Computer-based group training and prior achievement: effects on performance means and variances

As an organization is being transformed by the use of information technolog ies, life-long learning and on-the-job training have become a new working p aradigm. This research is to investigate how group training impacts experie nced workers in computer-based cognitive tasks. Fifty-four adults with prod uction control related working experiences participated in this group train ing research using a computer-based simulator developed based on the traini ng program for theory of constraints (TOC), a production control theory. Tr ainees were divided into higher achievers and lower achievers according to a prior achievement test and three training conditions, trainees participat ing individually, in groups of two, and in groups of three, were used for t he experiment. The analysis suggests that lower achievers are benefited mor e from group training, and the performance variance for individuals is sign ificantly larger than groups of two and three trainees. The results are dis cussed in terms of cognitive elaboration theory and compared with other stu dies. Relevance to industry The results of this study can be used for corporations in determining an ef ficient training protocol for computer-based training programs. The results also suggest how corporations may choose to use group or individual traini ng protocols based on their preferences in performance variance among train ees. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.