Introduction to Introduction to Educational Educational PsychologyPsychology

Introduction to Introduction to Educational Educational PsychologyPsychology

What is Educational Psychology?

• Branch of psychology whose primary goal is the understanding and improvement of education

• Common Sense vs. Research

Educational Educational Psychology as a Psychology as a

ScienceScience

Educational Educational Psychology as a Psychology as a

ScienceScience

Research DesignsResearch DesignsResearch DesignsResearch Designs

Correlational Design• Correlation coefficient Strength

and direction– Size of number is the strength of relationship– The sign (+ or -) is the direction

• Does NOT indicate cause• Advantages• Disadvantages

TV Viewing & Test Performance

0

0.2

0.4

Light Heavy

MathEnglish

Experimental Design• Hypothesis• Independent Variable• Dependent Variable• Cause and effect• Control

Structure of an Experiment

Experimental Group

pretest

treatment

posttest

Change?

Control Group

pretest

posttest

Change?

Stereotype Threat

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Gender Difference No Gender Difference

WomenMen

Experimental Design

• Advantages• Disadvantages

Developmental Research Designs

• Cross-sectional Different ages are studied at the same point in time

• Longitudinal A group is studied repeatedly at different ages

• Cross-sequential Studying two or more age groups over time.

Methods: Systematic Observation

• Naturalistic – Detached observation– Participant observation

• Ethnography

• Structured– Laboratory– Natural environment

Methods: Self-report • Clinical interview• Structured interview• Focus groups• Questionnaires• Diaries