The Survey Tradition in British Industrial Relations Research: an Assessment of the Contribution of Large‐Scale Workplace and Enterprise Surveys

Abstract

The paper assesses the contribution to industrial relations research of the large‐scale workplace and enterprise‐based surveys of industrial relations in Britain, paying particular attention to the Workplace Industrial Relations Survey (WIRS) series. It takes issue with recent criticism of survey‐based analysis in the field, arguing that industrial relations researchers have developed a distinctive and valuable survey tradition. The use of surveys in industrial relations contrasts markedly with that in labour economics, stemming from differing methodological preferences in the two fields. Some limitations of the WIRS series to date are reviewed, before considering future directions that survey research might take in order to capture the changing canvass of industrial relations in Britain.