Outcome Research in Carkhuff's Human Resource Development Training Programs: Where is the Donut?

Abstract

This paper presents a critical review of research which has been offered in support of training programs that focus on Human Relations Development as proposed by Robert Carkhuff. The studies relied upon by Carkhuff and his students have failed to specify the nature of treatment; its components seem to vary from one study to the next; control groups of a comparative type are usually missing and, when present, have not been equivalent in expectation, motivation, contact time, leader skill or enthusiasm. Measures of process have not been collected and associated with helpee benefit. The scales used to measure gains in interpersonal skills do not have published validity data to support them. Subjects actually practice on the criterion measures employed at posttesting. The gains made have not been demonstrated to be broadly generalized or of practical significance and therefore seem to be of rather limited value. Overall, it was found that research in this area is years behind that which has come to be expected in psychotherapy outcome studies.