Organizational Psychology

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the relationship between science and practice inorganizational context, analyze the general and specific features of research projects, carried out in the framework of the Action Research Method (ARM) (Harwood studies, Glacier Project, Ahmedabad, Haighmoor Project). This article is raised the question how exactly Action Research differ from other types of scientific research? Comparison of theoretical schemes at the beginning and end of the research project reveals significant differences in the type of theoretical constructs. All the theoretical schemes and development at the beginning of studies were descriptive models of some of the realities of the group, however, as a result of these projects there were prescriptive model. The latter, in contrast to the first, is not the conceptual constructions suitable for description of the behavior of objects throughout the observation, but recipes of building effective behavior of social groups and effective structures and processes in the organization. In other words, there are theories of organizational behavior and there are theories of effective organizational behavior. After consideration of the relationship of theory and practice in ARM formulated a conclusion that, the result of research in ARM should be the solution of specific practical problems, and the creation of structured knowledge systems for a whole range of interested parties (stakeholders). Finally, in the context of the dilemma, “the accuracy or validity” the “scientific status” of ARM is discussed in terms of positivism and alternative contemporary approaches.