The Most Prolific Female Scholars in Elite Criminology and Criminal Justice Journals, 2000-2010

Abstract

There has been a steady stream of research exploring the impact of scholars' research within criminology/criminal justice journals (CCJ), but only a small number of studies have examined the impact of female scholars in particular. Extending that line of work, the present study identifies the most productive sole and lead female authors published in eight top-ranked CCJ journals between 2000 and 2010. Findings reveal that individual ranks of the female scholars are relatively stable when adjusting for frequency and journal impact factor. However, there is more movement in the ranks when they are adjusted based on the year the PhD. degree was earned. Consistent with previous research including both males and females, a handful of female scholars, in particular Robin Engel, Beth Huebner, Jodi Lane, and Nicole Leeper Piquero appear to be responsible for a large portion of work in the selected eight elite CCJ journals.

Notes

1. Another recent study by Long, Boggess, and Jennings (2011) re-assessed Rice et al.’s 22 “academic stars” using the Harzing Publish or Perish software program. The results generated by this program were largely consistent with Rice et al.’s (2005) as well as Shutt and Barnes’ (2008) findings.

2. The same eight journals were also included in Steiner and Schwartz’s (2007) study of doctoral programs; however, they also included Law and Society Review.

3. Articles “in press”, “forthcoming”, or only available in online versions of a journal were also excluded. In order for an article to be counted, it had to appear in a hard-copy version of a journal between 2000 and 2010.

4. The use of the standardized rate based solely on years since the PhD. (as used by Rice et al., 2005) presents some additional confounding issues with regard to the best method to rank authorship. Solely using years since the PhD. (if less than 10) as the denominator for the rate may over inflate the rate for any individuals who published in the eight journals prior to earning their PhD. Conversely, it could be argued that these articles should be given additional weight if the author was able to accomplish publication as a sole or lead author in addition to completing necessary requirements for earning a PhD. There were, however, no substantive differences in the rankings when using either the year of PhD. or a more conservative year of first publication if prior to PhD. year, for the standardized rate.