What books or journal articles are relevant to sociology today? Here are the 102101* works that were cited the most in sociology journals over the last five years. While the data comes from contemporary articles, the cited works could be from any year. In addition to the rank and citations, I also include the journals where the piece was cited the most, adjusted so that journals that publish many articles are not overrepresented. Additional details below the table.
If you want to explore relations among the cited works, check out the network version.
*[Note: Updated June 5, 2012 to add ASQ and Social Networks; remove articles with fewer than 10 cites (which are probably not articles), eliminate some duplicate articles; and add a link when WoS provides the article's DOI. There is now a three way tie for 99th, so only 101 journals make the list.]
| Rank | Cites | Citation | Modal Journals |
| 1. | 218 | Bourdieu P 1984 Distinctions Social | Sociological Theory, Theory and Society |
| 2. | 185 | Granovetter MS 1973 Am J Sociol | Social Networks, Administrative Science Quarterly |
| 3. | 174 | Raudenbush SW 2002 Hierarchical Linear | Sociology of Education, Criminology |
| 4. | 171 | Putnam RD 2000 Bowling Alone Am Dec | City & Community, Sociological Forum |
| 5. | 166 | Wilson WJ 1987 Truly Disadvantaged | City & Community, Criminology |
| 6. | 133 | Denton Nancy A 1993 Am Apartheid Segrega | City & Community, Criminology |
| 7. | 128 | Mcpherson M 2001 Annu Rev Sociol | Social Networks, Annual Review of Sociology |
| 8. | 127 | Glaser BG 1967 Discovery Grounded T | Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Qualitative Sociology |
| 9. | 124 | Swidler A 1986 Am Sociol Rev | Sociological Theory, American Journal of Sociology |
| 9. | 124 | Coleman JS 1990 Fdn Social Thoery | Rationality and Society, Journal of Mathematical Sociology |
| 11. | 123 | Dimaggio PJ 1983 Am Sociol Rev | Administrative Science Quarterly, Theory and Society |
| 12. | 122 | Lareau A 2003 Unequal Childhood IM | Sociology of Education, Annual Review of Sociology |
| 13. | 121 | West C 1987 Gender Soc | Gender & Society, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography |
| 14. | 119 | Goffman E 1959 Presentation Self EV | Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Social Psychology Quarterly |
| 15. | 117 | Anderson E 1999 Code Streets | Criminology, Social Problems |
| 16. | 111 | Sampson RJ 1997 Science | Criminology, City & Community |
| 17. | 105 | Meyer JW 1977 Am J Sociol | Administrative Science Quarterly, American Journal of Sociology |
| 18. | 104 | Giddens A 1991 Modernity Self Ident | Sociology, Sociology of Health & Illness |
| 19. | 103 | Hochschild A 1983 Managed Heart Commer | Work and Occupations, Social Psychology Quarterly |
| 20. | 98 | Granovetter M 1985 Am J Sociol | Administrative Science Quarterly, Rationality and Society |
| 20. | 98 | Bourdieu P 1977 Outline Theory Cultu | Sociological Theory, Theory and Society |
| 22. | 96 | Coleman JS 1988 Am J Sociol | Sociology of Education, Sociological Perspectives |
| 22. | 96 | Gottfredson MR 1990 Gen Theory Crime | Criminology, Youth & Society |
| 22. | 96 | Wilson WJ 1996 Work Disappears New | City & Community, Criminology |
| 25. | 92 | Snow DA 1986 Am Sociol Rev | Mobilization, Social Problems |
| 26. | 91 | Goffman E 1963 Stigma Notes Managem | Social Psychology Quarterly, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography |
| 27. | 87 | Hirschi T 1969 Causes Delinquency | Criminology, Youth & Society |
| 28. | 86 | Sewell WH 1992 Am J Sociol | Sociological Theory, Theory and Society |
| 28. | 86 | Long Jscott 1997 Regression Models CA | Sociology of Education, Criminology |
| 30. | 85 | Burt RS 1992 Structural Holes | Sociological Theory, American Journal of Sociology |
| 31. | 84 | Mead GH 1934 Mind Self Soc Standp | Social Psychology Quarterly, Sociological Theory |
| 32. | 83 | Portes A 1998 Annu Rev Sociol | Rural Sociology, Sociology of Education |
| 33. | 82 | Mclanahan Sara 1994 Growing Single Paren | Journal of Marriage and Family, Sociology of Education |
