Evaluation of firefighter leadership trainings
International Journal of Emergency Services
ISSN: 2047-0894
Article publication date: 2 October 2018
Issue publication date: 24 April 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The training of highly skilled officers in rescue forces is essential for success and performance of fire brigades in their daily work. The purpose of this paper is to develop a validated instrument assessing the quality of leadership trainings in firefighter education.
Design/methodology/approach
In Study 1, relevant factors of teaching quality in this specific context are established using semi-structured interviews (n=5 trainer, n=59 trainees), and a pool of corresponding survey items is tested in a pilot sample (n=7 trainer, n=26 trainees). In Study 2 (n=263 trainees), we select best-fitting items and explore the structure of latent variables via exploratory factor analyses. Study 3 (n=45 trainer, n=380 trainees) tests this structure by means of confirmatory analyses and validates the questionnaire using scales from other evaluation instruments for higher education.
Findings
Analyses resulted in a six-dimensional questionnaire reflecting relevant training processes and outcomes. Results suggest that the newly created Feedback Instrument for Rescue forces Education (FIRE) meets all relevant psychometric quality criteria.
Originality/value
By examining critical factors of training quality, the authors enhance the understanding of critical processes in programs for rescue forces education. The developed questionnaire provides trainers and educational institutions with a validated tool to measure these relevant processes and the desired training outcomes. Therefore, the FIRE scales can contribute to an ongoing improvement of rescue forces trainings.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The authors thank the IdF NRW, in particular Berthold Penkert, Thomas Löchteken, Yannick Ngatchou, Stephanie Vöge and Matthias Wegener for their support in conducting this research. Special thanks to Stephanie Babiel, who put a lot of effort in conducting Study 1 and 2, and Mona Beverborg for her contributions to Study 3. Also, the authors thank Celeste Brennecka, Guido Hertel, and Heinz Holling for their valuable suggestions.
Citation
Schulte, N. and Thielsch, M.T. (2019), "Evaluation of firefighter leadership trainings", International Journal of Emergency Services, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 34-49. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJES-03-2018-0020
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited