當代教育心理學發表涉及心理學理論和科學在教育過程中的應用的文章。特別相關的是對實證研究的描述和旨在解釋或加強教育過程的理論的提出。該雜志非常重視研究方法的質量。這包括參與者的樣本被代表預期的人口(而不僅僅是方便的樣本),措施有了心理素質包括信度和效度(例如,避免過度依賴自我報告的措施),文學評論,支持方法,適當和準確地描述和分析。該雜志出版定量、定性和單一主題的設計研究，涉及應用心理學到一個重要的教育過程、問題或問題。

Contemporary Educational Psychology publishes articles that involve the application of psychological theory and science to the educational process. Of particular relevance are descriptions of empirical research and the presentation of theory designed to either explicate or enhance the educational process. The journal places great value on the quality of research methodology. This includes the participant sample being representative of the intended population (and not just a sample of convenience), measures having demonstrated psychometric quality including both reliability and validity (avoiding, for example, excessive reliance on self-report measures), literature reviews that support the methods employed, and analyses that are both appropriate and accurately described. The journal publishes quantitative, qualitative, and single-subject design studies that involve the application of psychological science to an important educational process, issue, or problem.