Describes a study that investigated the place and role of citation analysis in information science literature and in other social science disciplines. Discipline-specific observations are discussed and show that two application areas predominate: the validity of citation as an evaluation tool, and impact or performance studies of authors,…

Rehabilitation teachers who work with students having visual impairments are urged to act more affirmatively on behalf of their profession: (1) by organizing archives; (2) by developing a written history; (3) by promoting rehabilitation teaching; and (4) by promoting professionalism and quality. (DB)

Describes the 1993 demise of the College of Communications and Fine Arts at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, in which the college was eliminated and its departments assigned to other units. Discusses the pressures of politics, money, intrigue, and alumni support, which all played a role. Notes lessons learned. (SR)

A discussion of the status of social work in academe considers its dual roles within the university as both a discipline and a profession and identifies eight criteria that differentiate professional from academic disciplines. Cooperation, identity, education, leadership, and knowledge-building are seen as key to finding social work's proper…

Examines the relationship of instructional designers and content experts and suggests methods to make these relationships more successful, including simplifying language to eliminate jargon; emphasizing the benefits of instructional design involvement; and focusing on interpersonal communication skills. Four sample scripts for instructional…

Comprehensive data from alternate years of annual salary surveys in public universities were analyzed from 1979/80 to 1989/90. Pay compression worsened in some disciplines (business) more than in other high-demand areas, but not all business disciplines were affected to the same degree. Computer/information science and engineering have made…

A discussion of the developmental path of the Black Studies movement focuses on its struggle for recognition as an independent and dynamic discipline, indicators of progress, and barriers to recognition. The evolution of Black Studies toward departmental status at Pennsylvania State University is chronicled. (MSE)

The relationship between second-language acquisition (SLA) and other disciplines is examined, beginning with a review of SLA studies and the broader field of applied linguistics and language pedagogy. It is argued that SLA must be recognized as a field important to linguistics, pedagogy, and psychology. (37 references) (Author/LB)

Argues that both the increased theoretical productivity in the field of communication as well as the increased confusion about theory are best explained by the influence of a third variable: a general transformation of the human sciences characterized by blurred genres. (SR)

Considers how the troubles affecting the field of communication are linked to the decline of modernism. Argues that the future of the field lies in exploring both microscopic and macroscopic social changes in a postmodern world. Proposes an agenda for this research. (SR)

Identifies five overarching values central to disciplinary disputes in communication, and how their relative importance changes depending on prevailing social, economic, and intellectual conditions. Explores discipline-level values in the 1980s, and how value structures are likely to shift in the 1990s. Proposes a value hierarchy for the future.…

Explores conceptions of leadership from the perspectives of practitioners and scholars and discusses the role of librarians in leading others to sources of knowledge for understanding leadership. Highlights include how leaders are selected, the relationship between leaders and followers, evaluating leadership quality, and leadership from the…

Analyzes and critiques Ernest L. Boyer's book, "Scholarship Reconsidered," particularly regarding its implications for the field of communication instruction. Identifies the immediate impact of Boyer's book for the disciplines of communication. Outlines an agenda for communication disciplines based on Boyer's findings. (HB)

Analyzes the proliferation of specialties in the social sciences. Observes that there is little communication among specialties within disciplines, but an increasing intermingling of disciplines that is generating hybrid fields. Argues that the history of contemporary social sciences demonstrates this hybridization in the main route of scientific…

Examines 24 years of research published in this journal. Finds that the prevalence of studies failing to replicate has declined; replications are still rarely recognized as random factors; and researchers who use replications appear to do so for purposes of generalizability and control over confounding but without carefully analyzing the burden of…