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

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.

Psychology Departments Versus Business Schools: Tempest in a Teapot?

“…The fact that faculty salaries are higher in business schools than in departments of psychology (Aguinis et al, , Figure 3, p. 289) would be expected to support the processes as noted in Hypotheses 1, 2, and 5. Hypothesis 5 might also reflect that psychology departments generally hire only professors whose doctorates are in psychology.…”

“…Aguinis, Bradley, and Brodersen () present quantitative data (“Study 1”) that lead them to conclude that “I–O psychology has moved to business schools” (p. 285). They then present a qualitative survey of 171 influential members of the field (“Study 2”) who were asked their perspectives on those findings in order “to stimulate follow‐up research and … action plans, regarding the future of I–O psychology as a field” (p. 284).…”

Twenty-five years of research on work and organizational psychology: A bibliometric perspective

“…In this regard, Aguinis, Bradley, and Brodersen (2014) consider that the relationship between industrial and organizational psychology and management is increasing, and there is evidence of an increased presence of I---O psychologists in business schools.…”

Are there gender differences among researchers from industrial/organizational psychology?

“…It is part of psychology, as indicated by its name (which is, incidentally, ''work and organizational psychology'' in Europe), and psychology has become a field in which both students and young researchers are nowadays predominantly female, at least in Australia (Malouff et al 2010), Italy (D'Amico et al 2011, and the Netherlands ( van Arensbergen et al 2012). I-O psychology is also part of the field of management, because I-O psychologists are increasingly working in management departments of business schools (Aguinis et al 2014a), and the field of management is dominated more by males (see Podsakoff et al 2008). Furthermore, I-O psychology is an attractive field among students because it is typically associated with many career and employment opportunities (Van Hoye et al 2014).…”