Practical Usage of Four Levels of Kirkpatrick Model of Training Evaluation in Indian Companies

Abstract

The very famous Kirkpatrick Model of training Evaluation, was invented by Donald Kirkpatrick in the year 1959. This is widely used training evaluation model worldwide. It includes four levels of the training evaluation. This model not only is useful for training evaluation but it also can be used for any kind of program evaluation. Such is the power of this model. E.g. it can be used for instructional design initiatives or any Organization Development initiatives. The four levels of the Kirkpatrick model of evaluation are as below:

Level 1: Reaction

Level 2: Learning

Level 3: Behavior

Level 4: Results.

It is interesting to note that as we go up from levels 1 to level 4, the evaluation keep becoming more & more difficult but the information we get keeps becoming more & useful as well as productive for the users.

It requires more & more specialized skills & experience to use & implement the upper levels of the model and this might be the reason that many professionals do not go till Level 3 & Level 4 completely. Many professionals & organizations go upto only Level 1 & Level 2. The other reasons why professionals refrain from using Level 3 & Level 4 is because these advanced levels are more & more time consuming, require huge amount of investment of time, efforts & ofcourse capital. This is the reason why this model does not give full benefit to the users as a result of model not getting implemented fully by the users.

In this research the primary data is collected through questionnaire and telephonic Interviews. The Study will be beneficial to establish how much is the Kirkpatrick model is utilized by the training professionals on each level.