Research Contemp-5

6.1 Discussion. My Commandment Experience

Getting Started

In the first devotional on the Ten Commandments, we looked at our God as being a “jealous” God and how He wants us to stay close to Him, to reflect His image, and to have life in abundance as a result of serving and obeying only Him. Then, we looked at the Ten Commandments as a whole, so that if one were to be broken or missing, the entire arrangement would also be broken. Then, we examined pairs of commandments. Taking the Ten Commandments in two sections, the first five and the last five, we paired them and experienced how it felt to live out one of the pairs.

In this simple but powerful devotional on the Ten Commandments, you are going to take just one of the commandments and live it out to the fullest degree possible for an entire day. Then, when you have finished doing your utmost to fulfill just one of these commandments, you will report on your experiences and how they changed you, for better or for worse.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Live out one of the Commandments to the fullest degree possible for one day.

· Share how living out just one of the commandments as fully as possible impacted your life.

Background Information

Before you carry out this assignment, stop and prayerfully consider each one of the Ten Commandments. Choose the one that you would like to live out fully for one day:

1. Do not have any other god before God.

2. Do not make yourself an idol.

3. Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.

5. Honor your mother and father.

6. Do not murder.

7. Do not commit adultery.

8. Do not steal.

9. Do not testify or bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. Do not covet.

Instructions

1. Choose one of the Ten Commandments and live it to the fullest degree possible for one entire day.

2. Navigate to the threaded discussion below and respond to the following:

a. Which commandment did you choose and why?

b. Share how living out just one of the commandments impacted your life.

3. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

5.2 Discussion. Application of Measurement

Getting Started

In working with clients, you may find it useful to have them complete some sort of assessment or questionnaire, depending on the client’s goals and the type of information you would find useful to help them meet those goals. There is a huge array of questionnaires and measurement tools. Some of them are known to be valuable because they have been tested for validity and reliability, while others have not undergone rigorous testing. It is important for you to use these measurement tools wisely and with concrete reasons for having clients complete them. The process of evaluating measurement tools—if done well—is rigorous and takes years. Thus, it is valuable for you to have a sound understanding of various aspects of measurement tools so that you can select appropriate ones for your clients.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Evaluate methods of measurement.

Background Information

For this discussion, take out the Values in Action (VIA) questionnaire and your results from completing the questionnaire in PSY-540 and review them. Read the VIA questions or statements that you responded to carefully and thoroughly and take notes on anything that stands out or occurs to you. Then, complete the discussion assignment.

Instructions

1. In your textbook,  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology, read  Chapter 4, “Strengths of Character and Virtues: What We Know and What We Still Want to Learn.” (new tab)

2. In your textbook  Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, read Chapter 2, “Distracted by Talent.” The author describes the problems with measurement.

3. Review and reflect on the  Values in Action (VIA) (new tab)  questionnaire, as well as your results from PSY-540 Workshop Three. The link to the VIA survey is provided here for your reference.

4. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following questions:

a. What did you notice about the VIA measurement tool? What strikes you as well done, what seems problematic, and what else do you note about it?

b. Would you have concerns about having people from diverse groups take this “test”? Why or why not?

5. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.

6. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

5.3 Assignment. Differentiate Life Coaching from Therapy

Getting Started

As you may well be aware, stereotypes and misinformation abound about both therapy and life coaching. And because life coaching is a newer field and profession than psychotherapy, many people have only a vague idea of what life coaching consists of. Also, some people who don’t have relevant credentials or training call themselves life coaches, leading to some negative impressions among others about life coaching—that it is not a credible profession.

You will likely come across people who hold such stereotypes or negative attitudes toward life coaching and you need to be able to carefully and appropriately explain the differences between the two professions to them, as well as help them understand why life coaching is a credible profession.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Differentiate life coaching from therapy.

Background Information

For this assignment, you will become well-versed in understanding and explaining to the layperson the differences between life coaching and therapy. What are the major differences between these professions, in your view? Why? What are the major aspects you would want clients or the general population to know about the differences? How might you convince a skeptic that life coaching is a credible profession?

