Can the research-practice gap ever really be bridged? Applying the ‘applied’ in evidence-based...
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Transcript of Can the research-practice gap ever really be bridged? Applying the ‘applied’ in evidence-based...
Can the research-practice gap ever really be bridged? Applying the ‘applied’ in evidence-based
organisational practice.
Helen N. Watts
Helen N. Watts
Overview
• Applied Occupational Psychology research• My research• Challenges for researchers• Evidence-based organisational practice• Blending facts and knowledge• Applying the applied?• Barriers• Bridging your gap?
Helen N. Watts
Applied Occupational Psychology research
• Applied research is concerned with researching issues arising from a work-based setting (Warr, 2000)
• Challenges for applied researchers: addressing different needs, balancing relevance and rigour
• However, further challenges in actually ‘applying the applied’ research to inform evidence-based practice within organisations
Helen N. Watts
My research
• The factors affecting the processes of membership cancellation, switching and word-of mouth
• Current application of relationship marketing across health and fitness clubs in the UK.
• Semi-structured interviews, CIT, quantitative questionnaires (cross-sectional and longitudinal studies)
Helen N. Watts
Challenges for researchers
• Balancing needs
Researcher
HEI/ Research unit
Sponsor
Organisation
Helen N. Watts
Challenges for researchers
• Balancing relevance and rigour, aiming to overlap
Popularist
Pedantic
Pragmatic
Helen N. Watts
Evidence-based organisational practice
• Depends on evidence-based management“Evidence-based management derives principles from research evidence and translates them into practices that solve organisational problems.” (Rousseau, 2006)
• Applied research should create real evidence (general & specific recommendations)
Evidence-base
Need for translation (contextual fact-finding)
Helen N. Watts
Blending facts and knowledge
• Managers who practice the research evidence, blending fact-finding with social science knowledge, for interpretation/ decision-making
• This is real bridging of the gap
RESEARCH PRACTICE
Helen N. Watts
Applying the applied?
• The great ‘applied’ misnomer-
• Wide variation in organisational practices (appraisal, restructuring)
• Evidence vs. fads!“Adopted overenthusiatically, implemented inadequately, then discarded prematurely in favour of the latest trend” (Walshe & Russell, 2001)
Helen N. Watts
Barriers to applying the applied
1. Current culture (social networks etc.)2. ‘Applying’ = change (individual propensity)3. Threat4. Uniqueness paradox5. Unfamiliarity (less than 1%, Rynes, Brown & Colbert, 2002)6. Diversity across an organisation’s managers credentials7. Time/cost constraints8. Educators! (cutting edge or old wives’ tales?)
Helen N. Watts
Applying the applied: Bridging your gap
BARRIERS• Current culture• Propensity for change• Manager diversity
• Uniqueness paradox • Threat
• Time/cost constraints
• Education
AWARENESS: Additional research?
CONSIDERATION: Show use of local facts/ blend of perspectives
PROMOTION: Business cases to show ROIs
INTEGRITY: On-going research
Helen N. Watts
Thank you