| 33. | 82 | Mcadam D 2001 Dynamics Contention | Mobilization, Sociological Theory |
| 35. | 81 | Mccarthy JD 1977 Am J Sociol | Mobilization, Administrative Science Quarterly |
| 36. | 80 | Alba RD 2003 Remaking Am Mainstre | Annual Review of Sociology, Social Science Research |
| 36. | 80 | Blau P 1967 Am Occupational Stru | Sociology of Education, Annual Review of Sociology |
| 36. | 80 | Radloff L S 1977 Applied Psychological Measurement | Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Journal of Marriage and Family |
| 39. | 79 | Portes A 2001 Legacies Story 2 Gen | Sociological Perspectives, Sociology of Education |
| 40. | 78 | Sampson RJ 2002 Annu Rev Sociol | Criminology, City & Community |
| 41. | 77 | Tilly C 1978 Mobilization Revolut | Mobilization, Sociological Theory |
| 41. | 77 | Bourdieu P 1990 Logic Practices | Sociological Theory, Theory and Society |
| 43. | 75 | Connell RW 1995 Masculinities SS | Gender & Society, Sociology of Sport Journal |
| 44. | 74 | Baron RM 1986 J Pers Soc Psychol | Social Psychology Quarterly, Administrative Science Quarterly |
| 45. | 73 | Benford RD 2000 Annu Rev Sociol | Mobilization, Administrative Science Quarterly |
| 45. | 73 | Edin K 2005 Promises I Can Keep | Journal of Marriage and Family, Gender & Society |
| 47. | 70 | Meyer JW 1997 Am J Sociol | Administrative Science Quarterly, Annual Review of Sociology |
| 47. | 70 | Blalock H 1967 Theory Minority Grou | Criminology, Social Problems |
| 47. | 70 | Bourdieu P 1992 Invitation Reflexive | Sociological Theory, Acta Sociologica |
| 50. | 68 | Gordon MM 1964 Assimilation America | Sociological Perspectives, American Journal of Sociology |
| 50. | 68 | Coleman J 1988 Am J Sociol | Acta Sociologica, Sociological Perspectives |
| 52. | 67 | Esping-andersen G 1990 3 Worlds Welfare Cap | Acta Sociologica, Work Employment and Society |
| 52. | 67 | Acker J 1990 Gender Soc | Gender & Society, Work and Occupations |
| 54. | 66 | Portes A 1993 Ann Am Acad Polit SS | Sociological Perspectives, Demography |
| 54. | 66 | Heckman JJ 1979 Econometrica | Administrative Science Quarterly, Social Science Research |
| 56. | 65 | Kanter RM 1977 Men Women Corporatio | Work and Occupations, Gender & Society |
| 56. | 65 | Garfinkel Harold 1967 Studies Ethnomethodo | Sociological Theory, Gender & Society |
| 58. | 64 | Giddens A 1984 Constitution Soc Out | Sociological Theory, Theory and Society |
| 59. | 63 | Hays S 1996 Cultural Contradicti | Gender & Society, American Sociological Review |
| 60. | 62 | Collins Randall 2004 Interaction Ritual C | Sociological Theory, Social Psychology Quarterly |
| 60. | 62 | Lamont M 2002 Annu Rev Sociol | Annual Review of Sociology, City & Community |
| 62. | 61 | Sampson RJ 1993 Crime Making Pathway | Criminology, Sociological Perspectives |
| 62. | 61 | Singer JD 2003 Appl Longitudinal DA | Journal of Marriage and Family, Journal of Health and Social Behavior |
| 62. | 61 | Jacobs JA 2004 Time Divide Family G | Work and Occupations, American Sociological Review |
| 65. | 60 | Pager D 2003 Am J Sociol | American Journal of Sociology, Social Problems |
| 65. | 60 | Rubin DB 1987 Multiple Imputation | Sociology of Education, Social Science Research |
| 67. | 59 | Bourdieu P 1986 Hdb Theory Res Socio | Sociology, Sociology of Sport Journal |
| 67. | 59 | Bumpass L 2000 Pop Stud-j Demog | Journal of Marriage and Family, Demography |
| 67. | 59 | Blumer H 1969 Symbolic Interaction | Social Psychology Quarterly, Sociological Theory |
| 67. | 59 | Tarrow S 1998 Power Movement Conti | Mobilization, American Journal of Sociology |
| 67. | 59 | Becker Gary S 1981 Treatise Family | Journal of Marriage and Family, Demography |
| 72. | 58 | Dimaggio P 1997 Annu Rev Sociol | Sociological Forum, Administrative Science Quarterly |
| 72. | 58 | Bianchi SM 2006 Changing Rhythms Ame | Gender & Society, Journal of Marriage and Family |
| 72. | 58 | Wooldridge Jeffrey M 2002 Econometric Anal Cro | Sociological Methodology, Criminology |
| 72. | 58 | Budig MJ 2001 Am Sociol Rev | Gender & Society, Work and Occupations |
