A 5-Year Analysis of Four Selected Special Education Periodicals

Abstract

The special education periodical literature was examined, drawing from 4 major journals over a 5-year period. The procedure required a team of 4 reviewers to classify each article in the 4 periodicals from 1972 to 1977 according to the variables of process, content, category, audience, and exceptionality. The clearest distinction among journals can be made in the area of exceptionality. Generally, the American Journal of Mental Deficiency is devoted to a broad disciplinary spectrum promoting communication among scientists-researchers in mental retardation. The Journal of Special Education is written to the academic special educator, providing a forum for professional and philosophical issues. Exceptional Children tends to address a diverse audience and describes a potpourri of current issues and limited research. It focuses on descriptions of service-delivery systems and social/political factors that influence special education. The Journal of Learning Disabilities reports on a wide range of content and process variables pertaining to the learning-disabled population. Its audience consists of informed parents and educational, psychological, and medical practitioners. It occasionally publishes a manuscript of international origin.