It is hypothesized that a normalized shear stress – strain curve for granular materials can be obtained by accounting fully for the effects of volume change. In this sense, volume change behavior is a factor that controls the shear stress – strain behavior of a granular material. This hypothesis is applied to Rowe's stress-dilatancy theory to include slip, rolling, rearrangement, and crushing strains, and a theoretical normalizing relation is obtained. The relation is demonstrated to be reasonably correct for the published test data utilized in this study. Differing fabrics of a granular material at the same void ratio can be corrected for by the normalizing relation. The hypothesis is also applied to simple shear behavior and an empirical normalizing relation is obtained.On the basis of the success of the normalizing relation, it is suggested that the volume change rate at 4% axial strain may be, in relation to shear behavior, a more appropriate characterizing parameter than void ratio. However, owing to the long-standing use and acceptance of void ratio, the concept of a reference void ratio, determined by specific sample preparation and testing procedures, is introduced as a characterizing parameter for granular materials.Key words: volume change, dilatancy, normalization, fabric, stress, strain, deformation, sand, granular material.