Developmental Psychology

Find peer-reviewed journals that publish Developmental Psychology. Journal descriptions are excerpts from their websites; impact factors are from Thomson Scientific's 2007 Journal Citation Reports (higher numbers means a greater number of average citations of new papers in the following 2 years).

Developmental Psychology Journals

Child Development

Child Development: Since its inception in 1930, Child Development has been devoted to original contributions on topics in child development from the fetal period through adolescence. It is a vital source of information not only for researchers and theoreticians, but for child psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, specialists in early childhood education, educational psychologists, special education teachers, and other researchers in the field. [Impact Factor: 3.382]

Developmental Psychology: Developmental Psychology publishes articles that advance knowledge and theory about development across the life span. The journal includes significant empirical contributions as well as scholarly reviews and theoretical or methodological articles. Studies of any aspect of psychological development are appropriate, as are studies of the biological, social, and cultural factors that affect development. [Impact Factor: 3.038]

Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development: Since 1935 this series has presented in-depth research studies and significant findings in child development and its related disciplines. Each issue consists of a single study or a group of papers on a single theme, accompanied usually by commentary and discussion. Like all Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) publications, the Monographs enable development specialists from many disciplines to share their data, techniques, research methods, and conclusions. [Impact Factor: 3.000]

Developmental Review: Presenting research that bears on important conceptual issues in developmental psychology, Developmental Review: Perspectives in Behavior and Cognition provides child and developmental, child clinical, and educational psychologists with authoritative articles that reflect current thinking and cover significant scientific developments. The journal emphasizes human developmental processes and gives particular attention to issues relevant to child developmental psychology. The research concerns issues with important implications for the fields of pediatrics, psychiatry, and education, and increases the understanding of socialization processes. [Impact Factor: 2.032]

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology: The Journal of Experimental Child Psychology is a leading source of empirical research on all aspects of children's development from infancy through adolescence, including cognitive, social, and physical development. In addition to publishing full-length and brief empirical reports, the journal occasionally includes methodological notes. There is also a "Reflections" format, in which a lead empirical article is followed by a set of reflections on the article. Scholars discuss one or more of the empirical, theoretical, methodological, or analytical issues raised by the initial paper. In addition, the journal periodically publishes Special Topic issues. [Impact Factor: 1.563]

Advances in Child Development and Behavior: Advances in Child Development and Behavior is intended to ease the task faced by researchers, instructors, and students who are confronted by the vast amount of research and theoretical discussion in child development and behavior. The serial provides scholarly technical articles with critical reviews, recent advances in research, and fresh theoretical viewpoints. [Impact Factor: 1.444]

British Journal of Developmental Psychology: Publishes full-length empirical, conceptual, review and discussion papers, as well as brief reports, on all aspects of developmental psychology. [Impact Factor: 1.205]

International Journal of Behavioral Development: The International Journal of Behavioral Development is the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development which exists to promote the discovery, dissemination and application of knowledge about developmental processes at all stages of the life span - infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. [Impact Factor: 1.171]

The Journal of Genetic Psychology: The Journal of Genetic Psychology is devoted to research and theory in developmental psychology across the life span. Articles that concern educational, clinical, cross-cultural, and comparative issues related to development also are encouraged. Although the major focus of the journal is empirical research and the exposition and criticism of theory, applied and descriptive articles are occasionally published as well as brief reports, replications and refinements, and reviews of the literature. [Impact Factor: 0.843]

Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: Journal of Developmental Psychology: This internationally acclaimed periodical features empirical and theoretical papers on child development and family-child relationships. A high-quality resource for researchers, writers, teachers, and practitioners, the journal contains up-to-date information on advances in developmental research on infants, children, adolescents, and families; summaries and integrations of research; commentaries by experts; and reviews of important new books in development. [Impact Factor: 0.824]

Early Childhood Research Quarterly: For over twenty years, Early Childhood Research Quarterly (ECRQ) has influenced the field of early childhood education and development through the publication of empirical research that meets the highest standards of scholarly and practical significance. ECRQ publishes predominantly empirical research (quantitative or qualitative methods) on issues of interest to early childhood development, theory, and educational practice (Birth through 8 years of age). [Impact Factor: 0.632]

Infant Development

Infancy: This journal will emphasize the highest quality original research on normal and aberrant infant development during the first two years. Both human and animal research will be included. In addition to regular length research articles (30 page maximum) and brief reports (10 page maximum) the journal will include solicited target articles along with a series of commentaries; debates, in which different theoretical positions are presented along with a series of commentaries; and thematic collections, a group of four or five moderate to short reports or summaries of research on the same issue, conducted independently at different laboratories but all leading to a common conclusion. [Impact Factor: 1.694]

