PSY 540 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview Within the professions of psychology, it can be typical for you to work on proposals for programs, studies, or new initiatives. For example, you may work for a university that regularly partners with foundations and corporations to identify grant opportunities for projects in local communities. The final project for this course is a project proposal that provides you an opportunity to draw upon your knowledge of cognitive psychology and demonstrate the key skills and abilities developed in this course to address a contemporary psychological problem, giving you critical exposure to how that problem impacts people’s interactions in a professional setting. You will select an area of interest in cognitive psychology and one of the following applied settings: education, law, mental health, or technology. Your proposal may include brief references to an additional setting, but your focus must be on your primary applied setting choice. For example, you can select education as your primary applied setting as you research a contemporary problem related to memory processes and learning, but you may find that you want to also touch on memory disorders (i.e., mental health setting) within the scope of your project. This project is supported by four milestones, which will provide you opportunities to work toward the final project throughout the course and improve the quality of your final submission. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, Six, and Seven. The final project will be submitted in Module Nine. Outcomes These assessments will address the following course outcomes:      Apply foundational theories of attention, learning, memory, language, and decision making to practical, contemporary problems Identify gaps in and propose improvements for practices in professional disciplines based on the strengths and limitations of human cognitive systems Assess foundational theories of cognitive psychology for their relevancy to real-world issues Interpret current research and statistical findings in cognitive psychology through the application of sound methodological principles Advocate for and defend the use of socially responsible strategies and techniques for improving upon human cognitive processes Prompt Approach your proposal by first identifying an area of cognitive psychology to address within your proposal: attention, learning, memory, language, or decision making. Then select an applied setting to connect with your selected area of cognitive psychology: education, law, mental health, or technology. You will focus on a contemporary problem that pertains to your selected area of cognitive psychology and your selected applied setting. For example, suppose that you selected “attention” as your area of cognitive psychology and “education” as your selected applied setting. Based on those selections, you will now have to identify a relevant contemporary problem. As an example, with the growth of online education, consider online students, the different factors competing for attention given the nature of the educational environment, and potential impact on success. After you have identified your area of cognitive psychology, applied setting, and contemporary problem, you will select at least two relevant foundational theories within your selected area of cognitive psychology, keeping in mind your selected applied setting and contemporary problem. For example, in relation to attention, you may be interested in exploring Treisman’s attenuation theory, which posits that information not being attended to “consciously” is still being processed. However, the information being attended to is being processed at a deeper level than the unattended information. Based on your review of related research, you will be required to formulate a research question that addresses potential improvements to practices in your selected applied setting based on the strengths of human cognitive systems. Lastly, you will devise an appropriate solution that will offer socially responsible strategies and techniques to address the problem. The examples below can help provide further direction for your proposal. Keep in mind that you must identify a key topic or area of cognitive psychology, as well as an applied setting (education, law, mental health, or technology) in your proposal. In your proposal, you may briefly address secondary applied settings, as well: Topic and Proposal Examples Example 1: Area of cognitive psychology: Attention Applied setting: Education (with potential secondary applications in technology) Example: A study that investigates online students, the factors competing for attention, and the impacts on educational success, and draws conclusions about the resulting societal implications for improving upon these human cognitive processes Example 2: Area of cognitive psychology: Memory (processes and disorders) Applied setting: Mental health (with potential secondary applications in education) Example: A mental health program designed to help the elderly improve memory and prevent memory loss due to Alzheimer’s and/or dementia Example 3: Area of cognitive psychology: Decision making Applied setting: Law Example: A study that investigates decision-making processes of jurors in court cases Topic Selection Resources The following sites offer topics and news feeds on a variety of issues related to various areas of psychology. American Psychological Association – Topics area Psychological Science in the News – News feed Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in your proposal, in the following order: I. Problem Statement a) Describe the contemporary problem that is the focus of your proposal with full details with respect to your selected applied setting. b) Identify your selected area of cognitive psychology (attention, learning, memory, language, or decision making) and appropriate foundational theories that apply to your selected problem. c) Describe performance issues in your selected applied setting based on limitations of human cognitive systems. d) Create a research question that addresses potential improvements to practices in the applied setting based on the strengths of human cognitive systems. Remember that your research question should address your contemporary problem. II. Contemporary Relevance a) Evaluate the utility of the theories you identified when describing your problem with respect to their strengths and limitations. b) Which particular theory offers the greatest utility for practitioners to apply in addressing real-world issues specific to the contemporary problem you selected? Defend your selection. III. Interpretation of Research Findings: Explain how each primary or secondary resource you selected supports your research question. This is where you will apply sound methodological principles (by following the prompts below, a–b) to qualify the research results and statistical findings. a) How do the research results and statistical findings apply to your research question?