How Many Psychology Journals Are Enough?

With improved faculty guidance, a small number of journals could satisfy most needs of undergraduate psychology students at both institutions.

Abstract

Is there a core of psychology journals that will satisfy most needs of undergraduate psychology students? The authors examined journal citations of 105 senior psychology theses written durin a seven-year period at a major research university and a small liberal arts college. relatively few journal titles accounted for most of the citations at each institution. The research university students did not cite more journal titles and articles than did the liberal arts college students. Nevertheless, beyond the most heavily cited journals, the students from each institution cited in common relatively few journals. With improved faculty guidance, a small number of journals could satisfy most needs of undergraduate psychology students at both institutions.