Abstract
In recent years the field of educational and social psychology in Japan has become a comprehensive academic and applied discipline encompassing a broad array of mental functions and behaviors, in addition to traditional lines of work on how humans learn in educational settings. This annual review summarizes the current state of understanding of the field and suggests future directions by analyzing studies reported at the 55th annual meeting of the Japanese Educational Psychological Association and by evaluating goals accomplished by research published in the past year. The analysis of studies reported at the annual meeting identified four central themes: school adjustment, interpersonal relationships, teaching, and social skills. In reviewing recent developments, innovative research publications offering theoretical and applied contributions were found in each of these areas. The major challenge for the field is to sustain and to cultivate the foundation for further innovation by developing an integrative framework that pieces together relevant theories and findings and by advancing theories for an evidence-based approach to education and the society.
