THEMATIC TRENDS IN GERMAN EDUCATIONAL-PSY CHOLOGY - AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS OF UNIVERSITY TRAINING SINCE 1975

In analysing the contents of university training in educational psycho logy of 91 departments in West Germany, Austria and Switzerland betwee n 1975 and 1990, thematic trends and differences between psychological and educational departments are investigated. Most frequently and inc reasingly during the time period under investigation, the courses deal t with the fundamentals of educational psychology, learning and teachi ng, counselling and intervention, and development and socialization. C ourses on diagnostics did not increase in number. With respect to the groups of individuals thematised, not only those directly concerned wi th school were dealt with in the courses. In psychological departments , training tended to be more theoretical; when oriented towards practi cal application, counselling aspects dominated. In educational departm ents, learning within the school context was of primary importance, bu t there was also a trend to put more emphasis on themes with respect t o adults.