psychology

MENTAL DISORDERS When forensic psychologists serve as expert witnesses they need to be able to explain mental disorders affecting defendants and their actions. The complexity of mental disorders underlying many cases necessitates experts to help jurors sort fact from fiction.

For this Application Assignment (Section 3 of your Comprehensive Report), you review your case and analyze the diagnostic criteria for the defendant’s mental disorder.

Please note that this assignment is Section 3 of your Comprehensive Report.

To prepare for this Application Assignment:

Review the Assignment Directions below (or Comprehensive Report Section 3 in the Project Instructions) and the Application Assignment rubric located in the Course Information area. Review your assigned case. Consider the ethical implications of serving as an expert witness. Review this week’s Learning Resources.

Document: Project Comprehensive Report (Word document)

Submit a 2–4-page paper (Comprehensive Report Section 3) that answers the following questions:

What is the defendant being charged with (e.g., Felony Theft)? What is the defendant’s mental diagnosis (e.g., Schizophrenia)? What are the diagnostic criteria for the defendant’s mental disorder? How does the case background and crime information support the diagnosis? What information do you think the judge and jury should know about the defendant’s mental disorder and why?

Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.

This Assignment is due by Day 7 of Week 3.

You will incorporate any feedback into the final submission of your Comprehensive Report.

Before submitting your final assignment, you can check your draft for authenticity. To check your draft, access the Turnitin Drafts from the Start Here area.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

TO PREPARE

BY DAY 7

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

PSYC_4920_Week_3_Assignment_Rubric

1. To submit your completed assignment, save your Assignment as WK3Assgn_LastName_Firstinitial 2. Then, click on Start Assignment near the top of the page. 3. Next, click on Upload File and select Submit Assignment for review.

Criteria Ratings Pts

State what the defendant is being charged with. ... (5 points)

5 pts

What is the defendant’s mental diagnosis?...(15 points)

15 pts

What are the diagnostic criteria for the defendant’s mental disorder?... (20 points)

20 pts

5 pts A Response is complete and accurate; contains sufficient details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

4 pts B Response is complete and mostly accurate; contains some details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

3.5 pts C Response is somewhat complete and/or is somewhat inaccurate; and/or does not contain sufficient details and/or explanation; includes some supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

3 pts D Response is incomplete or is mostly inaccurate; lacks sufficient details and/or explanation; does not include supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

0 pts F Response is incomplete; answers are inaccurate and/or not explained; no supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

15 pts A Response is complete and accurate; contains sufficient details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

12 pts B Response is complete and mostly accurate; contains some details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

10.5 pts C Response is somewhat complete and/or is somewhat inaccurate; and/or does not contain sufficient details and/or explanation; includes some supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

9 pts D Response is incomplete or is mostly inaccurate; lacks sufficient details and/or explanation; does not include supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

0 pts F Response is incomplete; answers are inaccurate and/or not explained; no supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

20 pts A Response is complete and accurate; contains sufficient details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

17 pts B Response is complete and mostly accurate; contains some details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

15 pts C Response is somewhat complete and/or is somewhat inaccurate; and/or does not contain sufficient details and/or explanation; includes some supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

13 pts D Response is incomplete or is mostly inaccurate; lacks sufficient details and/or explanation; does not include supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

0 pts F Response is incomplete; answers are inaccurate and/or not explained; no supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

Criteria Ratings Pts

How does the case background and crime information support the diagnosis? ...(20 points)

20 pts

What information do you think the judge and jury should know about the defendant’s mental disorder and why?... (20 points)

20 pts

Quality of Writing...(15 points)

15 pts

20 pts A Excellent application/analysis of concepts, skills, or issues. ...AND... Is supported by evidence from the assigned Learning Resources.

17 pts B Good application/analysis of concepts, skills, or issues. ...AND... Is supported by evidence from the assigned Learning Resources.

15 pts C Average application/analysis of concepts, skills, or issues (lacking some information or details; and/or has some inaccuracies; and/or demonstrates a lack of understanding). ...AND / OR... Is not well-supported by evidence from the assigned Learning Resources.

13 pts D Weak application/analysis of concepts, skills, or issues (substantially lacking information or details; and/or has several inaccuracies; and/or demonstrates a lack of understanding). ...AND / OR... Is not supported by evidence from the assigned Learning Resources.

0 pts F Substantially lacking in information or details; and/or has many inaccuracies; and/or does not address the prompt. ...AND / OR... Is not supported by evidence from the assigned Learning Resources.

20 pts A Response is complete and accurate; contains sufficient details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

17 pts B Response is complete and mostly accurate; contains some details and/or explanation; includes supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

15 pts C Response is somewhat complete and/or is somewhat inaccurate; and/or does not contain sufficient details and/or explanation; includes some supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

13 pts D Response is incomplete or is mostly inaccurate; lacks sufficient details and/or explanation; does not include supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

0 pts F Response is incomplete; answers are inaccurate and/or not explained; no supporting information from the Learning Resources when necessary.

15 pts A Writing is clear and organized with few or no errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling (MUGS). There is a preponderance of original writing

12 pts B Writing is mostly clear and organized with few MUGS errors. Writing is original (i.e., use of own words and proper paraphrasing).

10.5 pts C Writing is somewhat clear and organized with some MUGS errors. Most writing is original (i.e., use of own words and proper paraphrasing).

9 pts D Writing is somewhat unclear and disorganized and/or contains many MUGS errors. There is an overuse of direct quotations

0 pts F Writing is unclear and/or disorganized and/or contains many MUGS errors. There is an underuse of original writing and an overuse of

Criteria Ratings Pts

Information documentation... (5 points)

5 pts

Total Points: 100

(i.e., use of own words and proper paraphrasing).

and/or ineffective paraphrasing.

directly quoted content.

5 pts A Information from the Learning Resources is properly documented with citation(s) and reference(s) in correct APA style.

3.5 pts B Information from the Learning Resources is partially documented with citation(s) and/or reference(s), and / or does not follow correct APA style.

0 pts C Information from the Learning Resources is not cited or referenced in any way.

0 pts D

0 pts F