A guide to critical reading of the literature in behavioral and developmental pediatrics.

The field of behavioral-developmental pediatrics covers a wide range of topics, problems, and conditions. A variety of professionals including pediatricians, psychologists, child psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and educators are involved in research and clinical care. Each of these disciplines uses a variety of methodologies, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. Different categories of research and methods of critiquing the literature in behavioral and developmental pediatrics are described.