A theoretical application of epistemological oppression to the psychological assessment of special educational needs; concerns and practical implications for anti-oppressive practice

There has been brief but important discussion regarding the concepts of “oppression” and “anti-oppression” in the educational psychology professional practice literature. This article aims to both further and focus this discussion. In particular, the concept of “epistemological oppression” is introduced and the significance it has for the meaning-making and knowledge construction activities of educational psychology practice is explored. A conceptual application of two predominant theories of epistemological oppression, Standpoint Theory and the Three Levels of Epistemological Oppression theory, is made with regard to the psychological assessment of special educational needs (SEN). It is posited that as psychological assessment of SEN is fundamentally an epistemological endeavour these two theories provide a crucial framework through which educational psychologist (EPs) may base reflective practice in order to realise and ameliorate potential oppression. It is concluded that EPs have a responsibility to orient themselves toward the potential for epistemological oppression in their work and help towards its amelioration.     

The evolved child: Applying evolutionary developmental psychology to modern schooling

Evolutionary developmental psychology, an emerging subdiscipline of evolutionary approaches to human behavior and cognition, focuses on the adaptive nature of psychological mechanisms built into the brains of juveniles, some of which may serve immediate demands at different stages of development, and some of which serve preparatory roles for maturity. The current article reviews some of the central ideas of evolutionary developmental psychology and investigates how human educability, which is qualitatively different from the learning capacity of other species, is governed by specific adaptations of Homo sapiens' childhood that serve to orient the young child to his or her cultural environment. Evolutionary developmental psychology, we argue, can be especially informative to educational policy makers who wish to take children's natural limitations, as well as their intellectual pliability, into account when planning curricula.     

Educational Psychology: some thoughts on the transformation of learning in social practices and its consequences for a field of research

The relevance of psychological knowledge to education and learning has been recognized for long time. Educational psychology was thus, one of the first subdisciplines of applied psychology to emerge on the academic scene, and most scholars in the area — internationally as well as in the Nordic countries — have had a firm grounding in psychology. For a couple of decades or more during the second half of this century, educational psychology held a central position within education in most of the Nordic countries. Research within this field has been varied and vigorous. However, although psychological theories should be seen as important intellectual resources, it must be recognized that the relationship between a general discipline such as psychology and a particular area such as education is complex. Important problematics inherent in this relationship are illuminated and discussed in the contribution by Säljö on Sweden. It is argued, that recent attempts to develop a cultural psychology, explicitly recognizing the socio‐cultural nature of learning and other psychological processes, promise to pave the way for conceptions of human activities that are relevant to human concerns in general. The second article in this section, on Finland, contrasts with the first by focusing on educational research performed during the last few decades. This article describes trends in the content and methodologies of this research. The developmental orientation has been very strong in Finnish educational psychology during the whole of the post‐war period. Early research was highly influenced by a differential‐psychology approach, whereas later research has adopted social, motivational and cognitive frameworks. This article discuss the influential theoretical trends and developments.     

Further iterations on using the Problem-analysis Framework

A core component of applied educational and child psychology practice is the skilfulness with which practitioners are able to rigorously structure and conceptualise complex real world human problems. This is done in such a way that when they (with others) jointly work on them, there is an increased likelihood of positive outcomes being achieved for clients. The Problem-analysis Framework as discussed in this paper offers one way of working with such complexity which is grounded in a sound knowledge based in applied psychology. This paper provides further clarity on using the framework within applied practice. The authors were all trained in and use the Problem-analysis Framework and now work in many different types of applied settings within Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. This paper illuminates important aspects of the problem-analysis approach itself for those currently learning it, as well as providing an aide-mémoire to those using it and those who want to develop their skills in this area.     

Putting the “Is for” Back into the Study of Cognition and Behavior: Commentary on “Unifying Themes for Educational Psychology”

Understanding human behavior situated in a classroom context has traditionally been the domain of educational psychology. This rich tradition continues today, but in a fragmented manner. This fragmentation is undoubtedly the result of a number of factors, but two contributing factors that come readily to mind are (a) the demise of grand theories and (b) the increase in multidisciplinary research efforts. In some respects, the former may be a function of the latter. Regardless, multidisciplinary efforts will continue to increase simply due to the complexity of the problems we are addressing. However, the major significance of the Dempster and Corkill paper is the call for unifying themes couched within a biological system that focuses on personal knowledge construction through the process of learning. In many respects this is a clarion call for a reconsideration of the theoretical roots of functionalism from which educational psychology sprang.     