Instructions

1. Review these websites:

a. International Coaching Federation: What is Coaching? and What Coaching is NOT (new tab)

b. Positive Psychology Program: Positive Psychology Coaching and Life Coaching: How Do They Differ (new tab) ?

c. Positive Psychology in Practice: Using Positive Psychology in Coaching (new tab)

2. Google “Coaching versus Therapy.”

3. Write a minimum two-page, APA 7th Edition -formatted paper addressing the following:

a. Assume you are a life coach. Create a scenario describing who your client is—individual, family, system, or organization. Describe how you would explain the difference between therapy and life coaching to that client, using research to support what you would say or write. Apply specifics to your scenario.

b. In your explanation, focus on the major differences between life coaching and therapy: the process, the relationship, and the credentials/certification held by the professional. Write about all these things and other relevant information in detail.

c. Be sure to articulate the important differences between professional therapy and life coaching in language that a layperson would understand.

5.5 Journal Assignment. Character and Virtue

Getting Started

What is “character”? What is “virtue”? How do you define these attributes for yourself? For others? You have been not only exploring psychology and pertinent concepts throughout the program, but you have also been exploring your own personal and spiritual growth and development.

Character has several definitions, but one that is appropriate in this context is “attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual” ( Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

Virtue has more to do (in general) with morality; to be virtuous is to have a particular moral excellence ( Miriam-Webster Online Dictionary).

These are meaningful and important concepts to consider not only for yourself as you foray into the environment of a life coach, but also for others with whom you will be working—both to help them understand their character and virtue and to determine whether they want to redefine those aspects of themselves (reshape themselves) to craft a life that supports their goals and ideals.

Some questionnaires or tests, such as the Values in Action (VIA) survey introduced in PSY-540, may include such concepts as character and virtue, so exploring these in more detail will enable you to be more informed and able to talk to your clients about how to think about and consider these concepts in their life pursuits.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Apply measurements to life coaching and positive psychology.

· Apply measurements to personal and spiritual development.

Background Information

For this assignment, review the PSY-540 VIA questionnaire and the International Coach Federation Code of Ethics to give you a framework of ethical guidelines for coaching. Then, apply this information to a life-coaching scenario that you create. Utilize the application of the VIA test and scenario to address the prompts for this journal, using positive psychology in your role as a life coach. Additionally, you will apply what you are reading about grit to your journal.

Instructions

1. In your textbook  Grit, read:

a. Chapter 6, “Interest”

b. Chapter 7, “Practice”

c. Chapter 8, “Purpose”

2. Read the  ICF Code of Ethics (new tab) .

3. Open your Personal Reflection Journal and title this new entry “PSY-561 Character and Virtue <Month, Day, Year>.” As you write in your journal during this session, reflect on the following prompts, citing sources in proper APA format:

a.

a. Assume you are a life coach and create a realistic life-coaching scenario. Integrating your understanding of some aspect of positive psychology and the ICF Code of Ethics, apply the PSY-540 VIA test to your life-coaching scenario.

i. Reference at least one element from the ICF Code of Ethics that has relevance to your coaching scenario.

ii. What cautions would you relay to your clients regarding relying on summary measures such as the VIA?

b. Apply the VIA to enhance your own personal and spiritual development. How will you use the results to enhance your personal and spiritual development?

c. Apply what you read in  Grit about using your reading to enhance your own personal and spiritual development. Especially consider the concepts of character and virtue in your journal.

4. Your entry should be a minimum of six paragraphs.

5.4 Assignment. Capstone Reflection Journal - Outlining Your Project

Getting Started

REMEMBER, this assignment in this workshop is separate from your TED-style talk assignment. The TED talk and the Capstone Project are two separate projects that you will be working on, refining, and implementing in the final course.

In Workshop One, you reflected on your previous journals as well as other materials and assignments in which you wrote about your capstone ideas. Then you completed what we called your Preliminary Capstone Project Outline. It was merely a brainstorming exercise to help you pull together some of your thoughts and begin thinking of how these ideas and insights might work in your Capstone Project.

After completing the Preliminary Capstone Project Outline, you met with your instructor in Workshop Two to obtain suggestions and/or tips about further developing your outline. Because the capstone is such a major component of your degree and encompasses many aspects of what you learn throughout the Master’s in Psychology program, it is important to be as clear and specific as you can about what your project will consist of, as well as how you plan to implement it. The focus of this assignment will be to take those initial ideas from the Preliminary Capstone Project Outline and solidify them into a more concrete outline that you can use to develop a specific plan in the next course.

