Models of Man in Industrial Relations Research

The author attempts to identify the essential characteristics that distinguish behavioral from nonbehavioral research in industrial relations. He argues that behavioral research is distinguished from nonbehavioral research by the psychological model of man that is contained in the theoretical framework used to deduce or test hypotheses. More specifically, the “behavioral man” of behavioral research and the “economic man” of nonbehavioral research differ in the assumptions they embody about human motivation and cognition. The author cites examples from the literature to support his contention that the choice between these alternative models significantly affects predictions of industrial relations outcomes.