* b) Explain the strengths and limitations of the research results and findings in supporting the research question. This is where you will explain how the research results and findings you have reviewed support your research question and specific gaps. In other words, in reviewing your sources, is there sufficient support for this research question? This is also where you would identify what research does not yet exist that is necessary in supporting the application of your research question.* IV. Methodological Principles: This is where you will look at your research question (critical element I, part d) and determine what types of strategies or techniques you would use if you were to hypothesize improving upon the problem in your selected applied setting. Remember, this is not limited to a controlled experiment. a) What socially responsible strategies and techniques could be used for improving upon human cognitive processes specific to your applied setting? b) What are the implications for using these strategies and techniques? V. Conclusion a) What potential future direction do you see from implementation of your research specific to addressing the contemporary problem you cited in critical element I, part a? *Click here to access a list of approved publications, which has been provided to illustrate the standards of quality expected in the types of resources necessary in supporting this proposal. Project Milestones Milestone One: Topic and Setting Submission In Module Two, you will draft a topic suggestion by identifying your particular area of interest in cognitive psychology (attention, learning, memory, language, or decision making), select an applied setting (education, law, mental health, or technology), and describe the contemporary problem as it relates to your topic and setting. Last, draft three potential research questions that explore potential improvements related to your topic and the applied setting. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Annotated Bibliography In Module Four, you will work from the topic, applied setting, and research questions you identified in Milestone One and start identifying relevant research to support your final proposal. You will complete an annotated bibliography featuring a minimum of four research articles. In your bibliography, you will reflect on how the research applies to your topic, explore strengths and limitations of the research, and propose ways to expand on the research. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Rough Draft of Final Proposal In Module Six, you will submit a rough draft of your proposal and post the draft to the Module Seven discussion topic to be reviewed by one of your peers. The draft will include all the required elements of your final proposal and incorporate any relevant instructor feedback you received on Milestones One and Two. This draft submission represents an opportunity to receive targeted instructor feedback that you can use to improve your final proposal. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Three Rubric. Milestone Four: Peer Review of Rough Draft In Module Seven, you will review a rough draft completed by one of your peers and provide feedback related to current strengths of the proposal, potential areas of clarification, and remaining questions. You will also respond to feedback that one of your peers provided on your own rough draft. This milestone will be graded using the Milestone Four Rubric. Final Submission: Project Proposal In Module Nine, you will submit your final project, a proposal exploring how you would address a contemporary problem of cognitive psychology within a specific setting. Throughout the course, you have had multiple opportunities to work on elements of this proposal and to fine-tune your thinking on your chosen topic. Your finalized proposal should incorporate feedback you have received from your instructor as well as your peers. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric. Deliverables Milestone Deliverables Module Due Grading 1 Topic and Setting Submission Two Graded using the Milestone One Rubric 2 Annotated Bibliography Four Graded using the Milestone Two Rubric 3 Rough Draft of Final Proposal Six Graded using the Milestone Three Rubric 4 Peer Review of Rough Draft Seven Graded using the Milestone Four Rubric Project Proposal Nine Graded using the Final Project Rubric (on following page) Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Written components of the proposal must follow these formatting guidelines when applicable: double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and APA citations. Your proposal should be approximately 8–10 pages, not including cover page and references, and use preapproved resources. (The submission should include a variety of research and findings from at least three of the provided publications. Click here to access the list of approved publications.) Critical Elements Problem Statement: Contemporary Problem Exemplary (100%) Meets “Proficient” criteria, and the details are well qualified with examples specific to the applied setting Meets “Proficient” criteria with examples from real-world situations Proficient (90%) Describes a contemporary problem in full detail with respect to the applied setting Problem Statement: Performance Issues and Limitations Meets “Proficient” criteria and is well qualified with examples from selected applied setting Problem Statement: Potential Improvements Meets “Proficient” criteria and is well qualified with examples from selected applied setting Contemporary Relevance: Utility of Theories Meets “Proficient” criteria, and contrast of theories is well qualified with real-world examples Identifies performance issues in the selected fields (education, law, mental health, or technology), demonstrating clear connection to the limitations of human cognitive systems Creates research question that addresses potential improvements to practices in the applied setting based on the strengths of human cognitive systems Evaluate the utility of the foundational theories for practitioners with respect to their strengths and limitations Contemporary