Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.

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By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assignment criteria:

  • Competency 1: Apply information literacy and library research skills to obtain scholarly information in the field of psychology.
    • Articulate scholarly evidence appropriate to the argument it supports.
  • Competency 2: Apply psychological principles to topics in psychology.
    • Describe the position taken in an author’s thesis statement.
    • Follow APA guidelines for in-text citations and reference lists.
  • Competency 3: Analyze scholarly information and research findings through critical thinking to solve problems in the field of psychology.
    • Articulate evidence-supported arguments that directly support the thesis.
    • Articulate evidence-supported counterarguments that directly question the thesis.
    • Articulate evidence-supported arguments to rebut the counterarguments.
  • Competency 4: Apply ethical principles and standards to topics in psychology.
    • Draw implications, including ethical implications, from the conclusions.
  • Competency 5: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.
    • Articulate a well-developed conclusion that logically flows from the arguments presented.
    • Write in a manner that is scholarly in tone, easy to follow, and free from grammatical and spelling errors.

For your final paper, you will select a controversial topic in psychology on which to take a position. Choose from the following topics:

  • Does cosmetic surgery promote or hinder self-esteem?
  • Does use of electronic technology promote or detract from well-being?
  • Does online learning or traditional face-to-face learning lead to higher academic performance?
  • Which is more effective in treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—medication or behavioral interventions?
  • Are virtual teams or traditional teams more effective?

After exploring scholarly research on both sides of the issue, write a 5–7 page, double-spaced paper (not including title page, abstract, and references) that presents:

  • An introduction to your topic.
  • Your position and arguments.
  • Evidence for your position.
  • Counterarguments to your position.
  • Evidence for the counterarguments.
  • Rebuttals to those counterarguments.

Your paper should reference a minimum of five scholarly sources, cited and referenced in APA format.

Your assembled paper should consist of:

  • A title page.
  • An abstract.
  • A clear introduction to the topic.
  • A thesis statement, your position, and arguments.
  • A summary and conclusion that discusses the implications (including the ethical implications) of your position and conclusions.
  • A page of APA-cited references.

View the Joel Taylor Sample Final Paper linked in Resources to see how your paper should be organized. You are also encouraged to use the APA Paper Template, also linked the Resources.

****TOPIC I HAVE CHOSEN****

I have chosen the medication versus behavioral therapy treatment as my topic to discuss.  ADHD are a part of many of our lives.  Mostly diagnosed in children, but many adults have the same symptoms.  Most people tend to turn to medication to help with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). There are other ways to treat ADHD, like ABA.  ABA is applied behavior analysis.  This style of treatment on mostly used for children with autism but can be used for children with ADHD.  I feel that parents need to try nonmedical treatment for ADHD before they turn to medication.  There have been many studies of on this topic. The results of the present study underline the efficacy of the Applied Behavioral Analysis intervention in improving the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders in children with ASD and ADHD traits. (Ilinca MIHAILESCU, 2013)

ABA can treat many disorder and have been proven to work best for ADHD.  This type of therapy is best for all children before they turn to medication.  Some children may need medication to work with ABA, but most can be treated with only ABA services.  ABA works by focusing on one task and building off that task with others.  ABA can work with a child on expanding their attention span, so they can focus on another task.  Once the therapist has the child’s attention, they can work on speech, writing, social skills, etc.

Explain the strengths and limitations concerning the reliability and validity of your scale.

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Discussion: Turning Conceptual Variables Into Measureable Variables

If you ask a classmate questions about course content and he is correct sometimes but at other times he gives you the wrong information, you might say that he is not reliable. You may want to request help from someone who knows the correct answer every time—perhaps your Instructor! The concept is the same in research. It is important to be confident that when you measure a variable repeatedly, it will have the same result. That is what reliability means in research.

Another important concept in research is validity. You might have a friend who laughs at all of your jokes. You determine that you must be very funny because your friend laughs. You are measuring your ability to be funny based on laughing behavior. However, it is possible that your friend is very polite and does not want to hurt your feelings by not laughing. In that case, the laugh is really measuring your friend’s politeness and not your expertise in telling jokes. The “laugh” measure, in this case, is not valid. It does not measure what you think it is measuring.

The concept of validity is critical in research, too. If you develop a scale to measure the conceptual variable of anxiety, but it really measures fear, the scale is not valid. Conceptual variables are abstract ideas that form the basis of research designs. What does the concept of anxiety mean to you? How would you define anxiety to another person? Only after conceptual variables are precisely defined can they be turned into measureable variables.

In this Discussion, you will turn a conceptual variable into a measureable variable by creating and administering your own scale, and by considering the scale’s reliability and validity.

To prepare:

  • Read Chapter 4 of the course text. Pay particular attention to the Likert scale illustrated on page 75.
  • Read Chapter 5 from the course text.
  • Review the assigned readings from Chapters 1–3 from the previous weeks.
  • Identify conceptual variables that may be of interest to you. A few examples are anxiety, conformity, and leadership.
  • Create your own 5- to 10-item Likert scale to assess a conceptual variable of interest to you.
  • Administer the scale to at least three friends or family members. You may administer it in person or via e-mail.
  • Prepare to upload the Likert scale you created as an attached document (in .doc or .rtf format) to your Discussion post.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3
  • The conceptual variable you selected. Note: Include the conceptual variable in the “Subject”field of your post (e.g., Job Satisfaction).
  • In the main body of your post:
  • Discuss your experience writing and administering the scale.
  • Explain how your scale turned your conceptual variable into a measured variable (beyond creating a Likert scale).
  • Explain the strengths and limitations concerning the reliability and validity of your scale.
  • Upload the Likert scale you created as an attached document (either a .doc or .rtf file).

