[SOLVED] Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

PSY 560 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
PSY 560 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
The final project for this course incorporates key elements required in your role as an emerging professional in the field of psychology: demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter of psychology; provide a nuanced, critical analysis of this subject matter; and illustrate the theory’s relevance in the field bydefending its use for real-world problems.
You will accomplish these tasks in the final project by producing a theoretical analysis in which you develop and support a position statement regarding the ways the theory you select fits into the larger scope of personality theory. To this end, you will argue the use of your theory in a contemporary theoretical context. To accomplish this, you will do the following: provide a detailed description of a selected theory using appropriate source material as the basis of your description;
2) provide a critical analysis of the theory that addresses the validity of the theory drawing on published research, establishes the contemporary relevance of the theory, identifies strengths and weaknesses of the theory, examines the cultural utility of the theory, and considers the theory within the larger context of personality psychology; and propose an application of the theory to a contemporary issue or phenomenon.
The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three, Five, and Seven. The final product will be submitted in Module Nine.
Refer to the Project Theorists document for a list of preapproved theorists and resources.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
x Evaluate the use of personality theories in published research for validity and contemporary relevance
x Analyze contemporary theories in personality psychology for their changing roles in the field over time
x Defend the use of personality psychology theories by assessing them against alternative theoretical perspectives
x Illustrate the applicability of theories in personality psychology to contemporary issues and different cultural perspectives
x Formulate conclusions on the contemporary use of theories in personality psychology based on theoretical analysis
1Prompt
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Background: In this section, you will analyze the key concepts and background of your theory. Select your theory and theorist from the list of preapproved theorists.
A. Provide a historical overview of your selected theorist, including relevant biographical information and historical events that influenced the theorist.
B. Analyze the historical development of the theory based on the context of the theorist. Support your response with relevant research. For example, how did your chosen theory compare with the prevailing theory/theories of psychology in practice during this time period? How does the theory relate to the work of earlier theorists?
C. Articulate the key concepts of your chosen theory as conceived by the theorist. Support your response with relevant research.
D. Discuss how the theory is used today, identifying key differences from its initial application. What key concepts in the theory have changed over time, and how has the theory’s role changed?
II. Evaluation: In this section, you will state your position regarding the continuing relevance of the theory in the field of personality psychology. Then, you will be tasked with defending that position in a number of ways, including evaluating its current use, defending it against alternative theoretical positions, and showing its value for real-world problems.
A. Position Statement
i. Develop a position statement regarding your theory’s continued relevance in personality psychology today. Your statement must be supported with logical rationale.
ii. Evaluate the validity and accuracy of secondary research using your theory, explaining how effectively it supports your position statement. Be sure to cite specific examples from the research in your response.
iii. Evaluate your theory’s appropriateness for a range of cultural perspectives in its contemporary use, and explain how effectively this supports your position statement. Be sure to cite relevant sources in your response. In other words, how well does this theory make testable predictions about human behavior across a range of cultural perspectives, including those of special populations?
B. Alternative Theoretical Positions: For this section, you will select two or more alternative theories in personality psychology and address the following:
i. Compare the theory to alternative theoretical positions that are currently used by researchers in personality psychology. For instance, how do their key concepts compare?
ii. Assess the extent to which these alternative positions challenge the validity, weaknesses, or biases of your chosen theory. Be sure to cite specific examples from published research in your response.
iii. Defend the contemporary use of the theory against the challenges you identified. Be sure to support your defense with relevant
research.
2C. Application
i. Apply your selected theory in explaining a real-world problem (e.g., PTSD) or phenomenon (e.g., social media use). How would your theorist understand this problem or phenomenon in terms of its root cause and key characteristics? Be sure to cite relevant research in your response.
ii. Assess published secondary research for solutions with the potential to address this problem or phenomenon. Does the contemporary
use of your theory provide viable approaches to this problem? What are they?
iii. Explain how this application relates to the theory’s larger contemporary relevance. In other words, how does this application
demonstrate your theory’s potential to advance knowledge in personality psychology?
