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Author Archives: Academic Wizard

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Teenage Risk & Peer Influence

Type Your Name Here

Smarter Decisions through Psychology

SCENARIO: Monica is a single mom who has a 16-year-old son named Jordan. Monica and Jordan were close at one point. As of late, Monica has been noticing that Jordan spends a lot of time focusing on what his friends think about him. Without his mother’s permission, Jordan recently crawled out of his bedroom window and went to a party when he was supposed to be studying for an exam. Upon his return home, Jordan reeked of alcohol and marijuana and was caught by his mother. Shocked and appalled by her son’s recent behavior, she grounded him for two weeks.

Teenage Risk & Peer Influence

Date here

Teenage Risk & Peer Influence

Using what you have learned about the adolescent brain and social development, answer the questions in this case study assignment. Your goals are to help Monica understand why her son makes the choices he does and recommend some strategies that may help solve the problem.

For each question, you should write a paragraph-length response (5–7 sentences) to receive credit for this assignment. You may use your Sophia tutorials as a resource.

Question 1: What happens inside the brain of a teenager that makes it difficult for Jordan to weigh the risks and rewards of his behavior? Describe how the adolescent brain weighs risk and reward.

Question 2: Why does it appear that Jordan values the opinion of his peers more than the opinion of his mother? Explain the psychological concepts that may account for why Jordan places value on his peers’ opinions.

Question 3: What advice would you give Jordan’s mother, Monica, that would teach him how to make better choices and decisions? Discuss a specific strategy that Monica may implement to help her son make better decisions.

Question 4: If you were in Monica’s shoes, how would you feel? Explain why a better understanding of Monica’s perspective could result in more constructive advice.

Teenage Risk & Peer Influence

  • What happens in the brain that makes it difficult for teens to weigh risks and rewards?,

  • Why does Jordan value his peers’ opinions more than his mother’s?,

  • What advice can help Monica guide Jordan’s decision-making?,

  • How might Monica feel in this situation?,

  • Why is understanding Monica’s perspective important?

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Homelessness Aid Data Sources

“Are New York State’s government administrative efforts in aiding the homeless more or less
effective than nonprofit organizations?”

The dependent variable in this research study is the effectiveness of initiatives aimed
at assisting individuals experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness Aid Data Sources

EXPLAIN: What would be the data sources? (Pick from one of the two)

If you choose to collect data from primary data sets, LIST and describe those sources in great detail  OR  If you choose to build your own dataset, lay out the process for building and justification for that dataset.

  1. What is the research question?,

  2. What is the dependent variable?,

  3. What are the two options for data collection?,

  4. Which data option is selected?,

  5. How will data be obtained and justified?

Homelessness Aid Data Sources


Selected Option: Building a New Dataset


Comprehensive Answer:

1. Research Question Recap:
The core question is: Are New York State’s government administrative efforts in aiding the homeless more or less effective than nonprofit organizations?

2. Dependent Variable:
The dependent variable is effectiveness of initiatives—measured in terms of outcomes like reduced homelessness, housing stability, employment, mental health services, and recidivism rates.

3. Chosen Data Collection Method:
I will build my own dataset, as existing data may not offer a direct, comparative view between state and nonprofit effectiveness. Building a dataset allows targeted, tailored measurement.


Process for Building the Dataset:

A. Define Variables and Metrics:

  • Type of provider: Government or nonprofit.

  • Outcome metrics:

    • Housing placement rate

    • Length of time homeless

    • Employment rate after program exit

    • Client satisfaction (via surveys)

    • Service utilization rate (mental health, addiction recovery)

B. Identify Sample Population:

  • Select at least 10 government-run and 10 nonprofit-run programs in New York State.

  • Use random sampling to select clients from each provider for data collection.

C. Data Collection Tools:

  • Surveys and interviews with service users (to assess satisfaction and outcomes)

  • Site visits and observations (to verify program practices)

  • Program records and documentation reviews (to gather administrative data)

Homelessness Aid Data Sources

  • Collect data across a 12-month period to ensure longitudinal insight into program effectiveness and stability of results.

E. Justification for Building Dataset:

  • Comparative insights: Official datasets rarely offer side-by-side comparison of government and nonprofit performance.

