Research relevant to L&D typically focuses on education and technology.

While we perhaps most often hear L&D research from areas like education and technology, related academic work often spans many fields, including industrial/organizational psychology, cognitive psychology, sociology, anthropology, and human resource development. In January 2021 Dr. Kurt Kraiger (University of Memphis) and Dr. Kevin Ford (Michigan State University) published a paper, “The Science of Workplace Instruction: Learning and Development Applied to Work” in which they propose bringing ideas across fields together by meshing the science of learning with the science of training.

In The Science of Workplace Instruction: Video Interview with Dr. Kurt Kraiger, The Learning Guild’s Director of Research Jane Bozarth talks with Dr. Kurt Kraiger about his and Dr. Ford’s proposed science of workplace instruction as “the application of evidence-based principles that have been found to help individuals learn knowledge, skills, and attitudes that impact job performance and organizational effectiveness.”

The interview also covers what Kraiger and Ford consider “core categories” of instructional principles:

  1. Organizing
  2. Sequencing
  3. Engaging learner in own learning
  4. Effective practice
  5. Develop initial mastery

Watch this research video for free to find out more about how applying these core categories could help you achieve better learning outcomes for your organization.

Not a member of The Learning Guild? Sign up today for free to gain access to this research report, as well as all other Guild publications.