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Alec Rodger Memorial Lecture 2022

When: —
Venue: Birkbeck Clore Management Centre

Since 1983, the annual Alec Rodger Memorial Lecture honours the influence of one of the founding members of the Department of Organizational Psychology. The invited speakers are distinguished individuals who have made a demonstrable impact on organisations in academia, public service and commerce.

The lecture series is funded by the T. Ritchie Rodger Research Fund, which is managed by the British Psychological Society (BPS). The fund was set up by Alec Rodger, the first Professor of Occupational Psychology at Birkbeck, in memory of his father. 

2022

Professor Rob Briner, Queen Mary, University of London: Evidence-based practice is easy to understand so why is it so difficult to do?

Wednesday 29 June 2022 6pm-7.30pm

We are delighted to welcome Rob Briner, Professor of Organizational Psychology at Queen Mary, University of London to deliver the 2022 Alec Rodger Memorial Lecture to staff, students, alumni and friends of Birkbeck’s Department of Organizational Psychology.

In this talk entitled 'Evidence-based practice is easy to understand so why is it so difficult to do?', Rob will explore Evidence-based practice and the main obstacles and how these barriers can be overcome. 

Evidence-based practice is one approach to helping practitioners make better-informed decisions.  A range of professions including medicine, policy-making and policing have attempted over the past few decades to practice in a more evidence-based way.  More recently, organizational practitioners such as leaders and managers, human resource managers and organizational psychologists have also begun to discuss how evidence-based practice could similarly be adopted in their professions to improve their effectiveness.  The basic principles of evidence-based practice are not particularly difficult to understand:  By using the best available evidence from multiple sources in a structured and critical way we are more likely to identify the most important problems or opportunities and find the most effective solutions or interventions.  Although it is relatively easy to understand it seems, in practice, to be very difficult to do.  Developing a better understanding of the individual, professional, organizational and institutional barriers to evidence-based practice and making better-informed decisions is key to improving the implementation and take-up of evidence-based practice.  But what are the main obstacles?  What are the (dis)incentives for adopting evidence-based practice?  How, realistically, can these barriers be overcome?

The Alec Rodger Memorial is open to students, alumni, staff, and friends of the Department of Organizational Psychology. The Lecture is planned to take place in person on Birkbeck Campus. 

LECTURE ITINERARY

5.30pm – Drinks Reception Clore Foyer

6.00pm - Welcome address - Professor Geoff Walters, Executive Dean, BEI 

6.15pm - Alec Rodger Lecture - Professor Rob Briner, Queen Mary, University of London

7:00pm - Leading Q&A – Professor Almuth McDowall, Head of Department, Organizational Psychology

7:20pm - Closing remarks and vote of thanks - Professor Almuth McDowall, Head of Department, Organizational Psychology

BIOGRAPHY

Rob Briner is Professor of Organizational Psychology at Queen Mary, University of London, Visiting Professor at Birkbeck, Professor at Oslo New University College and Director and Co-founder of the Center for Evidence-Based Management.  His research has focused on several topics including well-being, emotions, stress, ethnicity, the psychological contract, absence from work, and motivation.  Beyond academic research Rob helps practitioners and organizations make better use of evidence in their work and is involved in many initiatives aimed at promoting evidence-based practice.  He has received several awards for his work in this area including the British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology Academic Contribution to Practice Award in 2014 and topped HR Magazine’s Most Influential Thinker list in 2016.

 

Events Disclaimer 

This is subject to any restrictions in place with regard to the Covid pandemic. If it is not possible to hold the event in person, then it will be moved online.

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