Forensic Psychology And Ethical Implications

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For this paper, you will examine the ethical implications of a controversial topic related to forensic psychology.
Choose from the following topics:

  1. Psychologists’ involvement in military interrogations
  2. Psychologists’ involvement in assessments related to death penalty cases

In 1,000-1,250 words, consider the following:

  1. Discuss human rights as it relates to the controversy.
  2. Explain ethical implications that may arise for both sides of the controversy.

A minimum of three peer-reviewed sources and the textbook should be used to support this paper.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide

Choose one of the two topics for your written assignment:

1. Psychologists’ involvement in assessments related to death penalty cases

OR

2. Psychologists’ involvement in military interrogations

For either topic, in addition to any relevant case law or issues, all relevant enforceable APA Standards should be cited. Cited sources should be current, according to rubric criteria (within the past 5 years). Keep in mind how the Code has evolved, even up until recently, in 2015 and 2016.

For the first topic, be sure to review

  • Chapter 12 hot topic: The Use of Assessments in Expert Testimony (Fisher, p. 305-307)
  • Chapter 4 hot topic: Human Rights and Psychologists’ Involvement in Assessments Related to Death Penalty Cases (Fisher, p. 64-66).
  • In addition to 1.02, aspects of Standards 2, 3, 4 and 9 should also be cited in this paper.

For topic # 2, review:

  • The 2010 Amendments (Fisher, p. 8)
  • APA Council Resolution 23-B (2015) http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2015/08/psychologist-interrogations.aspx
  • APA (2013). Policy Related to Psychologists’ Work in National Security Settings. Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/about/policy/national-security.aspx
  • 2016 Amendment to Ethics Code: Standard 3.04b.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

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2. Personal Reflections– reflection/journaling is a useful way to make personal meaning out of class readings and discussions by relating these to your own experiences. Reflect on the material you have read or that has been discussed during a recent class. Record your entries (typed and dated, please!) on individual sheets of paper that you keep in a folder. I will collect your reflections ON EXAM DAYS; late reflections will NOT be accepted.  Your reflections will be kept strictly confidential.

You will complete 10 1-2 page, 3-part essays in which you will provide

  1. a short description of a personal experience or observation that illustrates a psychological concept from each chapter discussed in class,
  2. a brief explanation of the theory or research dealing with the experience described in (a);
  3. an evaluation of whether or not the theory or research “fits” with your own personal experience, including why or why not it’s a good “fit”

How is schizophrenia diagnosed?

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You are considered an expert in your field and your supervisor has asked you to speak at an upcoming symposium addressing several topics of abnormal psychology. Your presentation must outline the symptoms, treatments, and popularly held views of schizophrenia.

Create an 8- to 10-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation that includes an introduction and a conclusion.

Address the following in your presentation:

  • What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?
  • How is schizophrenia diagnosed?
  • How is schizophrenia explained by the biological, psychological, and sociocultural views?
  • What are the various methods of treating schizophrenia?
  • Does any one treatment seem to be more effective than the others? If so, which treatment and why?

Format consistent with APA guidelines.

Click the Assignment Files tab to submit your assignment

Choose one of the following topics/issues and read about it at the indicated place:

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Your goal for this assignment is to apply an ethical theory to a real-world situation. You will examine an environmental issue and apply one of the ethical theories to understand how human interactions with the natural environment raise ethical concerns. You will do this by preparing and posting a PowerPoint slideshow consisting of 12 slides and a separate section under each slide for notes.

  • Choose one of the following topics/issues and read about it at the indicated place:
    • Environmental justice/environmental racism (Article: Environmental Justice for All)
    • Environmental harm/pollution of air and water (Chapter 8 in the textbook)
    • Waste reduction (Chapter 8 in the textbook)
  • Select one philosophical theory (utilitarianism, deontology, or virtue ethics). Consider the following questions pertaining to the theory you have selected:
    • What does the theory tell us about how things operate in the real world?
    • What is the focus of the theory? That is, what aspects of everyday life (or what questions) does the theory address?

The focus (or questions) helps you think about the topical boundaries of the theory. This course is about ethics and social responsibility, so you should concentrate on the ethical and moral aspects of the theory and of the topic you are analyzing. It may help to think in terms of different realms or institutions. Does the theory help to explain people’s behavior from a political, economic, religious, or ethical perspective? Try to sort through everything that does not represent an ethical question, and address only the ethical issues.

    • How does the theory simplify complex issues to make them more understandable? Another way to think about this is to consider the elements or concepts that make up the theory. Identify the concepts and how they are related to each other.
  • Develop one thesis question that applies your philosophical theory to your environmental issue. You will address this question in developing an argument that links the theory to the issue (through your notes and pictures), so make sure you word your question carefully to accomplish this task. Indicate this thesis question on your second slide (the one after the title slide).
  • Next, develop an ethical argument that addresses your question. Use the text and/or look for academic sources to support your position. Build your argument by writing nine sentences. Each sentence should make one important point about the ethical aspects of the environmental issue you are analyzing and should be placed on one slide each.
  • Underneath each slide you will also add presentation notes. The notes are written information that you would normally say or share with an audience during a presentation, but that they do not actually see on the slide. Your notes should also make use of at least two academic sources and elaborate on the image and sentence in each slide.
    • To add notes to your slide, go the section at the bottom of each slide in Power Point and click on the option that says “Click to add notes.” Type your notes into that section.
    • Make sure your presentation focuses on ethical arguments and avoids personal opinion, arguments based on politics, economics, religion, or topics other than ethics.
  • Find a photo to illustrate each slide, and post the photo on the slide above the sentence. Search the Internet for photos that are appropriate. Make sure the photos you use are not copyright protected; you should only use photos that are in the public domain. Also, make sure you cite the sources from which you retrieved your photos directly underneath the photo on each slide.

The slideshow should be 12 slides long; one slide for title page, one for the thesis question, nine slides for your arguments (i.e., main sentences) and notes, and one slide for your references. You should use at least two academic sources other than the textbook as references. All citations and references must be in the APA format as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. This assignment must be submitted as a PowerPoint presentation. Other formats (i.e., PDF files, Word documents, etc.) are not acceptable. If you are unfamiliar with how to use PowerPoint, see: Basic tasks in PowerPoint 2010.

Before submitting your assignment, you may want to visit the Ashford Writing Center (AWC) for feedback. The Ashford Writing Center (AWC)  has two kinds of tutoring available to you.

  • Live Chat: If you have writing-related questions about a topic before you draft a discussion post or submit a written assignment, you will now be able to chat live with a tutor for up to 20 minutes. Live Chat will be available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (PST). AWC Live Chat
  • Email Paper Review: If you have a draft, partial draft, or even if you’re having trouble getting started, you can complete a submission form and email your paper to the AWC for review.
    • Writing Tutors will do their best to return your paper with their comments within 48 hours, not including Saturdays and Sundays. Please plan accordingly if you would like to receive feedback before an assignment due date. AWC Email Paper Review

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Late Policy: Written assignments (essays, journals, presentations) are due on the specified days in the course. Written assignments will be subject to a late penalty of up to 10% per day up to three days late. If written assignments are submitted after 72 hours past the due date, instructors can give a penalty up to and including a grade of 0 for the assignment.