature. It included a theory component involving class lecture, reading assignments and a written assignment, and a practical application component, involving a simulation game in which participants put into use the theories and concepts learned in class. / The researcher lived on-site with the participants for the entire course, observing classroom, simulation game and informal social activities. Twelve participants were interviewed during the course as to their learning experiences and thoughts about what from the course would be transferred back to the work environment. Nine of the twelve participants were interviewed in their banks six weeks following the course, at which time they were again asked about learning experiences and the learning outcomes they were using or perceived they would have an opportunity to use. They were also asked to identify those learning outcomes they considered most valuable. / Results showed that non-intended learning outcomes, especially acquisition of intra- and interpersonal skills, were most highly valued by participants. Most participants indicated that there was minimal direct application of learning outcomes back on the job. The data suggests that future research on transfer should include an exploration of the way in which learners define and use the term "transfer." The data also suggests that learning and transfer may be enhanced if provisions are made within the instructional design to validate non-intended learning outcomes and allow learners to identify uses on the job for both intended and non-intended outcomes. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, Section: A, page: 0408. / Major Professor: Wayne L. Schroeder. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76232
ContributorsNorton, Helen Beverly (Lee)., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format398 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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