  • Customization: Allows defining “effectiveness” based on multiple measurable indicators.

  • Timeliness: Some public data may be outdated; building a dataset ensures relevance and recency.

  • Context-specific metrics: Direct feedback from participants allows capturing human elements such as dignity, accessibility, and trust in services.


Ethical and Practical Considerations:

  • Obtain IRB approval or ethical review, especially for participant interviews.

  • Ensure confidentiality and informed consent.

  • Mitigate bias by using standardized survey tools and neutral language.

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Letter to Texas Representative

Instructions and Rubric for (Letter to a US Political Representative) In this project, you will be writing a letter to an elected representative to request them to take action on a specific policy. You are welcome to mail this letter to your selected representative, but this is not required as part of this project. Submit completed letter. DUE MAY 3

Letter to Texas Representative

a. LENGTH: 900-1200 words (12-point font, single-spaced) You must first determine the specific action you want taken and then determine which elected representative (federal, state, or local *Texas*) to send the letter to. The aim in your letter is to present an argument to persuade the representative to endorse and carry out the policy you desire. You are welcome to use prompts and posts from past forum discussions in selecting your policy and making your argument. Make sure that the desired policy is one that falls within the jurisdiction of the representative you select (asking the Mayor of Austin Texas to repeal Obamacare, for example, would not work). You also want to pick a policy that is specific and feasible. Avoid vague or unattainable policies (asking the President of the United States to establish world peace would be both overly vague and also not within the sole power of the United States to do). Specific, feasible policies are easier to argue for and easier to find evidence for than vague, unattainable policies. The letter should take the form of a formal letter, so include the name and mailing address of the representative you are writing (formal letters often include the mailing address of the sender but, for your privacy, I do not require this. If you like, you can make up a fake address to include, for example “123 Anywhere St., Austin TX”). The letter should open with a salutation and have an appropriate closing (“Sincerely” or something equivalent). Purdue University provides more guidance on what to include in a business letter here. The paper should open (that is, have at least in the first paragraph) a clear statement of the policy action you are arguing for. As part of the argument for your request, you will be required to provide supporting evidence. However, since this is a letter, and not a research paper, weigh the number of citations accordingly. You will have to present facts and back them up (with, say, references to news articles), but a representative would not want to read a letter with 50 footnotes. For example, when you provide a particular statistic from a newspaper article, you should note in the text in a parenthetical reference (footnotes are not required, though you can use them instead if you prefer) the name of the publication and the date of publication. For example: “Crime in DC went up 10% in the first three months of 2021 (Washington Post of Oct. 1, 2020). Provide a hyperlink or URL if possible. Providing one or two references per page would be adequate. Since this is a letter, a bibliography is not necessary. It should be possible to identify your source from your citation, however. All submissions will be submitted to TurnItIn for plagiarism detection. Do not copy and paste

Letter to Texas Representative

 

from other sources into your paper unless you are providing a direct quotations (with quotation marks). These will get flagged, even if you change a word or two. When you are quoting or using information from a source, be sure to cite. Citations are needed for both direct quotations and paraphrases (for an assignment like this, I expect direct quotations will be rare and paraphrases will be much more common). Instructions on how to cite in an informal context like this are given above. Submission will be made through Canvas. Submissions must be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Rubric:

 

 

Item Description Points

Submission of Outline Submission of an adequate version of an outline 1

Item Description Points

Statement of Policy Request

What are you asking your representative to do? Does the letter make an explicit and actionable policy request of the representative? Is this the correct representative to be asking for the request?

2

Effectiveness and Organization

Does the letter present a clear argument for why the representative should grant its request? Is this argument well-organized, with a clear structure and the space dedicated to issues proportionate to their importance to the request?

12

Supporting citations Are claims about what the reading says backed up by reference to external sources (e.g., newspaper articles or public reports)? Are there an adequate number of supporting citations?

4

Spelling and Grammar Are there so many spelling/grammatical mistakes in the paper that they obstruct understanding?

