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Learning and Perception

This area concerns the psychology of learning and perception as applied to education — how people learn and how learning can be fostered.

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Scope

It covers theories of learning (behavioural, cognitive, constructivist, social), motivation, memory and transfer, and perception in learning.

Sub-topics

Core questions

  • How do people learn?
  • What conditions foster learning and transfer?
  • How does motivation affect learning?
  • How do behavioural, cognitive, and social factors combine?

Key concepts

  • Behavioural learning
  • Social learning
  • Self-efficacy
  • Cognitive load
  • Transfer
  • Motivation

Key theories

Laws of learning
Thorndike established empirical laws of learning (effect, exercise).
Social learning
Bandura showed learning through observation, modelling, and self-efficacy.
Cognitive load
Sweller linked effective learning to managing working-memory limits.

History

Learning theory in education moved from behaviourism (Thorndike) through social-cognitive theory (Bandura) to cognitive and constructivist accounts (Sweller), underpinning instructional practice.

Debates

Behavioural versus cognitive accounts of learning
Whether learning is best explained by reinforcement or by information processing and construction of knowledge.

Key figures

  • Edward Thorndike
  • Albert Bandura
  • John Sweller

Related topics

Seminal works

  • thorndike-1903
  • bandura-1977
  • sweller-1988

Frequently asked questions

What is self-efficacy?
A person's belief in their capability to succeed at a task (Bandura), strongly influencing learning and motivation.

Methods for this concept

Related concepts