Infant and Child Development: Infant and Child Development publishes empirical, theoretical and methodological papers dealing with psychological development during infancy and childhood up to and including adolescence. Papers of an interdisciplinary nature are particularly encouraged. Areas covered by the journal include caregiver-child interaction, cognitive development, emotional development, infant perception, motor development, parenting and development, play and development, precursors to language and language development, and socialization. [Impact Factor: 1.091]

Infant Behavior and Development: Infant Behavior & Development publishes empirical (fundamental and clinical), theoretical, methodological and review papers. Brief reports dealing with behavioral development during infancy (up to 3 years) will also be considered. Papers of an inter- and multidisciplinary nature, for example neuroscience, non-linear dynamics and modelling approaches, are particularly encouraged. Areas covered by the journal include cognitive development, emotional development, perception, perception-action coupling, motor development and socialisation. [Impact Factor: 0.970]

Adolescent Development

Journal of Adolescent Research: For over 20 years, the Journal of Adolescent Research (JAR) has been the must-read publication for all academics, practitioners, policy-makers, and journalists interested in a global perspective (not just North America) on adolescence (ages 10-18) and emerging adulthood (ages 18-25). Articles are emphasized that combine both quantitative and qualitative methods, use a systematic qualitative or ethnographic approach, break new theoretical ground, or use a new methodological approach. [Impact Factor: 1.240]

Journal of Research on Adolescence: Multidisciplinary and international in scope, the Journal of Research on Adolescence (JRA) significantly advances knowledge in the field of adolescent research. Employing a diverse array of methodologies, this compelling journal publishes original research and integrative reviews of the highest level of scholarship. Featured studies include both quantitative and qualitative methodologies applied to cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development and behavior. Articles pertinent to the variety of developmental patterns inherent throughout adolescence are featured, including cross-national and cross-cultural studies. Attention is given to normative patterns of behavior as well as individual differences rooted in personal or social and cultural factors. [Impact Factor: 1.207]

The Journal of Early Adolescence: For over 28 years, the Journal of Early Adolescence (JEA) has provided demanding researchers and practitioners in criminology, developmental psychology, education, human development and family studies, psychology, psychiatry, public health, and sociology with the latest work concerning original theories, empirical research, literature reviews, and science-based practices regarding the early adolescent developmental period (10 through 14 years of age). [Impact Factor: 1.154]

Education & Child Development

Journal of Educational Psychology: Journal of Educational Psychology publishes original, primary psychological research pertaining to education across all ages and educational levels. The journal also occasionally features exceptionally important theoretical and review articles pertinent to educational psychology. Readers learn of innovative primary research and integrative, empirical studies, including those based on a wide variety of methodologies and data analysis strategies. [Impact Factor: 2.353]

Educational Psychologist: The scholarly essays, reviews, critiques, and theoretical and conceptual articles featured in this exceptional journal contribute to understanding issues, problems, and research concerning all aspects of educational psychology. From meta-analyses of studies probing the effectiveness of teaching methods to historical examinations of textbook standards, the journal provides insightful explorations of new educational concepts and accepted educational practices. The journal, however, does not publish articles whose primary purpose is to report the methods and results of an empirical study. [Impact Factor: 2.231]

Journal of the Learning Sciences: Published by LEA and in its 14th volume in 2005, JLS is a multidisciplinary forum for the presentation and discussion of important ideas that can change our understanding of learning and teaching [Impact Factor: 1.571]

Cognition and Instruction: Among education journals, Cognition and Instruction's distinctive niche is rigorous study of foundational issues concerning the mental, socio-cultural, and meditational processes and conditions of learning and intellectual competence. For these purposes, both "cognition" and "instruction" must be interpreted broadly. The journal preferentially attends to the "how" of learning and intellectual practices. A balance of well-reasoned theory and careful and reflective empirical technique is typical. [Impact Factor: 1.519]

Learning and Instruction: Learning and Instruction is an international, multi-disciplinary journal that provides a platform for the publication of the most advanced high-quality research in the areas of learning, development, instruction and teaching. The journal welcomes several types of contributions: reports of original empirical investigations, and replications or extensions of important previous work; critical, integrative theoretical and methodological contributions. A preference, however, will be given to empirically-based studies. [Impact Factor: 1.029]

Journal of Experimental Education: The Journal of Experimental Education publishes theoretical, laboratory, and classroom research studies that use the range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Recent articles have explored the correlation between test preparation and performance, enhancing students' self-efficacy, the effects of peer collaboration among students, and arguments about statistical significance and effect size reporting. [Impact Factor: 0.931]

