TRAINEE CHARACTERISTICS AND THE OUTCOMES OF OPEN LEARNING

Previous investigations into the processes and outcomes of training ha ve been restricted to conventional ''closed'' settings. However, learn ing is likely to become increasingly ''open,'' with greater discretion granted for individuals to choose how and when they will acquire new skills and information. In a study of 106 junior managers over a 7-mon th period, the impact of 11 trainee characteristics was investigated i n relation to immediate learning scores, reactions to the program, and changes in rated job behaviors. It was found that learning score was significantly independently predicted by general training attitude, th e use of an analytic learning strategy, and (low) age. Post-training r eactions were identified as being of three kinds: reported enjoyment, usefulness, and difficulty. These were shown to be differentially asso ciated with the trainee characteristics studied. Significant associati ons were found between learning score and changes in rated job perform ance.