The evolution of industrial relations research methods: a review of key union effects studies from the late 20th to early 21st Century

This chapter explores changing methodological trends in industrial relations (IR) research in recent decades by examining the empirical approaches taken by key studies on union effects, a core subject in the field. We explore how the methodological disposition of the field has changed since the late 20th century. We contrast the approaches used against a typology proposed in the 1980s encouraging hierarchical methodological development. Finally, we consider the main outcomes tested by scholars and most common approaches used to examine them over time. The chapter sheds light on the rich diversity of methodological thinking in our field, while highlighting some relatively under-utilised areas.