Discussing the Scope of Educational Psychology

Scope of Educational Psychology 

What does scope refer to? Actually scope includes the fields of operations, applications, topics, subtopics as well as the subject matter. As educational psychology is one an emerging and growing fields, its scope has never been stagnant or static. It is a dynamic one. It is always on the go. It has been and always will be changing its boundaries. Due to the researches in the field of psychology, educational psychology always appears with new dimensions adding to its scope and need.

The scope of educational psychology has the following areas:

Child Development's Different Stages 

From the stage of infancy, childhood and adolescence - Growth, development, general characteristics of physical, mental, emotional and social development at the various stages are the one of the areas of educational psychology.  

Heredity and Environment 

Educational psychology studies the impact of heredity and environment on the student. 

Child's Development of Other Aspects 

Educational psychology studies the different modifications which can be brought about in the behaviour and attitude of the child, how and when do physical, social, emotional and language development occur in children, and how do various instincts make their appearance. 

Learning Process 

Another main area of educational psychology is process of learning, laws and methods of learning as well as factors of learning. Interest, attention, motivation, memory, habits and transfer of training play very significant role in learning. 

Psychological Basis of Behaviour

Educational psychology deals with the psychological as well as the physiological behaviour of the learner. Psychological basis of behaviour are instincts, emotions, sentiments, suggestion, sympathy, imitation and play etc. Physiological basis of behaviour are nervous system and glands etc. 

Motivation 

Educational psychology gives the knowledge about the nature, principles and techniques of motivation in educational field. 

Individual Differences

Educational psychology studies individual differences and suggests ways and means to provide education to all types of pupils. No two individuals are alike. Individuals differ physically and psychologically. Individual differences are mainly caused by heredity and environment. 

Intelligence and Personality

Educational psychology also studies nature, development and assessment of personality and intelligence. 

Measurement and Evaluation 

Educational psychology is helpful in giving newer and newer techniques and tests for measuring intelligence, personality, aptitudes, interests and achievements etc. It is educational statistics which helps us in measurement and evaluation. 

Exceptional Children

Educational psychology studies about exceptional children. It studies about backward, retarded, gifted and creative children and their adjustment problems with home, family and school. 

Guidance and Counselling

Child is like a book whose every page has to be studied by the teacher. The teacher has to guide and counsel the students at every stage. Educational psychology studies the nature and process of guidance and counseling. 

Group Dynamics and Behaviour

Educational psychology studies group dynamics and group behaviour in class-room teaching and learning. It studies importance and effect of group on the individual. It also considers how an individual can modify the group life. It emphasizes the role of groups in the education of children. 

Statistics 

Educational psychology studies mean, median, mode graph, rank difference and co-relation. A careful analysis of the subject matter of educational psychology reveals that it has three important centres-