Tuesday, 11 March 2025

An exploratory exercise to study the research-practice gap

An exploratory exercise to study the research-practice gap [information from perplexity.ai]


My question 1: "What is the topic of research-practice gap all about, with reference to the fields of (1) business management, (2) housing studies, and (3) accounting and finance?"

The reply: "The research-practice gap refers to the disconnect between academic research findings and their practical application in various fields. Here's an overview of this gap in the contexts of business management, housing studies, and accounting and finance:

1. 

In business management, the research-practice gap is often described as a rigour-relevance gap. This gap arises from the differing priorities of academics and practitioners. Academics focus on rigorous research methods to ensure validity and reliability, while practitioners seek relevant, actionable insights that can be applied in real-world settings2. Efforts to bridge this gap include using relational approaches, such as the Quintuple Helix Model, which involves collaboration among academia, industry, government, civil society, and the media to enhance the relevance and impact of management research2.

2. 

In housing studies, the research-practice gap is particularly challenging due to the complex, interdisciplinary nature of the field. It involves not only the design and construction of housing but also policy, social, and economic factors. The gap arises from difficulties in translating research into practical solutions that can be implemented effectively across different global contexts3. Initiatives like the Doctoral Programme New Social Housing aim to address this gap by fostering an interdisciplinary dialogue and developing transdisciplinary methodologies that can bridge the divide between research and practice in housing3.

3. 

In accounting and finance, the research-practice gap is evident in the disconnect between academic research and its application in financial practices. This gap is attributed to factors such as the complexity of academic research, which may not be easily translatable into practical tools for practitioners45. Efforts to bridge this gap include promoting practice-oriented research, enhancing dissemination strategies, and encouraging collaboration between academics and practitioners to make accounting research more relevant and impactful in real-world financial practices45.

In summary, the research-practice gap across these fields is characterized by a lack of effective communication and collaboration between researchers and practitioners, leading to a disconnect between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Addressing this gap requires innovative strategies that enhance the relevance and applicability of research findings."


My question 2: "What are the research gaps and research issues on this topic?"

The reply: "Identifying research gaps and research issues related to the research-practice gap involves understanding the disconnect between academic research and its practical application across various fields. Here are some key gaps and issues in business management, housing studies, and accounting and finance:

1. 

  • : There is often a lack of effective communication between researchers and practitioners, leading to misunderstandings about the relevance and applicability of research findings7.

  • : The focus on rigorous methodologies in academia can result in research that is less relevant to immediate business needs7.

  • : Limited collaboration between academics and practitioners hinders the translation of research into actionable strategies7.

2. 

  • : There is a need for more research on how digital technologies can enhance housing provision and management2.

  • : Research on the environmental effects of existing housing stock and strategies for sustainable housing is underdeveloped2.

  • : The sector lacks robust data to effectively influence housing policy, highlighting a need for more impactful research2.

3. 

  • : Academic research in accounting and finance is often too complex for practitioners to apply directly, creating a barrier to implementation5.

  • : There is a shortage of research that directly addresses practical financial challenges faced by businesses and individuals5.

  • : Research findings are not always disseminated effectively to practitioners, limiting their impact5.

  • : A common issue across fields is the difficulty in translating research findings into practical tools that practitioners can use effectively15.

  • : Encouraging collaboration between researchers and practitioners is crucial to bridging the gap but remains a challenge37.

  • : Ensuring that research is relevant and has a tangible impact on practice is a persistent issue, requiring more focus on applied research23."


My question 3: "What academic theories are employed to study this topic, with reference to (1) business management, (2) housing studies and (3) accounting and finance?"

The reply: "Studying the research-practice gap involves employing various academic theories across different fields. Here's an overview of some key theories used in business management, housing studies, and accounting and finance:

1. 

  • : This theory focuses on how knowledge is created, shared, and applied within organizations. It helps understand how research findings can be translated into practical knowledge for management decisions4.

  • : Strategic management is studied as both a social science and an applied science, emphasizing the need for collaboration between scholars and practitioners to bridge the theory-practice gap4.

  • : This involves understanding how knowledge is created and exchanged between theory and practice, highlighting the importance of fungibility in knowledge across these domains4.

2. 

  • : Housing research requires a self-governing epistemological framework to ensure that it is grounded in its own grand theories rather than borrowing from other disciplines8.

  • : This approach helps in understanding the social dynamics and structures influencing housing provision and policy, which can bridge the gap between research and practical housing solutions8.

