Write a 5–7 page paper that focuses on challenging a flawed source of
information about biopsychology, using evidence from credible and
scholarly sources.
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The easy availability of poor quality, outdated, or inaccurate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.
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.
Only women should compete in women’s sports.
Topic of your choice related to the content in the chapters on Motivation, Sex, Gender, or Emotion in your course text, Brain and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience. Remember that this book is available in the VitalSource bookshelf in the courseroom.
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 in the Capella
library 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.
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, your 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.
Use Academic Writer for guidance in citing sources in proper APA style. See the Writing Center for more APA resources specific to your degree level.
Length: 5–7 double-spaced, typed pages.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
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.
Must meet Distinguished Criteria- That Can’t Be Correct Scoring Guide
Criteria Non-performance Basic Proficient Distinguished
Explain the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration. Does not describe or explain the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration. Describes but does not explain the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration. Explains the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration. Explains the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration by comparing and contrasting two academic disciplines.
Choose a flawed source of information. Does not choose a flawed source of information. Chooses a source that is not flawed. Chooses a flawed source of information. Chooses a flawed source of information and provides a summary.
Explain peer-reviewed evidence. Does not explain peer-reviewed evidence. Explains peer-reviewed evidence, but does not discuss research method or participants. Explains peer-reviewed evidence. Explains peer-reviewed evidence, including reliability, validity, and generalizability.
Explain psychological research from the standpoint of adherence to the APA Ethics Code in psychological research. Does not describe or explain psychological research from the
standpoint of adherence to the APA Ethics Code in psychological
research. Describes ethical principles, but does not explain psychological
research from the standpoint of adherence to the APA Ethics Code in
psychological research.
Explains psychological research from the standpoint of adherence to the APA Ethics Code in psychological research. Explains psychological research from the standpoint of adherence to
the APA Ethics Code in psychological research, using examples.
Relate the actions of the mind and body to psychological and physical health. Does not describe or relate the actions of the mind and body to psychological and physical health. Describes but does not relate the actions of the mind and body to psychological and physical health. Relates the actions of the mind and body to psychological and physical health. Relates the actions of the mind and body to psychological and physical health using examples.
Describe a psychological theory. Does not identify or describe a psychological theory. Identifies but does not describe a psychological theory. Describes a psychological theory. Describes a psychological theory and connects it to the topic.
Construct an alternative explanation based on perceived flaws in behavioral claims. Does not construct an alternative explanation based on perceived flaws in behavioral claims. Constructs an alternative explanation that is not based on perceived flaws in behavioral claims. Constructs an alternative explanation based on perceived flaws in behavioral claims. Constructs an alternative explanation based on perceived flaws in behavioral claims that is supported by evidence.
Use headers to organize paper. Does not use headers to organize paper. Uses one to two headers to organize paper. Uses headers to organize paper. Uses APA style headers to organize paper.
Use APA style formatting for citations and reference list with only minor errors. Does not use citations or have a reference list. Uses APA style formatting for citations and reference list, but includes major errors. Uses APA style formatting for citations and reference list with only minor errors. Uses APA style formatting for citations with no errors and a reference list with no more than minor errors.
Address assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating
appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences. Does not respond to the assessment prompt and/or does not organize
text appropriately, uses inappropriate tone, or does not include
structurally sound sentences. Addresses the assessment purpose with minimal issues related to evidence, tone, and sentence structure. Addresses assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating
appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences. Presents a focused purpose through strong organizational skills.
Presents evidence through strong paraphrasing or summarizing and
appropriate tone and sentence structure
Physiological Motivation
This chapter discusses physiological motivation and the various
factors involved, such as the drive theory and homeostasis. When
individuals achieve their desires, their body returns to homeostasis.
Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2021). Brain and behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (6th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 6, “Motivation and the Regulation of Internal States.”
Sex and Gender
This chapter discusses the biological basis for sex and gender.
Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2021). Brain and behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (6th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 7, “The Biology of Sex and Gender.”
Emotion and Health
This chapter discusses further connections between the brain, emotions, and health.
Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2021). Brain and behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (6th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 8, “Emotion and Health.”
Research Methods
In this chapter, you will be introduced to biopsychology research
techniques, and you will explore why biopsychology creates ethical
concerns. When conducting research in the field of psychology, and
specifically biopsychology, it is imperative that researchers adhere to
ethical guidelines and protect participants.
Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2021). Brain and behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (6th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 4, “The Methods and Ethics of Research.”
APA Ethics
In addition to the information in the textbook, be sure to review the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct in your reading list.