Relevance: Apply Meets “Proficient” criteria and is well qualified with examples in which the theory would not Problem Statement: Selected Area Explains aspects of foundational theories, fully connecting them to selected problem Selects theory and defends with explanation on how particular theory offers the greatest utility for practitioners to apply Needs Improvement (70%) Describes the contemporary problem, but with gaps in detail with respect to the applied setting Explains aspects of foundational theories, but with gaps in connecting them to selected problem Identifies performance issues in the selected applied setting (education, law, mental health, or technology), but connections to the limitations of human cognitive systems are unclear Not Evident (0%) Does not describe a contemporary problem in any detail with respect to the applied setting Does not explain aspects of foundational theories Value 9 Does not identify performance issues in the selected applied setting (education, law, mental health, or technology) 9 Research question addresses potential improvements to practices in the applied setting, but connections to the strengths of human cognitive systems are unclear Evaluates the utility of the foundational theories for practitioners, but with gaps in addressing their strengths or limitations Selects theory but is unclear on how selection offers the greatest utility for practitioners to apply in addressing real- Does not create research question that addresses potential improvements to practices in the applied setting 9 Does not evaluate the utility of the foundational theories 9 Does not select particular theory for practitioners to apply in addressing real-world issues 9 9 Interpretation of Research: Question Interpretation of Research: Support be applicable in real-world situations Meets “Proficient” criteria and is well qualified with examples in which aspects of the research and research findings would not be applicable to proposed improvements Meets “Proficient” criteria and substantiates with specific examples of scholarly research Methodological Principles: Strategies and Techniques Meets “Proficient” criteria and substantiates strategies and techniques with scholarly research Methodological Principles: Implications Meets “Proficient” criteria, and the implications of the strategies and techniques are well qualified with examples specific to the applied setting Meets “Proficient” criteria and substantiates with scholarly research Conclusion specific to contemporary problem selected Explains the research and research findings with regard to how they apply to proposed improvements world issues specific to contemporary problem selected Explains the research and research findings, but does not connect to proposed improvements Explains the strengths and limitations of the research results and findings in supporting the research question Recommends appropriate, socially responsible strategies and techniques for improving human cognitive processes that are applicable to applied setting Explains implications of the strategies and techniques in full detail with respect to the applied setting Explains the research results and findings, but does not address strengths or limitations Explains potential future direction from implementation of research specific to addressing the contemporary problem(s) Explains potential future direction from implementation of research, but with gaps in how it is specific to addressing the contemporary problem(s) Recommends appropriate strategies and techniques for improving human cognitive processes, but with gaps in applicability to proposal Explains implications of the strategies and techniques, but with gaps in detail with respect to the applied setting Does not explain how the research and research findings apply to proposed improvements 9 Does not explain the strengths and limitations of the research results and findings in supporting the research question Does not make appropriate, socially responsible recommendations for strategies and techniques for improving human cognitive processes Does not explain implications of the strategies and techniques with respect to the applied setting 9 Does not explain potential future direction from implementation of research study 5 9 9 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 Earned Total 5 100% Project Resources In this course, you will synthesize quality research so that you can use your findings to develop your own solutions to contemporary issues. Psychology Today and other such publications developed for the mass consumer market are NOT appropriate resources upon which to base the research that informs your solutions in these projects. Below is a list of quality resources that are critical to your ability to map cognitive psychology concepts and theories onto real-world situations. Your work should be informed by a variety of resources from at least three of these publications. Use these resources to identify current research (less than five years old) and statistical findings that will inform your interpretation of the foundational theories in this course. Shapiro Library Resource Guide for Undergraduate and Graduate Psychology Students You are not limited to the publications listed below for informing your work. For additional research, you may wish to use this guide provided as a main jumpingoff point to source quality research. This guide organizes and provides psychology students and faculty links to the Shapiro Library resources available in this field of study. Association for Psychological Science The Association for Psychological Science (previously the American Psychological Society) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of scientific psychology and its representation at the national and international level. Cognitive Psychology This journal offers articles that focus on new theoretical advances in the study of attention, memory, language processing, perception, problem solving, and thinking. Cognitive Science This multidisciplinary journal brings together researchers from a variety of fields including but not limited to psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and education, which will be valuable as you seek to apply your solutions in the fields of education and mental health. Cognition, Technology & Work This journal focuses on human interaction with technology in the context of work and working conditions, which will be valuable as you seek to apply your solutions in terms of interaction with technology in the workplace. Law & Psychology Review This journal combines the