| Abstract: | Surveys have consistently shown that training evaluation is not as widely utilized as many think it should be. This study sought to determine the extent to which technical training, which is often thought to be easier to evaluate but has not been studied, utilizes accepted evaluation techniques. A survey was sent to a random sample of 334 members of the ASTD Technical and Skills Training Professional Practice Area, resulting in a usable response rate of 35%. Data were gathered on the types and methods of evaluation used, reasons for not evaluating, organizational training practices, and selected demographic information. The results showed that technical training evaluation practices were essentially the same as those reported for training in general. Furthermore, an examination of historical benchmarks showed that evaluation practices have not changed much in the last forty years. These findings suggest the need for a new research agenda on organizational training decision‐making processes. |
