educational psychology

Part of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

/ˌɛdʒʊˈkeɪʃənəl saɪˈkɒlədʒi/

Definitions

• The branch of psychology that studies how people learn, including individual differences in learning, teaching methods, and instructional processes.
• A field that applies psychological theories and principles to educational settings to improve learning outcomes.

Usage Examples

• "She is pursuing a Ph.D. in educational psychology to study student motivation."
• "Educational psychology helps teachers understand how students process and retain information."
• "The principles of educational psychology guide curriculum development and teaching strategies."

Etymology

Derived from education (Latin educatio, meaning ‘training, upbringing’) and psychology (Greek psykhē, meaning ‘soul, mind’ + -logia, meaning ‘study of’).

Synonyms

• Learning psychology
• Pedagogical psychology
• Cognitive education
• Instructional psychology
• Developmental learning

Antonyms

• Behavioral psychology (in certain contexts)
• Experimental psychology
• Clinical psychology

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /ˌɛdʒʊˈkeɪʃən(ə)l saɪˈkɒlədʒi/
• American English: /ˌɛdʒəˈkeɪʃən(ə)l saɪˈkɑːlədʒi/

Historical Usage

The field of educational psychology emerged in the late 19th century with contributions from psychologists such as John Dewey and Edward Thorndike.

Cultural Nuances

Educational psychology is applied differently across cultures, with Western models emphasizing cognitive processes and Eastern models integrating holistic learning philosophies.

More Information

Educational psychology plays a crucial role in shaping modern education by studying how learning occurs and how different teaching methods impact student performance. It influences policies on curriculum design, classroom management, and special education interventions.