Human Resource Development Research Handbook: Linking Research and Practice (The Berrett-Koehler Organizational Performance Series)

How is it that some Human Resource Development (HRD) professionals consistently get the results that their organizations need, while others regularly get lost in the process? The Human Resource Development Research Handbook argues that expert HRD professionals think like researchers. You don't need to be a researcher to obtain consistently high-quality HRD results, but thinking like a researcher gives you the discipline required to be an expert. Thus, the much-hyped gap between theory and practice is the arena of opportunity and excellence. The Human Resource Development Research Handbook gives practitioners the tools they need to stay on the leading edge of the profession. It addresses three core areas: The practical importance of research; ways of doing practical research; and getting started on research. Written for practitioners and scholars, this is the first book to explain the value, purposes, methods, and processes of HRD research in clear, simple language.
The Human Resource Development Research Handbook demystifies the research process so HRD practitioners can transform their practice to incorporate leading-edge research. Each chapter is written in straightforward language by a leading researcher. Real-world examples clearly show how research and theory are not just for academics, but are practical tools to solve everyday problems.

Dr. Richard A. Swanson is Distinguished Research Professor of Human Resource Development and The Sam Lindsey Chair in the College of Business and Technology at the University of Texas at Tyler. He is also professor emeritus of human resource development at the University of Minnesota. Swanson has published ex-ensively and has consulted with organizations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He is the founding editor of both the Human Resource Development Quar- terly and Advances in Developing Human Resources. Swanson is former president of the Academy of Human Resource Development. In 1995, the academy estab- lished the Richard A. Swanson Award for Excellence in Research and inducted him into the HRD Scholar Hall of Fame in 2002. E-mail: raswanson@qwest.net.
Dr. Elwood F. Holton III is a Professor of Human Resource Development and Executive Director of the Center for Leadership Development at Louisiana State University. He is founding editor of the Human Resource Development Review and past president of the Academy of Human Resource Development. Beyond his extensive publications, Holton has consulted with many organizations, including J. P. Morgan, CIGNA, Ford Motor, Honeywell, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and the U.S. Department of Energy. He was inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame in 2005. E-mail: eholton@eatel.net.