THE SHAPING OF A WORK FORCE: A CRITIQUE OF THE AFFLUENT WORKER STUDY

Abstract

The affluent worker study has held sway as one of the most important works, if not the most important work in British sociology over the last decade. Its findings remain unchallenged in the literature to date. Many analyses of industrial behaviour, political behaviour, family behaviour and “community” behaviour take the findings as the starting point of their investigation. For British sociology the findings of the Affluent Worker have foundation status. This paper sets out to fault the claims of prototypicality and typicality made for the affluent workers of Luton by the study team.

Citation

Grieco, M. (1981), "THE SHAPING OF A WORK FORCE: A CRITIQUE OF THE AFFLUENT WORKER STUDY", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 62-88. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb012923