Informal Learning in a Social Context: Development and Validation of a Scale

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Division I Poster Session

Abstract

Employees need to learn in order to help their organizations compete and thrive in today's fast paced and complex business environment. Informal learning, or more specifically learning from others by seeking information, feedback, and help, has previously been mentioned as a vital means for this. However, we still lack an instrument that covers these aspects adequately and at the same time is well suited for large scale research. We set out to develop an instrument to gauge employees' informal learning in a social context. Based on four samples (n=800) in three different sectors in Austria and the Netherlands we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The findings show a clear and stable four-factor solution.

Authors

• Dominik Emanuel Froehlich, Maastricht University

• Simon Beausaert, Maastricht University

• Mien Segers, Maastricht University