We did this by creating a series of portraits, which you can move through quickly, like a flip-book (I will add some summary statistics below). In the short space of time available, with such a small number of researchers, our range was limited, and we had to adopt a careful sampling strategy.

Each student was assigned one year (at three-year intervals). In that period each compiled standard information, based on a survey of articles (not book reviews or short research reports) in four mainstream journals, and three journals "at the margins." The information consisted of:

WHO WAS HOT: The university departments where faculty were most productive (# of papers in journals).
----We counted the top five in frequency in the mainstream, and the top five in the margins

WHAT TOPICS WERE HOT: The major topical themes of articles published in the journals.
----Each article could be counted in more than one category.
----We counted the top ten in the mainstream and the top ten in the margins.

WHAT SUB-DISCIPLINES WERE HOT: The sub-disciplinary affiliations at center stage.
----Each author was tracked down in the AAA Guide to Departments, and their sub-disciplines were added.
----We list the top ten.

WHAT THEMES WERE HOT: The topics and themes that inspired authors and editors at journals.
----Each author wrote a short summary of content based on reading the articles in seven journals.