Conceptual and methodological issues for behavioral pediatrics research

Three prescriptions are made to improve behavioral pediatrics research: (1) Focus behavioral pediatrics on preventive research from environmental and social perspectives. (2) Ground research questions more extensively within a conceptual framework. (3) Enhance research quality with reliable, valid measurement. Conceptual and methodological improvements in research will facilitate integration of the multidisciplinary, multimethodological, and multitheoretical scope of behavioral pediatrics and further its contributions to science.