Explicit Reference to Theory: A Content Analysis of Two Prominent Human Development Journals

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Flagship family journals have been analyzed for the extent of theory employment in published articles. However, there has been no exploration of frequency of theoretical references in the two leading developmental journals. Therefore, the authors analyzed articles from in Child Development (N = 1174 and Developmental Psychology (N = 1075) for studies' frequency of theory engagement. Methods of analysis, names of referenced theories, and locations of theories were recorded. Most articles did not explicitly reference theories. Although there was no difference between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and mentions of theory, the authors coded very few articles as strictly qualitative. When articles did include reference to theory, it was part of the input (e.g., introduction, literature review) more so than the output. Names of theories that explicitly included "family" (e.g., family systems theory) rarely appeared. We conclude that developmental researchers are doing no better than their family counterparts in mentioning theory in their articles in flagship journals.