Core Journal Lists for Behaviorally Disordered Children

Two professionals, one an academic researcher and the other a classroom teacher, each selected starting sets of journals that they found most useful in their work with behaviorally disordered children. Using citation analysis, core lists of journals were developed from these starting sets and ranked by "discipline impact factor," or DIF. Only two journals were common to both lists. The uncritical acceptance of core lists without considering the value judgements that are a part of the selection process can be misleading.