THE RIGORS OF TRAINING EVALUATION: A DISCUSSION AND FIELD DEMONSTRATION1

Training evaluation is one of the most under-researched and neglected areas of industrial/organizational psychology. This article discusses the need for, and feasibility of, utilizing extended-control-group pretest designs in evaluation research; and reports a field application of such a design (the Solomon 4-Group) in an organizational training context. The effectiveness of a basic electricity training program for telephone installer-repairmen was measured, and the potential contaminating effects of pretesting were monitored. The results indicated that the training was potentially effective, but that pretest contaminations were present. To identify the pretest effects it was necessary to go beyond the Solomon model and consider complex interactions involving numerical aptitude level, pretesting and training. Pretest exposure depressed the posttest performance of trained subjects of medium and low numerical aptitude, while facilitating that of medium level untrained subjects. Pretest exposure had no effect on subjects scoring high in numerical aptitude in either the trained or untrained condition. Possible explanations for the moderating role of numerical aptitude are offered, and implications of the findings are discussed relative to applied organizational evaluation efforts and future research.     

Genetic and environmental influences on adult attachment styles

The heritability of adult attachment styles as measured by the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ) was estimated on data from a volunteer general population sample of 220 adult twin pairs (116 monozygotic pairs. 104 dizygotic pairs). Additive genetic effects accounted for 37%, 43%, and 25% of the variance in the secure, fearful, and preoccupied adult attachment styles, respectively, but none of the variance in the dismissing style. Nonshared environmental influences accounted for the majority of the variance in all styles: 63% secure, 57% fearful, 75% preoccupied, and 71% dismissing. Shared environmental effects were negligible for all styles except dismissing (29%).     

BEYOND THE NATURE–CULTURE DUALISM: THE ECOLOGY OF EARTH-HOMELAND

Morin's thoughts on environmental destruction flow from the perspective of a metatheorist of political ecology. His early writings emphasize the interaction of nature and culture; his “acentric” interpretations of systems theory challenge ecological theorists who overemphasize centralized programming as a remedy for destructive patterns of subsystem interaction. Morin also criticizes defenders of “sustainable development” who fail to see system-renewing potential in cultural diversity. As an environmental metatheorist, he offers not rules for a new green ethic, but a way of thinking designed to enhance respect for pluralism, ambiguity, and natural complexity.     

A Feminist Interpretation of Hume on Testimony

Hume is usually taken to have an evidentialist account of testimonial belief: one is justified in believing what someone says if one has empirical evidence that they have been reliable in the past. This account is impartialist: such evidence is required no matter who the person is, or what relations she may have to you. I, however, argue that Hume has another account of testimony, one grounded in sympathy. This account is partialist, in that empirical evidence is not required in order for one to be justified in believing some of the assertions of one's friends.     

An Employee Assistance Model of Health Care Management for Employees With Alcohol-Related Problems

An employee assistance model in which cost-effective, high-quality treatment can be offered for a complex range of alcohol-related problems is described. This system of care allows the employee to be treated in the least restrictive therapeutic environment, thus encouraging continued productivity at work.     

Assessment of Religious Beliefs Form

Religion may be a source of spiritual strength or a source of conflict and guilt. This article outlines the importance of assessing the religious beliefs of clients for treatment purposes and provides a format for the counselor to utilize. Because counselors may be unaware of their clients' individual perspectives, it is important to evaluate a clients' belief system from a holistic perspective during the intake process.     

BRIDGING DIFFERENCE THROUGH DIALOGUE: A CONSTRUCTIVIST PERSPECTIVE

Differences in culture invariably underpin the communication failures and misunderstandings that lead to social conflict and dissension. In contemporary organizations, for example, conflicts in values between different occupational groups have the potential to create significant organizational dysfunction. Equally, however, bridging between these conflicts may present an opportunity for organizational learning and insight. Dialogue provides a means of bridging between such differences, but it is notoriously difficult to implement. In this article, we explore the potential of Personal Construct Theory as a way into dialogue. We illustrate our argument with the results of a workshop that involved senior managers and clinicians from a large public hospital.     

“The Friendly Clergy”: Characteristics and Referral

Among the recommendations possible in assessment of clients' religious beliefs is that of referral to the “friendly clergy.” This article delineates guidelines for referral as well as ideal characteristics of that spiritual professional.