Looking Back on its Fiftieth Year - Bibliometric and Scientometric Analysis of the Articles Published in the Journal of Psychology and Theology from 1996 to 2022

Abstract

The Journal of Psychology and Theology was started in 1973 when the growth of psychology encroached into the arena of Theology, thereby aiming to integrate the two. OBJECTIVE AND APPROACH: As the journal completes its 50th year, this study reviews its journey through a bibliometric and scientometric analysis of the articles available in the Scopus database (26 years) using four analyses – publication, citation, network, and thematic. RESULT AND DISCUSSION: The results show that 70% of the top contributing institutions were Christian institutions, and the USA contributed to 90% of the articles. The top three keywords were ‘Virtues’, ‘Positive Psychology’, and ‘Integration’, showing how positive psychology bridged the two fields. Factorial analysis segregated the topics into two main groups: Values and Beliefs. Keywords co-occurrence network generated 5 clusters – Subject Integration, Theoretical Integration, Positive Psychology, Spirituality, and Clergy and its Issues. RECOMMENDATION: To increase author networking and articles featuring theological perspectives from other continents and other faiths.