Educational Psychology

Educational psychology is the branch of psychology that is centrally concerned with how students can learn effectively. This entry discusses the early development of the field of educational psychology, research areas within educational psychology, comparisons with other psychology disciplines, and the research methods used in educational psychology.

Philosophical Influences

Educational inquiry has its roots in ancient philosophical writings. Plato postulated that individuals are endowed with knowledge from birth, which can be improved by further learning in life. Aristotle brought up the idea that related concepts are more easily understood and remembered. This forms the basis of learning principles elaborated by later educational psychologists in the cognitive paradigm. Additionally, John Locke conceptualized tabula rasa to describe the blank slate of mind individuals have at birth. Locke also founded ...

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