Dr. Eric A. Surface is the co-founder, president and principal scientist of ALPS Solutions, where he advocates for the use of evidence-based practices and the ALPS model (analyze, learn, perform and succeed) to help clients accomplish their missions/objectives. ALPS focuses on research- and evidence-based solutions for needs assessment, evaluation, assessment, learning design/delivery and performance management. Eric has led numerous applied research and consulting engagements in military/government, corporate and non-profit organizations since 1997. He believes strongly in the scientist-practitioner model and has presented at numerous conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Journal of Management, Journal of Applied Psychology, Military Psychology, Personnel Psychology and Journal of Managerial Psychology. Eric is a Fellow of the Society for Military Psychology and the American Psychological Association. Eric was Secretary of the Society for Military Psychology from 2014 to 2016. He earned his PhD at North Carolina State University and was Army Research Institute Consortium Research Fellow and Post-Doctoral Fellow.
ABSTRACT We examine the extent to which g and specific abilities predict learning in a training c... more ABSTRACT We examine the extent to which g and specific abilities predict learning in a training context by juxtaposing contrasting theories of cognitive ability (i.e., Spearmanian theory and nested-factors theory) and using an analytical strategy (i.e., multidimensional importance analysis) that aligns with underlying theoretical assumptions of both theories. When conducting incremental validity analysis (Spearmanian approach), specific abilities did not add much to the prediction of learning. However, when conducting relative weights analysis (nested-factors approach), specific abilities were the dominant predictors of learning. Results suggest different theoretical and analytical approaches can lead to different results. Results also suggest specific abilities may provide predictive utility beyond g in the training context, but recognizing this utility depends on one’s theoretical assumptions and methodological approach.
Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little em... more Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little empirical work examining factors that influence such ratings has been undertaken. We investigated the impact of individuals' levels of work experience, self-efficacy, and skill proficiency on their subsequent ratings of training needs. Our results indicate that self-efficacy and skill proficiency are positively related to importance and
Although the use of skill-based pay has increased in popularity, empirical investigations of the ... more Although the use of skill-based pay has increased in popularity, empirical investigations of the effectiveness of this compensation strategy have been scarce. The fundamental premise of skill-based pay is that contingent monetary reward will promote individual learning. The authors empirically examine this essential principle with data spanning 5 years, using latent growth analysis. Results demonstrate that skill-based pay is related
This study tested for measurement invariance of VandeWalle's (1997) goal orientation instrument a... more This study tested for measurement invariance of VandeWalle's (1997) goal orientation instrument across Korean and American workers using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Across groups, learning and proving orientations were invariant, but avoiding goal orientation was partially noninvariant. Implications for goal orientation and comparisons between Korean and American respondents are discussed.
Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little em... more Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little empirical work examining factors that influence such ratings has been undertaken. We investigated the impact of individuals' levels of work experience, self-efficacy, and skill proficiency on their subsequent ratings of training needs. Our results indicate that self-efficacy and skill proficiency are positively related to importance and
Kroustalis, CM, Behrend, T., Meade, AW, & Surface, EA (2007, April). Influence of post-survey... more Kroustalis, CM, Behrend, T., Meade, AW, & Surface, EA (2007, April). Influence of post-survey action on current survey responses. Paper presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, New York. ... Influence of Post-Survey ...
ABSTRACT We examine the extent to which g and specific abilities predict learning in a training c... more ABSTRACT We examine the extent to which g and specific abilities predict learning in a training context by juxtaposing contrasting theories of cognitive ability (i.e., Spearmanian theory and nested-factors theory) and using an analytical strategy (i.e., multidimensional importance analysis) that aligns with underlying theoretical assumptions of both theories. When conducting incremental validity analysis (Spearmanian approach), specific abilities did not add much to the prediction of learning. However, when conducting relative weights analysis (nested-factors approach), specific abilities were the dominant predictors of learning. Results suggest different theoretical and analytical approaches can lead to different results. Results also suggest specific abilities may provide predictive utility beyond g in the training context, but recognizing this utility depends on one’s theoretical assumptions and methodological approach.
