ABSTRACT
A study was made of the level of sustained interest in 10 new specialized biomedical journals as indicated by a pattern of repeated publications. It was shown that a majority of the 265 mid-career scientists studied continued to publish within the journals after an initial paper and that the new journals became firmly embedded in their personal publication patterns. Loyalty to the new journals did not detract from established journals with a similar type and level of specialization, nor were the most prestigious multi-speciality journals of less immediate relevance to their ongoing interests were abandoned, and are suggested for cancellation. Scientists at this most prolific stage of their publishing careers seemed quite receptive to the flood of new, superspecialized titles being marketed by an increasingly sophisticated publishing industry.
