The psychology of education, a crossroads of many roads

Abstract

This paper analyses the episthemological status of Educational Psychology (EP), as an applied discipline and bridge between Education and Psychology. It is claimed that EP, as a professional field, implies establishing a link between the knowledge derived from psychoeducational research and professional practice. Moreover it requires paying attention to the different learning contexts, which are not limited to school. The complexity of these educational scenarios leads to a professional profile which is still relatively vague. The postgraduate courses aimed at training this range of professionals also reflects the diversity of theoretical approaches within Psychology. Finally, the article addresses the problem of professional regulation, and distinguishes between the official figure of educational counsellor, as a regulated profession, and the rest of the educational contexts. With regard to the first case, it is considered that the best solution is to offer, in the official Educational Psychology Master, a specific schooling itinerary, which once authorised would be equivalent to the specialisation in educational counselling of the Secondary School Teacher Training Master. For the rest of the cases, it would be helpful to have an open catalogue of the new figures which are emerging in this professional field of Educational Psychology. However regulating access to the remaining posititions is deemed unnecessary and even counterproductive.