Psychology Question
About this Assignment
In this course you learned the various concepts of the history and systems of psychology and how to apply the principles of this discipline. This course has provided a solid foundation for understanding modern psychology. You will now apply what you have learned in an essay assignment.
Project Prompts
For this assignment, you must select one of the prompts below and write a 2,000-3,000-word essay with a defensible thesis. Make sure to use textual evidence to support your thesis.
- Investigate and analyze research findings on culture and discrimination in psychology. What are the hidden inequities and implicit biases that have skewed research findings? Consider intelligence testing as an example. Propose some action steps psychologists and researchers can take to remove bias and discrimination from their practice. Provide evidence for your argument and explain how and why your recommendations will help remove this bias and discrimination.
- Thorndike proposed the Law of Effect to explain the future behaviors of individuals. Many institutions employ a system of punishment and rewards to curb, eradicate, or enhance behaviors. Select and research a system of punishment and rewards (i.e. school, penal system, home disciplinary system, etc.). Describe how the Law of Effect applies to and predicts future behaviors for individuals within this system. Additionally, provide an alternative perspective of how the Law of Effect may not predict future behavior in this system. Finally, make a recommendation as to how to apply the Law of Effect - is it a helpful framework to use, or does it harm individuals to predict behavior in the system you've chosen? Provide evidence for your argument and explain how and why your recommendations will help reduce bad behaviors.
- Describe a system of punishment and reward that implemented to change behaviors of a population (i.e. tax breaks for charitable giving, suspension for fighting in school, or speeding tickets). Identify how the new rules, policies, or laws changed the behaviors of those it affected, and connect the experience to psychological theories and research that explain or contradict this policy. Using your research, propose an improved system you would use to enhance or extinguish the same behaviors.
Related Lessons
The following lessons from the course may help you with this assignment:
- Culture & Discrimination in Psychology: Influence & Examples
- History of Intelligence Testing in Psychology
- Behavioral Theory: Thorndike and the Law of Effect
- Reinforcement and Punishment: Examples & Overview
- B.F. Skinner's Theories: Overview
Formatting & Sources
As part of your research, you may refer to the course material for supporting evidence, but you must also use at least three credible, outside sources and cite them using APA format. Please include a mix of both primary and secondary sources, with at least one source from a scholarly peer-reviewed journal. If you use any Study.com lessons as sources, please also cite them in APA (including the lesson title and instructor's name).
- Primary sources are first-hand accounts such as interviews, advertisements, speeches, company documents, statements, and press releases published by the company in question.
- Secondary sources come from peer-reviewed scholarly journals, such as the Journal of Management. You may use sources like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and Social Science Research Network to find articles from these journals. Secondary sources may also come from reputable websites with .gov, .edu, or .org in the domain. (Wikipedia is not a reputable source, though the sources listed in Wikipedia articles may be acceptable.)
If you're unsure about how to use APA format for your paper and sources, please see the following lessons:
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- In addition to in-text citations and inclusion in your Works Cited for the assignment, you must submit a separate document as outlined in the Documenting and Attributing AI section of the above article.
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- For additional information on generative AI tools, please refer to Understanding Generative AI as a Student: Uses, Benefits & Drawbacks.
Grading Rubric
| Category | Unacceptable (0-2) | Needs Improvement (3-6) | Good (7-8) | Excellent (9-10) | Total Possible Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definition and Description of the Issue (x1.5) | Definition and description of the issue or concept is nonexistent | Definition and description of the issue or concept is incomplete and lacking in appropriate detail | Appropriate definition and description of the issue or concept | Thorough and detailed definition and description of the issue or concept, exhibiting deep understanding | 15 |
| Application (x1.5) | Topic is not applied to any real-life issues, practices, or systems | Topic is applied to a real-life issue, practice, or system, but in a shallow or incomplete manner | Topic is adequately applied to a real-life issue, practice, or system | Topic is thoroughly and insightfully applied to a real-life issue, practice, or system; application is extensively explained in an original, defensible way | 15 |
| Analysis (x1.5) | No research examples, theories, or psychological concepts are used to support arguments; analysis is missing or incorrect | Few or weak research examples, theories, or psychological concepts are given to support main points; analysis is shallow | Some research examples, theories, or psychological concepts are given to support most points, but not all; analysis lacks originality | All main points are supported with research examples, theories, or psychological concepts as appropriate; analysis is original and insightful | 15 |
| Recommendations/Action Steps (x1.5) | No recommendations, action steps, or improved systems proposed | Brief and shallow recommendations, action steps, or improved systems proposed | Reasonable recommendations, action steps, or improved systems proposed | Insightful, and creative recommendations, action steps, or improved systems proposed | 15 |
| Structure and Organization (x.05) | Disorganized or illogical structure significantly hinders understanding | Somewhat disorganized but structure does not hinder understanding; arguments are difficult to identify; ideas are disjointed | Structure is logical and main points are supported by organization; evidence is provided and is relevant to the thesis, but transitions and connections are lacking | Organization is logical and structure enhances clarity and delivery of main ideas; arguments are well integrated; ideas flow logically; main points are identifiable | 5 |
| Mechanics and Sources (x0.5) | Incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and use of standard English grammar hinder understanding; no credible outside sources. Word count is lower than 50% of the minimum word count for assignment. | Several errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar; one credible outside source used but formatting is incorrect. Word count is 50-74% of the minimum word count for assignment. | Few (2-3) errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar; two credible outside sources used but formatting is incorrect. Word count is 75-89% of the minimum word count for assignment. | No or very few instances (0-1) of incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar; three or more credible outside sources used and formatted as required. Word count is 90% or more of the minimum word count for assignment.d | 5 |
| Total | 70 |
Before You Submit
When you complete your assignment, we suggest taking some time to check for any errors or to add any finishing touches. We also suggest that you use online plagiarism checkers to make sure that your assignment is not too similar to any existing materials. Plagiarized submissions will NOT be graded.