From the start of the season until 1 October, domestic players accounted for just 50.78% of Scottish Premiership playing time, State of the Game found.
That is a fall from last season's figure of 55.66%.
In contrast, English players accounted for 19.18% of minutes compared with 16.62% last term.
State of the Game analysed the total minutes played by each nationality in the Scottish Premiership and English Premier League and Championship to 1 October this season and in 2013-14.
Champions Celtic played nine Scottish players in the period covered by the study, while St Johnstone used a league-high 17. The Perth side were followed by Dundee (16), Hamilton Academical and Partick Thistle.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle used the fewest number of Scottish players (five).
Meanwhile, levels of Welsh and Northern Irish game time in the Scottish Premiership have remained similar to last season. The Welsh went from 1.09% to 0.92% while their Northern Irish counterparts rose from 4.95% to 5.03%.
France and Nigeria have fallen out of the top 10 nations in the Scottish Premiership, with Poland and Germany replacing them.
In England's Premier League a total of 18 Scottish players were used in the first six matches compared with 15 last term. This made up 4.87% of the Premier League - up from last season's 3.22%.
That leaves Scotland fourth on the list in the English top flight, behind England, France and Spain. Promoted Burnley and Hull City each used three Scots while Stoke City, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace used two. Scottish players also spent time on the pitch for Manchester United, Aston Villa, Everton and QPR.
Scottish players had more minutes on the pitch in the Premier League than the Republic of Ireland (4.22%), Wales (2.45%) and Northern Ireland (1.53%).
The percentage of minutes played by Scottish players in England's Championship was almost unchanged, from 9.53% to 9.52%.

The alleged victim was on her way to school when she was reportedly taken by two men in a car.
But after reviewing CCTV, dash-cam footage and eye-witness accounts, there was no evidence of an abduction, Thames Valley Police said.
They are still looking into rape allegations.
According to initial reports from police, the victim alleged she was abducted by two men in a silver car on Marston Ferry Road in Summertown on 28 September.
She was then found knocking on residents' doors in Cavendish Drive.
Oxford City commander Supt Joe Kidman said the force, county council and social services are working with the victim at her pace.
He added: "Attacks such as initially reported are mercifully rare and will always be treated extremely seriously and thoroughly investigated.
"Working with vulnerable and young victims is an extremely complex and lengthy process and it is paramount that they are protected appropriately."
29 September: Police report that a teenager, 14, was abducted walking to school at about 08:25 BST on 28 September, and then raped. Forensic patrols begin across North Oxford
30 September: Patrols are increased throughout North Oxford and officers tell children and schools to remain vigilant
1 October: Police release descriptions of alleged abductors and rapists
3 October: Thames Valley Police focus their search for forensics on Marston Meadow, where the girl was thought to have been taken
5 October: Ribbons are put up across North Oxford in a show of solidarity for the alleged victim
12 October: Police issue e-fits of alleged abductors
26 October: Detectives say there is no CCTV footage or evidence of the victim being abducted
11 November: Police reveal the alleged abduction did not take place but say they are still investigating the rape

25 November 2015 Last updated at 12:29 GMT
The waiters had to balance trays of glasses and bottles filled with water, while running down a 300 metre course.
The waiter who won, Kento Sasamoto, took just 49 seconds to complete the race.
Watch this clip of the waiters racing.
Scottish players have seen a fall in the number of minutes on the pitch in the Scottish Premiership this season, according to a BBC Sport study.
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Police investigating the alleged abduction and rape of a 14-year-old girl in Oxford have said the "abduction did not take place".
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More than 120 waiters have taken part in this year's Waiters' Race in Japan.