Instructional Science: Instructional Science promotes a deeper understanding of the nature, theory, and practice of the instructional process and resultant learning. Published papers represent a variety of perspectives from the learning sciences and cover learning by people of all ages, in all areas of the curriculum, and in informal and formal learning contexts. Emphasizing reports of original empirical research, the journal stands out by providing space for full and detailed reporting of major studies. These include studies addressing learning processes, learning technology, learner characteristics, and learning outcomes. Regardless of the topic, all papers published in the journal make a contribution to the science of instruction by drawing out the instructional implications of new research on learning. [Impact Factor: 0.795]

Journals about Specific Branches of Developmental Psychology

Developmental Science: Developmental Science publishes cutting-edge theory and up-to-the-minute research on scientific developmental psychology from leading thinkers in the field. It is currently the only journal that specifically focuses on developmental cognitive neuroscience. [Focus: Developmental Neuropsychology, Impact Factor: 3.198]

Developmental Neuropsychology: Devoted to exploring relationships between brain and behavior across the life span, Developmental Neuropsychology publishes scholarly papers on the appearance and development of behavioral functions, such as language, perception, and social, motivational and cognitive processes as they relate to brain functions and structures. Appropriate subjects include studies of changes in cognitive function - brain structure relationships across a time period, early cognitive behaviors in normal and brain-damaged children, plasticity and recovery of function after early brain damage, the development of complex cognitive and motor skills, and specific and nonspecific disturbances, such as learning disabilities, mental retardation, schizophrenia, stuttering, and developmental aphasia. In the gerontologic areas, relevant subjects include neuropsychological analyses of normal age-related changes in brain and behavioral functions, such as sensory, motor, cognitive, and adaptive abilities; studies of age-related diseases of the nervous system; and recovery of function in later life. [Focus: Developmental Neuropsychology, Impact Factor: 2.922]

Attachment & Human Development: Attachment & Human Development provides the leading forum for the presentation and discussion of scientific theories about emotional and cognitive development, internal representations and social processes. [Focus: Attachment Theory & Social Development, Impact Factor: 1.717]

Cognitive Development: Cognitive Development contains the very best empirical and theoretical work on the development of perception, memory, language, concepts, thinking, problem solving, metacognition, and social cognition. Criteria for acceptance of articles will be: significance of the work to issues of current interest, substance of the argument, and clarity of expression. For purposes of publication in Cognitive Development, moral and social development will be considered part of cognitive development when they are related to the development of knowledge or thought processes. [Focus: Cognitive Development, Impact Factor: 1.197]

Human Development: Distinguished by its international recognition since 1958, 'Human Development' publishes in-depth conceptual articles, commentaries, and essay book reviews that advance our understanding of developmental phenomena. Contributions serve to raise theoretical issues, flesh out interesting and potentially powerful ideas, and differentiate key constructs. Contributions are welcomed from varied disciplines, including anthropology, biology, education, history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. [Focus: Theory of Development, Impact Factor: 1.077]

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology: The Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology provides a forum for the presentation of conceptual, methodological, policy, and research studies involved in the application of behavioral science research in developmental and life span psychology. The Journal publishes quality papers from an interdisciplinary perspective focusing on a broad array of social issues. The Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology focuses on two key concepts: human development, which refers to the psychological transformations and modifications that occur during the life cycle and influence an individual's behavior within the social milieu; and application of knowledge, which is derived from investigating variables in the developmental process. Its contributions cover research that deals with traditional life span markets (age, social roles, biological status, environmental variables) and broadens the scopes of study to include variables that promote understanding of psychological processes and their onset and development within the life span. Most importantly, the Journal demonstrates how knowledge gained from research can be applied to policy making and to educational, clinical, and social settings. [Focus: Application of Developmental Psychology, Impact Factor: 1.055]

Social Development: Social Development is a major international journal dealing with all aspects of children's social development as seen from a psychological stance. Coverage includes a wide range of topics such as social cognition, peer relationships, social interaction, attachment formation, emotional development and children's theories of mind. The main emphasis is placed on development in childhood, but lifespan, cross-species and cross-cultural perspectives enhancing our understanding of human development are also featured. [Focus: Social Development, Impact Factor: 0.986]

Journal of Youth and Adolescence: Journal of Youth and Adolescence provides a single, high-level medium of communication for psychologists, psychiatrists, biologists, criminologists, educators, and professionals in many other allied disciplines who address the subject of youth and adolescence. The journal publishes papers based on experimental evidence and data, theoretical papers, and comprehensive review articles. The journal especially welcomes empirically rigorous papers that take policy implications seriously. Research need not have been designed to address policy needs, but manuscripts must address implications for the manner society formally (e.g., through laws, policies or regulations) or informally (e.g., through parents, peers, and social institutions) responds to the period of youth and adolescence. [Focus: Application of Developmental Psychology, Impact Factor: 0.915]

