[Scaling methods applied to set priorities in training programs in organizations].
Criteria to assess the needs in order to plan training programs are not usually defined explicitly in organizational contexts. We propose scaling methods as a feasible and useful procedure to set priorities of training programs; also, we propose the most suitable method for this intervention context. 404 employees from a public organization completed an ad hoc questionnaire to assess training needs in different areas from 2004 to 2006; concretely, 117, 75 and 286 stimuli were scaled, respectively. Then, four scaling methods were compared: Dunn-Rankin's method and three methods derived from Thurstone's Law of Categorical Judgment--ranking, successive intervals and equal-appearing intervals. The feasibility and utility of these scaling methods to solve the problems described is shown. Taking into account the most accurate compared methods, we propose ranking as the most parsimonious method (with regard to procedure simplicity). Future research developments are described.
Sanduvete Chaves
Susana
S
Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain. sussancha@us.es
Barbero García
María Isabel
MI
Chacón Moscoso
Salvador
S
Pérez-Gil
J Antonio
JA
Holgado Tello
F Pablo
FP
Sánchez Martín
Milagrosa
M
Lozano Lozano
J Antonio
JA
D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D000465:Algorithms; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004493:Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006040:Goals; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires