research paper. please see the attached files for further instructions. APA. 4 pages Each student will choose a psychological disorder to research. Choose two lenses of diversity (examples below) from
Research Project- Mental Health
Development Across the Life Span (PSYC103)
PSYC 103: Principles of Human Growth and Development, which is approved as a Behavioral Science General Education Course, focuses on the scientific study of the physical, socioemotional, cognitive, and personality development, which occur over the human life span from conception until death. Topics addressed in this course include the effects of heredity, environment, and culture on human behavior and mental processes during prenatal development, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, ageing, and end of life.
Students who successfully complete the course should be able to meet the following objectives:
Written and Oral Communication—find, evaluate, use, and cite research pertaining to psychology topics.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning—apply major theoretical perspectives with data derived from psychological research to maximize self-management and self-improvement, and to resolve personal, relational, social and/or workplace situations;
Information Literacy—evaluate the authenticity, timeliness, relevance, and validity of psychological information found in print, online resources, film, television, radio, and other resources.
Local and Global Diversity—evaluate the role of religion, race, class, gender, and ethnicity in the formation of behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions;
Personal and Professional Ethics—explain the ethical considerations that govern psychological research with humans and animals.
Purpose: The consideration of diversity in psychology has been a recent phenomenon. As you may have noticed in the chapters of your textbook that cover the history of psychology, the prominent figures in the early history of the field were white, educated, higher-socioeconomic status men. Moreover, researchers rarely included in their studies participants who represented a variety of diverse backgrounds such as gender, age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, or ability. While the field of psychology is becoming increasingly more inclusive of diverse populations in both research and practice, too often we do not have the chance to learn about topics in psychology through these various lenses of diversity. Furthermore, we rarely consider the intersectionality of these lenses as they apply to psychological topics. As you know, there are several lenses of diversity – for example, race, class, gender, sexuality, age, and ability; “each has its own dynamic, but a dynamic that can only be truly understood in relationship to the others” (Andersen & Collins, 2013, p. xii). This assignment provides an opportunity for you to examine through two lenses of diversity a psychological disorder. Moreover, through this assignment, you will get to examine the intersectionality – or interconnections - between several aspects of diversity as they interact with your chosen topic. Finally, you will have the opportunity to consider how what you have learned through your research might influence the work of psychologists and others who work in the field.
Assignment:
Each student will choose a psychological disorder to research. Choose two lenses of diversity (examples below) from which to consider your topic. For example, if you choose a particular psychological disorder, how would age be a factor for the disorder? How would gender or socioeconomic status intersect with the development, diagnosis, or treatment of the disorder?
You will write a paper that details information about the psychological disorder that you have chosen as well as consider your topic through two lenses of diversity. It will parallel the format of a conceptual academic article and should follow this layout:
Introduction: Your introduction should include some brief background on a) your chosen topic that sets the context for your paper, and b) the diversity lenses you intend to use to explore your topic. Additionally, your introduction must include a purpose or thesis statement.
Review of the literature: The literature review allows you to see what has already been researched and written on your chosen topic through the two lenses of diversity you selected. In this section, please report the major findings from your research.
Analysis and discussion: In this section, you will make connections between the literature you reviewed. Please consider the following:
What does the literature say about your topic and the lenses of diversity you selected?
How do the intersections between these lenses of diversity help you better understand the topic? For example, assume your topic is depression, and two of the lenses you selected are race and gender. What intersections between these lenses are important in understanding depression? Is depression (diagnosis, course, treatment) different for a Black male than a white female?
Implications: When reviewing literature for a research paper, it is important for the researcher to consider the implications of his or her findings. Imagine that your paper will inform the practice of psychologists, therapists, or other mental health professionals. Based on what you learned through your research, how do you believe your findings should influence the ethical principles that guide standards of behavior and conduct within the field of psychology? Please offer at least one specific example.
This concluding section should include a conclusion that ties your paper together. State how your paper has fulfilled the intended purpose identified in your thesis statement.
When writing this paper, please incorporate a minimum of five academically sound sources, including websites and a minimum of one research journal. Your paper should include both in-text citations and a full reference list at the end of your paper. The paper, including citations and references, should be written according to an approved writing style guide (for this psychology course you would use APA (American Psychological Association) format, unless otherwise directed).
Your paper will need to be a minimum of four pages typed in Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced with one-inch margins. Any cover or references pages are not included in the page count.
Your paper should have an introductory paragraph that includes a thesis statement, which sets the foundation for the rest of the paper and helps the reader know what to expect. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that ties back to the thesis statement. Additionally, each body paragraph should support the thesis statement. Finally, a conclusion paragraph will allow you to tie together the main concepts of your paper and once again connect the thesis to the supporting points. Please write a paper that reflects correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Your ideas are important, and too many errors make it difficult for the reader to understand what you are sharing about your topic.
While you may include direct quotations as appropriate, please write the paper in your own words, giving credit to others’ ideas by using correct citation format. Most of your paper should be your ideas and in your own words. Your audience wants to read the connections you have made based on the sources you reviewed. Your paper will be automatically submitted through Urkund to check for plagiarism. If your Urkund score is 20% or more, you will automatically receive a zero as your grade for the research project.
Submission Guidelines:
Completed paper is due according to syllabus deadline. See Assignment Due Date list included in your syllabus.
Grading:
Your paper accounts for 50 points. Your paper will be graded based on the research project rubric.
Assignment Resources:
Your instructor will share with you a collection of resources to support you in completing this assignment to the best of your ability. Remember that writing well is a skill that comes from practice. By utilizing the resources provided by your instructor along with campus resources such as librarians and the campus writing centers, you can write a paper that you (and your reader) find interesting, informative, and meaningful!
Examples of Diversity Lenses:
Gender
Race
Ethnicity
Socioeconomic status
Religion
Ability/disability
Sexual orientation
Family structure
Resources:
Info on how to determine if a source is credible/academically sound
Examples:
http://owll.massey.ac.nz/academic-writing/identifying-academic-sources.php
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/553/
Info on accessing databases, how to use Google Scholar, etc. (the library already has handouts on these topics that we can include)
Info on how to write a thesis statement
Examples:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/01/
Writing worksheets that help students structure their papers (identifying the topic of body paragraphs, supporting details, etc.); I have worksheets that I have created that I am happy to share
Info on APA format (library also has handouts/packets for these)
Contact information for resources
Library hours, locations, and phone numbers
Writing center hours, locations, and phone numbers
These two sites are excellent – comprehensive and easily searchable.
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