Letter to Texas Representative

  1. What is the specific, actionable policy request being made?,

  2. Is the letter addressed to the correct level of government representative?,

  3. Does the letter present a clear and organized argument supporting the request?,

  4. Are the claims supported by proper citations and factual evidence?,

  5. Does the letter maintain proper grammar and spelling throughout?

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Global Issues Book Review

Overview

In Module 4: Week 4, you will write a book review on the Global Issues Beyond Sovereignty by Maryann Cusimano-Love. In Module 7: Week 7, you will write a book review on Global Issues: Politics, Economics, and Cultural by Richard Payne. The purpose of this assignment is not only to summarize the themes found within the texts, but to offer a critique and identify how the material relates to current events and public policies.

Global Issues Book Review

Instructions

The Book Critique and Policy Review Paper Assignments must be 5–7 pages, not including the title and reference page. Format the body of your review in 4 main sections: summary, critique, application, and policy review. Do not summarize or critique the chapters chronologically. Consider the book as a whole. Avoid excessive quotations. State the authors’ viewpoints in your own words and give specific page references when paraphrasing. Be sure to review the Book Critique and Policy Review Paper Grading Rubric before starting this assignment. Each submission must be in a Microsoft Word document.

· Summary

Summarize the main theme of the book. What is the overall perspective, purpose, or argument of the book? If the author wanted you to get one idea from the book, what would it be?

· Critique

Global Issues Book Review

This section needs to balance the book’s strengths and weaknesses in order to unify your evaluation. What strikes you as noteworthy? What has the book accomplished? In what ways was the book effective or persuasive? Challenge assumptions, approaches, or arguments made by the author. Does the argument make sense? You can offer agreement or disagreement and identify where you find the work exemplary or deficient in its knowledge, judgments, or organization. Provide concrete evidence for your assertions. Support judgments with references from the textbook reading in this course and other scholarly resources. All citations must be in current APA format. Be sure that your evaluation is balanced, respectful, and fair. Control the tone of your critique.

· Application

This section must demonstrate how the book has enhanced your understanding of current public policy issues. Why is this topic important today? How can this information be used in forming and maintaining a strong foreign policy?

· Policy Review

Identify and assess a current public policy issue in current events in light of the theories presented in this material. Do not merely state what the policy is. Explain the policy and provide a short but detailed briefing on the policy. Additionally, state if the policy is good or bad based on the perspective you gained in reading this book. You must also introduce new ideas that go beyond the book if they complement ideas you have gleaned from reading in the book.

Global Issues Book Review

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.

  1. What is the main theme or argument of the book?,

  2. What are the book’s strengths and weaknesses?,

  3. How does the book enhance your understanding of current public policy issues?,

  4. How can the material be applied to forming strong foreign policy?,

  5. What current public policy issue relates to the theories in the book?

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Supreme Court & Federalism

Instructions

· Provide a Biblically based support for your analysis

· Sources must be derived from Read items assigned for the Module: Week in which the Case Study is assigned, peer-reviewed journal articles, and your independent research.

· All citations and format must be in current APA format

· Include 8 – 10 sources, not including your Biblical analysis

· Double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, written in 12-point Times New Roman font.

Paper must be 8-10 pages

Supreme Court & Federalism

Case Study: The Supreme Court, Federalism, and Public Administrators Assignment

Christensen and Wise (2009) state,

[t]he U.S. Supreme Court has come to play an important role in articulating that system of rules. The Supreme Court’s federalism decisions are especially important in understanding what powers public managers [must] achieve policy priorities in the current context of devolved government.

For this Case Study Assignment, you will provide a scholarly paper concerning the effect of recent Supreme Court decisions on public administration and federalism.

Supreme Court & Federalism

  1. How have recent Supreme Court rulings influenced federalism in public administration?,

  2. What effects do these decisions have on the powers and responsibilities of public managers?,

  3. Which cases illustrate changes in state–federal power dynamics?,

  4. How can public administrators adapt to federalism realignment?,

  5. What biblical principles support cooperation and authority in government roles?


Analysis: Supreme Court Decisions, Federalism & Public Administration

1. Influence on Federalism

Supreme Court decisions in recent years have significantly reshaped federal–state authority. Rulings such as NFIB v. Sebelius and Murphy v. NCAA reaffirm the limits of federal coercion, reinforcing state autonomy. These trends require public administrators to better navigate decentralized authority, seek state resources, and align local policies with both constitutional and interstate considerations.

