Training Need

Assessment
Data-gathering Methods:
Part 1, Survey Questionnaires
~Samuel B. McClelland


Presented by-
Aakanksha Vats
Research & Data gathering
methods
Survey Questionnaires
Individual Interviews
Focus Groups
On site observations
Survey Questionnaires
O comprehensive and systematic approach to identify and
analyse an organization's training and development
needs
O cost-effective and reliable means to collect feedback
O Feedback can be qualitative or quantitative
O Data collected can be both subjective and objective
O Proper structure for a questionnaire is a critical factor in
determining & obtaining unbiased feedback

O Addresses large population & people need not to be
physically present (different locations) making it cost
effective.
O Non-intrusive means for gathering feedback, because
respondents can fill the data as per their convenience.
O Biasing is minimized.
O Time saver, simplicity positively affects the rate of return
and increase the response accuracy

Survey Questionnaires:
Advantages
Survey
Questionnaires
Standardized
Custom-
designed
(original)
Standardized
questionnaires
O available through a number of training organizations
and consultants.
O standardized questionnaires types:
O employee opinion surveys,
O organizational climate and culture surveys,
O training needs surveys,
O "one-size-fits-all" approach
O Advantages:
O reliability, consistently measures that which it has been
designed to measure,
O validity, produces consistency in results across a broad
spectrum of applications

Custom based questionnaires
O Determines the training needs of a
particular group of managers or
employees

O Design and testing needs attention so that
validity, with regards to structure, usage,
and grading (tabulation) can be
established and validated
Probable training needs
O To identify the current needs or the
potential ones.
O May range from identifying the skills or
knowledge deficiencies occurred due to
strategic change in organizational
structure, market or operations.
O Addressing TNA goals: Grounded theory
O End result: Formulation of questionnaire
Questionnaire Response
Format
Types of
format
Close ended
or Forced
choice
Open ended
Combination
Choosing the questionnaire
format
O Examples of closed-ended or forced-choice types of
question are:
O Yes/No
O True/false
O Rating
O Ranking (Often combined with open ended)
O Multiple choice
O response must be mutually exclusive of the so as not to
cause an overlap in the choice or the mental
consideration patterns of the respondent.

O Open ended:
O elicit feedback from participants by
requiring them to formulate a response by
making a statement.
O Disadvantage: highly subjective to the
respondent's interpretation of the question
and require time to comprehend and reach
to conclusion.
Choosing the questionnaire
format
A pre-test framework for
validity and reliability
O Questions should be clear, direct and in concise
manner
O Questions should focus on a singular subject
requiring an individual to provide a single response
O Response options should be limited and focused
on the subject presented in the question
O questionnaire should be subjected for proofread to
avoid typographical errors, vague or misleading
statements, and neutral phrasing
Cross-tabulation of results
O Understanding of emerging patterns &
trends to identify & interpret the results.

Final report structure:
First page: information summarizing the project (e.g. objectives
or goals, and number of respondents) and aggregate analysis of
the data.
In-depth review
Recommendations from the data should be specific with regard
to training as well as non-training-related activities
Eg: open-ended questions: should be summarized in a separate
section in the report.
specific training recommendations: projected durations and cost
estimates.
Cross-tabulation tables or any statistical inferences should be
included at the end of the report as an appendix.
"E-mail": A Survey
Questionnaire Variation
O Costs of duplicating a number of paper
survey questionnaires are totally
eliminated.
O Distribution time greatly reduced as the E-
mail system routes the survey
electronically.
O response times and rates increase
because of the ease of distribution &
response.
O Disadvantage: confidentiality or anonymity
of response.
Summary and
Recommendations
O TNA survey questionnaire, valuable tool for
obtaining consistent and relevant feedback
O valuable insight for identifying organizational
performance and productivity inhibitors
O flexible and results-oriented method which
identifies the organization's training and
development needs.
O Used in conjunction with other data gathering
methods for assessing present as well as
future skills requirements