Celebrating 20 Years of the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology: From Child Advocacy to Scientific Research and Back Again

Abstract

Analyzed the content of the first 18 volumes (1972-1989) of the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology (JCCP). There was a .95 correlation between year of publication and percent of articles published representing original research. In contrast, there was a -.77 correlation between year of publication and percentage of articles devoted to child advocacy. The percentage of first authors affiliated with a college or university (other than a medical school) was correlated .70 with year of publication, whereas the percentage of first authors not affiliated with a university or medical school was correlated -.72 with year of publication. Thus, there has been a gradual shift of the JCCP toward more of an academic-research emphasis and away from its previous focus on advocacy and the practitioner. The special issues currently being published, including this one devoted to child advocacy, are an attempt to return to a more balanced emphasis.