The Social Psychology Of The Primary School

The authors reassess the role of social psychology. They offer an analysis of motivation and the social development of primary age children as well as relationships and social interaction in the classroom, gender and special needs.

This book examines the ways in which the theory and data of social psychology can be applied to teaching, learning, and other experiences in schools. Its focus ranges in level from the individual (e.g., student attitudes and attributions), to the teacher-student interaction, to the impact of society (e.g., racial and cultural influences on school performance). The editor and distinguished contributors have two major purposes. The first is to illustrate the scope and sophistication of the emerging field known as the social psychology of education. The second is to provide solid, informed suggestions to educators for the amelioration of current educational problems. To that end, each author explicitly discusses implications for educational practice.

Colin Rogers and Peter Kutnick reassess the role of social psychology in educational practice for the primary classroom. They offer an analysis of the ways in which the process and structure of classroom life affect the interpersonal and academic outcomes of schooling. Social schooling is seen to have a crucial role to play in achieving effective t

If a theory of education is to be helpful to the practising teacher, it must take the social context of learning into account. Originally published in 1982, Colin Rogers does just this, exploring the implications of two decades’ detailed research in to the social psychology of teaching and learning. The central theme that emerges from this study is the importance of the still controversial ‘teacher-expectancy effect’ – the effect of teachers’ expectations on the performance of pupils. By examining in detail the claims made by those who believe that the expectations of teachers can influence levels of pupils’ academic attainment, the book shows the complexity of interpersonal interaction and perception within the classroom and the nature of problems involved in studying these. It also focuses on the way that the mutual perceptions of teachers and pupils themselves affect, and are affected by, other aspects of life in a school; and extensive use is made of research conducted in British schools to illustrate major points. The conclusion of the study was that it is the classroom – the very environment in which teachers and pupils interact – rather than teacher training that may need reform.

This title, first published in 1971, provides a guide to the social psychology of learning. The author examines the school class as a group and considers the formation of some of the attitudes of the children and the teacher as they relate to education. Building upon interaction as a major theme, the study focuses attention on the ways in which relationships can affect the classroom climate. The background to group dynamics leads to the elements of sociometry and to consideration of teaching styles, communication structure and perceptions of the teacher’s role. This title will be of interest to students of sociology and education.

Teachers often find that their training has not provided them with sufficient knowledge and understanding about underlying social forces and processes in their classrooms. This new book addresses this gap by focusing on the social psychology of the classroom, providing the relevant social psychological knowledge and facilitating the application of that knowledge in the practice of the teacher in the classroom. Elisha Babad discusses "the state of the art" of classroom management theory, research and practice and explores a full range of teacher and classroom experiences (such as teachers' differential behavior in the classroom and its psychological price, students' roles and relationships, and distinguishing between "educating" students and "changing" students). This exceptional book will be of interest to students and scholars of educational studies and educational psychology as well as for teachers-in-training, experienced teachers, and "educators-at-large."