Lecture 1

Question 1

What are the problems evidence-based practice aims to fix?

Answer 1

1. Only using some sources and types of evidence
2. Paying little attention to quality (and relevance) of evidence - we do not critically appraise

Question 2

The six steps of evidence-based practice

Answer 2

1. Ask an answerable question to help you identify problems or possible solutions
2. Acquire relevant information or evidence that will answer that question
3. Appraise the quality of that evidence for its trustworthiness
4. Aggregate the evidence by summarizing or pulling it together
5. Apply it to the decision you are making
6. Assess the outcome of that decision

Question 3

The problem of solutioneering

Answer 3

• characterizing a problem as the absence of a preferred solution - For employees are disengagedour**
• We have already decided on a particular ‘solution’ (increase engagement) before we have understood
  • If there really is a problem
  • If a problem does exist, that it is caused by low engagement
  • If engagement levels can be increased
  • Whether doing so will fix the problem

Question 4

The four sources of evidence in evidence-based practice in HR

Answer 4

1. HR practitioners’ professional expertise and experience
2. Organizational data - facts, figures, statistics, other information
3. Stakeholders values and views - employees, managers, customers
4. Scientific evidence - existing scientific evidence found in journals

Question 5

Evidence-based practice makes sense, but there are barriers such as…

Answer 5

1. Strong (and incorrect) beliefs: It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. (Twain)
2. HR Management fads and fashions
3. Power and politics in organizations

Question 6

What can you do if you want to be more evidence-based?

Answer 6

1. Healthy scepticism - question the information you’re given and what you’re told to do
2. Ask the question “Why?” a lot and try to answer it carefully
3. Take an evidence-based approach to any important problem by going through the six steps and looking at the four sources of evidence
4. Ask yourself this question: “Should we just do stuff, or do stuff that’s more likely to get the results you want?”