Educational & School Psychology

Educational and school psychology applies psychology to learning and schooling — how students learn, how to teach effectively, and how to support students in schools.

Scope

It covers theories of learning and motivation, instruction and assessment, and school-based assessment and intervention.

Sub-topics

• Educational Administration & Personnel
• Curriculum & Programs & Teaching Methods
• Academic Learning & Achievement
• Classroom Dynamics & Student Adjustment & Attitudes
• Special & Compensatory Education
• Gifted & Talented
• Educational/Vocational Counseling & Student Services

Core questions

• How do students learn most effectively?
• What motivates learning?
• How should learning be assessed?
• How can psychology support students in schools?

Key concepts

• Learning theory
• Motivation
• Self-efficacy
• Observational learning
• Assessment
• Bloom's taxonomy

Key theories

Educational psychology

Thorndike founded the scientific study of learning applied to education.

Social learning theory

Bandura showed learning occurs through observation and modelling, and introduced self-efficacy.

Taxonomy of objectives

Bloom's taxonomy classified educational objectives, shaping curriculum and assessment.

History

Educational psychology began with Thorndike, advanced through behavioural and cognitive learning theory and Bandura's social-cognitive approach, and underpins instructional design, assessment, and school psychology.

Debates

Behavioural versus cognitive views of learning

Whether learning is best understood through reinforcement or through cognitive processing and modelling.

Key figures

• Edward Thorndike
• Albert Bandura
• Benjamin Bloom

Seminal works

• thorndike-1903
• bandura-1977
• bloom-1956

Frequently asked questions

What is self-efficacy?

Bandura's concept of a person's belief in their ability to succeed at a task, which strongly influences motivation and learning.