Develop a research question you could address using a qualitative approach. Explain what you would expect to learn about the topic using this approach.

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Researchers must take into account the nature of theories and research interests to determine the best approach for collecting data. Some theories are quantitative in nature, and others are qualitative. Researchers may also prefer to collect quantitative versus qualitative data, or a combination of the two, in order to answer specific research questions of interest. It is important to understand strengths and limitations of these approaches and to recognize when it is appropriate to apply each.

For this Assignment, you will examine qualitative and quantitative data collections approaches in a 3-5 page expository paper. Be sure to address the following in your paper:

Part 1. Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative data collection approaches.

  • Explain what each approach entails.
  • Describe two benefits and two limitations of each approach.
  • Analyze the major differences between the two approaches.

Part 2. Choose a research topic that is of interest to you. Briefly describe the topic.

  • Develop a research question you could address using a qualitative approach. Explain what you would expect to learn about the topic using this approach.
  • Develop a research question you could address using a quantitative approach. Explain what you would expect to learn about the topic using this approach.
  • Discuss two limitations of each approach to understanding the research topic.

The Assignment should:

  • Utilize a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources outside of your textbook to support your paper.
  • Follow Assignment directions (review grading rubric for best results).
  • Use correct APA formatting per the current APA Publication Manual.
  • Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard English.
  • Be written in Standard English and be clear, specific, and error-free.

Your paper should include:

  • Title Page
  • Main Body of the paper
  • Reference Page
  • 3-5 Pages in length

Submitting your Assignment

Put your Assignment in a Word document. Save it in a location that you will remember and with your full name along with the class number. When you are ready to submit it to the unit Dropbox. You should revisit the Dropbox to view any helpful feedback your instructor has left for you.

Analyze how social psychology theory can be applied to identify and reduce sources of social influence in a debate setting. Write an introductory paragraph or two.

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Preparation

Use the Capella Library and the Internet to research theories of social psychology and strategies for minimizing social influence in political debates. Some suggestions for keyword searches include (but are not limited to): debate format analysis; moderator influence; the impact of social and mainstream media; self-presentation and visual influence; minimizing bias; presentation style, and voter perception.

The authentic deliverable for this assessment is a proposal with an executive summary. There are many resources on the Internet and free templates or examples, if you choose to use one as a guide for completing this assessment. This assessment is also an exercise in disciplined professional writing. Carefully parsing down information to maximize conveyance of knowledge with the minimum of space is as rigorous as writing an academic paper.

Instructions

Assume the role described in the following scenario as you complete this assessment.

Scenario

You are a political consultant to a “better government” citizen group, such as the League of Women Voters. You have been hired to develop guidelines for holding neutral and fair public town hall–style debates, covered by social and mainstream media, to ensure that the voters make up their own minds as free of social influence as possible.

Deliverable

Develop a proposal of research-based guidelines for neutral and fair public debates and media coverage. The first part of the proposal is an executive summary, which should be about one page in length.

The Executive Summary

Writing must be succinct, clear, and comprehensible to a layperson. The purpose of the executive summary is to:

  • Provide a concise analysis of the problem.
  • Explain the rationale.
  • Report the main conclusions.

The first two subheadings constitute the executive summary portion of your proposal:

Analysis of the Issue: Social Influence and Politics
  • Analyze how social psychology theory can be applied to identify and reduce sources of social influence in a debate setting.
    • Write an introductory paragraph or two.
Analysis of the Issue: Perception and Bias
  • Assess how social context (relationships, groups, and culture) influences perception and behavior in a debate setting.
    • Write an explanatory paragraph or two.
Proposed Guidelines
  • Write research-based guidelines for fair public debates and media coverage.
    • Use subheadings to organize content.
    • Use bullet points and phrases for main points, in addition to short, succinct paragraphs.
    • Include a visual, such as a graph, table, or chart to succinctly convey information, if you choose.
Guidelines for Fair Public Debate
  • Integrate principles of social psychology and research to develop guidelines for fair public debate.
    • Consider the following guiding questions as you develop the guidelines.
      • How does the format affect voter perception?
      • How can a moderator influence voter perception?
      • How can social and mainstream media be managed in a debate for balance?
      • Consider the implications of visuals and voter perception.
      • What participant behaviors would you prohibit?
      • How do you propose to manage the behavior of the audience?
References
  • Support positions with references from scholarly and professional literature.
    • Support each guideline with at least one reference using APA format and style.

Additional Requirements

  • Length: Maximum length is 3–4 pages.
  • References: Your references may include both scholarly literature and practitioner sources. Support each guideline with at least one current reference.
  • Written communication: Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, mechanics, and APA format and style.

Explain how social psychology theories or principles could be applied to account for each of the responses in the scenario (e.g., which principles/theories could explain response type A; which principles/theories could explain response type B, and so on).

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Submit a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

  • Prepare:
  • Review the Hock (2020) readings on social psychology theories and principles. Think about the influence of environmental and social context on behavior.
  • Reflect on the following social media scenario:
    You are reading posts in your favorite social media site, when you come across a post by a 19-year-old male. He writes that he was raped at a party last night and he’s afraid they will post pictures of it online. He is contemplating suicide. You notice three types of behaviors in the comments to him:
  1. A small group of individuals are using profanity and belittling him. They are encouraging him to commit suicide.
  2.  A larger group of individuals are making supportive comments and providing the number for a crisis help line.
  3. Many of his online followers have not responded to his post.
  • Think about how social psychology theories or principles could be applied to explain the types of comments made to the 19-year-old in the scenario.

