Historical analysis in pediatric psychology


New feature in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology – Historical Analysis in Pediatric Psychology.

By Anne E. Kazak

The formal history of pediatric psychology dates to the mid-1960s. Over the past half century, there has been dramatic growth and differentiation in the field, with relatively little written analysis of these changes. Recognizing the importance of the history of the field, the Journal of Pediatric Psychology ( JPP ) invites a new genre of papers for editorial review.

“Historical Analysis in Pediatric Psychology” is a special series of papers devoted to the history of pediatric psychology. Authors interested in submitting a paper for this series should contact the editor of JPP to discuss potential papers prior to submission. There is no deadline for these papers (they may be submitted anytime). All submissions will be peer reviewed and should comply fully with the JPP instructions to authors .

Papers in this series should be tightly focused contributions that expand our understanding of the roots, evolution and/or impact of pediatric psychology as a discipline. Manuscripts may focus on the influence of individuals, published works, organizations, conceptualizations, philosophies or approaches, or clinical and professional activities. Successful papers should articulate a clear purpose/question and develop a compelling argument for the topic. Contributions should include a breadth of coverage, such that contradictory data are included and potential biases acknowledged. Historical analysis is more than a recounting of the “facts” and should include a thoughtful and scholarly interpretation of the subject matter. Papers should rely on primary sources and must be clearly and appropriately referenced. Supplemental materials to accompany the article may be posted online.