World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Educational Policy
H-index 11

Educational Policy

0895-9048

Published by: SAGE

https://journals.sagepub.com/home/epx

Ranking & Metrics

Discipline name Position Best Scientists Publications D-Index
Social Sciences and Humanities 622 13 20 8

Additional Metrics

Number of Best Scientists*: 25
Documents by Best Scientists*: 29
Top 100 Ranked Scientists*: 2
SCIMAGO H-index: 67
SCIMAGO SJR: 1.455
Impact Factor: 1.8

Overview

Top Research Topics at Educational Policy?

The journal mostly deals with topics like Public administration, Pedagogy, Politics, Public relations and Mathematics education. Topics in Public administration were tackled in line with various other fields like Corporate governance, State (polity), Accountability, Education reform and Education policy. The journal features research on Education policy in an attempt to reinforce studies in the field of Economic growth.

Pedagogy study tackled is connected to the field of Higher education. Higher education policy is a focus of the presented Higher education works and it dives deep in Higher education policy. In addition to Politics research, it aims to explore topics under Social science, School choice and Power (social and political).

Many of the studies tackled connect Public relations with a similar field of study like Qualitative research. Academic achievement is part of Mathematics education studies tackled in Educational Policy.

  • Public administration (29.29%)
  • Pedagogy (19.69%)
  • Politics (18.13%)

What are the most cited papers published in the journal?

  • Creating Difference: Neo-Liberalism, Neo-Conservatism and the Politics of Educational Reform (393 citations)
  • The Big Picture: A Meta-Analysis of Program Effectiveness Research on English Language Learners: (377 citations)
  • Shaping Teacher Sensemaking: School Leaders and the Enactment of Reading Policy: (373 citations)

Research areas of the most cited articles at Educational Policy:

The journal articles focus largely on the fields of Public administration, Pedagogy, Politics, Mathematics education and Accountability. While Public administration is the focus of the published papers, it also provides insights into the studies of Charter, Higher education, Education policy, State (polity) and Autonomy. The published papers explore research in Social science and overlapping concepts in Gender studies to expand the discourse in Politics.

What topics the last edition of the journal is best known for?

  • Law
  • World War II
  • Education

The previous edition focused in particular on these issues:

Educational Policy investigates studies in Public relations, Policy implementation, Accountability, Mathematics education and Qualitative research. The journal explores topics in Public relations which can be helpful for research in disciplines like Compliance (psychology), Perception and Scholarship. The journal covers Policy implementation research under the subject of Public administration.

The concepts on Public administration presented in the journal can also apply to other research fields, including Charter school, Corporate governance, Education reform, Venture philanthropy and Multiculturalism. The study of Accountability encompasses disciplines such as Standardized test, as well as fields such as Incentive, Job satisfaction and Science education, all of which overlap with one another. Research in Learning disability and the interrelating topic of Education policy were among the subjects of interest in the Mathematics education studies discussed in it.

The most cited articles from the last journal are:

  • From “First in Family” to “First to Finish”: Does College Graduation Vary by How First-Generation College Status Is Defined?: (8 citations)
  • Exploring the Evolution of Educational Technology Policy in Ireland: From Catching-Up to Pedagogical Maturity: (6 citations)
  • White Fear, White Flight, the Rules of Racial Standing and Whiteness as Property: Why Two Critical Race Theory Constructs are Better Than One: (4 citations)

Papers citation over time

A key indicator for each journal is its effectiveness in reaching other researchers with the papers published at that venue.

The chart below presents the interquartile range (first quartile 25%, median 50% and third quartile 75%) of the number of citations of articles over time.

The top authors publishing in Educational Policy (based on the number of publications) are:

  • Michael W. Apple (49 papers) published 3 papers at the last edition, 1 more than at the previous edition,
  • Lora Cohen-Vogel (9 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Christopher Lubienski (8 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • James P. Spillane (8 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Priscilla Wohlstetter (8 papers) absent at the last edition.

The overall trend for top authors publishing in this journal is outlined below. The chart shows the number of publications at each edition of the journal for top authors.

Only papers with recognized affiliations are considered

The top affiliations publishing in Educational Policy (based on the number of publications) are:

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (54 papers) published 5 papers at the last edition, 4 more than at the previous edition,
  • University of Southern California (27 papers) published 1 paper at the last edition, 2 less than at the previous edition,
  • Florida State University (23 papers) published 3 papers at the last edition,
  • University of Texas at Austin (22 papers) published 3 papers at the last edition, 1 less than at the previous edition,
  • Michigan State University (22 papers) absent at the last edition.

The overall trend for top affiliations publishing in this journal is outlined below. The chart shows the number of publications at each edition of the journal for top affiliations.

Publication chance based on affiliation

The publication chance index shows the ratio of articles published by the best research institutions in the journal edition to all articles published within that journal. The best research institutions were selected based on the largest number of articles published during all editions of the journal.

The chart below presents the percentage ratio of articles from top institutions (based on their ranking of total papers).Top affiliations were grouped by their rank into the following tiers: top 1-10, top 11-20, top 21-50, and top 51+. Only articles with a recognized affiliation are considered.

During the most recent 2021 edition, 1.52% of publications had an unrecognized affiliation. Out of the publications with recognized affiliations, 21.54% were posted by at least one author from the top 10 institutions publishing in the journal. Another 13.85% included authors affiliated with research institutions from the top 11-20 affiliations. Institutions from the 21-50 range included 26.15% of all publications and 38.46% were from other institutions.

