ANNOT BIL

LaPorscha L. Terrell

September 24, 2023

PSY 560-X1278

Southern New Hampshire University

Professor Stoutamire

The key theory that I choose to discuss for my final project is David Buss: The Evolutionary Psychology. David Buss Is a prominent psychologist known for his work on human mating strategies and evolutionary psychology. He has contributed to significant parts of the field, particularly in the areas related to mate selection, sexual behavior and evolutionary theories of human psychology. . We lack a theory of the functional properties of the human mind that could provide the needed integration-a theory about what the mechanisms of mind are "designed" to do. Evolutionary psychology provides the conceptual tools for emerging from this fragmented state.

In this target article, I outline the fundamental premises of evolutionary psychology; illustrate the application of evolutionary psychology to domains such as reasoning, social exchange, language, aggression, jealousy, sex, and status; and then consider the implications of evolutionary psychology for the key branches of social, personality, developmental, and cognitive psychology and suggest ways in which these disciplinary boundaries can be transcended. I conclude by looking at the emergence of evolutionary psychology as our field matures into the 21st century. Choosing psychology as a topic for your paper offers several benefits and these are the few reasons I chose the Theory and theorist ; the Relevance; Psychology is a dynamic field with real-world applications, making your paper relevant to everyday life. There are Diverse Topics: Psychology covers a wide range of subjects, from cognitive to clinical, allowing you to explore various areas of interest.

In the field of psychology, primary and secondary sources serve distinct purposes: Primary Sources: Primary sources are original, firsthand accounts or data created by researchers who directly conducted experiments, studies, or observations.    - These sources include research articles, case studies, surveys, and experimental reports published in academic journals.   - Primary sources offer the most direct and unfiltered access to the original research findings and data.  They are valuable for understanding the methods, results, and conclusions of specific studies. Secondary Sources: Secondary sources are interpretations, analyses, or summaries of primary sources created by individuals who were not directly involved in the original research; Examples of secondary sources in psychology include textbooks, literature reviews, and meta-analyses. Secondary sources provide a broader perspective on existing research, often summarizing and synthesizing multiple primary sources.    They can be helpful for gaining a comprehensive understanding of a particular topic or for educational purposes. In summary, primary sources are the raw data and research articles generated by psychologists themselves, while secondary sources are scholarly works that provide an overview, analysis, or synthesis of the primary research to help others understand and interpret the findings. Both types of sources have their place in the field of psychology, depending on the research or information needs of psychologists and students.

Evaluating primary and secondary sources involves different criteria and these are a few ways and reasons why I would evaluate them both differently. Authenticity and Origin is a very important reason why . Primary sources: Assess the originality, credibility, and authenticity of the source. Consider who created it, when, and why. Secondary sources: Examine the qualifications and reputation of the author or source, as well as their sources and methods used for interpretation. Bias and Perspective: Primary sources: Recognize potential biases of the original creator based on their context and purpose. Analyze whether they had a firsthand perspective. Secondary sources: Analyze the author’s bias and perspective in interpreting primary sources. Evaluate if they provide a balanced viewpoint. Relevance to Research: Primary sources: Evaluate their direct relevance to your research question.

I plan to utilize scholarly articles to aid in me gaining knowledge and information to locate the research materials needed to completes this courses final project.

References

Buss, D. M. (1991). Evolutionary personality psychology. Annual Review of Psychology, 42(1), 459–491

Psychological Inquiry, 1995 Jan 01. 6(1), 1-30.

• PSY 560 Annotated Bibliography (Example)
• Annotated Bibliography (Example)

PSY 560 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

The final project for this course is focused on one specific personality theory (or set of theories) for which you will demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, provide a nuanced, critical analysis of the subject matter, and illustrate the theory’s relevance in the field today. This will be accomplished by producing a theoretical analysis which will include a detailed description of the theories' major concepts, the key theorists, and the published research regarding the theory. You will provide a critical analysis of the validity of the theory, its strengths and weaknesses, and the cultural utility of the theory. Finally, you will consider the theory’s contemporary relevance and its place within the larger context of the field of personality psychology by proposing an application of the theory to a contemporary issue or phenomenon and discussing the possible future development of this theory.

The project will be developed over the length of the course as you will submit  three outlines for feedback before completing the final draft. The outlines will be due in  Modules Three, Five, and Seven. The final product will be submitted in  Module Nine.

Refer to the Project Topics document (linked in the project review task in Module One) for a list of approved theories for this project.