Submit a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

  • Describe the impact of social context on conformity, obedience, and helping behaviors.
  • Explain how social psychology theories or principles could be applied to account for each of the responses in the scenario (e.g., which principles/theories could explain response type A; which principles/theories could explain response type B, and so on). Be sure to support your assertions with scholarly content.
  • Provide at least one recommendation to help reduce the derogatory comments or increase the number of supportive comments in the scenario, based on what you have learned about social psychology.

Reference

Hock, R. R. (2020). Forty studies that changed psychology: Explorations into the history of Psychological research (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

  • Chapter 3, “Learning and Conditioning”
    • Reading 3.4: “See Aggression…Do Aggression!”
  • Chapter 10, “Social Psychology”
    • Reading 10.1: “A Prison by Any Other Name”
    • Reading 10.2: “The Power of Conformity”
    • Reading 10.3: “To Help or Not to Help”
    • Reading 10.4: “Obey at Any Cost?”

Bussey, K., & Bandura, A. (1984). Influence of gender constancy and social power on sex-linked modeling. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47(6), 1292–1302.

How would this knowledge help you better assist your clients, students, or patients? For instance, think of how this knowledge would help reduce the stigma associated with this disorder, or how this might reinforce the need for compliance with recommended treatment.

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Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read Chapters 3 and 4 in your course textbook, and watch The nervous system and the senses video. This week’s required and recommended materials will cover topics on neurotransmitters, receptors, neurotransmitter systems, nervous system structures and function, and neural pathways, with a focus on their role in cognition and behavior (both normal and abnormal). Remember, in this course our focus is on the neurobiology of psychological disorders, and these resources will assist you in completing your coursework.

Please choose either Option A or Option B for your discussion posting.

Option A

Complete the following:

  • Evaluate one of the neurotransmitters covered in this week’s readings.
    • Explain the role it plays in modulating responses to a drug of abuse in Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
      • For example, you could choose the acetylcholine receptor system and discuss the role this neurotransmitter plays in nicotine use disorder (addiction to nicotine).
    • In addition to your evaluation of the specific neurotransmitter and its associated receptor system, discuss the involved neuroanatomical structures (brain regions and neural pathways); the contribution of genetics and environment to the development of dependence, tolerance, and addiction to this substance; as well as clinical treatment interventions (both pharmacological and nonpharmacological).
    • Also in your discussion, imagine you are in a career position that utilizes a degree in psychology, including, but not limited to, that of a social worker, teacher or teacher’s aide, child care worker, psychiatric technician or other behavioral health staff, peer support specialist, social service specialist, probation or parole officer, case manager, or counselor.
      • How would your knowledge of the neurobiology of Substance Use Disorder (substance abuse/addiction) help you in your professional life?
      • How would this knowledge help you better assist your clients, students, or patients?
        • For instance, think of how this knowledge would help reduce the stigma associated with this disorder, or how this might reinforce the need for compliance with recommended treatment.

You must use a minimum of one peer-reviewed or scholarly source that was published within the last five years, documented in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Your post should be a minimum of 250 words. You may cite and reference your textbook, required or recommended reading, or multimedia, but these will not fulfill the source requirement.

Make sure to use terminology from the DSM-5 for the substance use disorder that you select to discuss. Please be sure to access the DSM-5 directly in our library. For further information view The DSM-5: Accessing and Using the DSM-5 in the Ashford University Library (Links to an external site.) screencast on how to access and use this resource, and how to cite and reference the DSM-5.

Option B

Complete the following:

  • Evaluate one of the neurotransmitters covered in this week’s readings.
    • Explain the role it plays in a neurological or psychological disorder of your choice.
      • For example, you could choose the dopaminergic (dopamine) system and discuss the role this neurotransmitter has in the development of schizophrenia.
    • In addition to your evaluation of the specific neurotransmitter and its associated receptor system, discuss how this disorder is thought to involve abnormalities of neuroanatomical structures and neural pathways, as well as the contribution of genetics and environment to the development and clinical management of this disorder.
    • Also in your discussion, imagine you are in a career position that utilizes a degree in psychology, including but not limited to that of a social worker, teacher or teacher’s aide, child care worker, psychiatric technician or other behavioral health staff, peer support specialist, social service specialist, probation or parole officer, case manager, or counselor.
      • How would your knowledge of this information regarding the neurobiology of the neuropsychological disorder help you in your professional life?
      • How would this knowledge help you better assist your clients, students, or patients?
        • For instance, think of how this knowledge would help reduce the stigma associated with this disorder, or how this might reinforce the need for compliance with recommended treatment.

You must use a minimum of one peer-reviewed or scholarly source that was published within the last five years, documented in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Your post should be a minimum of 250 words. You may cite and reference your textbook, required or recommended reading, or multimedia, but these will not fulfill the source requirement.

Make sure to use terminology from the DSM-5 for psychological/behavioral health conditions and current terminology from professional sources for neurological conditions. Please be sure to access the DSM-5 directly in our library. For further information view The DSM-5: Accessing and Using the DSM-5 in the Ashford University Library (Links to an external site.) screencast on how to access and use this resource, and how to cite and reference the DSM-5.

Guided Response: Respond substantively to a minimum of two of your classmate’s original posts, preferably those that have identified neurotransmitters different than you. Each of your responses should address both the neurotransmitter/receptor system and neuroanatomical structures involved for either the drug of abuse or the neurological or psychological disorder that your peer analyzed. In addition, please observe the following guidelines for all responses:

  • Provide a courteous and interactive learning environment.
  • Continue to monitor the discussion board throughout the active learning week and reply to anyone (instructor or classmate) who has chosen to respond to your original post.
  • Your responses should address (at minimum) both the neurotransmitter and receptor system in their discussion, as well as the drug of abuse and/or the neurological or psychological disorder they assessed.
  • Your responses should demonstrate that you have read the existing replies on the board (in your response, mention information and viewpoints already expressed by existing responses to the same post)