Behavioral Science—Psychologists and Management Theory: Getting Them All Together

One possible trend in the development of behavioral science areas which are truly applied is a closer alliance with fields of application. Engineering psychologists are working on systems design teams in industry and publishing in systems design research journals (see, for example, the journal of the Human Factors Society). Consumer research psychologists and sociologists are beginning to provide more relevant models to the marketing researchers and publishing in their journals. Studies of our physical environment have incorporated the work of behaviorists, architects and engineers and have used the Environmental Design Research Association as a forum for meetings and publication. In this vein, an event occurred during the past national meeting of the industrial and organizational psychologists (Division 14 of the American Psychological Association) which is of significance to Management Science.