| Using the conceptual model of social structure and personality framework (House, 1981) as a theoretical guide, this cross sectional mixed-method design examined how organizational structure and culture relate to practices for training direct care workers in 328 aging and disability network service provider organizations in Pennsylvania.;To answer the research questions, a Best-Practices in Training Index measured the extent of best-practices in provider organizations. The study used a variety of quantitative and qualitative analytical tools that include demographic analysis, exploratory analysis on the univariate level, and multivariate regression analysis. I analyzed the content of open-ended responses to two survey questions. In order to promote greater depth, I triangulated the findings from the qualitative analysis with results from quantitative analyses.;The results indicate that the structural predictors of best-practices in training include evaluation practices, network-type, payer-mix, the organization's size, and intensity of care needs. The cultural predicators for best-practices in training include: the direct care workers' input into care decisions and direct care worker integration in the organization. The results support no interaction between structural and cultural variables in relation to best-practices in training. |
