From Bookworm to Browser
The Decline of Books in Political Science Scholarship
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12378746 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Alixandra B Yanus (0000-0002-0772-7830, High Point University, corresponding author), Phillip Ardoin (0000-0002-2384-9352, Appalachian State University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 329-336 |
| Publication date | 2025-10-22 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | PS Political Science & Politics (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1049-0965 • E-ISSN: 1537-5935 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s1049096525101522 |
| OpenAlex | W4415432656 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 17 |
This study examines how patterns of referencing in political science research have changed during the past three decades. By analyzing references in leading political science journals from 1990 to 2024, we reveal a notable shift: a decline in book references (52% to 28%) and a corresponding increase in journal article references (40% to 65%). These findings have important implications for students, the discipline, research libraries, and academia, particularly in tenure and promotion evaluations. They also raise concerns about the depth of analyses and increased specialization at the expense of broader synthesis
American political science · Politics · Promotion (chess · Scholarship · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences · Political Science Research and Education
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |