Educational Psychology

A broad term that encompasses both the study of how people learn in educational settings as well as the provision of [Page 170]psychological services by practitioners in a school setting. Educational psychology, as a modern scientific discipline, traces its roots to the late 19th century with the application of the scientific method to educational problems. William James's book, Talks to Teachers on Psychology, published in 1899, is considered the first book on educational psychology, while Edward Thorndike, whose work on instrumental conditioning in the early 1900s influenced later theories of learning, is widely considered the father of educational psychology. Today, the title “educational psychologist” usually refers to psychologists who focus on learning outcomes (as influenced by both student attributes and instructional processes), the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the organizational and social psychology of schools. Educational psychologists are concerned with how students learn and develop, and their research often informs a number of areas within education, such as curriculum development, special education, and classroom management. Educational psychologists who provide psychological services in school settings are usually called school psychologists, to distinguish them from educational psychologists (who are primarily involved with research). School psychologists collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to remediate students' learning and behavior problems by assessing for learning disabilities or other psychological impairment, often recommending psychological interventions that help students deal with academic and emotional difficulties. In the United States, enrolling in a two-year master's in educational psychology (MEd) program is the typical route to becoming an educational psychologist. Individuals with an MEd can conduct basic and applied research, as well as evaluate the program needs of schools. To provide psychological services to students in a school setting, however, earning an education specialist (EdS) degree in school psychology is typically required. For more information, see James (1899/2008) and Thorndike (1898).