Publication Trends in JPSP: Stability and Change in Topics, Methods, and Theories Across Two Decades

Abstract

Content analyses of a sample consisting of approximately 30% of the articles published in the journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 1968 and in 1988 are reported. The proportion of articles classified in the section Attitudes and Social Cognition has shown little change, whereas the proportion classified in Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes has decreased and the proportion in Personality Process and Individual Differences has increased over the two-decade period. Examination of several characteristics of research methodology indicates that both gains and losses have occurred and that the judged difficulty of conducting single studies has not changed Gender representative ness of subjects, but not authors, has improved. More qualitative observations suggest that theory in social psychology may have become less integrative. Issues in statistical analysis in the field are addressed The authors' mixed picture of progress in personality and social psychology is contrasted with the more optimistic view presented by Reis and Stiller (1992 [this issue]).