Impact of Scholar-Practitioners Gap on Research Output in Kenyan Hospitality Industry

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to establish the extent to which scholars research are relevant to practitioners and to establish the strategies used by scholars to disseminate research findings for practitioners’ consumption in Kenyan hospitality industry. The study used the mixed-method approach. The study used the convergent design, where both qualitative and quantitative data sets were collected and analysed simultaneously. A total of 389 respondents participated in this study, including 226 hospitality practitioners and 163 hospitality scholars in Kenya. The study found out that most research done by the hospitality scholars in Kenya are based on a hypothetical problem rather than pragmatic ones. Scholars use jargons, abbreviations, and statistical language in their research that are incomprehensible by practitioners, this reduces the usability of research ideas by the practitioners. The study also found out that practitioners are willing to participate in research activities when they are invited, given time and supported by their organisations. Keywords: Scholar-practitioner gap, Research relevance, Research dissemination, Hospitality, Kenya DOI : 10.7176/JTHS/45-05 Publication date: December 31 st 2019