Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 7 (2014), 284–303.
Copyright © 2014 Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. 1754-9426/14
FOCAL ARTICLE
Industrial–Organizational Psychologists
in Business Schools: Brain Drain or Eye
Opener?
HERMAN AGUINIS AND KYLE J. BRADLEY
Indiana University
APRYL BRODERSEN
Metropolitan State University of Denver
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.
Correspondence concerning this article should be
addressed to Herman Aguinis.
E-mail: haguinis@indiana.edu
Address: Department of Management and
Entrepreneurship, Kelley School of Business, Indi-
ana University, 1309 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN
47405-1701
We thank Kevin R. Murphy for highly constructive
comments on previous drafts. We also thank the 144
SIOP Fellows and 27 SIOP presidents who so gener-
ously shared their perspectives on the issues described
in our article. However, the opinions and views in
this manuscript are ours and do not necessarily reflect
theirs. SIOP Fellows: Natalie J. Allen, Neil R. Ander-
son, Winfred Arthur Jr., Richard D. Arvey, Neal M.
Ashkanasy, Leanne E. Atwater, David P. Baker, Peter A.
Bamberger, Gerald V. Barrett, Alan R. Bass, Talya N.
Bauer, Arthur G. Bedeian, Terry A. Beehr, Rabi S. Bha-
gat, Philip Bobko, John W. Boudreau, Jeanne M. Brett,
Robert D. Bretz Jr., Arthur P. Brief, Steven H. Brown,
William C. Byham, Georgia T. Chao, Gilad Chen,
Allan H. Church, José M. Cortina, Fred E. Dansereau
Jr., David V. Day, Kenneth P. De Meuse, Edward L.
Deci, Alice H. Eagly, Lillian T. Eby, Jeffrey R. Edwards,
Robert Eisenberger, Gerald R. Ferris, Cynthia D. Fisher,
Robert G. Folger, J. Kevin Ford, Michael Frese, Stephen
W. Gilliland, George B. Graen, Jeffrey H. Greenhaus,
Rodger W. Griffeth, Arthur Gutman, Richard A. Guzzo,
Paul J. Hanges, Michelle Hebl, Madeline E. Heilman,
Herbert G. Heneman III, Beryl L. Hesketh, Scott High-
house, Calvin C. Hoffman, David A. Hofmann, Robert
Hogan, John R. Hollenbeck, Susan E. Jackson, Rick
R. Jacobs, P. Richard Jeanneret, Timothy A. Judge,
K. Michele Kacmar, Ruth Kanfer, E. Kevin Kelloway,
Avraham N. Kluger, Elizabeth B. Kolmstetter, Laura
L. Koppes Bryan, Meni Koslowsky, Ellen E. Kossek,
Carol T. Kulik, Charles E. Lance, Ronald S. Landis,
Edward E. Lawler III, Robert J. Lee, Thomas W. Lee, Joel
M. Lefkowitz, Edward L. Levine, Paul E. Levy, Robert
C. Liden, Edwin A. Locke, Manuel London, Robert
G. Lord, Rodney L. Lowman, Fred A. Mael, Cindy
McCauley, Michael A. McDaniel, S. Morton McPhail,
Bruce M. Meglino, John B. Miner, Terence R. Mitchell,
Robert F. Morrison, Kevin W. Mossholder, Stephan J.
Motowidlo, Michael K. Mount, Michael D. Mumford,
David A. Nadler, Dennis W. Organ, Cheri Ostroff,
Fred Oswald, James L. Outtz, Jone L. Pearce, José M.
Peiró, Pamela L. Perrewe, Robert E. Ployhart, Robert D.
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