Assessing Trainers' Knowledge of the Transfer of Training: Test Construction and Validation

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Research in Workplace Learning

Abstract

Trainers’ transfer knowledge can be defined as their knowledge about the determinants and facilitation of the transfer of training. Although transfer is an important training outcome that should be fostered by training professionals, the trainers’ transfer knowledge has seen little empirical investigation. The study describes the development of a 31-item measure using open questions, Forced-Choice (FC) items and Multiple-Response (MR) items to assess transfer knowledge. This paper reports preliminary validation findings using a sample of 209 German-speaking trainers. An Item-Response-Theory (IRT) based model shows good item fit (0.9 - 1.1) and reliability (.82) although Differential Item Functioning (DIF) is detected for trainers with and without a training certification.

Authors

• Susanne Wisshak, University of Konstanz

• Claudio Spener, University of Konstanz