Research and reform in industrial relations

and I am grateful for facilities provided. Industrial relations issues are never far from the limelight in most English-speaking countries. Calls for greater insights to the problems, often through better research, are not infrequent, at least in Britain and the United States. In Australia the role of research is less obvious. This paper examines the idea that relevant research might inform and direct reform efforts. Aspects of US and British experience are explored and an attempt made to explain the relative apathy in Australia to industrial relations reform and research. The conclusion is that universally the research-reform links are indirect at best, and that the barriers in Australia to reform are considerable. However, changes are likely to evolve as the impact of education (and research) in the preparation of industrial relations practitioners continue to grow. The recognition of industrial relations as an independent field of study has brought attempts both to justify and to condemn this status (Chamberlain 1960; cf. Laffer 1974). In contention has been whether an academic field can be multidisciplinary and focus upon a particular set of social problems