Evaluating the effectiveness of training strategies: performance goals and testing

Area of Science:

• Laboratory animal science
• Biomedical research training
• Research ethics and compliance

Background:

• Regulatory policies mandate training for personnel in animal research.
• Many institutions lack effective methods to assess training program efficacy.
• Ineffective training can lead to wasted resources and compromised research integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a hierarchical framework for evaluating animal research training.
• To outline methods for assessing knowledge, competence, and performance.
• To guide the development of cost-effective training assessment plans.

Main Methods:

• Described the hierarchical relationship between knowledge, competence, and performance.
• Differentiated between declarative and procedural knowledge.
• Reviewed various direct and indirect performance measurement techniques, analyzing their validity, reliability, and cost.

Main Results:

• Each measurement option presents unique strengths and weaknesses.
• Strategic selection of assessment methods requires balancing tradeoffs.
• Factors influencing choice include frequency, criticality, learning difficulty, logistics, and budget.

Conclusions:

• A combination of assessment types is necessary for comprehensive evaluation.
• Tailored measurement strategies ensure effective and efficient training.
• An example of a cost-effective assessment plan integrating various strategies is provided.