Educational psychology

Educational psychology is a field of psychology in which psychological knowledge and methods are used to study the processes of teaching and learning. Educational psychology combines psychology and education by applying the scientific study of human behaviour to educational goals. Such study provides the information that teachers need to help students learn. 

Educational psychologists conduct many kinds of research. They study how people change while growing from infancy to old age. Psychologists thus discover what kinds of behaviour are typical of students at different ages. Educators use such information to develop effective teaching methods for various age groups. 

Educational psychologists analyse individual differences among students and determine the effect these differences have on learning. Attitudes, intelligence, social adjustment, and other characteristics vary greatly among students and affect how well students learn. By understanding these differences, teachers may develop better instructional methods. 

Educational psychologists also study the principles of learning. Such research provides teachers with information about how students learn and what stimulates them to learn. Educators use this information to design curriculums. Educational psychologists also develop tests and other methods of measuring what students have learned and how much they are able to learn.