Four Levels of Training Evaluation

by James D. Kirkpatrick, Wendy Kayser Kirkpatrick

A timely update to a timeless model. Don Kirkpatrick’s groundbreaking Four Levels of Training Evaluation is the most widely used training evaluation model in the world. Ask any group of trainers whether they rely on the model’s four levels Reaction, Learning, Behavior, and Results in their practice, and you’ll get an enthusiastic affirmation. But how many variations of Kirkpatrick are in use today? And what number of misassumptions and faulty practices have crept in over 60 years? The reality is: Quite a few. James and Wendy Kirkpatrick have written Four Levels of Training Evaluation to set the record straight. Delve into James and Wendy’s new findings that, together with Don Kirkpatrick’s work, create the New World Kirkpatrick Model, a powerful training evaluation methodology that melds people with metrics. In Four Levels of Training Evaluation, discover a comprehensive blueprint for implementing the model in a way that truly maximizes your business’s results. Using these innovative concepts, principles, techniques, and case studies, you can better train people, improve the way you work, and, ultimately, help your organization meet its most crucial goals.

Genres: Education, Business, Nonfiction, Reference, Professional Development, Historical Romance

Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book provided me with a lot of ideas on how to monitor training programs. The only issue I had was with the examples. While they were useful, the entire book is written for trainers that are internal to an organization/firm. It would have been nice to have examples of other industries and/or government entities. I'm going to read the original (written by Don and Jim) to see if there is additional information in that book that focuses more closely on the measurement of the 4-level model without the additional 'dos and don'ts" for the training officer

[Samantha Seldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I would never finish this book and without multiple flights without internet it may have never happened but I’m glad I made it through. It clearly (if dryly) described the Kirkpatrick Method and how to use it as intended. I appreciated its grounded, straightforward advice on how to effectively measure the impact of professional training interventions and position learning & development as a strategic business need instead of a “nice-to-have.”

[Tim Edmonds-King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for work - really took my time on this one. Gave some great insight into how we approach our assessment for our learning programs & helping me to continue to work on improving them.

[Anino · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received courtesy of Netgalley and the Publisher, in exchange for an honest review

As an MPA degreed professional within a Municipal library system, I found this book to be practical and insightful when it comes to revitalizing one's training methodologies.. In my opinion, this is a necessary book for anyone who desires to revitalize their training department, and take it to the next level of excellence.

Giving this one: 5 stars

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should be read and referenced by every instructional designer and training manager in corporate America. I think folks in Higher Ed and K12 may find value here too.

I loved this so much because of its sheer practicality, simplicity, and breadth of insights. From tips on survey language to common pitfalls to analysis suggestions, and insights to include evaluation throughout a design rather than only after it - this is a treasure trove.

There are many areas I see now that I can improve that I was blind to before when it comes to proving the value of training and really seeking after the "truth" in the business in an effort to help make a real difference. I highly recommend this book!

[Robert Bogue]

Sometimes, you say a thing and it just catches on. It’s a moment of insight that gets frozen in time like a mosquito in amber, and later you realize just what you have. Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Evaluation is like this. It’s a simple framework for evaluating the efficacy of your training program. Don Kirkpatrick uttered the words: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. His son and his son’s bride take up these words and refine the meaning that the industry gave to the words and adjust them back towards their original intent.

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[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be a great help if you run fairly intense training sessions and have engaged stakeholders to help with development of them. If you're looking to evaluate trainings where you've got less stakeholder engagement (or even none) there may be some parts of this that will be useful to you, but some parts will not. I think you can take what you need from this, but in that case I'd recommend treating it more like a reference work, and dipping in and out of the sections you need. (There's a detailed TOC that will make this easy.)

[Mahdi El Horchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misconceptions Resolved

Better understanding of the Kirkpatrick four levels and emphasis to begin with end in mind the level 4 and then level 3 and the best thing that don’t treat all training courses as equal, apply the 4 levels on only the strategic training that ensure positive results to the organization.

