Developmental and Educational Psychology papers
Pofolia’s corpus holds 93 papers from Developmental and Educational Psychology (1977–2026), each with a short summary. Below, the 20 most-cited, then the most recently added.
At a glance
- Most cited: Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. (1977, 35,560 citations).
- The 20 papers listed have 90,083 citations between them.
- 8 of the 9 with a known journal quartile appeared in a Q1 journal.
- 3 have a free full text (open access).
- Most frequent journals: Choice Reviews Online, Educational Researcher, Frontiers in Psychology.
- Published between 1977 and 2024.
Most cited
Ranked by citation count. Because citations accumulate over time, this list naturally leans towards work published a few years ago; for where the field is now, see “recently added”. How to read the signals
Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.
Psychological Review · 1977 · Q1 · SJR 3.00 · FWCI 81.78 · 35,560 citations
Self-efficacy, the belief in one's ability to succeed, is proposed as a unifying theory explaining psychological changes across various treatments by influencing behavior initiation, effort, and persistence.
Experimental Design: Procedures for the Behavioral Sciences
2013 · FWCI 48.04 · 8,595 citations
This abstract outlines a comprehensive textbook detailing various experimental designs and statistical analysis procedures crucial for behavioral science research.
Does Gamification Work? -- A Literature Review of Empirical Studies on Gamification
2014 · 4,888 citations · Open access
A review of empirical studies indicates gamification generally yields positive effects, but its success is highly contingent on the specific implementation context and user characteristics.
The Gamification of Learning and Instruction: Game-based Methods and Strategies for Training and Education
2012 · FWCI 136.21 · 3,780 citations
This book introduces methods for designing online instruction that integrates game elements to boost learning, retention, and application.
Handbook of Educational Psychology
2013 · FWCI 87.52 · 3,220 citations
The second edition of the Handbook of Educational Psychology has been significantly expanded to 41 chapters, offering comprehensive, up-to-date reviews of the field by leading scholars.
Scripts, Plans, Goals, and Understanding
Psychology Press eBooks · 2013 · FWCI 28.89 · 3,174 citations
This book reflects a convergence of interests from a 1971 workshop at the intersection of psychology, artificial intelligence, and linguistics, focusing on how large knowledge systems are represented and used.
Developing rigor in qualitative research: problems and opportunities within sport and exercise psychology
International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology · 2017 · Q1 · SJR 3.00 · FWCI 235.06 · 2,995 citations
This review argues that common methods for ensuring rigor in qualitative sport and exercise psychology research, such as member checking and inter-rater reliability, are ineffective for verification and trustworthiness.
Cognition and Categorization
2024 · FWCI 9.55 · 2,864 citations
This 1978 book presents a theoretical approach to category formation, viewing objects as feature collections and similarity as a feature-matching process.
Systematic review of the Hawthorne effect: New concepts are needed to study research participation effects
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · 2013 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 21.74 · 2,686 citations · Open access
A systematic review of 19 studies found that research participation can indeed alter participant behavior (the Hawthorne effect), but the conditions, mechanisms, and precise magnitude of this effect remain largely unknown.
Children with Specific Language Impairment
The MIT Press eBooks · 2014 · FWCI 69.88 · 2,605 citations
This updated reference provides a comprehensive overview of Specific Language Impairment (SLI), a disorder affecting approximately 7% of children, which is more prevalent than autism and has significant long-term academic and economic consequences.
A Review of Self-regulated Learning: Six Models and Four Directions for Research
Frontiers in Psychology · 2017 · Q1 · FWCI 109.96 · 2,551 citations · Open access
This review analyzes and compares six prominent models of self-regulated learning (SRL), concluding they form an integrative framework for research and teaching.
The nature of the child’s tie to his mother 1
2018 · FWCI 305.61 · 2,395 citations
Psychoanalytic literature offers differing views on the fundamental nature and dynamics of a child's initial object relations, despite agreement that these form the bedrock of personality.
Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.
Revista Española de Pedagogía · 2017 · Q2 · FWCI 93.99 · 2,227 citations
The "Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing" provides international guidelines for developing, adapting, and administering tests, particularly emphasizing computerized applications.
Design-Based Research
Educational Researcher · 2012 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 86.95 · 2,055 citations
Design-Based Research (DBR), a methodology aiming to bridge the gap between educational research and practice, shows increasing interest but provides limited evidence of meeting its promised benefits.
Physical Activity, Fitness, Cognitive Function, and Academic Achievement in Children
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · 2016 · Q1 · SJR 1.00 · FWCI 166.50 · 1,829 citations
Physical fitness, single exercise sessions, and PA interventions generally benefit children's cognitive functioning, with evidence suggesting positive associations between physical activity, fitness, cognition, and academic achievement.
