Assignment: Exploring Your Bias: Going DeeperBuilding on the work you began in the preceding Application Assignments, focus again on your identified bias. So far, you have been asked to analyze the ways in which you have been influenced by a particular discomfort or bias and you will now begin to develop a plan to face this discomfort or bias more directly. In preparation of this assignment review the Application Assignment you submitted in Week 2 and Harro's "Cycle of Liberation."Part A: Identify Your Level of Discomfort/ComfortBelow you will find a list of levels of comfort. Consider which level indicates where you currently are with regard to your discomfort and bias:I would feel comfortable:Level 1: Seeking out articles about this topic (For example: If your topic is ageism, this might include seeking out and reading an article on age discrimination)Level 2: Watching a provocative documentary. (For example: If your topic is Islamaphobia, this might include watching a documentary on Muslims in America)Level 3: Reading a book written by someone discussing their oppression related to this topic. (For example: If your topic is racism, this might include a book written by a person of color discussing the oppression they have experienced due to their race)Level 4: Speaking to colleague (or a friend or colleague of someone I know) who is a member of this social group. (For example: If your topic is varying abilities, this might schedule lunch with a colleague with varying abilities)Level 5: Visiting a community and/or taking part in an event. (For example, if your topic is homophobia, this might include going to a gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community center or gay pride fair or march)Level 6: Having a close friend from this social group. (For example, having this person stay at your house, traveling together, or spending time with each other's close friends or family members).Part B: Moving Towards LiberationOnce you have identified your current level of discomfort/comfort, develop and implement a plan to support your moving to the next level. (For example, if your discomfort is racism and you have identified yourself in Level 3, then you would focus on Level 4 and plan to "speak to a colleague (or a friend or colleague of someone you know)” and do something together.Submit:A summary of the topic you have identified as your discomfort area or bias and your current level of discomfort/comfort and your plan to move to the next level of comfort. (Your plan should include exactly what you are going to do and when. In Week 7, you will write a paper about the way in which you implemented your plan and your thoughts about it.)Approximate length: 2–3 pages.Title this assignment: Exploring Your Bias: Going Deeper - Parts A & B

Current Event Article CritiqueFor this assignment, choose a news story from the APA at http://www.apa.org/news/psycport/, or search the Internet to select a credible news article that reports on a specific topic or issue from the field of psychology. The article must have been published within the past year.In your critique explain the conclusions, implications and/or consequences of the information presented in the article. Speculate on the effect this information could have on real-world situations such as health care, political movements, economics, lifestyle, moral attitudes, and social belief systems. Support those assertions with specific evidence and detail from the article and what you learned in class.Do not:Do not merely summarize or quote the article. Be sure to select an article with some depth and substance so that you have enough material to evaluate.Do:Read, analyze, and synthesize with objectivity and focus.Write a critical consideration of the current information available about the subject matter presented in the article. Briefly and purposefully, summarize and analyze the article to create a unique and valuable piece of writing that evaluates current theories or work in the field of psychology.Review the literature with a focus on the hypothesis or main idea, address any scientific research mentioned, and analyze the results or premises presented.Include the following in your critique:Identify and articulate the key issue(s) in the article in a brief and pointed summary.Identify information/evidence in the article that supports the point of view and conclusions presented in the article. Quote and paraphrase with internal APA citations.Identify background information relevant to the point of view and conclusions presented in the article. Use prior knowledge, and you may use your course materials.Identify strengths and weaknesses of the findings and conclusions presented.Do you see any ethical concerns in the research or the findings? Why or why not?Identify and describe the research method or methods used or likely used to reach the conclusions presented.How could this topic be further studied? Describe a potential study and the research method you would use to get results.Explore and evaluate the issue(s) relevance to real-world problems and solutions.Clarify your own position, perspective, or hypothesis on the ideas presented in the article.Explain the conclusions, implications, and consequences of the article as it pertains to the field of psychology or the subject being addressed.Your critique should be between 5-7 pages long, in addition to a title page and reference page.Additional sources are not required, but you may choose to include them. You may reference your text.Use APA format to style your paper and to cite your sources. Your source(s) should be integrated into the paragraphs. Use internal citations pointing to evidence in the literature and supporting your ideas. You will need to include a reference page listing those sources.