Emotions and learning: cognitive theoretical and methodological approaches to studying the influence of emotions on learning

This chapter highlights some of the theoretical approaches used to explain how emotions modulate learning, and describes several methodologies that can be used to elicit and assess emotions in various educational environments. Two broad approaches can be used to classify emotion research: the discrete approach and the dimensional approach. Several theories have been developed to explain the relationship between emotion and cognition. The control‐value theory of emotions was developed to understand the role emotions play in academic or achievement settings. Within cognitive psychology, emotions are thought to influence learning and performance along five general routes: cognitive resources, strategies of learning and problem‐solving, memory, self‐regulation and interest/motivation. The chapter serves as a reference guide for healthcare professional education researchers embarking on emotion research. Understanding the role emotions play in learning and performance has important implications for medical educators.