Quality,quantity, and impact in academic publication

Publication records of 85 social‐personality psychologists were tracked from the time of their doctoral studies until 10 years post‐PhD. Associations between publication quantity (number of articles), quality (mean journal impact factor and article influence score), and impact (citations, h‐index, g‐index, webpage visits) were examined. Publication quantity and quality were only modestly related, and there was evidence of a quality‐quantity trade‐off. Impact was more strongly associated with quantity than quality. Authors whose records weighed quality over quantity tended to be associated with more prestigious institutions, but had lesser impact. Quantity‐ and quality‐favoring publication strategies may have important implications for the shape and success of scientific careers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.