Content analysis of the professional journal of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, III: 1966–2015—into the 21st century

Armstrong, L, Stansfield, J and Bloch, S (2017) Content analysis of the professional journal of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, III: 1966–2015—into the 21st century. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 52 (6). pp. 681-688. ISSN 1368-2822

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Abstract

© 2017 Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Background: Following content analyses of the first 30 years of the UK speech and language therapy professional body's journal, this study was conducted to survey the published work of the speech (and language) therapy profession over the last 50 years and trace key changes and themes. Aim: To understand better the development of the UK speech and language therapy profession over the last 50 years. Methods & Procedures: All volumes of the professional journal of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists published between 1966 and 2015 (British Journal of Communication Disorders, European Journal of Communication Disorders and International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders) were examined using content analysis. The content was compared with that of the same journal as it appeared from 1935 to 1965. Outcomes & Results: The journal has shown a trend towards more multi-authored and international papers, and a formalization of research methodologies. The volume of papers has increased considerably. Topic areas have expanded, but retain many of the areas of study found in earlier issues of the journal. Conclusions & Implications: The journal and its articles reflect the growing complexity of conditions being researched by speech and language therapists and their professional colleagues and give an indication of the developing evidence base for intervention and the diverse routes which speech and language therapy practice has taken over the last 50 years.