EXPLORING THE EFFICACY OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN FOSTERING PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY: A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF IMPACTS AND PERSPECTIVES

Psychological safety is a vital factor in creating inclusive and high-performing environments. It guarantees that employees feel secure in expressing their ideas, taking risks, and engaging in open communication without fear of repercussions. Although research has investigated various methods to cultivate psychological safety, it currently has a limited understanding of how restorative practices contribute to this phenomenon within organizational settings. Restorative Practices involve processes and approaches that aim to repair relationships, resolve conflicts, and foster a harmonious working environment within organizations. This study seeks to address this gap by exploring the efficacy of restorative practices in fostering psychological safety. This qualitative research study was designed using semi-structured interviews with 11 diverse workplace participants across various sectors. Each participant had recently (within the past 6 months) engaged in 3 or more restorative practice engagements. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke’s framework and facilitated by NVivo software, was employed to analyze the data. The study is rooted in the Relational Theory of Restorative Justice and the Psychological Safety Model. Four key themes emerged from the findings: (1) Open and Equitable Communication, (2) Trust and Relationship Building, (3) Conflict Resolution and Repair, and (4) Leadership and Psychological Safety. The study revealed that open and equitable communication fosters inclusion and empowers all voices, particularly those that are often unheard. Trust and relationship building were found to be crucial for authentic engagement and team cohesion. When conflicts arose, structured opportunities for repair allowed for healing and strengthened accountability. Leadership played a pivotal role in modeling vulnerability and promoting psychological safety, enabling individuals to take risks, share ideas, and navigate challenges without fear. These themes collectively emphasize the significance of relational practices and restorative leadership in creating safe, inclusive, and resilient organizational cultures. Although challenges such as leadership buy-in and time constraints were also acknowledged, participants highlighted that restorative practices—including facilitated dialogues, restorative circles, and conferencing—improved communication, strengthened team cohesion, and offered a systematic approach to conflict resolution.

Author dc:creator

• Drummond, Jack

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Nakkula, Michael

• Education

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://repository.upenn.edu/handle/20.500.14332/61859

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.upenn.edu:20.500.14332/61859