Name : Bishop Agniswamy College of Education

Enrolment No : Muttom, Kanya Kumari District

Course : B.Ed Tamilnadu – 629202.

Programme : 2011-2012

SELF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL (SIM)

Topic : NATURE OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

STRUCTURE

Definition of Psychology – Methods of Psychology – Branches of Psychology – Educational

Psychology – Definition, Nature and Scope of Educational Psychology: the learner, Learning

Process, Learning Experience, Learning Environment, Teacher and Teaching – Significance of

Educational Psychology to the teacher

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the unit you will be able to:

Define Psychology

Understand the different branches and methods of Psychology

Distinguish Psychology and Educational Psychology

Understand the significant of the Educational Psychology

Identify the need of Psychology

Acquire the knowledge of the nature and scope of Educational Psychology

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Meaning of Psychology

Psychology is the science of mind and behavior. The immediate goal of the Psychology is to understand humanity by both discovering general principles and exploring specific cases. For many practitioners, one goal of Applied Psychology is to benefit society. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is called a Psychologist, and can be classified as a social scientist, Behavioural scientist, or Cognitive scientist. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behavior, while also exploring the Physiological and Neurobiological processes that underlie certain functions and behaviours.

Psychology had its formal beginning when Wilhelm Wundt established his Psychological laboratory in Leipzig Germany in 1879. But in real sense, interest in Psychology is the discipline dates back to the work of Plato, Aristotle and other philosophers.

The term ‘Psychology’ has been derived from the two Greek words ‘Psyche’ and ‘Logos’. Psyche denotes soul and Logos means ‘talk about or study of’. Hence, the prime meaning of psychology should be the ‘talk about or the study of soul’. The meaning and definition has been changing and developing according to the need and time.

I.Check Your Progress

1. The term ‘Psychology’ derived from the two Greek words -------------- and -------------.2. What are the names for Psychologist?3. Who established the first Psychological Laboratory?

PSYCHOLOGY: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

a) Psychology as a Science of SoulIn olden days the word ‘psyche’ was interpreted as ‘soul’ and psychology was defined

as the ‘science of soul’. Plato, Aristotle and others defined psychology according to their concept. But they failed to answer the important questions like: what is soul and its nature: thus the meaning of Psychology was rejected.

b) Psychology as a Science of MindLater, Philosophers in the middle period considered psychology as the science of mind

and its process. The mind is not a part of the human anatomy, or a thing but a function. No two psychologists will agree upon one definition of mind. Thus, this definition ignores the objective nature and behavior of man. Therefore, psychology as the science of mind could not progress.

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c) Psychology as a Science of ConsciousnessDuring 19th century eminent psychologists like William James, Wilhelm Wundt and

others considers psychology as a ‘science of consciousness’ which meant ‘awareness or wakefulness’. And also they had different interpretations of the term wakefulness. This definition is not accepted by the modern psychologists since it ignores the unconscious state of man which is also very important.

d) Psychology as a Science of BehaviourThe modern concept of psychology is in term of behavior. Behavior is the resultant

manifestation of both conscious and unconscious urges of mankind.

DEFINITION OF PSYCHOLOGY

“Psychology deals with the activities of the individual in relation to his environment” – Woodworth

“Psychology is the science of behavior and experience.” – Skinner

“Psychology is the study of human behavior and human relationship.” – L.D.Crow and Alice Crow

“Psychology is the study of human behavior, its causes and conditions.” – William Mc Dougall

II. Check your Progress

1. List out the names historical development of psychology2. “Psychology is the science of behavior and experience” – who said?3. Name some psychologists. 4. Define ‘Psychology’ according to Woodworth.5.

METHODS OF PSYCHOLOGY

In the study of behavior of children, adolescents and the growth up people, the following methods are commonly used.

1. Introspection Method / Subjective Observation MethodIntrospection is derived from two Latin words, ‘intro’(within, inward) and spiere’

(look). Hence introspection means looking within or looking inward. It is a sort of self observation or self examination in which one perceives, thins incisively and reports one’s own

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feeling. R.S. Woodworth defined it as ‘self observation’ and J.R. Angel called it as looking inward. The father of psychology Sigmund Freud used another method called Psychoanalysis.

Merits: Easiest method to collect data, Equipments and apparatus are not required, No mediator or environmental hurdle.

Demerits: Human mental process is dynamic and it constantly changes. Hence the information is distorted as there is a gap between the time of happening and the time of reporting. Since the data collected is from the individuals, it is highly subjective. There is no reliability of factual information.

2. Observation / Extro Spection / Uncontrolled / Naturalistic / Objective Observation MethodThe word ‘observation’ has been derived from the Latin word ‘Observare’ which

means ‘to keep open’. Observation has been explained as ‘measurement without using instrument or device’. Observation is of two types: 1. Natural Observation and 2. Participation Observation.

Merits: We study the mind of a person by external behavior. We can study the hereditary and the environmental effects on the child since the findings of this method are always systematic, reliable, planned and specific. It is economical and flexible.