2. Impact on Public Managers’ Roles

Public administrators must now operate in a more fragmented regulatory environment. As Christensen & Wise (2009) note, devolution places greater responsibility on state and local actors to achieve policy priorities. This requires strategic grant acquisition, multi-jurisdictional coordination, and flexibility to comply with varying federal directives.

3. Illustrative Case Examples

  • NFIB v. Sebelius (2012): Limited the federal government’s ability to compel states to expand Medicaid, reinforcing states’ choice in major social programs.

  • Murphy v. NCAA (2018): Eliminated federal ban on state-regulated sports betting, affirming the “anti-commandeering” doctrine and enhancing state legislative authority.
    These cases showcase how the Supreme Court constrains federal mandates, thereby expanding the policymaking space for states.

4. Adaptation Strategies for Public Administrators

To operate effectively, managers should:

  • Leverage intergovernmental grants and block funding, reducing reliance on federal stipulations.

  • Build policy networks with neighboring jurisdictions to address regional challenges.

 

 

Readings

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40468971?saml_data=eyJpbnN0aXR1dGlvbklkcyI6WyJjNGZjMjNmMC01MDQzLTRiOWMtYjgzNS0wZTBkZDBhMDA2MjMiXSwic2FtbFRva2VuIjoiNTBlYTdkOGUtNWQxMy00MzEyLWE3OGYtZjhmMDgzYTIyMjQ1In0&seq=1

Youtube Video

https://youtu.be/L_9PwNvaFYk?si=0oi7dWAiIh0TUFjp

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Cannabis Legalization & Probation

As a probation or parole officer, you will need to understand how complex and nuanced social issues may be inextricably connected to the criminal justice system, and how they may affect your ethical decision-making strategies. In this assessment, you will explain how a social issue can impact professional duties and ethics.

Assignment Deliverable

Cannabis Legalization & Probation

Select and research one of the following social issues:

  • Gender identity/pronoun preferences
  • Legalization of cannabis (THIS IS THE TOPIC I CHOSE)
  • Substance/drug addiction
  • Undocumented immigrants/refugees
  • Socioeconomic status/socioeconomic disparity
  • Mental health
  • The impact of social media and cameras in the courtroom
  • The impact of news media and investigative journalism
  • Child support and incarceration
  • Homelessness/poverty
  • Unemployment/reentry to society after incarceration

Note: Use the University Library to locate resources related to the issue you selected. Consult with your faculty member if you would like to research an alternate topic of your choice.

Write a 1000 -1300 word status report from the perspective of a probation officer describing the relevance of a social issue in providing probation services ethically. Explain how the social issue affects your professional and ethical responsibilities.

Audience: The report will be submitted to an ethics review committee that is considering altering agency policies to address some of the ethical challenges probation officers are facing.

In your paper:

  • Summarize the social issue and how it intersects with probation services. ,Consider incorporating relevant data or statistics to support your summary.,
  • Describe how your morality, ethical standards and professional responsibilities will work together to make ethical decisions related to your clients.,
  • Create an example or scenario illustrating how you will apply your morals, ethics, and professional conduct to address the selected social issue when working with clients. ,
  • Explain the intended outcome of applying professional and ethical responsibilities to the example or scenario you created.,
  • How will you ensure probationers’ rights are protected? ,
  • How will you guarantee the probationer is treated with dignity and respect?
  • How will you ensure your ethical standards and legal responsibilities won’t be compromised?

Provide specific details or examples to support your thinking.

Cite 2 scholarly sources in addition to the textbook.

Format your citations according to APA guidelines.

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Government’s Economic Role

Prior to beginning work on this assignment,

Government’s Economic Role

The role of government in the economy is often debated by economists and businesspeople. The debate ranges from having little to no government intervention to having a strong government presence in both business and social settings.

Research and identify two government agencies, departments, or regulations where the government is heavily involved in the economy that you agree are helpful and necessary. Then, research and identify two government agencies, departments, or regulations where the government is involved in the economy, and you disagree that involvement is necessary. Rather, in these cases, you believe the free market would be better. Be specific in your selected government agencies, departments, or regulations. It may be possible to use the same government agency, department, or regulation for both sides. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may have regulations or interventions that you both agree and disagree with. Since EPA is used here as an example, do not use it in your assignment.

