Research in the "real world": A conceptual model.

Research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology has been primarily based on a traditional model of scientific inquiry developed as an outgrowth of research in the physical sciences. The premise of this paper is that this traditional model of research frequently does not fit the realities of applied I/O research in “real world” settings and, when pursued exclusively, operates to limit progress in the field. An alternative research model, based on the realities of “what is,” rather than on the ideal of “what should be” is proposed, and examples of lines of inquiry where this alternative model might have utility are provided. The traditional and alternative models are viewed as mutually supportive and jointly capable of producing advances in I/O psychology which cannot be achieved by either method in isolation.