The effects of sexual harassment training on proximal and transfer training outcomes: A meta‐analytic investigation

Abstract

AbstractWidespread agreement that training can play a key role in addressing workplace sexual harassment (SH) has led to a dramatic increase in employer‐provided SH training around the world. However, summaries of published research have been qualitative in nature and have yielded inconsistent assessments of SH training's effectiveness in fulfilling that role. The study helps address those uncertain and sometimes conflicting assessments by providing the first meta‐analytic investigation of the relationships between SH training and changes in trainees. We found that the largest SH training effect was on declarative knowledge learning (δ = 1.06), followed by attitude change (δ = 0.41), procedural knowledge‐skills learning (δ = 0.39), and transfer outcomes (δ = 0.14). Significant moderating effects were found for scope of training, instructional method, and gender of trainees; however, the results varied by training outcome. The effect of SH training did not vary significantly as a function of the training delivery media, training duration, or training setting. Theoretical implications, directions for future research, and practical implications are discussed.