New Sociocultural Policy Enacted Across all SRCD Journals
As developmental science becomes increasingly global, and the role of context in human development becomes increasingly prominent, SRCD is pleased to announce a new and expanded journal policy on disclosure of sociocultural information, including unique characteristics of participant samples and the socioeconomic and cultural place from which findings originate.
This approach to contextualizing samples and study findings was first implemented in Child Development under Cynthia García Coll’s Editorial leadership. SRCD’s Publications committee has proposed and the Governing Council has now approved an updated sociocultural policy to apply to all SRCD journals. This policy requires manuscripts to specify clearly in the appropriate section(s) (e.g., Method, Discussion) and in an abbreviated form in the Abstract:
- the dates of data collection;
- the theoretically relevant characteristics of the particular sample studied (e.g., race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, native language, gender identity, religion);
- the place(s) from which that sample was drawn, including country, region, city, neighborhood, school, etc. and all other context variables that are relevant to the focus of the publication, except when it violates expectations of privacy and confidentiality; and
- selection and recruitment procedures.
The Sociocultural Policy and the breadth of its applicability reflects the need for developmental scientists to address diversity and replicability of findings. As a dynamic policy, SRCD will review and assess, on an ongoing basis, its efficacy for advancing the Society’s strategic goals over time. The Sociocultural Policy, procedures, and rationale will be revisited biannually to reflect changing demographics, an increasingly global society, and relevant contemporary issues.
More specific information about how SRCD’s journals are implementing the updated Sociocultural Policy is available under “Submission Guidelines” for each:
SRCD Sociocultural Policy
Effective January 2020
As developmental science becomes more global, and the role of context in human development becomes more evident, it is necessary that SRCD publications provide, in addition to age, an indication of the unique characteristics of the sample and the “socioeconomic and cultural place” from which their findings originate. Accordingly, it is now required that manuscripts to be published in SRCD journals specify clearly in the appropriate section(s) (e.g., Method, Discussion) and in an abbreviated form in the Abstract: (1) the dates of data collection (if applicable); (2) the theoretically relevant characteristics of the particular sample studied, for example, but not limited to: race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, language, sexual orientation, gender identity (inclusive of non-binary options), religion, generation, family characteristics; and (3) the place(s) from which that sample was drawn, including country, region, city, neighborhood, school, etc. and all other context variables that are relevant to the focus of the publication, except when it violates expectations of privacy and confidentiality by an institutional review board or the setting itself. Additionally, selection and recruitment procedures should be clearly specified in the Method section.
The Sociocultural Policy is the product of a recognition that current policies and practices were not reflecting the state of the scholarship in terms of addressing diversity and replicability. As such, the Sociocultural Policy reflects current gaps in the science and is a dynamic policy. The Society will conduct ongoing reviews and re-evaluations of the Sociocultural Policy’s effectiveness over time and its efficacy in advancing the Society’s strategic goals. The Sociocultural Policy, procedures, and rationale will be revisited on a biannual basis to reflect changing demographics, an increasingly global society, and relevant contemporary issues.
Note for Child Development authors: In the adjudication of manuscripts, sociocultural generalizability or its absence will not be assumed on the basis of the demographic characteristics of a single sample. Instead, because sociocultural generalizability of scientific findings (or the lack thereof) is necessarily a product of direct comparisons across demographically diverse samples, Child Development encourages manuscripts reporting explicit comparisons of two or more groups to explore generalizability of key developmental phenomena, even if the focal phenomenon is generally regarded as well established in one cultural or other context. (Note that this should not be misconstrued as implying that Child Development does not publish studies based on single racial/ethnic groups, as the journal does publish such studies.) In addition, the editorial board of Child Development expects that the default position for quantitative (i.e., meta-analytic) reviews will be to include tabled information briefly describing key demographic features of the studies synthesized, along with explicit, even if exploratory examination of such key demographics (i.e., sex and ethnicity/race) as study-level moderators of the focal associations of interest. (This table, which should also minimally include effect size and reliability data for focal measures for each sample, may appear in supplementary, electronic materials.)
Note for Child Development Perspectives authors: The Sociocultural Policy applies primarily to original reports of data. When discussing existing data (e.g., in literature reviews) or in Child Development Perspectives papers, space limitations and the availability of information in the original research reports may be a consideration. In these cases, authors should strive to provide as much information as possible about the characteristics of samples that are relevant to the generalization and interpretation of results. Authors who are submitting to Child Development Perspectives should consult with the Editor if they wish further guidance.
Note for Monographs of the SRCD authors: As a publication of the SRCD, Monographs are expected to be consistent with the Society’s Sociocultural Policy which appears below. Authors are invited to consult with the Editor about how best to provide information about characteristics of samples, contexts, and methods that are needed for drawing conclusions about, or generalizing from, empirical findings.
Note for Social Policy Report authors: The Sociocultural Policy applies primarily to original reports of data. When discussing existing data (e.g., in literature reviews) or in Social Policy Report papers, space limitations and the availability of information in the original research reports may be a consideration. In these cases, authors should strive to provide as much information as possible about the characteristics of samples that are relevant to the generalization and interpretation of results. Authors who are submitting to Social Policy Report should consult with the Editor if they wish further guidance.