Research Matters: a call for the application of empirical evidence to the task of improving the quality and impact of environmental education

This paper argues for an increase in the application of empirical evidence to the task of improving the quality and impact of environmental education. Whilst the global scene in environmental education appears to portray optimism and great endeavour, there remain key issues to resolve. Such issues include the apparent lack of impact of formal educational programmes on individual's environmental awareness and concern. The paper argues that an empirical research base can illuminate significant findings relating to human motivation and cognition which may help to resolve such issues. It provides an overview and discussion of some of the findings of one particular substantial international research project in order to illustrate the underpinning case for using research to inform both policy and practice and gives some examples of how the evidence generated from this research programme is being used to shape educational policy and practice.     

论我国当前教育心理学发展的问题与对策

当前我国教育心理学发展中的主要问题有:内容体系缺乏整体性和系统性;研究方法和手段缺乏创造性;理论与实际联系缺乏有效性;科学研究缺乏本土化。我国教育心理学现存问题的解决对策主要是:以整体的观点研究教育心理现象;创建科学有效的新方法;建立理论和应用层面的教育心理学;逐步构建具有中国特色的理论体系。     

Changing Patterns of Thinking: Individuals and organisations

The promises and hopes of the 'reconstructing' movement in educational psychology post-Summerfield 1968 (Gillham, 1978) have not had a major impact on the ability of the profession of applied educational psychologists to effect change across systems. Despite innovative ideas generated by individuals over the past few decades that have promoted opportunities to apply psychology more widely, there is little evidence that the profession has been able to expand on these initiatives and incorporate them into their existing practice. Ideas drawn from a variety of psychological sources enable applied educational psychologists to review their thinking and practice, and to develop different models that can promote and influence useful change at an institutional and/or individual level. This paper considers, in particular, the impact of new models of language and thought on organisational behaviour and, in turn, identifies the manner in which change at an individual and organisational level can be promoted.     

Psychology studies’ drive to educational reform in the last 20 years in China

In order to better understand the relationship between educational psychology research and educational reform, this essay reviews the development of educational psychology studies in the last 20 years in China. The study shows that: (1) Rapid development has been made in the areas of establishing discipline systems; (2) Research fields have been expanded and research directions have been localized; (3) The theoretical basis for quality education has been derived from education psychology studies; (4) The psychological foundation for curriculum reform and instruction has been implemented, and (5) China has committed to serve and expand current educational practices. __________ Translated from Psychological Science, 2005, 28(6)     

Are Educational Psychology Courses Educationally and Psychologically Sound? What Textbooks and Teachers Say

Educational psychology courses should be the best taught courses on college campuses given that its instructors and textbook authors are resident experts in learning and teaching. More specifically, we contend that educational psychology courses should adhere to six principles. Educational psychology courses should: (a) be driven by teaching models, (b) integrate theory and practice, (c) provide opportunities to practice teaching skills, (d) present an integrated model for instructional planning, (e) prepare teachers to teach learning strategies, and (f) help students learn. We surveyed practicing teachers and analyzed current educational psychology texts and found that these principles are not upheld. We report on the principles, our findings, and how an educational psychology course that upholds these principles might be developed.     

自闭症干预的SCERTS模式

自闭症干预的SCERTS模式以家庭生活中的人际交流、儿童情绪情感的自我调节、交往支持作为三个主要的干预维度,注重运用象征手段实现功能性的社会交往,为直接处理自闭症儿童的主要问题提供了一个综合的心理-教育干预的框架,反映了一些新的研究动向和实践策略,对于解决当前的一些实践问题和确定未来的研究取向有借鉴价值。     

Trauma in Schools—Understanding Staff Reactions Through The Application Of Psychoanalytic Concepts And Systemic Metaphors

As an educational psychologist taking up a therapeutic role in schools following a traumatic event I have struggled to make sense of what happens. This paper is structured around three metaphors that are informed by psychoanalytic thinking, which work both at the individual level and the systemic level. These metaphors have helped me objectify the emotional reactions that tend to overwhelm a school’s human resources at a time of trauma. There appears to be a distinctive difference between the reactions of those affected by murder and suicide compared to accidental death. The aims of this paper are twofold: to reflect on the meaning and implications of these metaphors at the whole school level by gaining insights from the psychoanalytic literature and from my own experience, and to explore the implications for educational psychology (EP) practice.     

