A bibliometric analysis of the psychologization of human resource management

Abstract

Despite years of discussion, whether and to what extent human resource management (HRM) has been psychologized remains controversial. We consider HRM psychologization as indicated by a disciplinary (i.e., the relative contribution of psychology and other fields to HRM research) and an inter-disciplinary component (i.e., knowledge integration of psychology and other fields in HRM research). Accordingly, we apply two bibliometric methods (i.e., citation and co-citation analysis) to a sample of 6,709 articles published in six HRM journals from 2000 to 2021. Overall, psychology became more influential as a citation source in HRM research but integrated more closely with other intellectual sources in the period examined. In addition, HRM psychologization was contingent on HRM journals, the first authors’ countries, and HRM subdomains. This study presents an enriched pattern of psychologization as well as substantial quantitative evidence that confirms, counters, or extends prior findings.