The disciplines in Australian education: their share of the research output 1984-1998

Drawing on the publications records in the Australian education database, this paper provides an analysis of research activity that can be attributed to the foundation disciplines of history, philosophy, sociology and psychology. History, sociology and philosophy (excluding policy studies) have played a relatively minor role in total activity during the period 1984-1998, and psychology a more significant one. However, in more recent years research output in the disciplines is in decline relative to research activity as a whole.