Substantive and methodological constraints on behavior and attitudes in organizational research

Abstract

It is argued that a careful consideration of possible constraints on organizational behavior and attitudes can facilitate both the production and consumption of organizational research. The nature of such constraints is explored, and examples are given of the likely operation of constraints in several research areas, including constraints on absenteeism and turnover, technological constraints, and the role of constraints in longitudinal research. Research tactics for dealing with constraints are proposed, and reasons are suggested for the lack of attention given to constraints.