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The Impact of Psychology Theories on Academic Achievement
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Selected theories overview
According to the social cognitive theory, individuals seldom try new things or engage in
new behaviours; instead, they just copy what others do and observe the results. According to the
study, teachers and parents have a significant effect on a child's ability to learn. A study found
that youngsters who see their parents as reading role models and cultivate a reading culture at
home and at school are more likely to become enthusiastic readers themselves (Sidik, 2020).
There are a number of theories used by social scientists to describe the interaction between
members of institutions and society as a whole, such as a role theory. It's a theory that claims that
human conduct may be predicted since it's influenced by external influences like social standards
(Eagly & Wood, 2012). A person's activities in a certain job are guided by the expectations of
others. It is relevant for my subject since these ideas directly impact the construction of programs
and curricula. A good illustration of how educational psychology theories may be used in the
classroom is the study of how fast-changing technology can both aid and damage students'
learning. Individuals and small groups get extra attention in the classroom instead of the whole
class. Instead of relying only on the criteria of classmates of the same age, students should be
evaluated on their own development. It is through the process of interacting with one's
surroundings that new knowledge is created.
A comparison of the theories related to the topic you chose
According to Eagly's social role theory, widespread gender stereotypes develop due to the
specific social division of labor. For example, males have traditionally held positions of higher
authority and prominence in the Western social system. As a result, men and women have
established stereotypes that link women's autonomy with their ability to commune. According to
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Piaget, children's present and future interactions with their environment are predetermined by
their schemas, which are themselves subject to change via assimilation and adaptation.
An assimilation process, according to Karaman and Watson (2017), helps children to
incorporate new knowledge into their current schemas. According to Piaget, a balance between
assimilation and adaptation is essential for cognitive development since it helps children learn. A
child's most outstanding cognitive abilities are moulded by social communication between
parents, educators, and other professional partners, contrary to Eagly's belief that cognitive
maturation takes place in social contexts that impact its form (Karaman & Watson, 2017).
When children collaborate with excellent teaching adults, their cognitive growth becomes
more like an apprenticeship. When children work with adults who are excellent at teaching, their
cognitive growth is more like an apprenticeship. Children's minds get more complicated as they
mature, according to Piaget and Eagly. This development is brought about by the deeper
understanding that children gain as a result of their more sophisticated reasoning.
An argument as to which theory provides a better understanding of the topic
In the classroom, both theories' viewpoints may be used to describe the educational
process. However, I believe that Piaget's social cognitive theory offers a complete picture of
academic accomplishment since it emphasizes the need to tailor training to students' individual
needs. In order to be effective, education must match the learner's developmental level. As a
teacher, your job is to help students learn by presenting them with many opportunities. In order
to encourage students' new understandings, teachers should definitely create opportunities for
them to investigate and experience. Students at lower cognitive levels might benefit from
working with more mature ones, as Piaget stresses the need to provide opportunities for all
learners to collaborate. Using tangible, hands-on experiences to assist students in understanding
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new recommendations is a further consequence of education. Teachers, according to Piaget,
should enable students to categorize and arrange information in order to make it easier for
students to integrate new information with what they already know. Present issues that need a
reasonable approach. Piaget believes that children learn because they are inherently curious
about the world around them. Piaget claims that early in a child's existence, they are compelled
to investigate the workings of both the physical and social worlds to understand them better (Al-
Shammari, Faulkner & Forlin, 2019).
An explanation of how psychological research grounded in these two theories helped
you better understand the topic's characteristics.
Research in psychology has shown the connection between psychological well-being and
academic success. Studies have shown that improving students' mental health might positively
impact their academic performance. If the school can develop an atmosphere that encourages
healthy and pleasant emotions, it may lead to greater academic achievement among students. A
school's physical environment, as well as its social processes, may have a direct influence on
students' feelings and behaviour (Shaffer & Kipp, 2020). When we say that someone is happy,
we imply that they are in a situation where their core values are being upheld. A person's level of
happiness and contentment with life increases directly to the degree to which their physical
surroundings, habits, and circumstances reflect their core ideals. Students need to put extra effort
into improving their academic performance. Parents and instructors may help kids feel more
confident in their ability to pursue and achieve their academic objectives and get higher
outcomes by providing encouragement and support. Challenges and enthusiasm abound in the
academic world. For pupils to do well in school, they need the help of their parents and a good
learning environment, as well as their ability to cope with the academic demands.
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According to studies conducted in the field of education, students' attitudes, beliefs, and
perceptions of themselves are greatly influenced by the views and perceptions of their teachers.
Teachers set an example for their students by exhibiting these traits in the classroom. The
teacher's personality significantly impacts the thoughts, emotions, and actions of their pupils, and
this personality trait contributes to student achievement. A teacher's influence on a student's
desire to succeed academically may be enormous. Students learn to self-regulate and become
more successful both inside and outside of the classroom with this help. Student motivation may
be boosted by a positive teacher-student interaction. Higher test scores may be linked to this
association. In this way, students have a greater sense of self-worth and are motivated to work
harder in order to achieve their goals. The completion of homework is one method through
which pupils improve their performance. When a teacher establishes a strong rapport with their
pupils and has high expectations for their progress, students are more likely to complete their
assignments (Shaffer & Kipp, 2020).
An examination of cultural aspects that might contribute to that understanding
Formal education may be used for a variety of different reasons. Education is seen in
various ways by different people. One of its potential outcomes is a well-educated populace with
the capacity to reason and think critically. It may be used to identify pupils with a similar body
of knowledge and who have been socialized similarly to others in the community. It may also be
utilized to help people be ready for fulfilling careers and fulfilling social life. In some cultures,
education is seen as the foundation of a child's lifetime journey to achieve the best career and fit
in with the rest of society. Others believe that socialization begins at birth and that schooling is
an inevitable passage that suppresses a child's uniqueness and respects their cultural history in
the name of the whole community (Al-Shammari, Faulkner & Forlin, 2019). These varied
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perspectives influence society's overall approach to education and individual children's reactions
to school. According to the value placed on each of these goals by a specific culture, how that
culture sets up its schools and assesses student achievement will differ.
According to Social Cognitive Theory and Social Role Theory, it's easy to understand
how different strategies for coping with conflict may be suitable depending on the situation.
Putting culture and context at the core of our study is essential if we want to learn more about
cross-national disparities in performance and progress as a research community in this area.
Although there are differences across cultures and countries, we must be careful when drawing
generalizations about whole countries.
References
Al-Shammari, Z., Faulkner, P. E., & Forlin, C. (2019). Theories-based inclusive education
practices.:Education Quarterly Reviews,:2(2).
Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (2012). Social Role theory.:Handbook of Theories of Social
Psychology, 458–476. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446249222.n49
Karaman, M. A., & Watson, J. C. (2017). Examining associations among achievement
motivation, locus of control, academic stress, and life satisfaction: A comparison of US
and international undergraduate students.:Personality and Individual Differences,:111,
106-110.
Shaffer, D. R., & Kipp, K. (2020).:Developmental psychology childhood and adolescence.
Cengage Learning.
Sidik, F. (2020). Actualization of the Jean Piaget cognitive development theory in
learning.:JURNAL PAJAR (Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran),:4(6).
https://doi.org/10.33578/pjr.v4i6.8055
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