Conceptual and Methodological Issues for Behavioral Pediatrics Research
1 From the Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg
2 From the Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque
3 From the Department of Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
Three prescriptions are made to improve behavioral pediatrics research: (1) Focus behavioral pediatrics on preventive research from environmental and social perspectives. (2) Ground research questions more extensively within a conceptual framework. (3) Enhance research quality with reliable, valid measurement. Conceptual and methodological improvements in research will facilitate integration of the multidisciplinary, multimethodological, and multitheoretical scope of behavioral pediatrics and further its contributions to science.
Key Words: behavioral pediatrics research prevention behavioral assessment
Submitted on July 22, 1991
Accepted on May 15, 1992