III. Conclusion: In this section, you will synthesize your analysis and discuss key takeaways. Your conclusion should accomplish the following:
A. Summarize the changing use of your theory over time, including how its use compares with other theories in personality psychology. How does
this theory fit within the spectrum of theories in personality psychology?
B. Based on your previous analysis, draw conclusions on the relevance of the theory moving forward. What can we learn from applications of this
theory in contemporary research?
Milestones
Milestone One: Background
In Module Three, you will submit an outline of the background section of the final project. List the principle background ideas such as relevant biographical
information and historical events that may have influenced the theorist. Identify the key concepts of your theory. Begin to formulate your ideas on how the
theory is used today. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Position Statement
In Module Five, you will create a draft of Section II, Part A of the final project. You will create a position statement of your selected theory and the theory’s
relevance in personality psychology today. Make sure to cite your sources. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.
Milestone Three: Alternative Theoretical Positions and Application
In Module Seven, you will write a draft of Section II, Parts B and C of the final project. This draft will have you begin to compare and contrast your selected
theory with the diverse range of theories you have explored throughout this course. Then, you will apply contemporary uses of the theory to real-world
problems. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.
Final Submission: Theoretical Analysis
In Module Nine, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should
reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.
3Deliverables
Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading
One Background Three Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
Two Position Statement Five Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
Three Alternative Theoretical Positions and Application Seven Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric
Final Submission: Theoretical Analysis Nine Graded separately; Final Project Rubric
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your theoretical analysis should be 10 to 15 pages in length with double spacing. Use APA style for formatting and citations. Your
paper must utilize a minimum of ten scholarly resources, including primary resources from your selected theorist.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Background:
Historical
Overview
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
the overview shows keen insight
into historical details that were
influential for the theorist
Provides a historical overview of
the selected theorist, including
relevant biographical information
and historical events that
influenced the theorist
Provides a historical overview of
the selected theorist, but the
overview is cursory or contains
inaccuracies
Does not provide a historical
overview of the selected theorist
6.4
Background:
Historical
Development
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
analysis demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of the
development of the theory
Analyzes the historical
development of the theory based
on the context of the theorist and
supports with relevant research
Analyzes the historical
development of the theory based
on the context of the theorist,
but analysis is not supported by
relevant research, is cursory, or
contains inaccuracies
Does not analyze the historical
development of the theory
6.4
Background: Key
Concepts
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
shows a keen ability to clearly
articulate the key concepts of the
personality psychology theory as
conceived by the theorist
Articulates the key concepts of
the theory and supports response
with relevant research
Articulates the key concepts of
the chosen theory, but response
is unclear, is not supported with
relevant research, or contains
inaccuracies
Does not articulate the key
concepts of the theory
6.4
4Background: How
the Theory Is
Used Today
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
discussion draws cogent
connections between the initial
application of the theory and its
current use
Discusses how theory is used
today, identifying key differences
from its initial application
Discusses how theory is used
today, identifying differences
from its initial application, but
response is cursory or contains
inaccuracies
Does not discuss how theory is
used today or identify differences
from its initial application
6.4
Evaluation:
Position
Statement
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
rationale establishes especially
pertinent support for position on
the theory’s continued relevance
in personality psychology
Develops a position statement
regarding the theory’s continued
relevance in personality
psychology today, supported by
rationale
Develops a position statement
regarding the theory’s continued
relevance in personality
psychology today, but statement
is cursory or rationale contains
gaps in logic or accuracy
Does not develop a position
statement regarding the theory’s
continued relevance in
personality psychology
6.4
Evaluation:
Validity and
Accuracy
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
examples are especially wellsuited to supporting evaluation
of the validity and accuracy of
secondary research
Evaluates, using specific
