November 7, 2013 — A new study ranks University of Wyoming President and
Professor of Psychology Bob Sternberg among the world’s eminent psychologists
since World War II.

Sternberg ranks 61st on the list of 200 eminent
psychologists compiled by researchers led by University of Illinois Professor Ed
Diener and co-written by Shigehiro Oishi, a professor at the University of
Virginia, and Estelle Park, a researcher at the University of Illinois. Diener
says several sources, such as the American Psychological Association
Distinguished Scientist Award winners, members of academies and lifetime
achievement award recipients, were used to select the psychologists, who were
then ranked based on a combination of awards, citations and textbook coverage.

The paper, “Eminent Psychologists of the Modern Era,” also
borrowed methods used to produce a 2002 publication of eminent psychologists of
the 20th century. Diener says that while that list cites classic figures in
psychology, the current list focuses on modern psychologists.

“Our list is not of important contributions per se, but
rather current impact and widespread recognition of the scientists and their
works,” Diener says.

Sternberg stood out in the citation count category, being
cited more than 66,000 times in published articles.

“This is a lot of citations. Think of it this way. Most
research psychologists are not cited 5,000 times,” Diener say. He says Sternberg
also scored well by being mentioned on 25 pages by textbook authors who want to
cover the most important findings from the entire field. Many researchers,
Diener says, are not mentioned, or are mentioned only once.

The list will be useful in a number of ways, Diener says. Students
of psychology and their professors can more readily identify the psychologists
who have made the most impact on the profession, as well as the type of
contributions that receive recognition.

“In addition, students can learn what is required if they
want to achieve eminence,” the paper notes. “The listing of the most eminent
psychologists also gives students a way to study many of the most important
discoveries in psychology.”

Sternberg previously was ranked 60th by the APA Monitor, a
magazine of the American Psychological Association, in its listing of the top
100 psychologists of the 20th century. His scholarly research on intelligence,
creativity, wisdom, cognitive styles, love and hate, and leadership is
recognized internationally. He is the author of more than 1,500 journal
articles, book chapters and books, and has received more than $20 million in
government and other grants and contracts for his research, conducted across
five different continents. 

He was the 2003 president of the American Psychological
Association and is past-president of the International Association for Cognitive
Education and Psychology. He currently serves as the president of the
Federation of Associations of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, and treasurer of
the Association of American Colleges and Universities. He is a member of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Education,
and is an honorary professor at Germany’s Heidelberg University.

Photo:
Bob Sternberg