Choose Scenario and Conduct Research
Prepare: Choose Your Scenario and Write Your Thesis Statement
Your Applied Research in Psychology assignment is due next week. In addition to completing these steps, refer to the assignment description and scoring guide in Week 7 to help prepare to complete the assignment successfully.Step 1: Choose Your Scenario and Conduct Research
For your assignment, choose one of the following scenarios.
Research your chosen theory using your textbook and the Capella University Library to find a minimum of three scholarly research articles on your topic. You will see recommended search terms and databases that will help you get started. Use the following library resources to conduct research:
Databases A-Z: Psychology: Articles to see the best databases to use to search for articles in psychology.
How to Use Databases A-Z to learn how to use the filters on Databases A-Z to get recommended databases for your discipline.
Finding Articles: Psychology Research Guide (BS) to learn how to search for articles.
Scenario 1: Mars Mission
You are part of a psychological team planning to prepare astronauts for a mission to Mars. Your task is to examine possible psychological problems that may result as part of their trip.
Think about psychological problems that can occur while preparing for and during space travel. In your assignment, describe the potential problems so your reader has a good understanding of the negative psychological impact that astronauts can experience. Support your thinking about potential problems with information you find from the scholarly research articles you select.
Possible theories or perspectives:
Positive psychology.
Humanistic psychology.
Possible sources:
Botella, C., Banos, R. M., Etchemendy, E., Garcia-Palacios, A., & Alcaniz, M. (2016). Psychological countermeasures in manned space missions: “EARTH” system for the Mars-500 project. Computers in Human Behavior, 55(B), 898‒908.
Cohen, I., den Braber, N., Smets, N. J. J. M., van Diggelen, J., Brinkman, W-P., & Neerincx, M. A. (2016). Work content influences on cognitive task load, emotional state and performance during a simulated 520-days’ Mars mission. Computers in Human Behavior, 55(B), 642‒652.
Search terms: NASA, Spaceflight, “Mars 500,” “Mars 520” (search using individual keywords in Summon or one of the Best Bets in Finding Articles: Psychology Research Guide (BS). Use quotes around phrases to search an exact phrase.
Scenario 2: Office Decor
Your company is redesigning office spaces. You are tasked with examining the psychological effect on employees of various interior design options with the goal of increasing productivity.
Think about and search for how color and use of space can impact people psychologically. What does the research say about environment and productivity?
Possible theories:
Attention restoration theory.
Social identity theory.
Possible sources:
Nieuwenhuis, M., Knight, C., Postmes, T., & Haslam, S. A. (2014). The relative benefits of green versus lean office space: Three field experiments. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 20(3), 199‒214.
Greenaway, K. H., Thai, H. A., Haslam, S. A., & Murphy, S. C. (2016). Spaces that signal identity improve workplace productivity. Journal of Personnel Psychology, 15(1), 35‒43.
Possible search terms:
Office, space, well-being, productivity, “applied psychology” (use in combinations in Summon or one of the Best Bets in Finding Articles: Psychology Research Guide (BS). Use quotes around phrases to search an exact phrase.
Scenario 3: Youth Sports
You are coaching your child’s soccer team and want psychologically proven ways to motivate your players. Consider what research says about motivation and sports. What are some specific coaching strategies that can increase enthusiasm and motivation?
Possible theories:
Self-determination theory.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
Possible sources:
Stenling, A., Lindwall, M., & Hassmén, P. (2015). Changes in perceived autonomy support, need satisfaction, motivation, and well-being in young elite athletes. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 4(1), 50‒61.
Amorose, A. J., & Anderson-Butcher, D. (2015). Exploring the independent and interactive effects of autonomy-supportive and controlling coaching behaviors on adolescent athletes’ motivation for sport. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 4(3), 206‒218.
Possible search terms:
Coaching effectiveness, motivation, “sport psychology” (use in combinations in Summon or one of the Best Bets in Finding Articles: Psychology Research Guide (BS). Use quotes around phrases to search an exact phrase.
Scenario 4: Anti-marijuana Campaign
You have been asked to create ideas for an awareness campaign to prevent teenagers from using marijuana. Consider ideas that have a chance to attract adolescents’ attention. What does the research say about prevention?
Possible theories:
Behavioral theory.
Psychoanalytic theory.
Possible sources:
Crano, W. D., Alvaro, E. M., Tan, C. N., & Siegel, J. T. (2017). Social mediation of persuasive media in adolescent substance prevention. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 31(4), 479‒487.
Alvaro, E. M., Crano, W. D., Siegel, J. T., Hohman, Z., Johnson, I., & Nakawaki, B. (2013). Adolescents’ attitudes toward antimarijuana ads, usage intentions, and actual marijuana usage. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(4), 1027‒1035.
Possible search terms:
Drug use prevention, media campaign (use in combinations in Summon or one of the Best Bets in Finding Articles: Psychology Research Guide (BS). Use quotes around phrases to search an exact phrase.
Instructions
Use the APA Paper Template to complete the following:
Write a 3–5 content-page paper that describes a real-world problem from the chosen scenario with support from theory and research.
Use one of the following scenarios and supporting resources from Week 6’s Prepare: Choose Your Scenario activity as the basis for this assignment:
Scenario 1: Mars Mission.
Scenario 2: Office Decor.
Scenario 3: Youth Sports.
Scenario 4: Anti-marijuana Campaign.
Use in-text citations in the paper and create title and reference pages.
Use the following Capella University Library resources to conduct research:
How to Use Databases A-Z.
Finding Articles: Psychology Research Guide (BS).
Databases A-Z: Psychology: Articles.
Use the following headings to organize your paper:
Title page:
Follow the template instructions.
Overview:
Apply a foundational psychological theory to address the problem in the selected scenario.
Summarize the identified problem in the selected scenario.
Foundational Theory:
Describe the theory or theories that apply to your scenario.
Research Method and Findings:
Apply findings from scholarly research to the problem in your scenario.
Describe the research methods outlined in your scholarly research articles.
Mental Health and Well-Being:
Speculate how the problem could impact mental health and well-being through behavior changes.
References:
Follow the template instructions.
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