Emotions and Goal-Directed Motivation

Write a 5-page assessment in which you compare and contrast the research methodologies and results of at least two different studies on motivation and performance associated with a specific emotion.

Suggested Resources

The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.

Capella Resources

Click the links provided to view the following resources:

• What Is Scholarly?

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Library Resources

The following e-books or articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course:

• Whiteley, P. (2002). Motivation. Oxford, UK: Capstone Publishing.

Course Library Guide

A Capella University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the PSYC-FP3770 – Psychology of Human Motivation and Performance Library Guide to help direct your research.

Bookstore Resources

The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assessments in this course and are not required. Unless noted otherwise, these materials are available for purchase from the Capella University Bookstore. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course ID with the specific –FP (FlexPath) course designation.

• Franken, R. E. (2007). Human motivation (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Assessment Instructions

Write a paper comparing and contrasting the research methodologies and results of at least two different studies on motivation and performance associated with a specific emotion.

Preparation

This assessment requires you to identify a topic to research and then to examine the results and methods of two studies on the selected topic. The topic must be an emotion and its effect on goal-directed motivation.

An important skill in conducting research is to narrow the focus of your topic to keep the content manageable and to facilitate finding supportive evidence. To identify a topic:

• Select a positive or negative emotion that has an effect on goal-directed motivation, and then begin to narrow the focus of the topic.
• Continue to narrow the focus of your topic with consideration for other relevant factors, such as age of the research subjects (adults versus children), their gender, their educational level, or other demographic or topical factors. Your goal is to identify a research topic that is appropriately narrow and can be sharply defined, and for which research is available.
• Do some preliminary research to ensure that you have sufficient sources for your topic. You must locate at least two peer-reviewed research journal articles on your chosen topic from the Capella library. To find sources, select key words and enter them into the Summon search engine in the Capella University Library. If you do not find sufficient resources, revise the focus of your topic and try again.
• Finally, develop a working title for your paper (for example, "The Benefits of Hope in Peak Work Performance" or "Effects of Depression on Adolescent Academic Performance") that addresses the narrowed and manageable research topic.

After you identify a topic, select two studies to use as the focus for your paper.

Instructions

For this assessment, write a paper in which you complete the following:

• Describe, based upon current research, the effect of a selected negative or positive emotion on goal-directed motivation.
• Describe how the negative or positive emotion addressed by current research affects the biological, learned, and cognitive components of goal-directed motivation.
• Compare and contrast the research methods used in the two selected studies. What is the purpose of these studies? What are the research questions to be answered by these studies? Do the research results address the research questions?
• Identify the tools (interviews, surveys, questionnaires) and technologies (telephone, audio/videotapes, Internet) that were used in the selected studies.
• Conclude with what you learned from this research and how it may inform or describe your personal or professional behavior in similar circumstances.

Additional Requirements

Your paper should meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to APA sixth edition style and formatting.
• Number of resources: At least 3 scholarly academic resources are included.
• Length of paper: The length is a minimum of 5 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page and reference list.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12-point font is used.

Emotions and Goal-Directed Motivation Scoring Guide

CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED Describe, based upon current research, the effect of a negative or positive emotion on goal-directed motivation.Does not describe the effects of a negative or positive emotion on goal-directed motivation. Describes the effects of a negative or positive emotion on goal-directed motivation, but the description lacks specificity or clarity or is not based upon current research. Describes, based upon current research, the effect of a negative or positive emotion on goal-directed motivation. Describes, based upon current research, the effect of a negative or positive emotion on goal-directed motivation and provides numerous, specific examples that clearly demonstrate the effects described. Describe how a negative or positive emotion addressed by current research affects the biological, learned, and cognitive components of goal-directed motivation.Does not recognize how a negative or positive emotion addressed by current research affects the biological, learned, and cognitive components of goal-directed motivation. Recognizes but does not describe how a negative or positive emotion addressed by current research affects the biological, learned, and cognitive components of goal-directed motivation. Describes how a negative or positive emotion addressed by current research affects the biological, learned, and cognitive components of goal-directed motivation. Demonstrates how a negative or positive emotion addressed by current research affects the biological, learned, and cognitive components of goal-directed motivation. Provides numerous, specific examples that clearly demonstrate the effects described. Differentiate the purposes of two selected studies and the research questions each addresses.Does not identify the purposes of two selected studies and the research questions each addresses. Lists possible purposes of two selected studies and the research questions each addresses. Differentiates the purposes of two selected studies and the research questions each addresses. Differentiates the purposes of two selected studies and the research questions each addresses, and suggests ideas for additional research in these areas. Evaluate how well the research results of two selected studies address the research questions they were designed to answer.Does not describe how the research results of two selected studies address the research questions they were designed to answer. Describes how the research results of two selected studies address the research questions they were designed to answer. Evaluates how well the research results of two selected studies address the research questions they were designed to answer. Evaluates how well the research results of two selected studies address the research questions they were designed to answer and assesses the applicability of the results. Describe the tools and technologies used in two selected studies.Does not identify the tools and technologies used in two selected studies. Lists but does not describe the tools and technologies used in two selected studies. Describes the tools and technologies used in two selected studies. Evaluates the appropriateness of the specific tools and technologies used in two selected studies. Describe how the results of two selected studies may inform or describe personal or professional behavior in similar circumstances.Does not describe the results of two selected studies. Describes the results of two selected studies, but it is not clear how those results may inform or describe personal or professional behavior in similar circumstances. Describes how the results of two selected studies may inform or describe personal or professional behavior in similar circumstances. Describes with specific examples how the results of two selected studies may inform or describe personal or professional behavior in similar circumstances. Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of professional communities.Does not communicate in a manner that is scholarly and professional. Communicates in a manner that is scholarly and professional but is not consistent with expectations for members of professional communities. Communicates in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of professional communities. Communicates in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of professional communities, with written communication that is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Apply proper APA formatting and style.Does not apply proper APA formatting and style. Uses adequate written communication but includes some APA errors and inconsistencies. Applies proper APA formatting and style. Applies scholarly writing skills and uses proper APA formatting and style throughout the assessment.