Journal of Child Language: A key publication in the field, Journal of Child Language publishes articles on all aspects of the scientific study of language behaviour in children, the principles which underlie it, and the theories which may account for it. The international range of authors and breadth of coverage allow the journal to forge links between many different areas of research including psychology, linguistics, cognitive science and anthropology. This interdisciplinary approach spans a wide range of interests: phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, vocabulary, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, or any other recognised facet of language study. In addition to articles and book reviews, the journal contains a Notes section and an occasional section containing a review article plus commentaries by a range of other researchers. [Focus: Language Development, Impact Factor: 0.880]

Adulthood Development

Psychology and Aging: Psychology and Aging is the primary journal focusing on the fastest growing segment of the population - older adults. The journal is devoted exclusively to publishing research on the physiological and behavioral aspects of adult development and aging. Original articles include reports of research, which may be applied, biobehavioral, clinical, educational, experimental, methodological, or psychosocial. Relevant theoretical analysis of research issues are also published, along with brief reports and clinical case studies. [Impact Factor: 2.518]

Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition : The purposes of Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition are to (a) publish research on both the normal and dysfunctional aspects of cognitive development in adulthood and aging, and (b) promote the integration of theories, methods, and research findings between the fields of cognitive gerontology and neuropsychology. The primary emphasis of the journal is to publish original empirical research. Occasionally, theoretical or methodological papers, critical reviews of a content area, or theoretically relevant case studies will also be published. Emphases of interest include information processing mechanisms, intellectual abilities, the impact of injury or disease on performance, cognitive training, cognitive and pharmacological approaches to treatment and rehabilitation, metacognition, and the social and personal aspects of cognitive functioning. [Impact Factor: 0.824]

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development: Under what conditions does "development" end? Under what conditions does "aging" begin? Can these conditions themselves be modified by intervention at the psychological, social, or biological levels? To what extent are patterns of development and aging attributable to biological factors? To psychological factors? How can the social and behavioral sciences contribute to the actualization of human potential throughout the entire life span? What are the implications of gerontological research for our understanding of the total development of human organism? [Impact Factor: 0.757]

Journals on other topics that Publish Developmental Psychology

Trends in Cognitive Sciences: This journal brings together research in psychology, artificial intelligence, linguistics, philosophy, computer science, anthropology, physiology and neuroscience, Trends in Cognitive Sciences (TiCS) provides a platform for the interaction of these disciplines and the evolution of cognitive research as an independent field of study. [Impact Factor: 9.389]

Psychological Science: The journal publishes authoritative articles of interest across all of psychological science, including brain and behavior, clinical science, cognition, learning and memory, social psychology, and developmental psychology. In addition to these full-length articles, Psychological Science also features summaries of new research developments and discussions of psychological issues in government and public affairs. [Impact Factor: 4.251]

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review: Psychonomic Bulletin & Review provides broad coverage of topics in all areas of experimental psychology. The journal is primarily dedicated to the publication of theory and review articles and brief reports of outstanding experimental work. Areas of coverage include (but are not limited to) animal learning and behavior, attention and perception, cognitive psychology, psycholinguistics, behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, social cognition, and cognitive development - in short, all areas of psychology that rely on experimental methods. [Impact Factor: 1.935]

Sex Roles: Sex Roles: A Journal of Research is an interdisciplinary, behavioral science journal with a feminist perspective. It publishes original research reports and review articles that illuminate the underlying processes and consequences of gender role socialization, gendered perceptions and behaviors, and gender stereotypes. Topics of articles might include body image, violence against women, or intimate partner violence, gender role socialization; social influences (e.g., media, schools, peers, community) on stereotypes; the acquisition, maintenance, and impact of stereotypes; effects of contemporary social change (sociocultural as well as economic, legal, and political systems); gendered physical and mental health concerns; gender issues in employment and work environments; interpersonal relationships; sexual orientation and identity; or methodological issues in gender research. Research done in the United States as well as other countries is welcomed. The journal also publishes book reviews that address gender-related topics. [Impact Factor: 0.652]

Creativity Research Journal: The well-established Creativity Research Journal publishes high quality, scholarly research capturing the full range of approaches to the study of creativity--behavioral, clinical, cognitive, cross-cultural, developmental, educational, genetic, organizational, psychoanalytic, psychometric, and social. Interdisciplinary research is also published, as is research within specific domains such as art and science, as well as on critical issues such as aesthetics, genius, imagery, imagination, incubation, insight, intuition, metaphor, play, and problem finding and solving. Integrative literature reviews and theoretical pieces that appreciate empirical work are welcome, but purely speculative articles will not be published. [Impact Factor: 0.574]