Psychological foundations of education : an introduction to human motivation, development and learning / Morris L. Bigge and Maurice P. Hunt.

This book is designed as a basic text for course in educational psychology, psychological foundations of education, or development and learning. Because of its rather extensive treatment of both learning and motivation theories, it might also have a place in introductory courses that focus on these aspects of psychology. Instructors of course in introductory general psychology who wish to acquaint their students with a systematic development of cognitive-field psychology also will find the book useful. The book centers upon the positions of major psychological outlooks in regard to four basic questions: What is the nature of human motivation; how do children and youths develop; how do they learn; and how can knowledge of motivation, development, and learning be related to the teaching-learning process? It emphasizes the cognitive-field position. But, it also develops the nature and implications of other prevailing and historical systematic and eclectic positions. The approach is semihistorical and comparative but not eclectic. Features and implications of psychological systems are presented in such a way as to confront students with a need to make choices between conflicting points of view. The book contains much more historical analysis than is commonly found in books on psychological foundations. This appears to be the only means by which one can explain and clarify certain points of confusion in contemporary education.