A Content Analysis of the Journal of Band Research: 1964–2016

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to conduct a content analysis of the Journal of Band Research since its inception in 1964 through 2016, a 52-year period. Scholarly articles (N = 503) were reviewed and independently coded to determine the type of methodology used in research, topic of the article, and author eminence within the journal. The coding procedure resulted in the creation of 12 separate methodological categories and 25 primary topics. Historical articles, analysis of repertoire, and descriptive studies were the most frequently represented methodologies, representing 82% of the sample. Articles examining 1 specific piece of literature, articles investigating band ensembles (e.g., Civil War bands, community bands, etc.), and biographies were the most frequently researched topics, representing 57% of the sample. Author eminence was determined by frequency of publication by contributing author and through citation tracking. J. C. Mitchell was the most frequently published author in the sample, and “Performance Evaluation Reliability at Selected Concert Festivals” (Burnsed, Hinkle, & King, 1985) was the most cited article in the sample (89 citations).