What ought psychology to do? American Psychologist

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Instructions:

  • Choose initial posts; comment on them; present your views.  
  • In order to receive the maximum number of points go beyond merely agreeing or disagreeing in your response. In other words, bring to the Discussion Forum new information that respectfully challenges your peers to think further about what he or she posted.
  • When you begin, type the name of the person you are replying to.
  • Make an analysis of the other person’s work/thinking.
  • Be sure to cite Jackson’s (2000) article throughout your post.
    • Respond to 2 peers
    • The expectation is that response posts will add factual information to the discussion, whether in agreement or disagreement with the peer’s original post. 
    • 75-100 words
  • Reply to: Amber

 

Reverend Jesse Jackson (2000) passionately and poignantly appeals to the American Psychological Association to join the fight for social equality. Pointing to the larger social precepts that allow for racial and economic discrimination, Jackson (2000) asks the APA to survey the bigger picture of society. Pointing to discrimination in health care access as well as racial and neurological discrepancies in prison sentencing, Jackson (2000) implores the APA to inform democracy. He asserts that there are fundamental social bias’ that allow laws and policies to favor the rich and exclude the poor (Jackson, 2000).

As a minister, Jackson ends his speech by pointing to the biblical narrative of the lost sheep. In the story, the good shepherd leaves the 99 safe sheep to seek and save the 1 sheep that is lost. In the biblical account, Jesus is the good shepherd and this distinction, in my opinion, is the problem in Jackson’s (2000) appeal.

While the problems that Jackson (2000) addresses are real, trying to apply biblical principles through a secular medium is impossible. The APA is not built on love and goodwill for all. I believe that the church is the vehicle that God chose to heal the world. Yes, we (the church) are failing. Yes, we have allowed fear and self-protection to replace radical generosity and love, never-the-less, Jesus remains the hope of the world. I think that Jackson (2000) and King (1968) were both prophetic in their perception of the innate brokenness of humanity that leads to prejudice and power-struggle in society. However, I do not think that an institution that is devoid of God can bring a deep level of healing that our world desperately needs.

Jackson, J. (2000). What ought psychology to do? American Psychologist, 55(5), 328-330. ISSN: 1935-990X (Electronic)

King, M.L., Jr. (1968). The role of the behavioral scientist in the Civil Rights movement. American Psychologist, 23(3), 180-186. ISSN: 1935-990X (Electronic)

Apply the presented point of view to the research findings.

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Assessment Instructions

Watch the video, Mary Ainsworth: Attachment and the Growth of Love, about her research with the strange situation test. Use the Case Analysis Worksheet [DOCX] and your understanding of the case study to analyze assumptions and evidence presented in the video.

To fill out the worksheet, work your way through the table of analysis components, and include your responses in the rows next to the components. There are notes in the table to help you identify what is needed in each area. As you complete the worksheet, make sure your responses accomplish the following:

  • Explain the main purpose for researching this phenomenon in the case and developing a theory in child development.
  • Apply the presented point of view to the research findings.
    • Identify the video’s position or point of view. Who, or what group, is represented?
  • Describe the physical, social, or cognitive aspects of child development discovered.
    • Highlight the primary arguments the author makes in regards to each category.
  • Apply theories of child development to the case.
    • Summarize and cite at least one other child development theory to apply.
    • Compare and contrast your selected theory with the theory within the case to explain your rationale.
  • Apply existing research findings to a suggested recreation of research.
    • Imagine recreating this research. What would you change in order to obtain stronger results?
Additional Requirements

As you write your responses, be sure to:

  • Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional.
  • Use APA format and style.

Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save this learning activity to your ePortfolio.

CASE STUDY ANALYSIS  WORKSHEET BELOW

Analysis

Case Study Analysis Worksheet

Use this worksheet and your understanding of the experiment to analyze assumptions and evidence in the video, Mary Ainsworth: Attachment and the Growth of Love, which covers the strange situation test.

To fill out the worksheet, work your way through the analysis components and include your responses in the boxes next to the components. There are notes in the margins to help you identify what is needed in each box. You will submit this worksheet in Assessment 1.

Name: [Delete this message and insert your name]

Analysis Components:

[Please write the reference for the video here, in APA format.]

The main purpose of this research: [State as accurately as possible the purpose of the research developing a theory in child development.]

The point of view: [Identify the position or point of view the video wants you to align with. Who, or what group, is represented?]

The arguments (main points) the video makes: [Describe physical, social, and cognitive aspects of child development discovered.]

What other theories seem to relate to this case study? [Summarize and cite at least one other theory to apply. Then compare and contrast it with the theory in the case to explain your rationale.]

Imagine recreating this research. What would you change in order to obtain stronger results?

 

Complete the Probability and Statistical Analysis Worksheet.

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 IMPORTANT: PLEASE FILL IN THE  ANSWERS on the worksheet THAT IS PROVIDED.

Resource: Pulse Rate Dataset

This worksheet provides you with experience in calculating (by hand or using Microsoft®Excel®) the formulas from the weekly readings. Using these formulas and performing these calculations will provide you with an understanding of how and why statistical formulas work and what they mean. This worksheet also provides you the opportunity to interpret results in the context of specific problems, which will assist you in critically evaluating current research in your field.

Complete the Probability and Statistical Analysis Worksheet.

