Research patterns and intellectual structure of Managerial Auditing Journal : a retrospective using bibliometric analysis during 1986-2019

Purpose: The Managerial Auditing Journal (MAJ) started publication in 1986 and celebrates its 35th year of publication in 2020. The purpose of this study is to provide a detailed bibliometric analysis of the journal’s primary trends and themes between 1986 and 2019. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses the Scopus database to analyse the most prolific authors in the MAJ along with their affiliated institutions and countries; the work also identifies the MAJ articles cited most often by other journals. A range of bibliometric devices is applied to analyse the publication and citation structure of MAJ, alongside performance analysis and science mapping tools. The study also provides a detailed inter-temporal analysis of MAJ publishing patterns. Findings: The MAJ publishes around 40 articles each year with citations of this work steadily growing over time. The journal has attracted contributors from around the globe, most often affiliated with the USA, the UK and Australia. Thematic evolution of the journal’s themes reveals that it has expanded its scope to include topics such as internal auditing, internal control and corporate governance, whilst co-authorship analysis reveals that the journal’s collaboration network has grown to span the globe. Research limitations/implications: As this study uses data from the Scopus database, any shortcomings therein will be reflected in the study. Originality/value: This study provides the first overview of the MAJ’s publication and citation trends as well as the evolution of its thematic structure. It also suggests future directions that the journal might take.