For each selected example (four total),

Government’s Economic Role

  • Assess the government intervention, providing the pros and cons.
  • Discuss whether you agree with the government intervention and provide facts to support your opinion.
  • Explain thoroughly and support your rationale.
  • Critique the influence of the political process (for example, lobbying) for each of your examples.

The Role of Government and the Impact of Politics assignment

  • must be three to four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA StyleLinks to an external site. as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Formatting for Microsoft WordLinks to an external site. resource.
  • must include a separate title page with the following:
    • title of paper in bold font
      • Space should appear between the title and the rest of the information on the title page.
    • student’s name
    • name of institution
    • course name and number
    • instructor’s name
    • due date
  • must utilize academic voice. Review the Academic VoiceLinks to an external site. resource for additional guidance.
  • must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your assignment.

Government’s Economic Role

  1. Which two government agencies/regulations do you support and why?,

  2. Which two do you oppose and why?,

  3. What are the pros and cons of each intervention?,

  4. How does the political process (e.g.lobbying) influence each example?,

  5. What evidence supports your opinions?

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Quantitative Research Analysis

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read the instructor guidance, the quantitative section of Chapter 7 and all of Chapter 8 in the Creswell and Creswell text, the chapter by Meltzoff and Cooper titled  Chapter 6: Research Designs and Threats to Internal ValidityLinks to an external site., and the article by Henrich et al. titled  Most People Are Not WEIRDLinks to an external site.. Also review Standard 8 of the APA  Ethical Principles for Psychologists and Code of ConductLinks to an external site.  from last week.

Your instructor will post an announcement with the reference for the quantitative research study you will discuss and critique in this discussion. The study will be found in the UAGC Library. Refer to the Library resource  How Do I Find An Article When I Have A Citation?Links to an external site.  if you need help finding the article.

Quantitative Research Analysis

In your initial post, consider the following:

· Compare and contrast the characteristics of experimental and nonexperimental quantitative research.

· State the research question the researchers were trying to answer in the study.

· Identify the type of quantitative research design that was used in the assigned study.

Quantitative Research Analysis

· Evaluate whether the researchers’ conclusion follows logically from the evidence presented.

· Identify threats to internal and external validity that might apply to how this study was conducted.

· Determine whether validity threats were addressed by the researchers. If so, describe how this was done.

· Summarize ethical considerations that were mentioned in the research report.

· Assess what ethical considerations apply to the design of the study but that were not mentioned by the researchers.

· Explain how you might do a study on this topic differently and why your approach would be more appropriate than the one used by the researchers.

· Evaluate whether a quantitative approach would be useful for the research topic you chose in Week 1.

· Describe the actions you would take to ensure that a quantitative study on your topic would be ethical.

· Support your evaluation of the study with citations and references of the required readings and other peer-reviewed sources. Refer to the  Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible SourcesLinks to an external site.  tip sheet to help determine which sources are appropriate.

Discussion 2

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read the instructor guidance, the quantitative section of Chapter 7 and all of Chapter 8 in the Creswell and Creswell text, the chapter by Meltzoff and Cooper titled  Chapter 6: Research Designs and Threats to Internal ValidityLinks to an external site., and the article by Henrich et al. titled  Most People Are Not WEIRDLinks to an external site.. Also review Standard 8 of the APA  Ethical Principles for Psychologists and Code of ConductLinks to an external site.  from last week. Your instructor will post an announcement with the assigned research question. You and your colleagues will share ideas about how to research this topic using a quantitative approach.

In your initial post, consider the following guidelines and questions:

· Apply the scientific method by developing a null and an alternative hypothesis that provide potential answers to the research question.

· Review the quantitative research designs in the required readings and choose one that is suitable for your research question and hypotheses. Explain why this choice is most appropriate to test your hypotheses.

· Describe the target population, the desired sample, and any cultural considerations that may be involved.

· Identify potential internal and external threats to validity. Explain how you might mitigate these threats.

· Determine ethical issues that would need to be addressed. Explain what you would do to ensure an ethical study.

