Content analysis of the 20 most influential articles inPIQ

The purpose of this study is to examine key research themes in human performance technology (HPT) through content analysis of the 20 most influential articles identified in Cho, Jo, Park, Kang, and Chen (2011). Three questions guiding this inquiry are: (1) What are the key themes of the 20 most influential articles in PIQ, (2) What information do the 20 most influential articles add to an understanding of HPT, and (3) What are the implications of the content analysis for HPT research practices? Five key themes emerged from the content analysis, including instructional design, HPT scholarship, performance technology, performance support, and transfer of training. HPT scholarship was the most distinctive key research theme in this study. The qualitative details about the 20 most influential articles were provided, related issues were discussed, and implications for research practice were articulated.