Revisiting Kirkpatrick Model for assessing the impact of the training on inland ornamental fisheries management

The present study aimed to assess the impact of the impact of the trainers’ training programme on “Inland ornamental fisheries management for income Generation”, organised by the Guwahati Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), by constructing a composite training impact index based on four-stage model of Kirkpatrick. The index was developed by conducting two factor analyses for “Reaction” and “Learning-Behaviour-Result” stages. Total 15 variables were reduced into six factors, namely, Quality, Utility, Need gratification, Overall grading, Change in Knowledge-Attitude-Skill (KAS) and Result. The average composite index score of all trainees was found to be 72.92% and around 57% of the respondents fell in the “very high” category regarding impact of the training. Around 42.86% respondents graded the training programme as excellent. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test showed significant change in knowledge and attitude among the trainees at 5% level of significance. Around 66.67% had taken some action after going back and the obtained KAS was extended to 110 fishers who were sensitised or trained on inland ornamental fishery management practices. The study presents a comprehensive scenario about the impact of the training programme on the trainees by digging deep into the final outcome level rather than restricting to only immediate reaction level. The devised composite index can be useful for researchers and academicians of other institutes working on human resource development for measuring the impact of similar type of programmes. Keywords: Composite Index, KAS, Kirkpatrick model, Ornamental fisheries, Training