MODULE 4 ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC: Synthesis Paper-Origins of Behaviorism
Synthesis is the act of creating something new from multiple existing entities. Synthesis of research, then, is creating a new idea from existing ideas. It is a process developed through time and practice. In this assignment, you will apply the synthesis process to the articles and topics from the first four Topics of this course. Consider the development of behaviorism, including the precursors and contemporaries of the early behaviorists. What limitations existed in those theories and practices, and how did the early behaviorists aim to resolve them?
General Requirements:
Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:
· Refer to the resource “Template: Origins of Behaviorism Paper.” ATTACHED
· Review the journal readings from the first four Topics of this course. You may wish to create annotations for the readings from Topics 3 and 4 for use in the synthesis process.
· Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments.
· Refer to Chapters 2-4 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) for specific guidelines related to doctoral-level writing. These chapters contain essential information on manuscript structure and content, clear and concise writing, and academic grammar and usage.
· Use academic sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles, government reports, and other instructor-approved texts. Make sure to cite at least three different articles during your discussion on this first researcher.
Directions:
Using all of the material you read in the first four modules, any academic resources from outside of course material, and the outline provided below and duplicated in “Template: Origins of Behaviorism Paper”, write a paper (2,000-2,250 words) in which you synthesize articles and do the following:
1. Trace the origins of behaviorism and the impetus for its development.
2. Discuss behaviorism as the 2nd major force in psychology and why is behaviorism a “better” alternative than the first force of psychology which was the Freudian psychoanalytic theory.
3. Identify three crucial researchers in the school of behaviorism and analyze the contributions of these researchers to the development of behaviorism. Make sure to cite at least three different articles during your discussion on this first researcher.
Origins of Behaviorism
I. Introduction
a. Engage the reader here with an interesting hook.
b. Provide context for the paper by generally discussing behaviorism and the three crucial researchers.
c. Include APA style in-text citations here when appropriate.
d. Provide a clear thesis statement here in a full sentence. In your thesis statement, make sure to integrate your choice of three researchers and how they relate to behaviorism.
II. Development of Behaviorism – Behaviorism as the 2nd major force in psychology
a. Discuss earlier schools of thought
i. Functionalism
1. What significant points does each article make about this subtheme?
ii. Animal psychology
1. What significant points does each article make about this subtheme?
b. Limitations of introspection and study of the consciousness
i. Why is behaviorism a “better” alternative than the first force of psychology (Freudian psychoanalytic theory)?
c. Beginnings of the study of behavior
i. Pavlov
1. Briefly discuss Pavlov’s contributions to the study of behavior.
2. Cite material from assigned articles for this researcher.
ii. Watson
1. Briefly discuss Watson’s contributions to the study of behavior.
2. Cite material from assigned articles for this researcher.
d. Emergence of Behaviorism
e. Distinguishing of Behaviorism from other schools of thought
III. Researcher #1 (IMPORTANT NOTE: Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner may not be used as a topics in this section.)
a. What did Researcher #1 study?
b. What were this researcher’s key contributions to behaviorism?
i. Cite at least three different articles during your discussion of this first researcher.
c. How did this researcher’s contributions shape the emerging school of behaviorism?
d. What lasting effect did this person/research have on psychology?
IV. Researcher #2 (IMPORTANT NOTE: Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner may not be used as a topics in this section.)
a. What did Researcher #2 study?
b. What were this researcher’s key contributions to behaviorism?
i. Cite at least three different articles during your discussion of this second researcher.
c. How did this researcher’s contributions shape the emerging school of behaviorism?
d. What lasting effect did this person/research have on psychology?
V. Researcher #3 (IMPORTANT NOTE: Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner may not be used as a topics in this section.)
a. What did Researcher #3 study?
b. What were this researcher’s key contributions to behaviorism?
i. Cite at least three different articles during your discussion on this third researcher.
c. How did this researcher’s contributions shape the emerging school of behaviorism?
d. What lasting effect did this person/research have on psychology?
VI. Conclusion
a. Summarize key take-aways from each of the three researchers
i. Use APA style in-text citations.
b. Restate the thesis statement in a novel way to bring the paper full circle and tie it back to the introduction.
c. Draw conclusions considering the current literature as a single unit.
i. What is the overall message of the research/literature at hand?
RESOURCES
Chomsky, N. (1959). A review of B. F. Skinner’s verbal behavior. Language, 35(1), 26-58. doi: 10.2307/411334
URL:http://cogprints.org/1148/1/chomsky.htm
Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology,
52, 1-26. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.1
Schunk, D. H. (2012). Social cognitive theory. In K. R. Harris, S. Graham, & T. Urdan (Eds.), APA
educational psychology handbook: Volume 1. Theories, constructs, and critical issues (pp. 101-123). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi: 10.1037/13273-005
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