Psychology of the Scientist: XLVIII. Recent Trends in Multiple Authorship in Psychology

Abstract

Research in the late 1950s showed a trend toward increased multiple authorship, as opposed to single authorship, of research papers in psychology. This study investigated whether the trend has continued to the 1980s. Convention papers presented at the meetings of seven psychological associations, and articles published in nine APA journals, during 1980–81 were categorized by number of authors. Results indicated that the trend towards more multiple-author papers has continued, with 70% of the convention papers and 76% of the journal articles having more than one author.