BRITISH RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY IN PSYCHOLOGY 1980-1989 - DOES THE LOTKA-PRICE LAW APPLY TO UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS AS IT DOES TO INDIVIDUALS

This study replicated two American studies which set out to look at research productivity in British (university and polytechnic) psychology departments based on publication in the seven BPS journals over the last decade. Composite productivity scores were calculated, rank-ordered, and compared with previous reputational ratings. The correlation between the productivity score and Rushton's [(1989) The Psychologist, 2, 64-68] citation score was r = 0.79 and his publication score was r = 0.77. Despite the fact that quite different methods have been used to rate or rank departmental excellence or output, they seem to show highly significant correlations. The effect of highly productive individuals within departments was considered. The dangers and limitations inherent in this particular productivity count are listed. The results seemed to suggest that the Lotka-Price law of scientific productivity partly applied to departments in that half of all scientific contributions are made by (slightly more than) the square root of the total number of scientific contributors (in this sense psychology departments).