Coaching psychology and research evidence: The role of scepticism

Abstract

By virtue of their psychological background, coaching psychologists are trained in the perspective of scientific philosophy and this gives them a vital role in relation to the many approaches currently being used by coaches. This philosophical perspective is based on the acceptance or rejection of hypotheses at specified levels of confidence. Using the example of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) the limits of empirical evidence is discussed in relation to the need for a sceptical ‘stance’ in relation to coaching approaches more generally.