Demerits: it is elongated and time consuming. Personal bias of the observer affects the observation. It is not possible to observe what is happening in the minds of others.

3. Experimental Method In order to conduct objective and scientific study of human behavior, this method was

developed. It is the most precise, planned systematic and controlled observation. Psychological experiments are conducted on living organisms in contrast to experiments Physical or Biological sciences which are generally conducted on inorganic and dead subjects. The salient feature of this method is controlling of conditions or variables.

Merits: It is most systematic method to study the problem. As the study is carried out in fully controlled situation, the results obtained are reliable. There are opportunities for new avenues of researches on similar problems.

Demerits: Experimental data do not provide insight into the total behavior of the individual. Experiments cannot handle the covert behavior of the individual in the laboratory. Most of the problems of Psychology cannot be studied exclusively by this method.

4. Case Study MethodThis method helps the researcher to detect and diagnose the specific problems of the

individuals so as to provide them proper rehabilitation. In order to prepare a comprehensive case history, data is collected from the birth, education, health and medical histories, intelligence, personality or attitude tests etc.. this helps the researcher to locate the causes of the problems.

Purposes of Case Study: Diagnosis and treatment of Behavioural problems. To provide better guidance and counseling.

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Merits: It provides a deep, intensive and overall investigation of the behavior of the individual. It helps to identify and rehabilitate the emotionally and socially maladjusted, criminal and persons with antisocial behavior.

Demerits: it is handled by technically trained professionals. There is no guarantee of objectivity and reliability as validity of the information collected from various sources. There is no provision to study the behavior in a properly controlled laboratory.

5. Interview MethodLike conversation, an interview involves two people talking to one another about

something they are interested in, but an interview is more about one-side than a conversation because one person, the interviewee, talks more and offers more explanations, while the other person, the interviewer, has to listen very carefully to what is being said and ask questions.

Purposes of Interview: Generate insights and concepts not generalize about them. Expand understanding. To search for exceptions to the rule by charting extreme cases. To know the views of interviewee.

Merits: In interview the investigator can create a right type of friendly atmosphere which is very conducive for obtaining desired data. It permits even exchange of ideas and information. It is more appropriate for complex situation. it is useful in-depth information.

Demerits: The major weakness of the interview is the interviewer bias. It is comparatively a costly affair. A busy person may prefer to fill out a questionnaire at leisure rather than submit to a long interview.

6. Clinical MethodSome types of children need extra care and require a special type of treatment. Those

who have some defects in their speech, reading problems, having emotional outbursts etc. they are treated in a psychological clinic by experts. Hence the methods used for locating the cause of the trouble are known as clinical method. After finding the location of the causes, the subject should be administered with the necessary treatment. In preparing a clinical case study, the information is collected from the following sources: 1. Preliminary information, 2. Past history, 3. Present Condition of the cases.

7. Comparative MethodThe psychologists make a comparative study to understand the individual problems

better than the study of individuals made in isolation. Generally they have two groups or two individuals. Both of them are placed under similar or slightly different situations. The psychologist then carefully observes and notes down their reaction.

Value and Limitations: It has helped us to understand human nature and its problems better. It has a special value in the field of education. It has helped the teachers to adopt proper methods of teaching for children. It is technical in nature and has to be used carefully.

8. Developmental Method5

The child has to cross a number of stages in the process of development like infancy, childhood, boyhood, adolescence etc. Each stage has its peculiar features. In this method, the psychologist notes down all the peculiar features of the subject during all the stages, which the subject has to cross. How the development of the subject has been different from other normal individuals is note down. Physical, intellectual, social and other aspects of development will be noted in this regard.

Value and Limitations: It provides a first-hand knowledge about the subject and the nature of his problems. It is long and tedious and takes a long time in its application. Thus, the method is expensive.

9. Test MethodThe modern psychologist wants to know various details about the subject. Now a days

he uses various modern techniques for the same. These techniques are: Intelligence Test, Personality Tests, Aptitude Tests, and Interest Inventories etc. They enable him to know the latent capacities of the subject. The results of these tests are generally reliable.

Value and Limitation: it enables the psychologist to give necessary guidance to the subject. It is of recent origin and has not been widely used in India. It requires a proper training in administration by the teacher before the subject takes them for answering.

10. Questionnaire MethodThe subject is asked many questions around the personality traits expecting answers in

this method. The psychologist analyses the answers given and comes to know the real nature of the problem of the subject. Aptitude tests, interest test and inventories test etc. form the questionnaires.

Values and Limitations: it can be applied on a large number of children at the same time, hence it is economical. A survey in education is easy if it is used. Sometimes a misunderstanding of a question or an intentional wrong answer may affect the result.

III. Check Your Progress

1. Who is the father of Psychology?2. Name some of the methods of Psychology.3. Which method did Sigmund Freud use for Psychology?4. How many methods did we learn?5. Mention your favourite method among ten methods.

BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY

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In the context of its wide scope, psychology is bound to have many branches. It may be easily compared to a tree which has stemmed out into a number of branches, each of them bearing fruit. Some of the branches of Psychology may be named as follows:

1. General Psychology2. Child Psychology3. Human Psychology4. Animal Psychology5. Abnormal Psychology6. Individual Psychology7. Group Psychology

8. Experimental Psychology9. Applied Psychology10. Social Psychology11. Physical Psychology12. Clinical Psychology13. Industrial Psychology14. Educational Psychology

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Concept

One branch of psychology is educational Psychology. It is an applied science of the recent developments. It is the application of the general principles of psychology in the field of education for better expected result.

Definition

We can define in a simple form that educational psychology is the study of the behavior of pupils or educands in response to educational environment. In other words, educational psychology is the study of human behavior in educational situations.

“Educational psychology describes and explains the learning experiences of an individual from birth through old age” – L.D. Crow and Alice Crow

“Educational Psychological covers the entire range of behavior and personality as related to education.” – Charles E. Skinner

“Educational Psychology is the science of education.” – E.A.Peel

Nature

The following of Educational Psychology can be summarized in the following manner:

1. Educational psychology is the ultimate result of the combination of Education and Psychology.

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2. It is an applied science, which applies the principles of General Psychology in the field of education.

3. It is both theoretical and practical, because at first it gives findings about the student’s behavior and then applies techniques to modify and develop it.

4. It is the psychological approach to education and educational problems concerned.5. It is concerned with human factor in learning.

IV.Check Your Progress

1. List out some of the branches of Psychology.2. What is called ‘applied science’?3. Mention the definition of E.A. Peel on educational Psychology?

SCOPE OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

‘Scope’ means, ‘the limits of a particular subject in the field of its operation’, that is, ‘what is to be included in its study’. The scope of educational psychology can be studied under five heads:

1. The Learner2. The Learning Process3. The Learning Experience4. The Learning Environment5. The Teacher

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY FOR THE TEACHER

Educational Psychology is a systematic study of the behavior of students and teachers in teaching – learning process. It includes regular activities like jumping, running, walking, etc., and affective activities like happiness, sadness, anger etc,. It includes conscious, sub conscious and unconscious activities. It covers overt and covert behavior. It includes the behavior of human beings and animals. It is the positive developing science of behavior. It includes prediction, modifiability, purposive and purposeful behavior. It employs scientific methods to modify the behavior of the individual in relation to the environment. Therefore Educational psychology is that branch of psychology which deals with teaching and learning.

Educational Psychology is helpful to the classroom teacher in every step of teaching – learning process.

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1. To know the learners and their character2. To select and organize the subject matter3. To know the technique of teaching – learning process4. To arrange learning situation or environment5. To acquaint with the mechanism of heredity and environment6. To help in maintaining discipline7. To help in rendering guidance services8. To help in providing motivation9. To help designing curriculum10. Evaluation and assessment11. To help in solving classroom problems12. To know the teacher himself

V.Check Your Progress

1. ------------------ ----------------------- concerned with human factor in learning.2. The scope of educational psychology can be studied under------------- heads.

SUMMARY

Man’s life is very complex and depends on various activities. Hence every field of knowledge deals with man and his particular aspect of his life but not entirely of him. Psychology is centered around the behavior of persons. When we look at the historical development we may arrive at different concepts, such as: Science of Soul, Science of Mind, Science of Consciousness and Science of Behavior. In the study of the behavior of children, adolescents and the grown up people we learned about ten methods and its merits and demerits. In the context of its wide scope, psychology is bound to have many branches. We have learned some of the branches of psychology.

One of branch of psychology is Educational psychology. It is an applied science of the recent developments. Educational psychology is the science of education. The main nature of this educational psychology is to concern with human factor in learning. The scope of educational psychology is studied under five topics: the learner, the learning process, the learning experience, the learning environment and the teacher. In this unit we have also learned about the significance of educational psychology for the teacher.

EVALUATION

1. Define Psychology.

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2. Trace out the historical development of Psychology3. Define Educational Psychology.4. Explain in brief, some of the methods. Mention their merits and demerits.5. “Without the study of Psychology one is not and effective teacher” – Discuss.6. What are the focal areas of Educational Psychology?

SUGGESTED BOOKS

Essentials of Educational Psychology - J. C. Aggarwal Psychology of Learning and Human Development - K. Nagarajan Advanced Educational Psychology - S. K. Mangal Psychology of Learning and Human Development - K. Sampathrani Psychology of Learning and Human Development - A. Meenakshisundaram

ANSWER TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

I. 1) Psyche and Logos 2) social scientist, Behavioral scientist or Cognitive scientist 3) Wilhelm Wundt

II. 1) Science of Soul, Mind, Consciousness and of Behavior 2) Skinner 3) Sigmund Freud, Skinner, William Wundt 4) Psychology deals with the activities of the individual in relation to his environment

III. 1) Sigmund Freud 2) Introspection Method, Observation Method, Case Study Method 3) Psychoanalyses 4) Ten 5) Case Study Method

IV. 1) Educational Psychology, Human Psychology, Social Psychology 2) Educational Psychology 3) Educational Psychology is the science of education.

V. 1) Educational Psychology 2) Five

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