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Industrial–Organizational Psychologists in Business Schools: Brain Drain or Eye Opener?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2015

Herman Aguinis*
Affiliation:
Indiana University
Kyle J. Bradley
Affiliation:
Indiana University
Apryl Brodersen
Affiliation:
Metropolitan State University of Denver
*
E-mail: haguinis@indiana.edu, Address: Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, 1309 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-1701

Abstract

We conducted a quantitative and a qualitative study to assess the extent to which industrial and organizational (I–O) psychology has moved to business schools, understand the nature of this move, and offer a balanced discussion of positive and negative consequences of this phenomenon. In quantitative Study 1, we provide evidence that I–O psychologists affiliated with business schools currently constitute a majority of editorial board members and authors of articles published in Journal of Applied Psychology and Personnel Psychology but that I–O psychology, as a field, is growing. These results suggest that it is not the field of I–O psychology but some of the most active and influential I–O psychology researchers who are moving to business schools. In qualitative Study 2, we gathered perspectives from 144 SIOP Fellows and 27 SIOP presidents suggesting different views on Study 1's results ranging from very negative (i.e., “brain drain”) to very positive (i.e., “eye opener”) depending on the affiliation of the respondent. On the basis of these results, we offer 10 admittedly provocative predictions to stimulate follow-up research and serve as a catalyst for an important conversation, as well as the development of action plans, regarding the future of I–O psychology as a field.

Type
Focal Article
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology 2014

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