Citation metrics provide a potentially useful tool to quantify and measure the scholarly impact  a research article, a given scholars impact and even the development of research and ideas. A recent article in Research on Social Work Practice identified the Top 100 contributors to social work journal scholarship worldwide.

The aim of the study is to identify researchers making the greatest impact on the knowledge base of social work as a scholarly discipline. The publication provides what it argues is, “the first empirical picture of leading social work scholars from across the world.”

Among these scholars two faculty members were identified among the Top 100, including Dr. Bruce Thyer and Dr. Amy L. Ai. Both have also been previously recognized by the university as Distinguished Research Professors for their contribution to scholarship.

Dr. Amy L. Ai is a research affiliate with both Florida State University’s Institute for Longevity and the Pepper Institute for Aging and Public Policy. Known for interdisciplinary work, her research interests include gerontology, health disparities, cultural diversity, mindfulness and spirituality, resilience, stress and coping. She is a fellow of the American Psychology Association, American Academy of Social Work, Gerontological Society of America and Society of Behavioral Medicine as well as a Fulbright scholar. She is also a scientific review for several federal funding agencies.

Dr. Bruce Thyer is an LCSW in Florida and Georgia and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. His professional interests include promoting evidence-based practice, outcome-evaluation of social work practice and clinical theory. He is the editor of the journal, Research on Social Work Practice and co-edits the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. He is a fellow of the Society for Social Work Research, the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare and the America Psychological Association.

Although the Research on Social Work Practice article focused on top contributing scholars in the social work profession, a 2021 database analysis of multiple science disciplines also identified Dr. Yaacov Petscher alongside Dr. Thyer and Dr. Ai as among the top 2 percent of scholars based on citation metrics in their field, published by Elsevier Data Repository.

Dr. Petscher is a professor of social work, associate director of the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) and director of the Quantitative Methodology and Innovation Division at FCRR. His work focuses on measurement, causal modeling, studying individual differences in reading using complex methodologies and the development of screening assessments and computer adaptive testing.

Another recent article in the Educational Psychology Review of individual scholars and institutions research productivity from 2015 – 2021 also identified Dr. Petscher among top individuals publishing in educational psychology journals.