The relationship between training style and personality

Date
2000-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was prompted by two significant aspects within the South African training field. Firstly, the attitude of the South African Government towards training in terms of legislation made it evident that trainers will progressively playa more important role in organisations. Secondly, although literature regard the trainer as one of the important role-players in the training situation, no substantial research has been done on training style as an aspect that can influence the trainer's performance and ultimately the effectiveness of training. In order to address this void, the research was dedicated to determine whether a systematic relationship exists between the personality of a __trainer and his/her training style. The following topics were examined by means of a selective study of the literature: adult learners as the target _ of training programmes; pedagogy and andragogy as orientations to training; the trainer; the definition of training style; the trait theory of personality as the basis of the study; and empirical studies done on the topic prior to this study. In order to gather the necessary information, three questionnaires were administered to a sample of 96 trainers. The 16-PF, which is an established questionnaire, was used to collect data about the personality traits of the respondents. Furthermore, a questionnaire namely the Training Style Inventory was developed to measure the training style of trainers. Trainers were then accordingly grouped in one of five types of training styles. The last questionnaire gathered information regarding demographic aspects of the sample. The study found limited support for the hypothesis that there exists a systematic relationship between personality and training style. However, it was found that certain dimensions of personality do playa role in the manifestation of a certain training style.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie was geinspireer deur twee opmerklike aspekte binne die Suid-Afrikaanse opleidingsveld. Eerstens, die Suid-Afrikaanse Regering se houding jeens opleiding in terme van wetgewing, het dit duidelik gemaak dat opleiers voortaan 'n toenemend belangrike rol in organisasies sal vervul. Ten tweede het navorsing reeds bevestig dat die opleier een van die belangrike rolspelers in die opleiding situasie is. Daar is egter tot op hede geen noemenswaardige navorsing gedoen op opleidingstyl as 'n aspek wat die werkverrigting van die opleier en uiteindelik die effektiwiteit van opleiding beïnvloed nie. Ten einde hierdie leemte aan te spreek, was die doel van hiedie navorsing om te bepaal of daar 'n sistematiese verband bestaan tussen die persoonlikheid van 'n opleier en syjhaar opleidingstyl. Deur middel van selektiewe literatuurstudie is die volgende ondersoek: die volwasse leerder as die teiken van opleidingsprogramme; pedagogie en andragogie as orientasies tot opleiding; die opleier; definiering van opleidingstyl; die trekteorie van persoonlikheid as die basis van die studie; en empiriese studies oor die onderwerp wat hierdie navorsing vooraf gegaan het. Om die nodige inligting in te samel is drie vraelyste deur 'n steekproef van 96 opleiers ingevul. Die 16-PF wat as 'n gevestigde meetinstrument bekend staan, is gebruik om inligting in te sameloor die persoonlikheidstrekke van die respondente. Voorts is 'n vraelys naamlik die Training Style Inventory ontwikkelom die opleidingstyl van die opleiers te meet. Opleiers is daarna ooreenkomstig gegroepeer in een van vyf opleidingstyle. Die laaste vraelys het inligting ingesamel aangaande die demografiese aspekte van die steekproef. Die studie het beperkte steun gevind vir die hipotese dat daar 'n verwantskap bestaan tussen persoonlikheid en opleidingstyl. Daar is egter gevind dat sekere dimensies van persoonlikheid wel 'n rol speel in die verklaring van die manifestering van 'n sekere opleidingstyl.
Description
Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000.
Keywords
Employees -- Training of, Personality, Employee training personnel, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology
Citation