Quantitative Research Analysis

  1. What are the differences between experimental and nonexperimental research?,

  2. What type of quantitative design did the researchers use?,

  3. What are potential threats to validity in the study?,

  4. Were ethical considerations addressed, and how?,

  5. How would you design this study differently?

July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025

Intelligence Testing Research Summary

Find and read a peer-reviewed research journal article using intelligence or achievement testing in research and share what you learned from this article with your classmates. Specifically (and in your own words):

1. Why was the study conducted?  What hypotheses were being tested?

2. What test(s) were used?

3. What findings were reported, and what conclusions were drawn

  1. Intelligence Testing Research Summary
  2. Why was the study conducted?,

  3. What hypotheses were being tested?,

  4. What test(s) were used?,

  5. What findings were reported?,

  6. What conclusions were drawn?

Intelligence Testing Research Summary


General Response:

Study Purpose & Hypotheses:
The study was conducted to explore the relationship between intelligence levels and academic achievement in adolescents. The primary hypothesis tested whether higher scores on intelligence tests would predict better academic performance across subjects like math, reading, and science. A secondary hypothesis examined whether intelligence moderated the impact of socio-economic status (SES) on academic achievement.

Tests Used:
The researchers used the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) to assess cognitive ability and standardized state academic assessments to measure achievement. In some cases, subtests focusing on verbal comprehension and working memory were analyzed separately.

Findings:
The study found a significant positive correlation between intelligence test scores and academic performance. Specifically, verbal comprehension and working memory components of the WISC-V were most predictive of reading and math outcomes. Additionally, the study found that students from higher SES backgrounds performed better overall, but intelligence scores remained a strong predictor of achievement regardless of SES.

Conclusions:
The researchers concluded that intelligence testing is a valuable tool in educational and psychological research, particularly when used alongside achievement testing. The findings supported the idea that intelligence plays a critical role in academic success but also highlighted the need to consider external factors like SES. The study recommended using intelligence test results to inform individualized educational planning and interventions, especially for students who may be underperforming relative to their cognitive potential.

Intelligence Testing Research Summary

July 16, 2025
July 16, 2025

REBT Therapy Workshop

Instructions:

Guidelines:

You will be required to design an educational workshop and present it to the class. Ideally, your workshop should provide your peers with an overview of the theory, principles, and techniques of your chosen psychotherapy.

The workshop is intended to be a presentation style of format. While we are not grading on creativity, the project must be a presentation. You may use Powerpoint.  Voice over is appreciated but not required. AI-generated text or presentations are not allowed and will be considered an honor code violation as they are not your own work.

Your workshop must include:

REBT Therapy Workshop

Section 1: Describe the therapy

  • 3 Learning Objectives for your workshop
  • Brief historical summary
  • Critique the theory or model
    • Describe the major concepts/components of the theory
    • Determine the complexity of the theory (how elaborate or simple is it?)
    • Determine the scope of the theory (where does it stand along the continuum from grand theory to conceptual model?)
    • Discuses the usefulness of the theory or model (Can it be used to guide psychiatric nursing practice? If so, how?)
  • Description of the techniques for use
  • Evidenced based literature to support the utilization of the theory or model in specific populations
  • Lifespan issues with use of the theory or model
  • Cultural variations with use of the theory or model

Section 2: Apply the therapy to practice

REBT Therapy Workshop

  • Apply your chosen theory to a specific psychiatric population (i.e. Solution Focused therapy for work with youth with externalizing behavioral problems or MI for work with smoking cessation) with a DSM diagnosis
    • Define the chosen disorder/population
      • Epidemiology (incidence, prevalence, demographics)
    • Assessment
      • Include screening tests or measures applicable to the disorder
      • Clinical Presentation and typical age of onset of the chosen disorder
      • Cultural Variations of clinical presentation and potential impact on treatment
    • Diagnosis – DSM-5-TR; Natural course of the disorder; Differentials
    • Treatment – Your chosen theory/model
      • Efficacy of the treatment theory/model
      • Alternative strategies for the disorder
      • Evidence for the treatment theory/model in the chosen disorder/population

Section 3: Synthesize the research

  • For your chosen diagnosis from section 2, compare and contrast the assigned therapy with another therapeutic modality.
    • For example, if your therapy is Applied behavioral analysis and your diagnosis is Autism spectrum, you might contrast this with equine therapy.
    • Or if your therapy is Cognitive Processing Therapy and your diagnosis is PTSD, you might choose to contrast CPT with EMDR. Or PE. Or ART.
    • You may choose the second therapy to contrast with the assigned therapy, but it MUST have evidence to support it’s use. Do not compare with a medication, but a psychotherapeutic modality or alternative therapy is ok.
  • Compare and contrast the two therapy choices for your selected DSM diagnosis. The following are examples of questions that you will try to answer in your analysis:
  • Is the evidence for one therapy stronger than the other? Does the research point to one of these therapies as clearly superior to the other, or is the research conflicting?

