Scaling methods applied to set priorities in training programs in organizations

Criteria to assess the needs in order to plan training programs are not usually defined explicitly in organizational contexts. We propose scaling methods as a feasible and useful procedure to set priorities of training programs; also, we propose the most suitable method for this intervention context. 404 employees from a public organization completed an ad hoc questionnaire to assess training needs in different areas from 2004 to 2006; concretely, 117, 75 and 286 stimuli were scaled, respectively. Then, four scaling methods were compared: Dunn-Rankin's method and three methods derived from Thurstone's Law of Categorical Judgment--ranking, successive intervals and equal-appearing intervals. The feasibility and utility of these scaling methods to solve the problems described is shown. Taking into account the most accurate compared methods, we propose ranking as the most parsimonious method (with regard to procedure simplicity). Future research developments are described.