According to a study of the UK National Institute of Continuing Adult Education workers in the UK prefer informal learning to improve work performance. In the study 2,057 workers were asked what ways of learning are useful in learning to do a job better. In total 10 interventions were presented. Learning by doing was the favourite method with an 82% finding it helpful. This was followed by being shown how to do things by others (62%), and watching and listening to others (56%). Just 54% felt that taking a course paid for by the employer or the worker was helpful, followed closely by reflecting on your own performance (53%). Reading books and manuals (39%), using trial and error (38%) and using the internet (29%) were the least favourite methods.

I have been thinking if I should be surprised by this outcome. I think the question of workers preference is only interesting to a certain extent. I prefer to learn via trial and error, but know that in some case a more structured approach can be helpful and more efficient although not preferred by myself. Also when you compare something formal with something informal there might be a tendency to prefer the informal.

Another interesting part of the research attacked the question where the responsibility for professional training & development lies. Just over one in five workers (21%) said that their employer was mainly responsible for their learning at work, whilst more than one in three (36%) accepted that it was mainly their responsibility, with the balance of 39% reporting that it was a shared responsibility. Fewer (28%) of the youngest workers, aged 17-19, felt the main responsibility lay with themselves, whilst 41% of 55 plus employees thought they bore the main responsibility.

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