ERIC Number: ED435396
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1999-May
Pages: 55
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
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Available Date: N/A
Testing for Correlation between Two Journal Ranking Methods: A Comparison of Citation Rankings and Expert Opinion Rankings.
Russell, Robert Lowell, Jr.
This study tests for correlation between two journal ranking methods--citation rankings and expert opinion surveys. Political science professors from four major universities were asked to rank a list of the 20 most highly cited political science journals. Citation data were taken from the "Social Sciences Citation Index Journal Citation Reports" from 1992-96. In addition, each professor was asked to identify his or her area of specialization. A Pearson's correlation coefficient and a Spearman's rank order correlation coefficient were calculated from the survey data. In addition, the standard deviation for the average ranking of each journal was calculated to show the level of agreement among survey respondents. Each calculation was repeated within each area of specialization. The resulting data did not indicate a statistically significant degree of correlation between citation counts and expert opinion surveys. However, there was some indication that a significant level of agreement did exist within each area of specialization. The results suggest that further research is necessary to determine how much effect specializations have on subjective journal rankings. Appendices include a list of the 20 most frequently cited political science journals, the survey form, data on average rank assigned by survey respondents, and a list of write-in journals. (Contains 19 references.) (Author/MES)
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A