Evaluating Training Programs: The Four Levels

by Donald L. Kirkpatrick

Leaders want to see changes in behavior as a result of what people have learned and may expect these new behaviors to deliver results for the business. With the third edition of this book, readers have an opportunity to update their understanding of this classic evaluation framework and to learn from the case studies about how to effectively apply the framework to a variety of learning programs. Readers are presented with the tools and the know-how to tell their own story of value creation.---Foreword by Merrill C. Anderson, Ph.D, Chief Executive Officer, MetrixGlobal, LLC

Genres: Education, Reference, Nonfiction

568 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

About the author

Donald Kirkpatrick was Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin in the United States and a past president of the American Society for Training and Development.

Reviews

[Huong Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading as it provides with concepts how to evaluate a training program by four levels. This four-level model was mentioned and applied in Google (referred Work Rules of Laszlo Bock) and it's useful. While first 2 levels are easy to assess at the end of courses, the other 2 ones required more effort and systematic measurement/ data to conclude. However, if the organization considers training & development activities are important for business, it must be read and tried.

[Emil O. W. Kirkegaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not exactly a great book, this is one of the better books I've read in HR. I was quite skeptical, but it actually advocates randomized controlled trials and other good scientific methods. Particularly useful was that the book contains 15 case studies written by 3rd parties about how they went about doing training evaluation. Unfortunately, these are not that detailed, and none used an actual RCT as advocated in the first part of the book!

I would give it 3 stars normally, but considering the other stuff published in this field, I think it should get 4 in a kind of 'grading on a curve' scheme.

[Alanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful resource!

[Palan RC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don Kirkpatrick was a great friend and teacher. His simple 4 level Evaluation model is a good beginning for every human resources development professional - the 4 levels (Reactions, Learning, Behaviour, Results). Simple and easy to read,

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

crap.

[Rachel42 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely practical approach to evaluation, even (or especially), when needing to provide fast, targeted evals in the real world.

[Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

As an L&D Manager, I thought I should read this because the Kirkpatrick Levels are such a foundation of evaluating training programs. But the book was pretty terrible, with just a few useful tidbits here and there. I'm going to try How to Measure Training Results by Jack Phillips & Ron Stone instead.

[Jeromy Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This provides a great foundation to building a good training program. I will definitely be referring back to this book in the future.

5 stars = Yearly re-read
4 stars = Re-read eventually
3 stars = Very Good
2 stars = OK
1 stars = Pass on this one.
0 stars = Couldn't finish it.