Tim Hatcher

Using the Internet to Improve HRD Research: The Case of the Web-Based Delphi Research Technique to Achieve Content Validity of an HRD-Oriented Measurement.

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to highlight the results of the online Delphi research project; in particular the procedures used to establish an online and innovative process of content validation and obtaining “rich” and descriptive information using the internet and current e‐learning technologies. The online Delphi was proven to be an excellent tool in establishing content validity for an HRD‐related construct, e.g. adult learning principles. A review of related literature revealed no existing research that used a web‐based Delphi technique to validate measurements used in training and development (T&D) or HRD.Design/methodology/approach – Research methods included: a thorough review of the literature to construct an item pool of adult learning principles and instructional methods, and a Delphi expert panel consensus. The mean, mode, standard deviation, interquartile range, and skewness of the data were calculated from the voting procedures for determination of consensus. Evidence of reliabil...

New Learning: a different way of approaching conference evaluation

New Learning (NL) is an innovative process aimed at collaborative learning in professional and scholarly events and is a new way of approaching evaluation at professional conferences. NL is a process integral to a conference that focuses on the learner and how and what they learn, rather than on presenters and presentations. Whereas most professional conferences claim learning as a primary objective, seldom do any structure or evaluate to maximize that objective. The NL process helps to structure and assess organizational learning as a primary outcome in addition to providing avenues for collection of traditional evaluation information. This article explains the NL process, reviews the literature of learning and evaluation, describes what NL is and how it works, and then compares and contrasts it with traditional evaluation methods and theory. It concludes with implications for future applications and research for NL.

How a research conference created new learning: a case study

Purpose – The study presents preliminary findings from research begun at the 2005 Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference held in Estes Park, CO, USA. The qualitative case study captures what new learning occurred as a result of the conference and how the new learning at the conference occurred.Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative case study used conceptual foundations grounded within critical theory and focused on learning organizations, communities of practice (CoP), and knowledge generation.Findings – Participant reactions documented on approximately 1,000 data forms were categorized for this preliminary study as critical perspectives on HRD where typically underrepresented voices critiqued the conference, CoP as relationships between theory and practice where participants reported that theory to practice was a rich research topic, and learning organizations where results indicated that the academy benefits through conferences in terms of creating a learning org...

Robert Owen: a historiographic study of a pioneer of human resource development

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ideals and activities of the nineteenth century Welsh industrialist and reformer Robert Owen (1771-1858), and how they informed modern human resource development (HRD) concepts and practices and provided evidence of Owen as a HRD pioneer. Design/methodology/approach – Historiography provided a method to understand how historical figures, and the context in which they lived and worked, inform contemporary research and practice. Findings – Contextual factors of economics, politics and societal demands and the influences of Owens early life, his immersion within the British factory system and the creation of the New Lanark mill village, Owens great work experiment, revealed a strong impact on his thinking and actions. Thematic findings included: managing people and profit, education and training, pioneering workplace innovations, and the failure of the New Harmony, Indiana community. Themes provided unique historical evidence that education and deve...

Decision-Making Self-Efficacy and Barriers in Career Decision Making among Community College Students.

This study explored differences between career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) and career barriers of students enrolled in applied technology programs compared to those enrolled in college transfer. Participants in the ex post facto cross-sectional survey included 787 students at a community college. The following research questions were asked: (a) what is the predictive value of demographic variables on CDMSE and career barriers of applied technology and college transfer community college students? (b) is there a relationship between CDMSE and career barriers of applied technology and college transfer community college students? The Career Decision Self-Efficacy-Short Form and Career Barriers Inventory-Revised were administered to participants, and data were analyzed using two sample t tests, ANOVA and multiple regression models. There were significant differences between applied technology and college transfer students in terms of career barriers and career decision-making self-efficacy. Applied technology students, who tended to be older, had higher career decision-making self-efficacy scores than the college transfer students; this did not change across the other demographic variables. College transfer students, who tended to be younger, had higher perception of career barriers scores; this did not change across demographic variables. Future research is recommended to possibly gain specific information regarding demographics within these two groups.