~ Pergamon Omega, Int. J. Mgmt Sci. Vol. 25, No. 5, pp. 599~03, 1997 © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved Printed in Great Britain PII: S0305-0483(97)00030-3 0305-0483/97 $t7.00 + 0.00 An Observation on Publication Habits Based on the Analysis of MS/OR Journals RJ ORMEROD The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK (Received November 1996; accepted after revision June 1997) This note continues the discussion initiated by Doyle and Arthurs (Omega, 1995, 23, 257-270) on the publishing patterns of UK academics. It draws attention to a recent analysis of European MS/OR journals which gives some indication of the publication habits of authors from US institutions. On this evidence US authors account for a substantial proportion of articles in the leading European MS/OR journals. It is suggested that the explanations for the publication habits of academics need to go beyond those offered in Doyle and Arthurs and the subsequent correspondence (Omega, 1996, 24, 597-612). As measures of research quality, both citation analysis and peer reviews have their limitations. It is suggested that content analysis of journal articles may yield additional insight. Copyright © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd Key words--publication patterns, quality of research 1. INTRODUCTION RESEARCHQUALITY in management journals has been debated in the feedback section of this journal in response to an article by Doyle and Arthurs [1] based on the analysis of citations. Jones et al. [2], while welcoming the research into publishing patterns, provide a critique of the citation approach taken and describe results from peer review studies taken from one of the sub-disciplines, accounting. The debate contin- ues with Doyle et al. [3] restating and defending their position and criticising peer review studies. Jones et al. [4] return to the fray to attempt a balanced response. Throughout the debate there is general agreement that UK academics have a propensity to publish in UK edited journals. My primary purpose in joining the debate is to present some evidence on the publication habits of US authors in European journals in the MS/OR domain. If these results are to be accommodated, an explanation that goes beyond those offered so far is required. The results that I quote are taken from content analysis of the type of research that is reported in both US and European journals. The second purpose of the note is to draw attention to the approach taken in this research and the light, which its authors believe, it sheds directly on the quality of research contained within MS/OR journals. 2. PUBLICATION HABITS OF ACADEMICS Doyle and Arthurs[1] found that UK academics tend not to publish in top US journals, preferring UK edited journals. To explain this phenomenon they suggest three main reasons. First, that the use of citations is fundamentally flawed in that the method is biased towards the US with its large academic community, system of tenure and quantitative paradigm. Second, that while recognising the US excellence, UK academics produce work of equal or greater merit, but prefer to develop their own model rooted in their own research traditions, orientated to local concerns. Third, that the British are simply insular publishers. 599