Educational psychology studies how people learn and incorporates developmental, social, and abnormal psychology. It focuses on knowledge acquisition, school environments, and developing treatment methods. Educational psychologists may work in schools or as consultants, and typically hold at least a master’s degree.
Educational psychology is a discipline within the larger field of psychology that focuses on the study of how people learn. People have been curious about the processes underlying learning for thousands of years, with educational psychology as a distinct scientific discipline born in the 1800s. Advances in this field are happening all the time, including periodic reversals of previously expressed conclusions. Some examples of famous psychologists who have researched this field include Jean Piaget and BF Skinner.
This field incorporates several disciplines within psychology. Educational psychologists are very interested in the study of developmental psychology, which examines the stages of human development and the processes that can influence development, and are also interested in social and behavioral psychology, as well as abnormal psychology. As with other types of science dealing with human subjects, educational psychology is subject to a number of ethical restrictions that can make experiments difficult, with many research psychologists in this field using observation as a tool to increase knowledge.
One area of focus of educational psychology is the study of knowledge acquisition, with particular interest in populations who acquire knowledge in unusual ways, such as gifted children, children with developmental disabilities, and children with autism. People in this field are also interested in the role of the school environment and how a school’s social world affects education and learning. Educational psychologists may also work on developing new treatment methods or help teachers develop customized instruction plans for unique students.
Some educational psychologists work in the school environment, providing support to children and assisting parents and teachers in evaluating children who appear to be having problems in school. Educational psychologists may also work as consultants by helping individuals design more effective schools and learning environments, teaching teachers about the latest developments in educational psychology, and assessing individual troubled children at the request of parents or schools.
There are many avenues of exploration within this field. Most practicing educational psychologists hold at least a master’s degree, although some people can find jobs with a bachelor’s degree. Numerous universities offer educational psychology degree programs with different areas of interest, and people interested in pursuing this field may want to look into the type of work done at various institutions or look for faculty members with interests that appeal to them when deciding where they want to go to school.
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