THE INFLUENCE OF TRAINING EVALUATORS' CHARACTERISTICS ON EVALUATION PRACTICES IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

This paper examines the background characteristics of training evaluators and the way training evaluation is conducted in Malaysia. The background characteristics examined include evaluators' current involvement in evaluation activities, training and experience, academic qualification, and familiarity with evaluation models. This study adopts an instrument developed by Shadish and Epstein (1987). Ninety-four training evaluators participated in this study. The findings reveal that training evaluators are active in evaluation activities, receive informal training in conducting evaluation, possess academic qualifications in various disciplines, experience limited training evaluation and have a low level of familiarity with evaluation models. The evaluators' background characteristics are found to have influenced the way evaluation is conducted. The implications of the findings are discussed.

JEL classification: I2, M1

Key words: Training, Evaluation practices, Malaysia