Stratification in science: a comparison of publication patterns in four disciplines

Publication patterns in the leading journals of chemistry, economics, philosophy, and sociology between 1960 and 1985 are examined Patterns of institutional stratification are indicated by the dispersion of institutional affiliations among authors, peripheral status of authors, and the extent of the bureaucratization of knowledge produced within the respective disciplines. The data show that patterns of institutional stratification vary across indicators and among the disciplines examined; that is, on some indicators, certain disciplines appear more relatively open than others. The relative openness among the leading journals in these disciplines, however, should not obscure the fact that institutional representation in these leading journals is generally restricted to an inner circle of prestigious academic institutions. Evidence clearly indicates that stratification exists within scientific disci-plines (Allison, Long, and Krauze 1982; Cole and Cole 1973; Zuckerman 1988).1 The production of knowledge by a few elite scholars has been characteristic of science since the emergence of scientific societies in 17th century England (the Royal Society) and France (the French Academy).2 The pattern has not changed significantly in contemporary science. Data sho