All we like sheep: The need for reflection and reflexivity in I-O psychology

Abstract

In recent years, various I-O psychologists have raised concerns about the state of the field, with some arguing that we are experiencing a collective identity crisis and have lost our way. In this article, I explore why these concerns have emerged by reviewing the development of our field from a philosophy of science perspective. Then I discuss how the concepts of reflection and reflexivity can help us clarify our professional worldviews and find a way forward. I conclude by suggesting ways to incorporate reflection and reflexivity into I-O research and practice. My hope is to spark a conversation about the role that reflection and reflexivity could play in our field.

Challenging assumptions in research and practice using problematization principles

“…Once a narrow or moderate literary domain is identified, the problematization process continues by having the researcher identify assumptions surrounding constructs and theory, articulating their limitations, and presenting alternative sets of assumptions from which to derive research questions (Alvesson & Sandberg, 2011. This is an iterative process that involves not only critiquing what has been published but also recognizing that all knowledge is not contained within these publications (Alvesson & Sandberg, 2020)-aligning with post-positivistic and social constructionist perspectives (Hyland, 2023).…”

“…As seen here, applying the problematization method and its principles to research is one way to answer Hyland's (2023) call to question assumptions and generate new ideas. The works cited in this section (e.g., Alvesson & Sandberg, 2011; highlight how this can be accomplished through leveraging theory.…”

“…called for our field to question assumptions and explore new ideas, suggesting a need for I-O psychologists to challenge paradigms in our field through a reflexive process. Paradigm shifts, however, can take decades to occur and often they are a culmination of successive approximations toward that goal (Alvesson & Sandberg, 2011;Hyland, 2023). Therefore, the purpose of this commentary is to provide strategies for incrementally challenging assumptions in our field, specifically, those that occur in research studies and practice environments.…”

“…Specifically, the problematization method encourages scholars to evaluate the underlying assumptions of our constructs and dominant theories and consider ways that alternative theoretical perspectives may challenge the prevailing school of thought (Alvesson & Sandberg, 2011. Hyland (2023) states that "our field does not have a robust body of literature or set of established practices for engaging in introspection and scientific self-examination" (p. 104); therefore, this commentary aims to serve as an initial blueprint for systematically engaging in reflexive processes in research studies and practice settings.…”

The importance of reflective practices for decision makers: A possible part of the solution for helping the field

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This commentary expands on the focal article's (Hyland, 2023) notion about the importance of reflective and reflexive practice in the field of industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology. Hyland states that reflective practices could be beneficial to everyone, bringing out that it could have benefits across all types of stakeholders in the field of I-O.

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