Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
Social Sciences / Psychology Highly Cited Researchers 43 Scientists Citation Rankings (Sort by last 6 years Citation Index) - 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) list highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Career and Human Capacity Development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10,400
4,698
0.452
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Psychology
Industrial Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,700
1,279
0.752
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Systems Psychodynamics
Positive Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,484
1,240
0.356
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Career Psychology
Positive Psychology
Employment Relations
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,517
1,085
0.715
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Social Psychology
Intergroup Relations
Leadership
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,666
990
0.594
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Employability
Career development
Employee well-being
Personal attributes
Retention
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,139
747
0.656
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
psychological wellbeing and adjustment
qualitative research
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,125
663
0.589
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Hate victimisation
LGBT+ well-being
gay mental health
sexual and gender diversity
affirmative
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,428
656
0.459
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Sense of coherence
burnout
Career adaptability
hardiness
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
782
479
0.613
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Career Psychology
Personnel Psychology
Organisational Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,048
398
0.380
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
608
383
0.630
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Psychological assessment
Psychometrics
Leadership
Organisational dynamics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,445
352
0.244
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Teaching of Research Methodology
Sense of Coherence
Work-related Sense of Coherence
Student Success
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
801
318
0.397
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Psychology
Gender
Activism
Education
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
246
237
0.963
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Technology-enhanced teaching and learning
consumer psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
297
199
0.670
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Gender-based violence
gender and the workplace
gender and coloured identities
psychology and
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
190
179
0.942
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Psychology of Education
Science Education and Educational Management
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
278
164
0.590
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Employee retention
generational diversity
psychological contract
employee relations
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
154
137
0.890
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Wellbeing
stress
workplace bullying
psychological resources
emotional intelligence
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
179
136
0.760
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Industrial and Organisational Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
153
125
0.817
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Industrial and Organisational Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
146
111
0.760
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Organisational Psychology
Personnel Psychology
Risk Management
Leadership
Integrity
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
159
105
0.660
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
neuropsychology
chronic pain
post-TBI intervention
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
232
98
0.422
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Psychology of incarceration
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
135
93
0.689
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Psychology of sexual minorities
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
79
79
1.000
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
90,351
370
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Melinde Coetzee
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10,400
4,698
0.452
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
364,957
1,730
52
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Renier Steyn
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,700
1,279
0.752
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
374,589
1,784
55
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Frans Cilliers
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,484
1,240
0.356
Systems Psychodynamics
Positive Psychology
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
417,939
1,998
62
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Rudolf M Oosthuizen
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,517
1,085
0.715
Career Psychology
Positive Psychology
Employment Relations
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
449,006
2,157
68
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Kitty Dumont
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,666
990
0.594
Social Psychology
Intergroup Relations
Leadership
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
548,331
2,759
102
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Ingrid Potgieter
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,139
747
0.656
Employability
Career development
Employee well-being
Personal attributes
Retention
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
591,534
3,021
111
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Antoni Barnard
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,125
663
0.589
psychological wellbeing and adjustment
qualitative research
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
595,364
3,055
112
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Juan A Nel
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,428
656
0.459
Hate victimisation
LGBT+ well-being
gay mental health
sexual and gender diversity
affirmative
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
714,773
3,830
146
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Nisha Harry
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
782
479
0.613
Sense of coherence
burnout
Career adaptability
hardiness
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
791,739
4,328
182
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Rebecca Tladinyane
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,048
398
0.380
Career Psychology
Personnel Psychology
Organisational Psychology
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
808,624
4,429
189
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Monika Dos Santos
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
608
383
0.630
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
844,688
4,700
203
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Rene Van Eeden
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,445
352
0.244
Psychological assessment
Psychometrics
Leadership
Organisational dynamics
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
889,903
5,019
224
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Sanet Van Der Westhuizen
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
801
318
0.397
Teaching of Research Methodology
Sense of Coherence
Work-related Sense of Coherence
Student Success
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,026,985
6,129
306
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Bianca Rochelle Parry
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
246
237
0.963
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,109,003
6,780
353
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Leona Ungerer
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
297
199
0.670
Technology-enhanced teaching and learning
consumer psychology
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,160,940
7,177
391
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Errolyn L Gordon
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
190
179
0.942
Gender-based violence
gender and the workplace
gender and coloured identities
psychology and
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,201,471
7,505
429
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Prem Heeralal
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
278
164
0.590
Psychology of Education
Science Education and Educational Management
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,288,668
8,253
482
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Alda Deas
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
154
137
0.890
Employee retention
generational diversity
psychological contract
employee relations
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,291,690
8,279
483
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Elzabe Nel
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
179
136
0.760
Wellbeing
stress
workplace bullying
psychological resources
emotional intelligence
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,331,872
8,651
529
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Louise Tonelli
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
153
125
0.817
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,386,936
9,151
575
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Sonja Grobler
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
146
111
0.760
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,411,971
9,392
600
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Annelize Van Niekerk
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
159
105
0.660
Organisational Psychology
Personnel Psychology
Risk Management
Leadership
Integrity
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,442,822
9,658
625
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Catherine Govender
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
232
98
0.422
neuropsychology
chronic pain
post-TBI intervention
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,467,483
9,899
653
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Mbongiseni Mdakane
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
135
93
0.689
* Last 6 Years Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,541,427
10,557
727
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Lindokuhle Ubisi
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
79
79
1.000