[Susan Wilson]

Excellent resource and feels very up to date in it’s approach. Biggest messages for me are that even though it is sometimes difficult to link training outcomes with results, it’s important to do use data analytics and work with managers and teams to continually assess programmes so we can both improve and also demonstrate value.

[Lance McNeill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical handbook

Anyone in the training and teaching industries should have a copy of this handbook. It’s practical and easy to read. At times I did feel their was some promotion from the authors related to their consulting services but still a tremendously valuable book.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

От книгите, които човек трябва да има на хартия, за да си подчертава важни пасажи, и да слага бележки, към които да се връща многократно. Задължителна за рафта на всеки, който се занимава с обучения и развитие на таланти.

[Mishari AlGhamdi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It introduced me to a totally new area & covered the required knowledge in a perfect, comprehensive way

[Phantom_fox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing ground breaking about it.

[Larry Hiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for not only HR and Learning & Development, it is crucial for C-suite execs to understand the chain from learning activities to results!

[Rodolfo Marroquín · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sirve para reforzar los conceptos claves relacionados con la evaluación en los diferentes niveles de la metodología.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a reason that the Kirkpatrick model is the industry standard. If you do training for a living, you need to read this book.

[Cristabel]

Recomendado por BB. Kirkpatrick Model para evaluar la efectividad de un curso en estudiantes

[Nahla Al Anqodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book.. easy to follow .. gave insights to evaluation process at different levels..

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read Don Kirkpatrick's "Evaluating Training Programs." Mr. Kirkpatrick Senior's book was quite compelling, very practical, and easily consumed. Jim and Wendy Kirkpatrick have taken the same approach in this book. It is accessible, practical, and compelling. Jim and Wendy seem to be examining the subject from a larger perspective. Most of their examples are about very large training endeavors or the whole training program of a company. But the principles can be applied to smaller endeavors, although you'll have to consider whether it's worth the effort and money.

You should definitely read both books if the subject is of interest to you. This book is not merely a modern reiteration of "Evaluating Training Programs." This book briefly examines the four levels (look to "Evaluating Training Programs" for a more in-depth description and definition). It spends some time on how to collect data at all four levels. It spends a fourth of the book on how to analyze and report that data. Finally, it provides five case studies of companies that have successfully applied the four levels to a training endeavor.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone involved in training of any kind whether you're a leader, content creator, or an subject matter expert.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quite specialist book that builds on the original Four Levels of Training Evaluation by Don Kirkpatrick to bring it up-to-date and even more relevant to today’s times and needs, through additional interpretation and new research.

Enter the New World Kirkpatrick Model, a training evaluation methodology that places people with analytical metrics at the heart of a process that is said to boost training success, ongoing work evaluation and personal development.

It appears to be a sensitive and powerful upgrade to an originally well-received process and when correctly deployed it should be a positive asset to a company and help stretch and extend existing employees, allowing them to reach new corporate and personal goals.

To be fair, the book could have been a little more readable and accessible, especially bearing in mind there may be readers who are not so familiar with the original process. A tighter edit and greater readability would have made it a more manageable book for a broader audience, as many of the elements covered could even be taken and adapted for use elsewhere. It would have just been a win-win, albeit a small minor point in the greater scheme of things.

There is, as you may expect, a mass of references and further reading suggestions too, so you can really fill your boots and deep-dive along specific thought processes and research strands.

In any case, this is not an expensive book and for those who need this sort of material it can be an instant purchase decision. For many others, there may be benefits to be had and it could be worth a bit of a skim to see what you may get out of it.

Autamme.com

[Dana M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent application of Kirkpatrick's four levels in an easy-to-understand format. This book really simplifies what are sometimes misunderstood concepts related to training evaluation, and provides real-world ("new-world") applications and tools for success in all training programs.

[Robert Tetteroo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has taken out a lot of misunderstanding in how to measure training. More interesting: it is actually easier than thought. Bonus: great reasoning on the value of well planned and executed training. A bright shining light in the dark jungle of instructional design books.

[Ronald McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for evaluating training programs - a classic! Lots of great tips.