Prolific Scholarship in Communication Studies: Five Years in Review

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain who the most prolific scholars (top one percent) in Communication Studies were as a function of their publication rates in 24 journals for the last five years. In addition, we sought to determine the most prolific scholars in a subset of journals considered to be most central to our discipline. Results indicated that 30 individuals could be considered prolific scholars for the years spanning 2007–2011 for the list of 24 journals, and six individuals could be considered prolific in the central journals. It took nine and eight articles within the five-year period to make each list, respectively. We also report the top 25 most prolific and active researchers since 1915. Results are discussed as they pertain to trends in the discipline.

Keywords:

• Journal
• Productivity
• Research
• Scholarship
• Publication

Additional information

Notes on contributors

San Bolkan

San Bolkan (Ph.D., University of Texas—Austin, 2007) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, Long Beach

Darrin John Griffin

Darrin J. Griffin (M.A., University of Texas—Austin, 2007) is a graduate student in the Department of Communication at the State University of New York, Buffalo

Jennifer Linn Holmgren

Jennifer Linn Holmgren (B.A., CSU—Long Beach, 2011) is a Master's student in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, Long Beach

Mark Hickson

Mark Hickson, III (Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, 1971) is a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Alabama—Birmingham