  • Data

    Height Weight Age Gender Smokes Alcohol Exercise Ran Pulse1 Pulse2
    173 57 18 2 2 1 2 2 86 88
    179 58 19 2 2 1 2 1 82 150
    167 62 18 2 2 1 1 1 96 176
    195 84 18 1 2 1 1 2 71 73
    173 64 18 2 2 1 3 2 90 88
    184 74 22 1 2 1 3 1 78 141
    162 57 20 2 2 1 2 2 68 72
    169 55 18 2 2 1 2 2 71 77
    164 56 19 2 2 1 1 2 68 68
    168 60 23 1 2 1 2 1 88 150
    170 75 20 1 2 1 1 1 76 88
    178 58 19 1 2 2 3 2 74 76
    170 68 22 1 1 1 2 2 70 71
    187 59 18 1 2 1 1 2 78 82
    180 72 18 1 2 1 2 2 69 67
    185 110 22 1 2 1 3 2 77 73
    170 56 19 1 2 2 3 2 64 63
    180 70 18 1 2 1 2 1 80 146
    166 56 21 2 1 2 2 2 83 79
    155 50 19 2 2 2 2 2 78 79
    175 60 19 1 2 2 3 2 88 86
    140 50 34 2 2 2 3 1 70 98
    163 55 20 2 2 2 3 2 78 74
    182 75 26 1 1 1 2 2 80 76
    176 59 19 1 2 2 2 2 68 69
    177 74 18 2 2 2 2 1 70 96
    170 60 18 1 2 1 2 2 62 59
    172 60 21 2 2 2 3 2 81 79
    189 60 19 1 2 1 2 1 78 168
    178 56 21 2 2 1 2 1 86 150
    175 75 20 1 2 1 2 1 59 92
    180 85 19 1 1 1 2 1 68 125
    160 57 19 2 2 2 2 1 75 130
    164 66 23 2 2 2 3 1 74 168
    175 65 19 1 2 1 2 1 60 104
    163 55 20 2 2 2 2 1 70 119
    185 90 18 1 2 2 3 1 80 140
    169 68 19 1 2 2 2 2 58 58
    165 63 18 2 2 1 2 2 84 84
    155 49 18 2 2 1 2 2 104 92
    175 66 20 1 2 1 2 2 66 68
    178 63 23 1 2 1 3 2 84 90
    184 65 21 1 1 2 2 2 65 67
    170 60 19 2 2 1 2 2 80 80
    162 60 19 2 2 1 2 2 66 60
    164 46 18 2 2 2 2 2 104 96
    171 70 26 2 2 2 2 2 76 76
    182 85 20 1 1 1 3 2 70 68
    174 60 19 2 2 1 3 1 66 89
    167 70 22 1 1 1 3 2 92 84
    157 41 20 2 2 2 2 1 70 95
    183 73 20 1 2 1 2 2 63 65
    167 75 20 2 2 1 2 2 65 67
    171 67 18 2 2 1 3 2 76 74
    182 63 20 1 2 1 1 1 56 110

    Information

    Variable Description
    Height Height (cm)
    Weight Weight (kg)
    Age Age (years)
    Gender Sex (1 = male, 2 = female)
    Smokes Regular smoker? (1 = yes, 2 = no)
    Alcohol Regular drinker? (1 = yes, 2 = no)
    Exercise Frequency of exercise (1 = high, 2 = moderate, 3 = low)
    Ran Whether the student ran or sat between the first and second pulse measurements (1 = ran, 2 = sat)
    Pulse1 First pulse measurement (rate per minute)
    Pulse2 Second pulse measurement (rate per minute)

Research In Clinical Forensic Settings

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Research in Clinical Forensic Settings

The provision of clinical services in forensic settings is, in some ways, very similar to non-forensic settings. However, forensic populations may provide challenges not typically seen in other settings. One challenge in many forensic clinical settings is the prediction of future behavior. In many cases, the behavior of interest is violence. Violence, like many behaviors that are rare, is, at best, difficult to predict. Much research has been conducted on the various methods used to predict future violence. From actuarial risk measures to clinical intuition, forensic psychology researchers have debated the best way to assess the potential for violent acts.

Other psychological issues found in clinical forensic settings and that trigger research questions include the development of treatment programs to restore an individual’s competency to stand trial, the treatment of the criminally insane, sex offender assessment and treatment, and even the general evaluation of the need for long-term placement. Research can help forensic psychology professionals make important decisions in these and other related areas.

To prepare for this Discussion:

  • Review this week’s DVD program, “Application of Psychological Research – Clinical Settings.” Consider the areas of forensic psychology research that are relevant to forensic clinical settings.
  • Review the article, “ Actuarial Versus Clinical Assessments of Dangerousness,” in this week’s Learning Resources.
  • Pay particular attention to the studies discussed in the article and the key “takeaways” from these studies. Think about how a forensic psychology professional might use the findings of the studies in a forensic clinical setting.
  • Using the Walden Library, select and review another study, current or historical, that was conducted in a forensic clinical setting.
  • Again, focus on the key “takeaways” of the study you selected and think about how the findings might be used by a forensic psychology professional in forensic clinical settings.

 

Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.

Reading

  • Article: Litwack, T. R. (2001). Actuarial versus clinical assessments of dangerousness. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 7(2), 409-443.

    Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Media

  • Video: Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Understanding forensic psychology research: Application of psychological research – Clinical settings. Baltimore: Author.

 

Optional Resources

  • Note: Because of the ever-changing nature of websites such as those listed below, there is no guarantee that clips or websites will always be available. Hence, the following links are listed as Optional Resources only. However, it is highly recommended that you view them as they will assist you in completing one or more of your assignments.
  • Monograph: O’Toole, M. E. (n.d.). The school shooter: A threat assessment perspective. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/school-shooter
  • Article: Boothby, J. L., & Clements, C. B. (2000). A national survey of correctional psychologists. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 27(6), 716-732.
  • Article: Homant, R., & Kennedy, D. (1998). Psychological aspects of crime scene profiling. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 25(3), 319–343.
  • Report: U.S. Department of Justice. (2003). Federal Bureau of Prisons drug interdiction activities, report number 1-2003-002. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/BOP/e0302/final.pdf