  • : This theory examines how institutions shape housing policies and practices, providing insights into how research can inform policy changes8.

3. 

  • : These include normative theories like activity-based costing and the balanced scorecard, which provide specific recommendations for practical problems but often lack empirical support3.

  • : This approach focuses on explaining accounting practices and can help practitioners understand the implementation and challenges of accounting tools3.

  • : This framework emphasizes the need for research that is both theoretically rigorous and practically relevant, aiming to bridge the gap between academic research and accounting practice3.

These theories help in understanding and addressing the research-practice gap by providing frameworks for knowledge creation, dissemination, and application across different fields."


My question 4: "What are the public media- and professional publication-reported issues on this topic?"

The reply: "Public media and professional publications have highlighted several issues related to the research-practice gap across various fields. Here are some key points reported in these sources:

1. 

  • : There is a significant lack of effective communication between researchers and practitioners, leading to misunderstandings about the relevance and applicability of research findings47.

  • : Practitioners often face resource limitations, including time and funding, which hinder their ability to engage with and apply research42.

  • : Academic research is frequently too complex for practitioners to apply directly, creating a barrier to implementation34.

2. 

  • : The rigour-relevance gap is a major issue, where academic research focuses on theoretical rigour rather than practical relevance6.

  • : There is a lack of embedded research culture and infrastructure in social care organizations, leading to a preference for practical experience over research-based knowledge2.

  • : The gap in journalism is exacerbated by the need for immediate practical solutions versus the slower pace of academic research, along with accessibility issues related to academic publications37.

3. 

  • : Encouraging partnerships between researchers and practitioners is seen as a key strategy to bridge the gap56.

  • : Efforts to make research findings more accessible and understandable for practitioners are crucial35.

  • : Policy initiatives that promote research-practice partnerships can help address systemic barriers5.

These issues highlight the need for better communication, collaboration, and accessible dissemination of research findings to effectively bridge the research-practice gap across different fields."


My question 5: "Could you suggest 4 research objectives for doing a dissertation project that respond to these research gaps and public domain-reported issues, with reference to the fields of (1) business management, (2) housing studies and (3) accounting and finance?"

The reply: "Here are four research objectives for a dissertation project that address the research gaps and public domain-reported issues in the fields of business management, housing studies, and accounting and finance:

  • : To investigate how collaborative initiatives between academics and practitioners in business management can enhance the application of research findings in real-world settings.

  • : This objective addresses the rigour-relevance gap by exploring ways to make research more applicable to business needs through collaboration.

  • : To examine the potential of digital technologies in improving housing provision and sustainability, with a focus on bridging the gap between research and practical housing solutions.

  • : This objective addresses the need for more research on digital and technological integration in housing studies to enhance sustainability and provision.

  • : To analyze how adopting global standards in management accounting can improve the alignment of research with practical accounting needs, particularly in organizations that currently focus on local practices.

  • : This objective addresses the gap between management accounting research and practice by exploring the benefits of global standards.

  • : To investigate how financial technology (FinTech) can enhance financial reporting and transparency, thereby bridging the gap between accounting research and practice in terms of relevance and applicability.

  • : This objective addresses the issue of complexity in accounting research by examining how FinTech can make financial reporting more accessible and transparent.

These objectives aim to address specific research gaps and issues in each field by exploring collaborative strategies, technological innovations, global standards, and financial technologies."


My question 6: "Could you suggest 1 primary research method and 1 secondary research method to study each of these 4 research objectives?"

The reply: "Here are suggestions for one primary research method and one secondary research method to study each of the four research objectives:

  • Interviews with business managers and academics to gather insights on collaborative experiences and perceived impacts on bridging the gap.

  • Literature Review of existing studies on collaboration models and their effectiveness in enhancing research-practice interactions.

  • Surveys among housing developers and policymakers to understand current technological adoption and perceived benefits.

  • Content Analysis of industry reports and academic papers on technological innovations in housing provision.

  • Focus Groups with accounting professionals to discuss the challenges and benefits of implementing global standards.

  • Analysis of Financial Reports from companies that have adopted global accounting standards to assess their financial performance.

  • Case Studies of companies that have integrated FinTech into their financial reporting processes to assess transparency and efficiency.

  • Review of Market Reports on FinTech adoption and its impact on financial reporting practices across different industries.

These methods will help gather both firsthand insights and existing knowledge to comprehensively address each research objective."



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