World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Politics and the Life Sciences
H-index 7

Politics and the Life Sciences

0730-9384

Published by: Cambridge University Press

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/politics-and-the-life-sciences

Ranking & Metrics

Discipline name Position Best Scientists Publications D-Index
Political Science 193 17 23 5

Additional Metrics

Number of Best Scientists*: 36
Documents by Best Scientists*: 36
Top 100 Ranked Scientists*: 0
SCIMAGO H-index: 24
SCIMAGO SJR: 0.416
Impact Factor: N/A

Overview

Top Research Topics at Politics and the Life Sciences?

The concepts of Politics, Environmental ethics, Social science, Law and Social psychology are tackled in Politics and the Life Sciences. The works on Politics deal in particular with Biopower. The study on Social science presented is investigated in conjunction with research in Epistemology.

  • Politics (17.36%)
  • Environmental ethics (12.29%)
  • Social science (7.84%)

What are the most cited papers published in the journal?

  • The Biology of Moral SystemsRichard D. Alexander New York: Aldine De Gruyter, 1987 (275 citations)
  • Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex Among Apes. Frans de Waal. New York: Harper & Row, 1982 (198 citations)
  • Human Ethology 1. Irenaus Eibl-Eibesfeldt,New York: Aldine de Gruyter, 1989 (189 citations)

Research areas of the most cited articles at Politics and the Life Sciences:

The journal articles focus on Politics, Social psychology, Law and economics, Law and Criminology. In addition to Politics research, the published articles aim to explore topics under Government, Social science and Anthropology, Power (social and political). The journal articles focus on Law and economics but sometimes tackle the closely related topic of Social policy which is concerned with Public policy and Context (language use).

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

  • Law
  • World War II
  • Politics

The previous edition focused in particular on these issues:

The journal generally zeroes in on subjects such as Politics, Social psychology, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Ideology and Art history. It holds forums on Politics that merges themes from other disciplines such as Political economy, Data collection, Natural selection, State (polity) and Gender studies. In addition to State (polity) research, the journal aims to explore topics under Social media, Social science, Content analysis and Science communication.

While work presented in the journal provided substantial information on Social psychology, it also covered topics in Physical attractiveness, DUAL (cognitive architecture), Implicit cognition, Motivated reasoning and Facial expression. Topics in Ideology explored in the journal were investigated in conjunction with research in Neurocognitive, Cognitive psychology, Legislation and Social cognition. It explores topics in Art history which can be helpful for research in disciplines like Face value and Open science.

The most cited articles from the last journal are:

  • Alexander Todorov, Face Value: The Irresistible Influence of First Impressions (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press). 336 pages. ISBN: 9781400885725. Hardcover $32.95. (3 citations)
  • Human security as biosecurity Reconceptualizing national security threats in the time of COVID-19 . (2 citations)
  • Direct democracy, policy diffusion, and medicalized marijuana. (1 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 Politics and the Life Sciences (based on the number of publications) are:

  • Carol Barner-Barry (65 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Steven A. Peterson (25 papers) published 1 paper at the last edition,
  • Joseph Losco (19 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Roger D. Masters (18 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Andrea L. Bonnicksen (18 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 Politics and the Life Sciences (based on the number of publications) are:

  • University of Maryland, College Park (13 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • University of Arkansas (10 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Indiana University (9 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • University of Oxford (9 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Texas Tech University (8 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, 50.00% of publications had an unrecognized affiliation. Out of the publications with recognized affiliations, 8.33% were posted by at least one author from the top 10 institutions publishing in the journal. Another 16.67% included authors affiliated with research institutions from the top 11-20 affiliations. Institutions from the 21-50 range included 8.33% of all publications and 66.67% 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.

Career Outlook and Prospects in Politics and the Life Sciences Research

Just as politics and the life sciences research is a broad interdisciplinary field, the career prospects are equally extensive. Professionals in this industry can work in academic institutions, research organizations, non-profit entities, or government agencies. A career in this field might entail conducting research, formulating and implementing educational programs, advising on legislation, or influencing public policy. The roles one might assume are broad and could range from being a research scientist, policy analyst, educator, to an environmental advocate or lobbyist. However, venturing into this field often requires specialized education and training. In most cases, having a bachelor’s degree is the bare minimum but pursuing graduate studies tends to broaden your horizons and opportunities tremendously. For example, higher-level roles like university-level teaching or principal investigator in an extensive research project would typically require a PhD. Prospects in this field could also improve by taking relevant professional certifications to demonstrate expertise and competence in the discipline. Just like in any field, specific requirements for becoming a professional in politics and the life sciences research could vary depending on the organization you hope to join or the geographic region you are situated in. For example, the requirements for becoming a librarian with a focus in politics and life science research in Nebraska might differ from those in another state. Equip yourself with knowledge on school librarian requirements in Nebraska if considering an academic research institution in that state. Always ensure to verify what is specifically required for the role and location you have in mind. Overall, despite its demanding requirements, a career in politics and life sciences research could be intellectually stimulating and rewarding, especially for individuals passionate about making a meaningful contribution to society.

Top Publications

  • Breaking free

    (2022)
    25 Citations
  • The psychophysiological correlates of cognitive dissonance.

    Gavin W. Ploger;Johnanna Dunaway;Patrick Fournier;Stuart Soroka

    (2021)
    16 Citations
  • Political psychophysiology A primer for interested researchers and consumers.

    Jaime E. Settle;Matthew V. Hibbing;Nicolas M. Anspach;Taylor N. Carlson

    (2020)
    10 Citations
  • Political attitudes vary with detection of androstenone.

    Amanda Friesen;Mike Gruszczynski;Kevin B. Smith;John R. Alford

    (2020)
    10 Citations
  • The state of GMOs on social media An analysis of state-level variables and discourse on Twitter in the United States.

    Christopher D. Wirz;Emily L. Howell;Dominique Brossard;Michael A. Xenos

    (2021)
    7 Citations
  • Disgust and political attitudes : Guest Editors’ Introduction to the Special Issue

    Michael Bang Petersen;Joshua M. Tybur;Patrick A. Stewart

    (2020)
    5 Citations
  • Donald Trump's contribution to the study of politics and the life sciences

    (2023)
    4 Citations
  • Establishing the validity and robustness of facial electromyography measures for political science

    (2024)
    3 Citations
  • Authoritarianism, perceptions of security threats, and the COVID-19 pandemic: A new perspective

    (2023)
    3 Citations
  • Science interrupted

    (2022)
    3 Citations

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Political Science opens doors to a variety of related online degrees and career paths. For those interested in shaping city infrastructure and community development, exploring urban planning masters programs can be a strategic choice. These programs often focus on policy development, sustainable growth, and public administration, complementing political science expertise.

Another intriguing path is forensic psychology, where a deep understanding of human behavior intersects with criminal justice. The advantages of this career are well outlined in the pros of being a forensic psychologist. This field offers unique opportunities to apply political and social theories practically within legal contexts.

For those aiming for advanced academic credentials but seeking a faster timeline, exploring 1 year phd programs online no dissertation can be ideal. These accelerated paths provide flexibility and reduce the time commitment traditionally required for doctoral studies.

Finally, Political Science graduates interested in public service administration might consider easiest online mpa programs. These programs can quickly prepare students for leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations, enhancing their career prospects in policy and management.

Best Scientists Contributing to This Journal

Recently Published Articles