Synthesizing and Evaluating Concepts

 Chapter 6

Part 4—Synthesizing and Evaluating Concepts (5 points):

Using your knowledge from the textbook and/or lecture notes, answer each question by typing your response in the space provided below. For each question, your answer should be one or more healthy paragraphs (Your total answer should be at least 100 words or more).

1. The information-processing of memory is one of the best-known models in all of  psychology. Describe the three stages of memory and their characteristics.  Explain how the three-stage model of memory might explain the famous serial  position effect.

2. What is iconic memory? Describe what it is and how it works. Be sure to include  a description of Sperling’s experiment, which was used to demonstrate and  investigate iconic memory.

3. What is meant by a flashbulb memory? Describe its characteristics. Give an  example that is well-known. Some psychologists are not impressed by these  well-known examples of this phenomenon. What are some of the criticisms of the  idea of flashbulb memory?

4. Let’s say you are a defense attorney and are defending a client on a murder  charge. The victim was found in a dark alley. A witness had a glimpse of a  shadowy figure standing over the body. The police thoroughly interrogate the  witness and arrest a young man. The man has an alibi. There is no other  evidence against him, except that of the witness. The witness is positive. What  factors may lead you to doubt this strong testimony of the witness? Pretend you  are the defense attorney and, with your knowledge of the problems with  eyewitness testimony and memory, tell the jury why they should be doubtful of  the witness.

5. The other day, you had to remember some items for an important exam. You are  sure you studied them and knew them before you entered the classroom.  However, you drew a blank when you took the test. What happened? Why might  you not have remembered them? What might you have done to avoid this?

Chapter 7

Part 4—Synthesizing and Evaluating Concepts (5 points):

Using your knowledge from the textbook and/or lecture notes, answer each question by typing your response in the space provided below. For each question, your answer should be one or more healthy paragraphs (Your total answer should be at least 100 words or more).

1. Explain the techniques used when someone tries to solve a problem. How might  a person be blocked in trying to find a solution?

2. Agatha Harkness-Smythe is determined to ban guns in the United States. This is  a controversial topic and social scientists have debated whether the ownership of  guns by citizens increases or decreases crime. Agatha could go the library and  research this, using the social science literature. Instead, Agatha just reads the  local newspaper and only cuts out articles about robberies where the “bad guy”  used a firearm. Agatha is using a heuristic device that is impeding or obstructing  her thinking. Define this heuristic device. What might be a better way for her to  examine the issue and avoid this mistake?

3. It is commonly thought that people who are “gifted” have various physical,  psychological, and personality problems. What is really known about this  common idea, and what did a famous study learn about the gifted?

4. Discuss how heredity is related to intelligence and IQ scores. What is the  controversy about the role of race and ethnicity in IQ and intelligence? Evaluate  the claims of those who think race is related to IQ and intelligence.

5. What is the definition of language? What is the evidence, pro and con, as to  whether nonhuman animals have a capacity for language?

Chapter 8

Part 4—Synthesizing and Evaluating Concepts (5 points):

Using your knowledge from the textbook and/or lecture notes, answer each question by typing your response in the space provided below. For each question, your answer should be one or more healthy paragraphs (Your total answer should be at least 100 words or more).

1. Distinguish the major research methods used in the field of human development  and provide examples of each. What are the advantages and disadvantages of  each?

2. What is the critical period? What are teratogens? List four common teratogens  and discuss their effects on development.

3. Summarize Jean Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and the major  milestones accomplished, as well as the limitations at each stage.

4. Summarize Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development. Provide an  example for each stage that describes successful resolution of each stage.

5. Summarize Kübler-Ross’s five stages of death and dying. How are they  experienced?

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

Discussion Questions (DQ)

• Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, including a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
• Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
• One or two-sentence responses, simple statements of agreement, or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
• I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.

Weekly Participation

• Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
• In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
• Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
• Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.

APA Format and Writing Quality

• Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
• Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
• I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.

Use of Direct Quotes

• I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’s level and deduct points accordingly.
• As Masters’s level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
• It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.

 

LopesWrite Policy

• For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
• Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
• Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
• Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.

Late Policy

• The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
• Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
• If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
• I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
• As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.

Communication

• Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me: 
  • Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
  • Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.

Synthesizing and Evaluating Concepts

Synthesizing and Evaluating Concepts