Empirical Researches in the Human Resource Development – Quality Improvement of the Field

Abstract

In this paper, we present results of content analysis of fully peer–reviewed empirical researches published in three journals, aimed to emphasize their contribution to the field of human resource development (HRD). Main research focus was on three issues: frequency and types of empirical researches in HRD, key research themes in these researches, and different methodological characteristics in these empirical researches. Our analysis encompassed 175 articles published in 2002/2003, and 2012/2013 in three journals: Management Learning, Advances in Developing Human Resources and Human Resource Development Quarterly. For data collection, we developed protocol for content analysis of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods researches. The findings imply the increase of number of empirical researches in HRD, and the enhancement of research interests for the themes related to andragogy. Results of analysis have been interpreted in the context of research trends in HRD, with tendency to indicate possibility of further development of researches in this domain.