READING RESOURCES

Stangor, C. (2015). Research methods for the behavioral sciences (5th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

  • Chapter 4, “Measures”
  • Chapter 5, “Reliability and Validity”

For example, if you are going to graduate school to become a licensed  clinical psychologist, how will this information help your clients? If  you are a daycare provider, how could this be applied when designing  activities for children?

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Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read Chapter 9 in the course textbook and the articles Careers in Health Psychology (Links to an external site.), Pursuing a Career in Health Psychology (Links to an external site.), and Clinical Health Psychology (Links to an external site.).

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Health psychology can be applied in numerous settings. Whether you  are a health clinician, a leader within an organization, a daycare  provider, a parent, or a licensed psychologist, understanding how one’s  health can affect one’s psychological well-being is an important area  for consideration.

Based on your goals, address all of the following topics associated  with health psychology and how you can potentially use this information  to support your goals, whether in the health field or other discipline.  Remember that you can use your knowledge in these areas in differing  ways. For example, if you are working in HR, you may be able to use this  knowledge to support employee wellness. If you are working as an  educator, confidentiality is very important.

Topics to discuss:

  • Nutrition and Exercise
  • Effective Stress Management
  • Confidentiality
  • Cultural Competence

For example, if you are going to graduate school to become a licensed  clinical psychologist, how will this information help your clients? If  you are a daycare provider, how could this be applied when designing  activities for children? If you desire to be a manager or leader in an  organization, how can this knowledge help you to support your employees  more successfully?

As you discuss each area, be critically aware of appropriately  applying APA-formatted citations to support your assertions about the  topic. For additional support, see the resource Citing Within Your Paper (Links to an external site.).

Discussion posts should equate to approximately 350 to 400 words.

Your Assignment should be a 3-5 page expository essay, not including the title and reference pages, and should include the following elements: Title page: Provide your name, title of Assignment, course and section number, and date

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Discussion post for Chapter 8

Throughout this course, many opportunities are available to post an initial response to a Discussion topic as well as to respond to your classmates’ responses. After you have completed the reading, and without reviewing your classmates’ responses, post your initial response to the following Discussion. Your post should be at least 350 words in length and should extend the discussion of the group supported by your course materials and/or other appropriate resources. After you have submitted your initial post, review some of your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of your classmates. Refer to your Discussion Board Rubric in your Syllabus for specific grading explanation.

The Client and the Assessment Process

Research and explore a theoretical perspective or model from Chapter 8 or elsewhere that resonates with your career interests/professional role, including but not limited to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the Wellness Perspective, or the Strengths Perspective.

Then, please respond to the following:

  • Identify the theoretical perspective or model that you have selected.
  • Explain why you chose this theory and how this theory matches or aligns with the services, assessments, and interventions of the program or agency you are planning to research for the Unit 8 Assignment

Essay Writing Assignment for Chapter 8.

 

Evidence-Based Practices Community Presentation

Your social welfare presentation in Unit 6 was a success! Now, you have been asked to create a written document that will be shared with your supervisor or Board of Directors about the program or agency identified in the Unit 6 Assignment. For this document, you are focusing on educating the audience about specific human service skills and the assessment and intervention strategies of your agency, based upon a chosen theoretical framework.

For this assignment, please respond to the following:

Agency Purpose/Mission, Target Population, and Program or Services

  • Briefly review and summarize the agency’s purpose or mission, target population, the program description, and services provided.

Theoretical Orientation and Practice

  • Choose one theory from the textbook or supplemental readings that you are drawn to and one that resonates with your career interests/professional role. Explain why you chose this theory and how this theory matches or aligns with the services, assessments, and interventions of the program or agency.

Assessment and Intervention Skills

  • Research and locate at least one assessment tool or RAI (Rapid Assessment Instrument), and at least two evidence-based interventions (EBIs) for your program. Identify the assessment and interventions chosen, which should align with your target population, the objectives of the program, and the agency’s mission or purpose. Then, explain what human services skills are needed to conduct the assessment and interventions you have chosen.

Conclusion

  • Briefly tie together the main points presented in the document, highlighting how the theory aligns with the best practice assessments and interventions for the program.

Assignment Guidelines

Your Assignment should be a 3-5 page expository essay, not including the title and reference pages, and should include the following elements:

  • Title page: Provide your name, title of Assignment, course and section number, and date
  • Body: Answer all the questions in complete sentences and paragraphs, using the provided headings as a guideline in your paper
    • Your responses should reflect professional writing standards using proper tone and language. The writing and writing style should be correct, accurate, and reflect knowledge of human service theories.
  • Reference page: Sources in APA format
    • Include a minimum of four scholarly, academic sources, with one of these references being the textbook.
  • Use Arial or Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced, and left aligned
  • Use standard 1″ margins on all sides
  • Use APA Formatting and Citation style
    • If you need assistance with APA style, please visit the Writing Center.

This Assignment assesses the following Course Outcomes:

HN501-4: Explains skills for assessment and intervention in human service delivery.

PC-5.1: Use language that is clear, concise, and organized.

Submitting Your Assignment

Save your file in a location and with a name that you will remember. When you are ready to submit, select the Unit 8 Assignment Dropbox and upload your file. To view your graded work after your instructor has evaluated it, please visit your Gradebook.