Handbook of Self-Regulation of Learning and Performance
2017 · FWCI 118.10 · 1,800 citations
This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of self-regulation of learning and performance, covering historical, contemporary, and future perspectives across various domains and contexts.
A meta-analysis of the cognitive and motivational effects of serious games.
Journal of Educational Psychology · 2013 · Q1 · SJR 2.00 · FWCI 23.22 · 1,779 citations
Serious games significantly improve learning and retention compared to conventional instruction, but do not show a significant motivational advantage.
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
SensePublishers eBooks · 2013 · FWCI 226.36 · 1,718 citations
Benchmarks for Science Literacy is a set of science education standards developed over a three-year research study sponsored by the AAAS, known as Project 2061.
The developing mind: how relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are
Choice Reviews Online · 2012 · 1,693 citations
This work outlines a framework for understanding how interpersonal relationships and brain development are intricately linked in shaping an individual's mind and sense of self.
The rise of motivational information systems: A review of gamification research
International Journal of Information Management · 2018 · Q1 · SJR 5.00 · FWCI 125.44 · 1,669 citations
A review of 819 gamification studies reveals its widespread application and generally positive effectiveness, but highlights significant inconsistencies in research models and theoretical foundations.
Recently added
How Spatial Skills Predict Language and Reading Outcomes in Chinese-Speaking Preschoolers With Familial Risk for Dyslexia
Learning Disabilities Research and Practice · 2026 · Q1
Constructive spatial assembly skills at age 4 predicted later language and word reading abilities at age 5 in preschoolers with a familial risk for dyslexia (FRD).
Do sung speech and background noise affect sentence repetition in dyslexia?
Cognitive Processing · 2026 · Q2
Adults with dyslexia (DD) performed significantly worse than controls on sentence repetition in quiet, but not in noise, and sung speech did not improve performance.
Beyond aerobic intensity: Comparing the effects of cognitively engaging gross-motor coordination training and aerobic exercise on working memory and selective attention in school-age children: A randomized controlled trial
BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation · 2026 · Q1
A 14-week training program involving cognitively engaging gross-motor coordination exercises improved working memory in 10-12 year olds by 2.1 points more than aerobic exercise alone (n=78).
Artificial intelligence in improving reading comprehension of K-12 students: A systematic literature review
International Journal of Educational Research Open · 2026 · Q1
AI-based interventions consistently improved reading comprehension in K-12 students, with personalization features like adaptive feedback and dynamic text difficulty being key drivers of success across 19 empirical studies.
The association of physical activity levels with motivational function, cognitive function, and psychological resilience in para-athletes
BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation · 2026 · Q1
Higher perceived vigorous physical activity in para-athletes correlates with greater psychological resilience (r=0.243), while increased daily sitting time is linked to lower motivational (r=-0.239) and cognitive function (r=-0.265).
Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Physical Literacy Self-Description (PLSD) Questionnaire Among Children
Behavioral Sciences · 2026 · Q1
The French version of the Physical Literacy Self-Description (PLSD) questionnaire shows good psychometric properties for children aged 5-12, with a two-factor structure (confidence/value and skills competence) that is largely invariant across sex and country.
Translation and validation of the German version of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS-DE)
International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching · 2026 · Q1
The Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS-DE), a German translation of a US-based measure, was validated in 281 Swiss student-athletes, showing strong reliability (α=.88-.89) and supporting its two-factor structure and measurement invariance across gender and sport participation.
LogicGate: A Student-Centred Digital Game-Based Learning Experience
Technology Knowledge and Learning · 2026 · Q1 · SJR 1.00
LogicGate, a digital game designed using the Student-Centred Experience Framework, enhanced student feedback and autonomy compared to a paper-based task, but showed no significant differences in knowledge gain among 32 computer science undergraduates.
Journals in this field
The journals that publish most of this field’s papers. Quartile (Q1–Q4), SJR and h-index are from SCImago Journal Rank; “in this field” is how many of the journal’s pooled papers belong here. What is a Q1 journal? · What is the h-index?
| Journal | Quartile | SJR | h-index | In this field | Summaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines | Q1 | 3.00 | 265 | 2 | 7 |
| Technology, Knowledge and Learning | Q1 | 1.00 | 52 | 2 | 3 |
| International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching | Q1 | — | 54 | 2 | 5 |
| BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation | Q1 | — | 44 | 2 | 13 |
| Annual Review of Psychology | Q1 | 12.00 | 315 | 1 | 9 |
| Science | Q1 | 10.00 | 1433 | 1 | 268 |
| Psychological Bulletin | Q1 | 8.00 | 396 | 1 | 22 |
| International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education | Q1 | 7.00 | 97 | 1 | 5 |
Every journal in Developmental and Educational Psychology (Q1–Q4) →
Add this field to your daily feed
Pick your interests and new work in your area arrives every day, summarised. Full summaries live in the app.
Open the app