Psychology and the educational psychologist in private schools: An approach from social representations

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to describe the social representations constructed by the educational community about educational psychology and the educational psychologist in the school context. Method We used a qualitative methodology with a hermeneutical approach, with a total of 34 participants (principals, teachers, psychologists, students, and parents) from eight private schools in the city of Ibagué, Colombia. Data were collected through focus groups and semistructured interviews. Results Thematic network analysis was used to analyze the data, resulting in three global themes that illustrate the main social representations. The results indicate that differentiation from clinical psychology and school counseling are points of reference for identifying educational psychology as an applied discipline and understanding the role of the educational psychologist in schools. Conclusion It is argued that representations and practices related to traditional roles are being transformed towards institutional and contextual practices. © 2024, Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Campinas. All rights reserved.