Write a 5–7 page paper that focuses on challenging a flawed source of information about biopsychology, using evidence from credible and scholarly sources.
Backstory/Context: Biological systems influence our motivations. Some motivations—like eating—are pretty well understood. Other motivations remain a bit harder to explain. Understanding the biological aspect of the motivation we have is imperative for practitioners when understanding the behavior of their clients. Biology further contributes to our emotions and health. Think of your own emotional reactions or experiences of stress: what biological actions underlie such emotions or experiences? There are also biological building blocks behind our understanding of sex and gender. With this assessment, you will explore further one of these areas.
The easy availability of poor quality, outdated, or inaccurate information about how our brains work can make it challenging to find trustworthy information. The objective of this assessment is to practice finding and using credible evidence to counter flawed sources.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Choose ONE of the following controversial statements:
- Obesity is caused by a lack of willpower.
- There are large differences between men and women’s cognitive ability.
Find one flawed source of information on the Internet. To find a flawed source, look for one with a substantial number of errors.
- Read what the textbook says about the controversial statement.
- Use the controversial statement mentioned above and use it as your search word/phrase.
- If you don’t see a flawed source on the first page of results, skip to the third page of results or further.
- Look for sources that are not accurate based on the information in your textbook.
- Tips for finding flawed sources:
- Scroll through your social media feeds.
- Scroll through your results and look for sources that are NOT:
- .gov websites.
- News or press websites.
Then, find three peer-reviewed journal articles focused on the actions of the brain and body that underlie your topic.
In your paper:
- Describe one other field (such as biology or medical sciences) that studies your topic.
- Compare this field to psychology.
- Contrast this field to psychology.
- Explain the benefit of the two fields working together regarding your topic.
- Summarize your flawed source, including any evidence provided.
- Provide evidence from your three peer-reviewed journal articles.
- For each source:
- Discuss the methods, participants, and results.
- Explain the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the sources.
- Discuss whether the research is ethically based on the five APA ethical principles of psychologists. Refer to the specific principles and cite the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
- For each source:
- Relate the actions of the mind and body to psychological and physical health.
- Describe the actions of the brain and body involved.
- Connect these biological actions to your topic.
- Describe one of the psychological or behavioral theories that explain your topic.
- Describe the value and limitation of using theories to explain behavioral phenomena.
- Construct your own explanation to explain the cause of your topic.
- Explain your rationale.
- Refer back to evidence already presented in your paper.
Headings
Use headers to organize your paper. Recommended headers:
- Flawed source (Level 1).
- Peer-reviewed sources (Level 1).
- Source 1 (Level 2).
- Source 2 (Level 2).
- Source 3 (Level 2).
- Biological Mechanisms (Level 1).
- Theories (Level 1).
- Conclusion (Level 1).
- Written communication: Written communication is in professional style with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
- Resources: Use a minimum of six sources: your flawed source, the textbook the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, and three peer-reviewed journal articles.
- APA formatting: References and citations are formatted according to APA style and formatting
- Length: 5–7 double-spaced, typed pages.
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Grading Rubric: By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
- Competency 1: Relate the actions of the mind and body to psychological and physical health.
- Explain the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Relate the actions of the mind and body to psychological and physical health.
- Competency 2: Construct alternative explanations based on perceived flaws in behavioral claims.
- Describe a psychological theory.
- Construct an alternative explanation based on perceived flaws in behavioral claims.
- Competency 3: Examine psychological research from the standpoint of adherence to the APA Ethics Code in psychological research involving human or nonhuman research participants.
- Explain psychological research from the standpoint of adherence to the APA Ethics Code in psychological research.
- Competency 4: Expose flawed sources of information.
- Choose a flawed source of information.
- Explain peer-reviewed evidence.
- Competency 5: Write for purpose in a well organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
- Use headers to organize paper.
- Use APA style formatting for citations and reference list with only minor errors.
- Address assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