Editorial Conclusion: A philosophical perspective

The criticisms of educational research and the proposed solutions to those problems, referred to throughout this special issue, are summarised. However, it is argued that many of the difficulties are of a philosophical nature, rarely recognised as such either by the researchers or by their critics. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to the nature of that which is being researched into, namely, an 'educational practice', and to the distinctive language and values through which such a practice is to be understood and evaluated.     

The Figure and the Ground of Constructive Brain Functioning: Beyond Explicit Memory Processes

An implicit assumption underlying many educational and psychological theories is that the brain is a memory system. Modern information processing theory, which dominates computer science, linguistics, psychology, economics, and biology, is a theory of the storage, organization, and retrieval of information. But did human intelligence evolve as the nervous system's solution to memory requirements or to some other problem (set) more inherently related to survival than memory? Taking an evolution-inspired (Edelman, 1987) biofunctional (Iran-Nejad, 1980) approach, this article argues that the human nervous system and its processes evolved in the natural environment to solve and generalize survival problems associated with what Gestalt psychologists identified as figure-ground relations in the realm of perception. It is concluded, therefore, that the brain's functional processes and their counterparts in learning can be more appropriately explained as fundamental figure-ground than memory processes.     

Learning as the focus of the educational psychology course

In this article, I describe an approach to teaching educational psychology that focuses on learning and its implications for instruction. Journal articles and book chapters form a basis for considering issues and applications central to research in educational psychology and classroom practice. These are complemented by a multifaceted set of term-long assignments, including laboratory work, tutoring, and participation in an Internet discussion group with teachers. The article begins with an illustration of a portion of the first and last days of the course I teach, providing an exemplar of the way in which students in the class work on developing an understanding of learning. Following this, I discuss the materials and assignments of the course, and links to Anderson et al.'s (1995) call for reform are made. I conclude with some reflections, concerns, and observations about this approach with regard to its particular focus on learning.     

Cognitive behaviour therapy in schools: the role of educational psychology in the dissemination of empirically supported interventions

Educational psychology has recently experienced something of a revival in the provision of psychological therapy. This revival has aligned with general developments in evidence‐based psychology. A product of this has been more frequent delivery of empirically supported therapies in practice settings, for example, anxiety reduction programmes in school classes. This has enriched educational psychology practice and increased its opportunity to participate in therapy services through engagement with multi‐professional teams, coordination of training providers, training of trainers or indeed direct delivery. However, there are concerns that over‐commitment to simple intervention protocols has undermined educational psychologists’ wider role as highly skilled therapist/generalists. This article summarises the terms of debate in which empirically supported research practices have developed. Following an overview of the most common therapies, a series of questions challenging current research practices are posed. This paper finally reconsiders the impact that patterns of research and provision have had on educational psychology in practice.     

远程教育学生常见心理问题成因分析及对策研究

远程教育学生是一个特殊的群体,在学习、生活中,有些学生逐渐暴露出环境适应不良反应,工作、学习的挫折、双向选择就业的难题、人际关系障碍、自卑心理、依赖心理、自我约束力较差等特点,这就给远程教育工作者提出了新的课题。了解远程学生的心理状况并分析常见的心理问题及成因,对研究远程教育模式,提高远程教育管理水平具有重要意义。     

Educational psychology and the adult learner

The middle years of life, from the 20s through the 50s, have been neglected by psychology in general and educational psychology in particular. The current increase in numbers of mature learners calls for more, better, and better-understood psychological data so that learning can be enhanced in this age group. This issue of Contemporary Educational Psychology addresses five relevant questions: (1) What does research tell us about the capacities of adults to learn and retain? (2) What factors other than cognitive functioning affect adult performance? (3) How and in what ways does the adult wish to involve himself as a learner? (4) How might we go about guiding the mature learner, using present knowledge? (5) What theoretical concerns arise from consideration of the foregoing?