Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Anweisung / Español: Instrucción / Português: Instrução / Français: Instruction / Italiano: Istruzione /

An Instruction is defined as the part of methods and processes by which pupils' behaviors are changed.

In the context of psychology, an instruction is a verbal or written statement that provides guidance or direction for a particular behavior or task. Instructions are commonly used in experimental settings to standardize procedures and ensure that participants understand what they are being asked to do.

Here are some examples of instructions in psychology:

1. In a memory experiment, participants may be instructed to study a list of words for a certain amount of time and then recall as many of them as they can.

2. In a social psychology experiment, participants may be instructed to rate the attractiveness of a series of faces on a scale from 1 to 10.

3. In a cognitive psychology experiment, participants may be instructed to perform a series of mental arithmetic problems under time pressure.

4. In a neuroscience experiment, participants may be instructed to lie still in an MRI scanner while images of their brain are taken.

5. In a developmental psychology study, parents may be instructed to record their child's language development by noting the number of words the child says each day.

Instructions can also be used in therapy to help individuals learn new skills or behaviors. For example, a therapist may provide instructions on how to practice mindfulness meditation or how to use cognitive restructuring techniques to challenge negative thoughts. In educational settings, teachers use instructions to provide guidance for students to complete assignments, perform experiments, or learn new skills.