Nature of Educational Psychology

Nature of Educational Psychology

  Educational psychology may be gathered from the following points.

An Applied Science.

 Educational psychology is an applied science or we may say applied psychology because it is the application of psychological principles to the field of education.

A Positive Science.

 Educational psychology is a positive science and not a normative science. This means that it just explains the educational facts as they are and does not judgements over them. Thus it studies the law of child s nature as they are and ought to be.

A Social Science.

  Educational psychology is a social science. Though educational psychology studies the individual from the educational point of view its results are applicable to all the individuals are atlas to a group of individuals. Thus this science has social implications.  

An Educational Science.

 By its very implications educational psychology deal with educational problems only. Thus while general psychology deals with the behaviour of the individual in various spheres. Educational psychology studies the behaviour of the individual in education sphere only.

A Specific Science.

 The science of psychology is somewhat general in nature.  It studies of human mind in its entirety. Educational psychology selects from the total field of general psychology only those facts and principles that is of specific significance and utility for the process of learning and teaching.

A Practical Science.

 Educational psychology is not merely speculative in nature with no relevance to the world reality. It is rather utilitarian and practical in nature. The educator and the teacher make use of the knowledge of educational psychology at every step. In fact effective teaching is impossible without the knowledge of educational psychology.

A Growing and Developing Science.

 The science of educational psychology is ever growing due to constant researcher in this field. This science deals with human nature which is too deep to be probed fully. New facts about human nature are therefore coming to the fore on account of researches in this field. Thus the science of educational psychology is ever growing and developing.

An Academic Discipline.

 G. Lester Anderson is of the view that educational psychology is an academic discipline. It is so since it is focused upon the human behaviour. Its results can be summarised or generalised into principles or theories. The information, the knowledge, its principles, its methodology all that constitutes the substance of educational psychology provide a basis for educational theory and practise.