These are examples of the kinds of questions that educational psychologists seek to answer. Educational psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with studying how people learn from instruction, and with developing educational materials, programs, and techniques that enhance learning. Although perhaps best known for studying children in school settings, educational psychologists also are concerned with learning and teaching for people from infancy through old age, in school and outside of school.
Educational psychologists work in a wide variety of settings.
Some educational psychologists work at colleges or universities, often in schools or departments of education or in psychology departments. Educational psychologists contribute to science and practice. On the scientific side, educational psychologists create new knowledge concerning how people learn, remember, think, and develop. Research in educational psychology also produces new information about how people differ, what motivates people, how the social context affects learning, to what extent learning ability can be taught, and related topics. On the practical side, educational psychologists contribute to society by working to improve education.