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

· Evaluate the use of personality theories in published research for validity and contemporary relevance

· Analyze contemporary theories in personality psychology for their changing roles in the field over time

· Defend the use of personality psychology theories by assessing them against alternative theoretical perspectives

· Illustrate the applicability of theories in personality psychology to contemporary issues and different cultural perspectives

· Formulate conclusions on the contemporary use of theories in personality psychology based on theoretical analysis

Prompt

Specifically, the following  critical elements must be addressed:

I. Background and Basics of the Theory

A. Provide a  historical overview of your selected theory, including relevant historical events that influenced the theory.

B. Analyze the  historical development of the theory based on when and where it was developed. Consider what the prevailing theories of the time were. How does this theory relate to the earlier theories?

C. Identify the  key theorist (theorists) associated with this theory. Provide the relevant biographical information and historical events that may have influenced the theorist’s work and led to the development of the theory.

D. Articulate the  key concepts of this theory as conceived by the key theorist(s). Support your response with relevant research. Be sure to include primary sources and noteworthy or historically relevant research.

E. Discuss  how the theory is used today, identifying key differences from its initial application. What key concepts in the theory have changed over time, and how has the theory’s role changed?

II. Evaluation and Comparison

A. Develop a  position statement regarding your theory’s continued relevance in personality psychology today. Your statement must be supported with logical rationale.

B. Evaluate the  validity and accuracy of your theory. Consider both primary and secondary resources and cite specific examples from the research to support your evaluation. Include both historical and current research in your evaluation and consider the differences where applicable

C. Determine the theory’s appropriateness for a range of  cultural perspectives in its contemporary use. Be sure to cite relevant research. How well does this theory make testable predictions about human behavior across a range of cultural perspectives, including those of special populations? Give specific examples from the research where possible.

D. Discuss the  strengths and weaknesses of the theory. Support your claims with research-based evidence.

E. Based on the weaknesses you discover, choose two  alternative personality theories to discuss. Be sure to explain how these alternative theories challenge the validity, weaknesses, or biases of your theory.

F. Defend the usefulness of your theory in contemporary settings against the alternative theories and the challenges you just presented.

III. Application and Conclusion

A. Discuss the  contemporary relevance of how your theory is used in the larger context of the field of personality psychology. Utilize current (within the last five years) research.

B. Apply your theory in explaining a  real-world problem or phenomenon.

i. How would your key theorist(s) understand this problem in terms of its root cause and primary characteristics?

ii. Assess published contemporary research for solutions with the potential to address this problem or phenomenon. Does the contemporary use of your theory provide viable approaches to this problem? What are they?

iii. Explain how this application of your theory demonstrates the theory’s contemporary relevance and potential to advance knowledge within the field of personality psychology.

C. Summarize the changing use of your theory over time, including how its use compares with other theories in personality psychology.

D. Consider the  future relevance of this theory within the field of personality psychology. How might it develop in order to remain relevant? Be specific about aspects of the theory that are most or least likely to contribute to the future relevance of the theory.

Milestones

Milestone One:  Background and Basics of Theory In  Module Three, you will submit an  outline of the Background and Basics of Theory section of the final project. This will include the historical overview of the theory, information about the key theorist(s) associated with the theory, and an introduction to the key concepts of the theory. Furthermore, the way the theory is used today will also be discussed.  This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.

Milestone Two:  Evaluation and Comparison In  Module Five, you will create an  outline of the Evaluation and Comparison section of the final project. This will begin with a position statement. Then evaluate the validity and accuracy of your theory based on both primary and secondary research, discuss the theory’s appropriateness for a range of cultural perspectives in its contemporary use, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the theory. Based on the weaknesses you discover, choose two alternative personality theories to discuss and then defend the usefulness of your theory in contemporary settings against the alternative theories.  This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

Milestone Three:  Application and Conclusion In  Module Seven, you will submit an  outline of the Application and Conclusion section of the final project. Utilize current research to support an explanation of the role this theory plays in the larger context of the field of psychology. Apply this theory to a real-world problem, including how the key theorists might understand the problem, how the theory could lend support for solutions to the problem, and how this relates to the role of your theory in the current field. Create a conclusion that considers the future of this theory in the field and how the theory might develop in order to remain relevant in the field.  This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.

Final Submission:  Theoretical Analysis In  Module Nine, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing  all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course.  This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

What to Submit

Your theoretical analysis should be 10 to 15 pages in length with double spacing. Use APA style for formatting and citations. Your paper must utilize a minimum of ten scholarly resources, including primary resources from your selected theorist. Use the  Final Project Template  and submit it as a Microsoft Word document.