Psychological principle of sequencing – UGC NET Question

Psychological principles of teaching are based on how learners naturally develop and process information. Presenting material from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract respects cognitive readiness and developmental stages, making learning easier and more meaningful. These sequences build on how understanding typically grows in the human mind. Since the stem describes such sequencing, it is guided by the psychological principle of teaching.

Option A:
Administrative principles relate to the organisation and management of schools, such as timetabling and record-keeping. While important, they do not directly address how learning experiences should be sequenced to match mental development. Thus, administrative principles are not what the question is referring to.

Option B:
Economic principles usually concern cost-effectiveness and efficient use of resources in education systems. They may influence policy decisions but are not the primary basis for choosing simple-to-complex or concrete-to-abstract sequences in the classroom. Hence, economic principles are not the correct answer.

Option C:
Philosophical principles arise from broader views about the aims and values of education, such as humanism or pragmatism. Although these views shape general objectives, they do not specifically dictate cognitive sequencing as described. Therefore, philosophical principles alone do not account for the pattern mentioned in the stem.

Option D:
Psychological principles incorporate insights from learning theories and developmental psychology, indicating that learners first grasp concrete, simple ideas before handling abstract, complex ones. By following these guidelines, teachers make content accessible and logical for students. For this reason, the principle described is rightly called psychological.