Walton College Researchers Show Highest Percentage Increase in Citations

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Faculty researchers often cite other expert researchers’ work in their own studies. A new analysis of total citation increases performed by Essential Science Indicators indicated that the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas had the highest percentage increase in total citations in the fields of economics and business for the period June 2005 to August 2005.

“The Walton College has made a concerted effort to increase the research productivity of our faculty by adding more research-active faculty and providing a more supportive research environment,” said Dean Dan L. Worrell. “The increase in citations is an indication that we are succeeding.

In addition, the Walton College’s most cited paper, which received 186 citations, according the Essential Science Indicators, is a paper published by John Delery, professor of management, and D.H. Doty, "Modes of Theorizing in Strategic Human Resource Management: Tests of Universalistic, Contingency, and Configurational Performance Predictions," in the August 1996 issue of the Academy of Management Journal.

Essential Science Indicators is a Web-based compilation of science indicators and trend data derived from Thomas Scientific’s databases, focusing on highly cited papers, authors, organizations, journals and nations across a wide variety of fields. The analysis can be seen in full at http://in-cites.com/most_imp/january2006.html

Bill Curington, the senior associate dean for academic programs and research, said, “The increase in citations can probably be attributed to two factors: increases in both the quantity and quality dimensions of research productivity of the Walton College faculty. About 62 percent of the Walton College faculty have joined the college in the last 12 years. In many cases the new faculty were more research productive than their predecessors, so the quantity of research increased.

“In addition, there has been an increase in the quality and visibility of the journals and other research outlets publishing Walton College faculty research. We have seen an increase in citations in all of the disciplines we focus on: accounting, economics, finance, information systems, marketing and logistics, and management.”

The Walton College has plans for more visible research in the areas of retail marketing, supply chain management, and information systems because these areas have been the foundation for a revolution in the operation of the consumer package goods industry.

Curington added, “The college benefits from its access to Wal-Mart’s corporate headquarters and the large community of supplier corporations. Access to these companies has already led to significant research opportunities. For example, the Walton College operates the only accredited university-operated RFID (radio frequency identification) lab in the world.”

 Thomson Scientific, formerly known as Thomson ISI, has been an established leader in providing access to high-value, essential information for researchers and scholars worldwide for over 45 years. The organization’s goal is to increase the impact of research by empowering researchers with the information they need to accelerate discovery.