| 76. | 57 | Blau PM 1977 Inequality Heterogen | Sociology of Education, Sociological Methodology |
| 76. | 57 | Shaw CR 1942 Juvenile Delinquency | Criminology, Social Problems |
| 76. | 57 | Correll SJ 2007 Am J Sociol | Gender & Society, Work and Occupations |
| 76. | 57 | Sampson RJ 1989 Am J Sociol | Criminology, City & Community |
| 80. | 56 | Blau PM 1964 Exchange Power Socia | Journal of Mathematical Sociology, Rationality and Society |
| 80. | 56 | Raftery AE 1995 Sociol Methodol | Sociological Methods & Research, Social Forces |
| 80. | 56 | Wasserman S 1994 Social Network Anal | Journal of Mathematical Sociology, Sociological Methodology |
| 83. | 55 | Allison PD 2002 Missing Data | Sociology of Education, Work and Occupations |
| 83. | 55 | Abbott A 1988 System Professions E | Work and Occupations, Theory and Society |
| 83. | 55 | Goffman E 1974 Frame Anal Essay Org | Sociological Theory, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography |
| 86. | 54 | Cherlin AJ 2004 J Marriage Fam | Journal of Marriage and Family, Gender & Society |
| 86. | 54 | Beck U 1992 Risk Soc New Moderni | British Journal of Sociology, Work Employment and Society |
| 88. | 53 | Putnam R 1993 Making Democracy Wor | Acta Sociologica, Rural Sociology |
| 88. | 53 | Kalmijn M 1998 Annu Rev Sociol | Annual Review of Sociology, Acta Sociologica |
| 90. | 52 | Lin N 2001 Social Capital Theor | Sociology of Education, Acta Sociologica |
| 90. | 52 | Allport GW 1954 Nature Prejudice 25 | Sociology of Education, Social Psychology Quarterly |
| 90. | 52 | Mcadam Douglas 1982 Political Process DE | Mobilization, Social Problems |
| 90. | 52 | Berger PL 1966 Social Construction | Sociological Theory, Theory and Society |
| 90. | 52 | Giddens A 1990 Consequences Moderni | Sociology, British Journal of Sociology |
| 95. | 51 | Royston P 2005 Stata J | Journal of Marriage and Family, Work and Occupations |
| 96. | 50 | Snijders T 1999 Multilevel Anal Intr | Criminology, Social Psychology Quarterly |
| 96. | 50 | Mcpherson M 2006 Am Sociol Rev | Social Networks, Annual Review of Sociology |
| 96. | 50 | Blair-loy M 2003 Competing Devotions | Gender & Society, Work and Occupations |
| 99. | 49 | Bianchi SM 2000 Soc Forces | Journal of Marriage and Family, Gender & Society |
| 99. | 49 | Bryk A 1992 Hierarchical Linear | Sociology of Education, Journal of Health and Social Behavior |
| 99. | 49 | Latour B 1987 Sci Action | Theory and Society, British Journal of Sociology |
Data is drawn from citations appearing in 5,471 articles published between 2008 and 2012 in 37 sociology journals. Articles data is from the Web of Science. The journals (followed by the number of articles in the data set) are: Acta Sociologica (78); Administrative Science Quarterly (74); American Journal of Economics and Sociology (201); American Journal of Sociology (166); American Sociological Review (184); Annual Review of Sociology (102); British Journal of Sociology (169); City & Community (78); Criminology (157); Demography (245); Gender & Society (143); Journal of Contemporary Ethnography (115); Journal of Health and Social Behavior (141); Journal of Marriage and Family (375); Journal of Mathematical Sociology (50); Mobilization (102); Qualitative Sociology (106); Rationality and Society (74); Rural Sociology (97); Social Forces (274); Social Networks (142); Social Problems (127); Social Psychology Quarterly (74); Social Science Research (396); Sociological Forum (160); Sociological Methodology (43); Sociological Methods & Research (87); Sociological Perspectives (85); Sociological Quarterly (131); Sociological Theory (69); Sociology (254); Sociology of Education (76); Sociology of Health & Illness (295); Sociology of Sport Journal (100); Theory and Society (102); Work Employment and Society (188); Work and Occupations (66); and Youth & Society (145). Feel free to lobby me for the inclusion of a different journal or the exclusion of a certain journal.
The abbreviations are courtesy of Web of Science. Unfortunately, they don’t provide article titles and often abbreviate books in different ways, so there is some measurement error in the data.