overview
The Introduction to Educational Psychology exam covers material that is typically taught in a one-semester undergraduate course in the subject. Emphasis is placed on principles of education and knowledge, teaching methods and classroom management, child growth and development, and assessment and evaluation of learning.
The exam has approximately 100 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored.
Knowledge and skills are required
Introduction to Educational Psychology exam questions require test takers to demonstrate one or more of the following skills:
- Knowledge and understanding of basic facts, concepts and principles
- Association of concepts with given theoretical positions
- Awareness of important influences on learning and instruction
- Familiarity with research and statistical concepts and methods
- Ability to apply various concepts and theories as they apply to specific learning situations and problems
The content of the Educational Psychology exam is drawn from the following topics. The percentages next to the main topics indicate the approximate percentage of exam questions in that topic
Cognitive perspective (15%)
- attention and perception
- memories
- Complex cognitive processes (eg, problem solving, transfer, and conceptual change)
- Application of cognitive theory
- the language
Behavioral perspective (11%)
- Classic conditioner
- Operant conditioning
- Reinforcement schedule
- Application of behavioral approach
development (15%)
- knowledge based
- social/emotional
- moral
- Gender identity/gender roles
- language acquisition
Motivation (10%)
- Social-cognitive theories of motivation (eg, attribution theory, expectancy-value theory, goal orientation theory, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and self-determination theory)
- Learned proportion
- Teacher expectations/Pygmalion effect
- Anxiety/stress
- Applications of motivational theory
Individual differences (17%)
- intelligence
- Genetic and environmental influences
- Learning exceptionalities (eg, giftedness, learning disabilities, and conduct disorders)
- Capacity grouping and tracking
Examination (12%)
- Classroom assessment (eg, formative and summative assessment, and grading systems)
- Norm- and criterion-referenced tests
- Check reliability and validity
- Bias in testing
- High-stakes assessment/standards-based testing
- Interpretation of test results (eg, descriptive statistics and scaled scores)
- Uses and misuses of assessment
Pediatrics (10%)
- Planning instruction for effective learning
- Writing objectives to align instruction with standards
- Social constructivist pedagogy (eg, scaffolding)
- Cooperative/Associative Education
- Classroom management
- Technology in Education
- difference instructions
Research design and analysis (5%)
- Research designs (eg, longitudinal, experimental, case study, and quasi-experimental)
- Research methods (such as surveys, observations and interviews)
- Interpretation of research (eg, correlation vs. causation, and descriptive statistics)
Multiculturalism (5%)
- Ethnic, racial and cultural issues
- Socio-Economic Status (SES)
- Bilingualism/English as a second language
- gender differences
- Migration/Social Change
- Culturally Responsive Education
