Is political science meant for every tom, dick, or harriet? the role of first names and middle initials as predictors of academic success

Abstract

Abstract We take advantage of the data set compiled by Masuoka et al. (2007, PS: Political Science and Politics 40 (1): 361-66) on lifetime citation counts of political science faculty at PhD granting institutions in the United States to look for lucky names, that is, names parents can give babies that predispose them toward scholarly success in political science. Seeking to test an hypothesis offered by Wuffle (1972, PS: Political Science and Politics (Summer): 290), we also briefly look at the importance of middle initials for citation success in political science. Copyright © American Political Science Association 2014.