The impact of ice breaking exercises on trainees' interactions and skill acquisition : an experimental study

Abstract EN

Abstract.

Five hypotheses were formulated and examined through an experiment aiming to find out the impact of ice breaking exercises on trainees' interactions during training, and skill acquisition at the end of training.

Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG), n = 18, and a control group (CG), n = 17.

Both groups sat for a pre-test in the training subject, and were trained by the same trainer in the same subject using the same materials in the same training environment.

The experimental group participated in ice breaking sessions, while the control group did not.

Interactions were mob served in both groups during training.

A post-test was given to both groups at the end of the training program.

The same experiment was repeated for another experimental group, (n = 18), and a control group (n = 17) with different participants.

Compared to the control groups, findings of the study show that both experimental groups were more interactive, and scored higher in the post-test with significant difference from the control groups.

The study concluded that there was enough evidence to support the hypotheses that ice breaking has a positive impact on trainee interaction and skill acquisition.

Recommendations for applying ice breaking in training were outlined.

The study also suggested further research in this area.