Key Insight: This essay examines how quantitative metrics have transformed the assessment of political science departments and individuals over two decades, building on earlier reputational rankings. The authors introduce a unique database tracking citation counts for faculty members from Ph.D-granting institutions between 1960-2005.
Methodology: Using this extensive dataset, we map publication trends to understand how scholarly productivity evolves through career paths and institutional affiliations. Data includes cumulative citations collected up to approximately 2002, along with faculty PhD origins and current departmental placements.
Findings: Faculty mobility appears central in the shift towards quantitative reputation rankings — scholars' careers increasingly shaped by publication impact rather than solely by reputation or alma mater prestige.
