Key papers in Developmental and Educational Psychology
Pofolia’s corpus holds 71 papers from the Developmental and Educational Psychology subfield (2012–2026). The list below starts with the most cited.
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”.
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.
Research Methods in Applied Linguistics
Research methods in applied linguistics · 2021 · 2,818 citations
The RMAL series aims to advance methodological debates in Applied Linguistics by publishing authoritative guides and in-depth explorations of research methods.
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
Developing Narrative Structure
2026 · 310 citations
This volume compiles scattered literature on children's narrative development, presenting new empirical studies on its role in language acquisition and literacy.
IOSR Journal of Nursing and health Science
IOSR Journal of Nursing and health Science · 2026 · 372 citations
A new inventory, the Metacomprehension and Metacognitive Reading Strategies (M&MRS) Inventory, was developed to measure metacognition in reading comprehension.
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.
Access to the Internal Lexicon
2022 · FWCI 33.90 · 1,314 citations
Lexical access during reading may be "direct," relying on visual representations rather than a search process, as suggested by experiments showing similarity to English words affects "no" responses but not "yes" responses.
Research Methods in Applied Linguistics
Research methods in applied linguistics · 2021 · 2,818 citations
The RMAL series aims to advance methodological debates in Applied Linguistics by publishing authoritative guides and in-depth explorations of research methods.
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