REBT Therapy Workshop

  • What are the pros and cons of each therapy?
  • In what situations or populations is each therapy more appropriate than the other?
  • Not every therapy is appropriate for every patient. When in clinical practice, how should the PMHNP decide between these two therapy options for the patient sitting in front of them?
  • Just like with medication, therapy can potentially harm our clients if used incorrectly. Discuss the potential unintended consequences of ordering each therapy or the wrong therapy for this patient population/diagnosis. Use the research to discuss risks vs benefits with your two selected therapeutic modalities.
  • Cite at least five peer-reviewed journal articles for this section.

References: You must cite and reference all of your information. Use APA style. A citation belongs on the individual slide, whereas a full reference belongs at the end of the presentation. It is expected that you will use more than your Wheeler textbook. Peer-reviewed journal articles are appropriate for the “evidenced based literature” section and the “research synthesis section”. You may also cite official therapy websites such as the Beck Institute for CBT or the EMDR Institute for EMDR, etc., which often have good information for the history and technique sections.

Guidelines for TurnitIn: TurnitIn is a plagiarism detector that is used for this assignment. The software is a tool for identifying potential plagiarism, not a replacement for faculty review and evaluation. Students have the ability view their report as they are submitting assignments and adjust their project as needed, as long as it is posted and submitted prior to the due date. The program will highlight text that is taken from an outside source and give a score flagging the project as green, yellow, or red according to the program’s projected risk that the student has plagiarized.

For this project, it is common for a TurnitIn score to show in the 25-35% range, which does show in the “yellow” moderate risk range and is higher than expected on typical APA . This higher score is due to our requirement that you include the DSM 5 criteria, which students often copy word for word and will raise your TurnitIn score. This is OK and does not mean that we are going to report you to honor council! However, students should review their report carefully, especially with scores higher than this, as cheating, copying text from outside sources without quoting, and using AI generators are not allowed for this project.

Keep in mind that APA style requires that any direct quotes are put in quotation marks as well as the in text citation, and the in text citation will have an added page number in as well as the author and year. It is expected that your project will contain more than just copy & pasted quotes from other sources. It is the student’s responsibility to synthesize and present the material in a way that is helpful for our profession, not just regurgitate facts that are available to anyone online.

  1. What are the historical background and core components of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)?,

  2. How complex and useful is REBT in psychiatric nursing practice?,

  3. How can REBT be applied to a specific DSM-5-TR diagnosis and population?,

  4. What is the evidence supporting REBT for the selected diagnosis, and how does it compare with another therapy?,

  5. What are the cultural, lifespan, and ethical considerations in applying REBT?


✅ Comprehensive Response (General, Synthesized)

🔹 Section 1: Describe the Therapy (REBT)

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify the historical foundations and key principles of REBT.

  2. Understand the practical techniques used in REBT and how they guide patient care.

  3. Evaluate the applicability of REBT across various populations and psychiatric conditions.

Brief Historical Summary:
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) was developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in the 1950s as one of the earliest forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy. REBT posits that emotional disturbances are largely rooted in irrational beliefs, and that replacing these beliefs with rational ones can lead to psychological well-being.

Critique of the Theory:
REBT is often praised for its directness and structured nature, but it can be criticized for its confrontational style, which may not suit all patients. The theory assumes individuals are capable of recognizing and changing thought patterns, which might not always be realistic for clients with severe cognitive or emotional impairments.

Major Concepts/Components:

  • ABC Model: A = Activating event, B = Beliefs, C = Consequences.

  • Disputing irrational beliefs (D) and developing Effective new beliefs (E).

  • Emphasis on logical reasoning, empirical evidence, and pragmatic outcomes.

