Research trends in human osteology: A content analysis of papers published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology

• Published in: American journal of physical anthropology Vol. 128; no. 1; pp. 98 - 109
• Main Authors: Stojanowski, Christopher M., Buikstra, Jane E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.09.2005; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Anthropology, Physical - statistics & numerical data; Anthropology, Physical - trends; Anthropometry; Archaeology; Archaeology - statistics & numerical data; Archaeology - trends; Authorship; bioarchaeology; Biological anthropology; Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology; Bone and Bones - chemistry; Bone and Bones - physiology; Bone industry; Career Mobility; Cephalometry - statistics & numerical data; Cephalometry - trends; Excavation and methods; Field method; Generalities; human osteology; Human remains; Humans; Methodology and general studies; Odontometry - statistics & numerical data; Odontometry - trends; Organisation and history of research; Osteology; Periodicals as Topic - statistics & numerical data; Periodicals as Topic - trends; Physical anthropology; Prehistory and protohistory; Research - statistics & numerical data; Research - trends; Survey; Typology, technology and attribute analysis; United States; Early; United States; human osteology; People; Publication; Quarry; Research; History; Physical anthropology; Modeling; Osteology; Pathology; Analysis; Dentition; bioarchaeology; research trends
• ISSN: 0002-9483; 1096-8644
• DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.20088

This paper explores recent research trends in human osteology, based on articles published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology (AJPA) during two 5‐year intervals: 1980–1984 and 1996–2000. Topical “visibility” is measured in terms of article counts; “impact” is estimated through citation indices. Our results indicate that human osteologists continue to publish a range of methodological, analytical, and descriptive research papers that address a broad array of subjects. Analytical articles are cited more frequently than descriptive articles and thus have higher impact, reflecting the discipline's continued commitment to problem‐oriented research. Differences in publication patterns exist between scholars during early and later stages of their careers. Articles published by students and Ph.D.s within 2 years of their doctoral degree are more frequently descriptive than analytical, when compared to people with longer career histories. Topics such as pathology, forensic anthropology, and biodistance modeling remain highly visible, while articles on the dentition have waned. An increase in functional research directed toward the postcranial skeleton is also reflected in our data. While continued visibility for morphological investigations is apparent, the impact of recently developed applications in bone chemistry and molecular anthropology is amply documented in our data, particularly during the more recent survey years. Am J Phys Anthropol 128:98‐109, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.