From Bookworm to Browser: The Decline of Books in Political Science Scholarship

ABSTRACT This study examines how patterns of referencing in political science research have changed during the past three decades. By analyzing references in leading political science journals from 1990 to 2024, we reveal a notable shift: a decline in book references (52% to 28%) and a corresponding increase in journal article references (40% to 65%). These findings have important implications for students, the discipline, research libraries, and academia, particularly in tenure and promotion evaluations. They also raise concerns about the depth of analyses and increased specialization at the expense of broader synthesis.