We evaluated the effectiveness of a multicomponent package in training infant-care skills to first-time fathers. After developing and socially validating a set of infant-care skills, we assessed the effects of training in a hospital-based program with expectant fathers (Experiment 1) and in a home-based program with fathers having varied degrees of experience with their infants (Experiment 2). In both experiments, a multiple probe design demonstrated that the training package was responsible for producing criterion performance by the expectant and first-time fathers. A 1-month generalization probe in Experiment 1 showed that the effects transferred across training conditions (training doll to human infant) and settings (hospital to home). An increase in the number of infant-stimulation activities performed by fathers was also observed in both experiments.
JAMES L. MOSELEY is associate professor of instructional technology at Wayne State University College of Education. He teaches program evaluation and human performance technology courses and advises graduate students at the doctoral level. He has won numerous awards for teaching and mentoring and frequently consults with business and industry. JOAN CONWAY DESSINGER is a senior consultant and founder of the Lake Group, a consulting firm that specializes in analyzing, designing, developing, and evaluating workplace learning and performance interventions. Moseley and Dessinger have coauthored five books, and, with colleague Darlene Van Tiem, received the 2001 and 2003 ISPI Award for Excellence in Instructional Communication. In 2007, Moseley and Dessinger won ISPI's Outstanding Human Performance Communication Award for coauthoring Confirmative Evaluation. Training Older Workers and Learners: Maximizing the Performance of an Aging Workforce (ISBN 978‐0‐7879‐8117‐4) is published by Pfeiffer (price: $50.00). This publisher may be reached online at http://www.pfeiffer.com.
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