Training Design and Training Delivery
Research on training design and delivery can be categorized into two general themes: research on new approaches to engage learners in mean-ingful learning processes and research on spe-cific training methods. Several studies in each of these two domains provide information on how to maximize the benefits of training.
Linou & Kontogiannis (2004) compared im-mediate recall and follow-up retention levels (after six weeks) in four groups. Trainees were production engineering undergraduates. The primary objective of training was to help par-ticipants develop diagnostic strategies to iden-tify symptoms and problems given a set of fault scenarios. One group received systemic training (focusing on structural, functional, and physical relationships among subsystems), two groups received either low-level or high-level diagnos-tic information, and one group received general training on theories related to manufacturing plants. The theory group and both diagnostic groups performed better on the immediate re-call measures, whereas the systemic group per-formed better on the retention measure, pre-sumably because group members built a more stable organization (mental model) of the train-ing content. Similarly, Holladay & Quinones˜ (2003) showed that adding variability to prac-tice trials resulted in better long-term reten-tion, presumably because trainees had to exert greater effort during skill acquisition.