Psicología y Didáctica de las ciencias sociales Psychology and Social Science Didactics

Social Science Didactics has benefited from psychology by asuming —at times with a lack of criticism— its theories and the results of its research in the field of social learning, and applying them to teaching through teacher training. Psychology, for its part, has often used social knowledge mechanically to illustrate its theories. Knowledge of Social Science Didactics is a type of knowledge that is under construction, with lit- tle research being carried out in its field. It is also a type of knowledge with its own particular characteristics which needs knowledge from disciplines such as psychopedagogy, sociology, and reference sciences (geography, history, and other social sciences). It aims to give coherence to these areas through the construction of models for analysing and intervening in teaching. Developing the social awareness and higher order intellectual capacities of students demand collaboration between Social Science Didactics and Psychology both in teacher training programmes and in educational research. © 1993, Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.