A H R D 2010 Kolb Kim Song 2

A Comparative Study of Facilitator Competencies in a Sample of U.S.

and S. Korean Facilitators

Judith A. Kolb, Penn StateHong Min Kim, Penn State

Ji Hoon Song, Oklahoma StateAHRD Conference 2/27/10 Knoxville

+ Rationale for Study

• Extend Kolb, Jin, & Song (2008) study of facilitator competencies to non-U.S. sample

• Address limitation and suggestion for future research from that study—”examine application of this model to other cultures” (p. 131) – Kolb, J. A., Jin, S., & Song, J. H. (2008). A model of small

group facilitator competencies. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 21(2), 119-133.

+ Facilitator Definition

A person who remains neutral in the actual decision (s) of the group but who assumes the responsibility for managing the group’s process while it is attempting to solve a problem or reach a decision

+ Research Question

What similarities and differences exist between scores and rankings collected from a sample of facilitators working in South Korea and scores and rankings reported by Kolb et al. (2008)?

+ Sample & Analysis

• Sample -40 U.S. Facilitators (2008) -57 Korean Facilitators (2009)

• Analysis -Comparison of competency mean scores and rankings -Interdependent t-tests -Spearman’s rank correlation

+ Results: Overview

• Comparison in mean score (t-tests) -No significant differences in 15 competencies -Significant differences in 8 competencies

• Correlation in rank (Spearman’s rho) -ρ (rho)=.61 (p<.01) -Significant correlation in rank between the two data sets

+ Results (continued)

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C232.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

USAKor

Comparison in mean score

+ Results (continued)

Comparison in rank

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C230

5

10

15

20

25

USAKor

+ Results (continued)

Top-ranked 3 competencies

1. Listens actively

2. Creates a climate that supports interaction and discussion

3. Encourages group involvement in, and ownership of, issues and tasks

1. Same

2. Stimulates small group insights and creativity

3. Same

U.S. Korea

+ Results (continued)

~~3

4

5

U.S.

Korea

Listens actively (1st)

Encourages

Involvement

and ownership (3rd)

Stimulates small group

insights and creativity

(KO 2nd)

Creates a climate that

supports interaction and

discussion (US 2nd)

Score comparison of top-ranked 3 competencies

+ Implications for Research

• Similar patterns could be considered as evidence of the facilitator competency model’s validity

• Kolb et al.’s (2008) belief that listening would be highly ranked in another culture was supported

• Need to analyze qualitative data from this study that will give depth to findings reported here

• Further studies needed to improve the validity of the facilitator competency model

+ Q & A session