Returning Authors Index

A very common phenomenon observed among researchers publishing scientific articles is the intentional selection of journals they have already attended in the past. In particular, it is worth analyzing the case when the authors participate in the same journal from year to year.

The Returning Authors Index presented below illustrates the ratio of authors who participated in both a given as well as the previous edition of the journal in relation to all participants in a given year.

Returning Institution Index

The graph below shows the Returning Institution Index, illustrating the ratio of institutions that participated in both a given and the previous edition of the conference in relation to all affiliations present in a given year.

The experience to innovation index

Our experience to innovation index was created to show a cross-section of the experience level of authors publishing in a journal. The index includes the authors publishing at the last edition of a journal, grouped by total number of publications throughout their academic career (P) and the total number of citations of these publications ever received (C).

The group intervals were selected empirically to best show the diversity of the authors' experiences, their labels were selected as a convenience, not as judgment. The authors were divided into the following groups:

  • Novice - P < 5 or C < 25 (the number of publications less than 5 or the number of citations less than 25),
  • Competent - P < 10 or C < 100 (the number of publications less than 10 or the number of citations less than 100),
  • Experienced - P < 25 or C < 625 (the number of publications less than 25 or the number of citations less than 625),
  • Master - P < 50 or C < 2500 (the number of publications less than 50 or the number of citations less than 2500),
  • Star - P ≥ 50 and C ≥ 2500 (both the number of publications greater than 50 and the number of citations greater than 2500).

The chart below illustrates experience levels of first authors in cases of publications with multiple authors.

Emerging Career Opportunities in Education Policy Research

One of the key outcomes of education policy research is its potential to influence future education reforms and policy decisions. Importantly, it also opens the door for enriched career paths in a variety of sectors. Particularly, a career in marriage and family therapy can significantly benefit from an education policy research background.

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) work with individuals, couples, and families to improve their interpersonal relationships. They address diverse mental and emotional disorders and relationship issues within the context of these relationships. MFTs operate within a distinct theorectical framework that takes into account family structure, dynamics, and the psychological health of each individual.

However, what's the connection with educational policy research? Professionals in this field are increasingly recognizing the impact of educational policies on the family structure and parenting practices. Understanding these dynamics can help MFTs not only provide more effective therapeutic interventions but also advocate for policies that promote healthy families and relationships.

For those contemplating a career as a marriage and family therapist, having a deep understanding of educational policies can give their practice a distinctive and comprehensive approach. For students or professionals based in Colorado, our in-depth guide on how to become a Marriage and Family Therapist, including all educational requirements and licensing information, we have prepared a article on how to become a marriage and family therapist in Colorado. After all, by blending policy knowledge with therapeutic expertise, we can strive to create resilient families and empowered communities.

Top Publications

  • Educating Youth for Nonexistent/Not Yet Existing Professions:

    Paul A. Kirschner;Paul A. Kirschner;Slavi Stoyanov

    (2020)
    45 Citations
  • Leveraging Multiple Theories of Change to Promote Reform: An Examination of the AAU STEM Initiative:

    Adrianna J. Kezar;Elizabeth M. Holcombe

    (2021)
    25 Citations
  • Conceptions and Practices of Equity in Research-Practice Partnerships

    (2022)
    23 Citations
  • Advancing Institutional Change to Encourage Faculty Participation in Research-Practice Partnerships

    (2022)
    21 Citations
  • Investigating Leader Self-Efficacy through Policy Engagement and Social Network Position.

    Yi-Hwa Liou;Alan J. Daly

    (2020)
    20 Citations
  • Challenges of Implementing Integrated Programs for Underrepresented Students in STEM: A Study of the CSU STEM Collaboratives.

    Adrianna J. Kezar;Elizabeth M. Holcombe

    (2020)
    14 Citations
  • Climate Change in Common Core Policy Context: The Shifting Role of Attitudes and Beliefs:

    Yi-Hwa Liou;Peter Bjorklund;Alan J. Daly

    (2021)
    13 Citations
  • Instructional Policy From Pre-K to Third Grade: The Challenges of Fostering Alignment and Continuity in Two School Districts:

    Abigail Stein;Cynthia E. Coburn

    (2021)
    12 Citations
  • Media Strategies in Policy Advocacy: Tracing the Justifications for Indiana’s School Choice Reforms:

    Joel R. Malin;Christopher Lubienski;Queenstar Mensa-Bonsu

    (2020)
    12 Citations
  • Gender Differences in the Impact of North Carolina’s Early Care and Education Initiatives on Student Outcomes in Elementary School:

    Clara G. Muschkin;Helen F. Ladd;Kenneth A. Dodge;Yu Bai

    (2020)
    11 Citations

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Pursuing a psychology degree in the USA opens doors to various career paths, many of which can be accessed through flexible online programs. For those seeking budget-friendly options, the most affordable online psychology degree programs provide quality education without overwhelming financial burden.

If your interest leans towards social services, exploring the easiest social work programs to get into can help you find accessible routes to an MSW, preparing you for impactful roles in community support and counseling.

Advanced clinical psychology careers often require a PsyD, and the online psyd clinical psychology programs offer reputable pathways to specialize and become licensed practitioners in various psychological disciplines.

For those interested in family dynamics, marriage and family therapy online programs provide focused training to work with couples and families, typically with shorter course durations that expedite entry into the profession.

Choosing the right online degree depends on your career goals, time commitment, and financial considerations, making these top program categories essential resources to explore.

Best Scientists Contributing to This Journal