Foreign language proficiency is a critical skill in which many U.S. military personnel receive ex... more Foreign language proficiency is a critical skill in which many U.S. military personnel receive extensive training. However, very little research has examined the factors associated with the successful transfer of this training. This study therefore investigates the impact of individual and contextual variables on two different types of foreign language skill transfer measures in a military context. Archival data were analyzed from 133 U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) teams, including 919 Soldiers who had completed job-required foreign language training. Results indicate that initial skill acquisition had a positive impact on both the maintenance and generalization of language skills. The posttraining time interval between training and transfer measurement was negatively associated with skill maintenance, suggesting significant skill decay over time. The team context also accounted for significant variability in skill transfer, and the team mean skill level moderated the relationship between individual initial skill and subsequent generalization to job performance.
ABSTRACT We examine the extent to which g and specific abilities predict learning in a training c... more ABSTRACT We examine the extent to which g and specific abilities predict learning in a training context by juxtaposing contrasting theories of cognitive ability (i.e., Spearmanian theory and nested-factors theory) and using an analytical strategy (i.e., multidimensional importance analysis) that aligns with underlying theoretical assumptions of both theories. When conducting incremental validity analysis (Spearmanian approach), specific abilities did not add much to the prediction of learning. However, when conducting relative weights analysis (nested-factors approach), specific abilities were the dominant predictors of learning. Results suggest different theoretical and analytical approaches can lead to different results. Results also suggest specific abilities may provide predictive utility beyond g in the training context, but recognizing this utility depends on one’s theoretical assumptions and methodological approach.
Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little em... more Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little empirical work examining factors that influence such ratings has been undertaken. We investigated the impact of individuals' levels of work experience, self-efficacy, and skill proficiency on their subsequent ratings of training needs. Our results indicate that self-efficacy and skill proficiency are positively related to importance and
Although the use of skill-based pay has increased in popularity, empirical investigations of the ... more Although the use of skill-based pay has increased in popularity, empirical investigations of the effectiveness of this compensation strategy have been scarce. The fundamental premise of skill-based pay is that contingent monetary reward will promote individual learning. The authors empirically examine this essential principle with data spanning 5 years, using latent growth analysis. Results demonstrate that skill-based pay is related
This study tested for measurement invariance of VandeWalle's (1997) goal orientation instrument a... more This study tested for measurement invariance of VandeWalle's (1997) goal orientation instrument across Korean and American workers using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Across groups, learning and proving orientations were invariant, but avoiding goal orientation was partially noninvariant. Implications for goal orientation and comparisons between Korean and American respondents are discussed.
Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little em... more Despite the crucial nature of needs assessment in training design and development, very little empirical work examining factors that influence such ratings has been undertaken. We investigated the impact of individuals' levels of work experience, self-efficacy, and skill proficiency on their subsequent ratings of training needs. Our results indicate that self-efficacy and skill proficiency are positively related to importance and
Kroustalis, CM, Behrend, T., Meade, AW, & Surface, EA (2007, April). Influence of post-survey... more Kroustalis, CM, Behrend, T., Meade, AW, & Surface, EA (2007, April). Influence of post-survey action on current survey responses. Paper presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, New York. ... Influence of Post-Survey ...
ABSTRACT We examine the extent to which g and specific abilities predict learning in a training c... more ABSTRACT We examine the extent to which g and specific abilities predict learning in a training context by juxtaposing contrasting theories of cognitive ability (i.e., Spearmanian theory and nested-factors theory) and using an analytical strategy (i.e., multidimensional importance analysis) that aligns with underlying theoretical assumptions of both theories. When conducting incremental validity analysis (Spearmanian approach), specific abilities did not add much to the prediction of learning. However, when conducting relative weights analysis (nested-factors approach), specific abilities were the dominant predictors of learning. Results suggest different theoretical and analytical approaches can lead to different results. Results also suggest specific abilities may provide predictive utility beyond g in the training context, but recognizing this utility depends on one’s theoretical assumptions and methodological approach.
Foreign language proficiency is a critical skill in which many U.S. military personnel receive ex... more Foreign language proficiency is a critical skill in which many U.S. military personnel receive extensive training. However, very little research has examined the factors associated with the successful transfer of this training. This study therefore investigates the impact of individual and contextual variables on two different types of foreign language skill transfer measures in a military context. Archival data were analyzed from 133 U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) teams, including 919 Soldiers who had completed job-required foreign language training. Results indicate that initial skill acquisition had a positive impact on both the maintenance and generalization of language skills. The posttraining time interval between training and transfer measurement was negatively associated with skill maintenance, suggesting significant skill decay over time. The team context also accounted for significant variability in skill transfer, and the team mean skill level moderated the relationship between individual initial skill and subsequent generalization to job performance.
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