Citation Patterns of Articles Published in Adult Education 1968-1977

Abstract

In an effort to establish the extent to which adult education researchers are creating their own body of knowledge citation behaviors in Adult Education articles were studied. Nine judges classified the 2247 references that appeared in Adult Education from 1968-1977 as primary or secondary adult education literature. Only 20 percent of citations appearing in Volume 19 (1968) but nearly 60 percent of citations in Volume 27 (1977) were to primary literature. The most fre quently cited writers were Boshier, Houle, Knowles and Verner; the most frequently cited publication was Johnstone & Rivera's Volunteers for Learning. The self-citation behavior of authors publishing in Adult Education was studied. It was argued that adult education is an emerging discipline creating a unique body of knowledge. The prevalence of single-study publishing and the concomitant lack of sustained inquiry suggests a need to develop cumulative research projects.