examples, the validity and
accuracy of secondary research
that uses the theory, explaining
how research supports position
statement
Evaluates the validity and
accuracy of secondary research
that uses the theory, but
explanation is illogical or
evaluation contains gaps in
accuracy or support
Does not evaluate the validity
and accuracy of secondary
research that uses the theory
6.4
Evaluation:
Cultural
Perspectives
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
sources cited are especially wellsuited to supporting the
evaluation of the theory’s
appropriateness for a range of
cultural perspectives in its
contemporary use
Evaluates, using relevant sources,
the theory’s appropriateness for
a range of cultural perspectives,
explaining how this supports
position statement
Evaluates the appropriateness of
the theory for a range of cultural
perspectives, but explanation is
illogical or evaluation contains
gaps in accuracy or support
Does not evaluate
appropriateness of the theory for
a range of cultural perspectives
6.4
Evaluation:
Alternative
Theoretical
Positions
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
draws nuanced connections
between the chosen theory and
alternatives
Compares the theory to
alternative theoretical positions
currently used by researchers in
personality psychology
Compares the theory to
alternative theoretical positions
currently used by researchers in
personality psychology but
comparison is cursory or contains
inaccuracies
Does not compare the theory to
alternative theoretical positions
6.4
5Evaluation:
Challenge
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
examples are especially wellsuited to supporting assessment
of challenges posed by
alternative positions in
personality psychology
Assesses, using specific examples
from published research, the
extent to which alternative
positions challenge the validity,
weaknesses, or biases of theory
Assesses the extent to which
alternative positions challenge
the validity, weaknesses, or
biases of the chosen theory, but
assessment is illogical, lacks
support, or contains inaccuracies
Does not assess the extent to
which alternative positions
challenge the theory
6.4
Evaluation:
Defend Against
the Challenges
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
research incorporated is
especially supportive of theory
defense
Defends the contemporary use of
the theory against the specific
challenges identified, supporting
with relevant research
Defends the contemporary use of
the theory against the specific
challenges identified, but does
not support claims with relevant
research or defense is cursory or
illogical
Does not defend the
contemporary use of the theory
against the challenges identified
6.4
Evaluation: Apply Meets “Proficient” criteria and
research is especially well-suited
to illustrating the applicability of
the theory to the problem or
phenomenon
Applies selected theory in
explaining a real-world problem
or phenomenon, citing relevant
research
Applies selected theory in
explaining a real-world problem
or phenomenon, but does not
cite relevant research or
response is illogical or contains
inaccuracies
Does not apply selected theory in
explaining a real-world problem
or phenomenon
6.4
Evaluation:
Solutions
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
assessment shows a
sophisticated grasp of the
solutions offered by published
secondary research
Assesses published secondary
research for solutions with the
potential to address the chosen
problem or phenomenon
Assesses published secondary
research for solutions to address
the chosen problem or
phenomenon, but assessment is
cursory or contains inaccuracies
Does not assess published
secondary research for solutions
to address the chosen problem or
phenomenon
6.4
Evaluation:
Contemporary
Relevance
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
explanation draws cogent
connections between the
application and the larger
contemporary relevance of the
theory
Explains how this application
relates to the theory’s larger
contemporary relevance
Explains how this application
relates to the theory’s larger
contemporary relevance but
explanation is cursory or illogical
or contains inaccuracies
Does not explain how this
application relates to the theory’s
larger contemporary relevance
6.4
Conclusion:
Summary
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
summary masterfully places the
theory’s use in context
Summarizes the changing use of
the theory over time, including
how its use compares with other
theories in personality
psychology
Summarizes the changing use of
the theory over time, but
summary is lacking in detail or
contains inaccuracies
Does not summarize the
changing use of the theory over
time
6.4
6Conclusion:
Relevance of the
Theory
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
conclusions drawn demonstrate
an especially well-supported
synthesis of the theoretical
analysis
Draws conclusions on the
relevance of the theory moving
forward based on the analysis
Draws conclusions on the
relevance of the theory moving
forward, but conclusions are not
based on analysis or contain
inaccuracies
Does not draw conclusions on the
relevance of the theory moving
forward
6.4
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and organization
and is presented in a professional
and easy-to-read format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact readability
and articulation of main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
4
Total 100%
7
Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Final Project Guidelines and Rubric