disciplines of law and psychology, which will be valuable as you seek apply your solutions specific to issues of law. Memory & Cognition This journal covers topics including but not limited to human memory and learning, conceptual processes, and problem solving. Psychological Science This journal offers the latest findings in cognitive, social, developmental, and health psychology, as well as behavioral neuroscience and biopsychology. Trends in Cognitive Sciences This journal provides a topic for research in cognitive science, which brings together the fields of psychology, artificial intelligence, linguistics, philosophy, and neuroscience, among others. Topics in Cognitive Science This journal offers topics specific to cognitive science. PSY 540 Milestone One Guidelines and Rubric: Topic and Setting Submission Overview As a professional with a cognitive psychology background, you may be called upon to contribute your insights to help solve a contemporary problem in an applied setting. This solution could take the form of a proposal for a new program, research study, or initiative. For your final project, you will select an applied professional setting and contemporary problem related to cognitive processes and draft a proposal to explore strategies to improve the problem in that particular setting. In order to help you organize the thoughts you generated in an earlier discussion topic in Module One, this assignment will allow you the opportunity to develop a topic suggestion. First, you will identify your topic of interest within the field of cognitive psychology from the following options:      Attention Learning Memory Language Decision making Next, you will choose an applied setting, a professional field that could pose a contemporary problem related to your identified topic. You will describe how this problem relates to your topic and setting in this assignment.     Education Law Mental health Technology Finally, you will generate three research questions about a contemporary problem related to your topic and applied setting. For example, if your topic is attention and your field of interest is technology, your potential problem could be related to decreasing attention spans and the online learning environment. Some potential research questions related to this problem might include:    How does multitasking (e.g., listening to music while reading or texting while reading) influence attention to online course material? How do individuals with ADHD perform in an online learning environment, and what strategies can help them succeed? What strategies can teachers and students use to increase attention to relevant material in an online course? Note that the topic and setting elements are graded Pass/Fail. Please see the feedback provided by your instructor and re-submit, as needed. Rubric Guidelines for Submission: This submission should be approximately one page, 12-point Times New Roman font, and double spaced, adhering to all appropriate writing conventions, including APA-style citation format where appropriate. Feel free to use bulleted lists to identify your topic, setting, and research questions. Your contemporary problem will require explanation in a written paragraph. Critical Elements Topic Setting Contemporary Problem Research Question 1 Research Question 2 Research Question 3 Proficient (100%) Selected topic is appropriately within the domain of the course and the assignment Selected applied setting is appropriately within the domain of the course and the assignment Identified contemporary problem is related to both cognitive psychology and an applied setting Research question relates contemporary psychological problem to applied setting Research question relates contemporary psychological problem to applied setting Research question relates contemporary psychological problem to applied setting Not Evident (0%) Selected topic is not identified or appropriately within the domain of the course and the assignment Selected applied setting is not identified or appropriately within the domain of the course and the assignment Does not identify a contemporary problem Value 15 15 25 Does not provide a research question 15 Does not provide a research question 15 Does not provide a research question 15 Earned Total 100% 3 1-3 Discussion: Areas of Interest and Practical Applications in Cognitive Psychology Sharaya Janes posted May 30, 2019 8:37 PM Subscribed The areas of cognitive psychology that interest me most are learning and decision making. Learning more about how individual process information or think not only helps me gain a deeper understanding of how the human brain works, but it also helps in developing new ways of assisting people to overcome psychological difficulties. Notably, learning and decision making are correlated. One should learn new concepts and be able to apply them to make informed decisions. Learning and decision making, therefore, will enable me to analyze the nature of the incoming information, thus evaluating and constructing logical arguments. My future career path is in mental health. I have friends with depression, bipolar, and eating disorders. Such disorders affect their daily lives, physical health, and also relationships. They do not have a balance between life activities and the efforts to gain psychological resilience. Through cognitive psychology, I will, therefore, be able to improve my understanding of how people store, forms, or recall memories. By understanding more about how those processes work, I will develop new techniques that combat potential memory problems. More research needs to be done to evaluate the impact of fragility and capacity of human memory on mental health. 1-3 Discussion: Areas of Interest and Practical Applications in Cognitive Psychology Brainstorm some potential ideas for your final project. What areas of cognitive psychology interest you the most (attention, learning, memory, language or decision making)? What applied setting is of interest to you or important for your future career (education, law, mental health, or technology)? Also, consider some of the potential cognitive problems in your area that you think further research and study in cognitive processes may be able to help solve. In your responses to your peers' posts, offer additional perspectives on the potential problems they identified and additional challenges within applied fields. Also, consider how your own interests in cognitive psych relate to those of your peers. To complete this assignment, review the Discussion Rubric document.
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