Effectiveness of three training methods for teaching food safety to cooperative extension agents

This study examined the effectiveness of three training methods used to teach food safety to cooperative extension agents. A secondary purpose was to explore the training formats and training aids that subjects considered effective to learn food safety. Food safety knowledge pretests, posttests, retention tests, and knowledge gained and retained were the variables used to measure effectiveness. The three methods examined were two-day training by lecture method, computer interactive training (one single treatment), and computer interactive training with weekly reviews. There were no significant differences in posttest and retention test scores among the three groups. All methods were shown to be equally effective in improving and retaining knowledge. Group assignment significantly affected how subjects ranked the effectiveness of the following formats: question and answer, workbook assignments, and computer-assisted instruction. Overall, subjects ranked lecture/speech, hands-on training, and computer-assisted instruction as effective training formats and ranked videotapes/films, CD-ROM, and manuals as effective training aids.