Educational psychology is a broad field that explores human learning in various settings, from schools to work. It also considers how emotional, social and cognitive factors can affect a person’s ability to learn.
One of the most popular perspectives in educational psychology is the developmental theory. It explains that people learn skills and concepts along a well-defined continuum.
Psychology of Learning
The psychology of learning involves the study of how people learn. This includes early childhood and adolescent learning as well as the emotional, social and cognitive processes involved throughout life.
Educational psychologists use this understanding to develop instructional strategies and help students succeed in school. They also work with children who are struggling academically or have behavioral problems.
Historically, educational psychology has been divided into different perspectives that address different factors that influence the learning process. One approach is behaviorism, which was developed by John Watson in 1913.
Another theory is cognitivism, which focuses on the way that individuals think and learn. This perspective is more widely favored now than behaviorism because it accounts for internal mental processes instead of observable behavior.
Other theories include humanistic, constructivist and experiential approaches. These approaches take into account how learning takes place in the mind and how teachers can create educational materials that are suited to the needs of different age groups.
Human Development
The human development process is the study of changes and stability across multiple domains (physical, cognitive and psychosocial) of psychological and social functioning. These domains include physical and neurophysiological processes, intelligence, perception, language, emotion, personality, moral development and our relationships with others.
During the developmental process, people change in height and weight, sensory capabilities, neurological processes, propensity to disease and illness, self-perception, interpersonal relationships with families and friends, language abilities and cognitive ability. These changes cascade and influence one another.
Educational psychology courses in the Human Development area focus on theories and research related to typical physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development over the lifespan, from conception to death. Students learn about general theories and issues in human development; specific developmental processes during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood; and associated statistical methods and research practices.
HDEP courses are designed for students who want to work with children, youth and adults in applied, educational and research settings to better understand the experiences that shape growth and how learning and motivation develop. Through strong faculty mentorship and a 200-hour internship experience, students will gain hands-on training that takes a strength-based approach to improving the lives of children and adolescents.
Counseling Psychology
Counseling psychologists use a variety of psychological theories and techniques to help people deal with problems and build healthy coping skills. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, mental health clinics, academic institutions and consulting practices.
Counselors also have the ability to prescribe medication if they are licensed in their state. This allows them to offer more comprehensive care for their clients, who may not be able to get better without the aid of other medical professionals.
Counseling psychology is an applied specialty within professional psychology that integrates the scientist-practitioner model of training with behavioral science theory and practice. It focuses on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of individuals from all ages and cultural backgrounds. Its training model is based on the belief that the most effective counselors have an understanding of the scientific bases of their professional concepts and techniques. It also emphasizes multicultural competence.
Research Methods
Educational psychology courses often involve conducting research and gathering information to understand a problem. The method used to conduct this research may vary depending on the subject and the research question at hand.
One of the most important methods of collecting data is experimentation. This method involves altering a variable in a controlled environment to determine how it affects the dependent variable.
Another important way of gathering data is observation. This involves tracking the student and other important events in their lives.
This type of research may not offer conclusive results but it can help solve new problems that haven’t been explored before. It can also improve data collection and analytics for future research.