Keep in mind that the Capstone Project has three core objectives/criteria mentioned earlier in this course: 

· Your project needs to engage a small group of people. 

· It needs to be related to life coaching and/or positive psychology.

· It needs to reflect the work you’ve completed in your literature review.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Synthesize research design and methods and concepts related to life coaching and positive psychology.

· Design projects that promote personal and spiritual growth based on the research in contemporary positive psychology and life coaching.

Background Information

Now that you have obtained suggestions from your instructor about the Preliminary Capstone Project Outline you submitted in Workshop One, use the Capstone Project Outline Update Word document to add more detail to your initial ideas from Workshop One. Although you may not yet know all of the details about how you will implement your project or the specifics of the timeline, do your best to be as detailed and specific as possible now. You will have an opportunity to make revisions in PSY-562.

Instructions

1. REMEMBER, this is separate from your TED-style talk assignment. The TED talk and the Capstone Project are two separate projects that you will be working on, refining, and implementing in the final courses. Your TED talk is due in PSY 563 and your Capstone Project will be due in PSY 590.

2. Review the Preliminary Capstone Project Outline that you submitted in Workshop One and your instructor’s feedback.

3. Use the  Capstone Project Outline Update (Word) (Word document)  document to solidify your thoughts on the capstone project. Please note: You will undoubtedly refine many of the components needed to support your Capstone Project in the next course, PSY-562. Your goal here is to identify the core elements that are driving your Capstone Project. In the next course, you will use this outline to develop a specific plan.

4. Your assignment should be a minimum of three pages long. If you use outside sources, proper citations and a references list in APA format are required.

6.2 Discussion. Life Coaching and Flourishing

Getting Started

As a life coach, how will you ascertain in which areas you can help your clients flourish, or, alternatively, how can you determine how you can or will assist them with their goals? Valuable resources are at your disposal.

Various measurements, questionnaires, or tests that you can have clients complete, depending on the client’s situation and context, are some resources. As we saw in the last workshop, however, it is important to remember that not all measurement tools are created equal and not all have been rigorously tested. This means that you need to be very familiar with a measurement tool or questionnaire you ask a client to complete, as well as understand the pros and cons of that tool. Anytime you ask a client to do something, you should have a sound reason or rationale for it. Thus, you will gain experience with a measurement tool in this activity, as well as evaluate it.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Evaluate the concept of flourishing to solve a real-world problem as a life coach.

Background Information

For this discussion, you will have at least three friends or family members complete the “Measuring Flourishing in Positive Psychology” assessment. You should also complete the measurement tool. Having several people complete this measurement, including yourself, will provide you with some insight on the tool itself, as well as how you might apply it in your work as a life coach. You are encouraged to coach your friends and family members about their experience using this assessment.  What did they learn about themselves?  What will be different as a result of this assessment?  What are their thoughts and feelings about the measurement tool, as well as the results they obtained?  All this will help you gain information for the discussion.

Instructions

1. In your textbook,  Scientific Advances in Positive Psychology, read  Chapter 3, “Positive Emotions.” (new tab)

2. In your textbook  Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, read Chapter 3, “Effort Counts Twice.”

3. Review the website  Positive Psychology Program: Flourishing in Positive Psychology: Definition + 8 Practical Tips (new tab) .

4. Have at least three friends or family members take the six-question test  Measuring Flourishing in Positive Psychology (new tab) . Also, take it yourself.

a. The instructions for scoring are right after the measurement tool questions.

5. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following prompts:

a. Discuss what you learned from having others (and yourself) complete the Measuring Flourishing in Positive Psychology tool.

b. Discuss the results of the Measuring Flourishing in Positive Psychology test.

i. If you think it is a sound measurement tool, discuss how you could use this measurement tool to work with clients as a life coach on a real-world problem.

ii. If you don’t think it is a sound measurement tool, discuss why.

c. Use positive psychology and flourishing research/sources to support your claims.

6. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.

7. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.