International comparison of the evolution of sociological research topics in two Indexed Journals (1995-2018)

Abstract

This research note serves as an initial step in a more comprehensive analysis of the published research agenda in distinct social and economic contexts. Subsequently, a longitudinal bibliometric analysis (1995- 2018) was conducted through the application of statistical techniques to descriptors used in articles and research notes from two high-impact journals in Spain and the US: the Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas (REIS) and Social Problems (SP). Results reveal differences in the sociological academic traditions of the US and Spain, as reflected by different temporal patterns of incidence and overlap of the analyzed descriptors. However, common interests are found to exist regarding work, gender, family, inequality and organizational issues in both sociological research settings.