Measuring the organizational impact of training: The need for greater methodological rigor

Garavan, Thomas; McCarthy, Alma; Sheehan, Maura; Lai, Yanqing; Saunders, Mark N. K.; Clarke, Nicholas; Carbery, Ronan; Shanahan, Valerie

Abstract

We review the methodological rigor of empirical quantitative studies that have investigated the training and organisational performance relationship. Through a content analysis of 219 studies published in quality journals, we reveal significant validity threats (internal, external construct and statistical conclusion validity) that raise questions about the methodological rigor of the field. Our findings suggest that the time is appropriate for a renewed methodological endeavour to understanding the relationship between training and organisational performance. We make specific recommendations to enhance methodological rigor and generate research finding will enhance operationalisation of theory, help researchers to make inferences about causality and inform the decision making of HRD practitioners.

Citation

Garavan, T., McCarthy, A., Sheehan, M., Lai, Y., Saunders, M. N. K., Clarke, N., …Shanahan, V. (2019). Measuring the organizational impact of training: The need for greater methodological rigor. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 30(3), 291-309. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21345

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 4, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Mar 28, 2019
• Publication Date: Sep 9, 2019
• Deposit Date: Feb 14, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 14, 2019
• Journal: Human Resource Development Quarterly
• Print ISSN: 1044-8004
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-1096
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 291-309
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21345
• Keywords: Training and organizational performance, methodological rigor, validity ,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1583246