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