Legal and Logical Limitations in Applying Social Science to Business (Report) (Case Study‪)‬

ABSTRACT Management theories such as Maslow's Hierarchy of needs and concepts such as age, race, sex, and unconscious stereotypes, emotional intelligence, practical intelligence, competencies, and stereotype threat are reviewed. They are identified as folk theories which have been widely accepted but have limited or no scientific foundation. Regretfully, these politically correct ideas have influenced both business and legal areas. It is widely believed that concepts such as emotional intelligence and stereotypes are related to actual behavior in the workplace. In fact, these popular constructs have never been operationally measured and related to actual performance at work. Most of the studies reviewed involved college students making judgments about paper-people performing artificial tasks far removed from the workplace. Most of the folk theories have a facade of social science, but have not been subjected to the rigor of peer-reviewed scientific practice.