Core Textbooks (Conceptual Understanding)

These texts explain what educational psychology is, how it works, and why it matters.

Woolfolk, A. (2019). Educational psychology (14th ed.). Pearson.

→ Clear explanations of learning, motivation, development, and classroom application.

Santrock, J. W. (2018). Educational psychology (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

→ Strong emphasis on understanding learners, teachers’ decision-making, and educational contexts.

Slavin, R. E. (2020). Educational psychology: Theory and practice (13th ed.). Pearson.

→ Excellent for understanding the relationship between theory, research, and instructional practice.

Theoretical Perspectives & Paradigms

These works help students understand how different psychological approaches interpret learning differently.

Schunk, D. H. (2020). Learning theories: An educational perspective (8th ed.). Pearson.

→ Explains behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and social learning in an accessible way.

Illeris, K. (2018). Contemporary theories of learning (2nd ed.). Routledge.

→ Integrates cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions of learning.