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The Pervasiveness And Trajectory Of Methodological Choices: A 20‐Year Review Of Human Resource Management Research
Author(s) -
Bainbridge Hugh T. J.,
Sanders Karin,
Cogin Julie A.,
Lin CaiHui
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
human resource management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.888
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-050X
pISSN - 0090-4848
DOI - 10.1002/hrm.21807
Subject(s) - construct (python library) , external validity , psychology , resource (disambiguation) , outcome (game theory) , construct validity , internal validity , research design , applied psychology , management science , social psychology , sociology , computer science , social science , economics , statistics , psychometrics , clinical psychology , computer network , mathematical economics , programming language , mathematics
This article examines the methodological choices of researchers studying the HR practices–outcome relationship via a content analysis of 281 studies published across the past 20 years. The prevalence and trajectory of change over time are reported for a wide range of methodological choices relevant to internal, external, construct, and statistical conclusion validity. While the results indicate a high incidence of potentially problematic cross‐sectional, single‐informant, and single‐level designs, they also reveal significant improvements over time across many validity relevant methodological choices. This broad‐based improvement in the methodological underpinnings of HR research suggests that researchers and practitioners can view the findings reported in the HR literature with increasing confidence. Directions for future research are provided. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.