  • Focuses on unconditional self-acceptance and personal responsibility.

Complexity & Scope:
REBT is moderately complex—it is more structured than talk therapy but more flexible than rigid behavioral protocols. It falls on the conceptual model end of the spectrum, offering practical tools rather than an overarching theory of personality or development.

Usefulness in Psychiatric Nursing Practice:
REBT aligns well with psychiatric nursing due to its clarity, teachability, and problem-solving orientation. Nurses can integrate REBT techniques into brief interventions, psychoeducation, and relapse prevention.

Techniques:

  • Cognitive restructuring

  • Use of Socratic questioning

  • Homework assignments

  • Behavioral experiments

  • Rational coping statements

Evidence-Based Literature:
Studies have shown REBT is effective for treating:

  • Depression (David et al., 2018)

  • Anxiety (Dryden & Branch, 2011)

  • PTSD (Bornstein et al., 2020)

  • Substance use disorders (DiGiuseppe et al., 2013)

Lifespan Issues:
REBT has been adapted for children and adolescents using developmentally appropriate language and metaphors. For older adults, it may be integrated with reminiscence therapy and life review strategies.

Cultural Variations:
Although REBT is grounded in Western logic and philosophy, its principles can be adapted for diverse cultures when care is taken to respect cultural beliefs and communication styles. Emphasis on personal responsibility should be tempered in collectivist cultures.


🔹 Section 2: Apply the Therapy to Practice

Selected Population/Diagnosis:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in young adults

Definition:
GAD is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about multiple areas of life, often accompanied by physical symptoms (DSM-5-TR).

Epidemiology:

  • Lifetime prevalence: ~5.7% in the U.S.

  • Onset: Common in adolescence and young adulthood

  • Higher prevalence in females

Assessment Tools:

  • GAD-7

  • Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)

Clinical Presentation:

  • Persistent worry about future events, performance, finances, relationships

  • Restlessness, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances

Cultural Considerations:
In some cultures, anxiety symptoms may be expressed somatically (e.g., headaches, GI issues). Beliefs about control, worry, and emotional expression also vary.

DSM-5-TR Diagnostic Criteria:

  • Excessive anxiety and worry for more days than not for at least 6 months

  • Difficult to control the worry

  • Three or more associated symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, irritability, concentration issues, muscle tension, sleep disturbance

Natural Course & Differentials:
Often chronic without treatment; differentials include panic disorder, OCD, ADHD, PTSD.

Treatment with REBT:
REBT is particularly well-suited for GAD because it directly targets catastrophic thinking and irrational beliefs, such as “If I don’t worry, something bad will happen.”

Efficacy:
A meta-analysis by David et al. (2018) found REBT to be as effective as CBT in reducing symptoms of anxiety.

Alternative Strategies:

  • CBT

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Evidence for REBT in GAD:
Research has demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety symptoms following REBT interventions (Sava et al., 2009).


🔹 Section 3: Synthesize the Research

Comparison Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Therapy Comparison: REBT vs CBT for GAD

Feature REBT CBT
Focus Irrational beliefs (philosophical) Cognitive distortions (thought-focused)
Structure Highly directive Directive, but collaborative
Tone Confrontational Empathic and Socratic
Evidence Strong, especially in anxiety and depression Very strong, considered gold standard
Best For Clients who can tolerate directness Broad populations, including trauma survivors

Research Synthesis:

  • Stronger Evidence? CBT has a larger body of evidence overall, but REBT has strong support for anxiety and depression (David et al., 2018).

  • When Is REBT Better? When clients have strong irrational beliefs and respond well to logical disputation.

  • When Is CBT Better? When clients prefer a less confrontational, more gradual process.

Risks and Benefits:

  • REBT Risks: May overwhelm or alienate clients not ready for direct challenge.

  • CBT Risks: May fail to address deep-rooted philosophical beliefs that reinforce worry.

  • PMHNP Consideration: Use client preferences, emotional capacity, and insight level to guide therapy selection.


📚 References (APA Style)

David, D., Cotet, C. D., Matu, S., Mogoase, C., & Stefan, S. (2018). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT): A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(3), 304–318.

DiGiuseppe, R., Doyle, K. A., Dryden, W., & Backx, W. (2013). A practitioner’s guide to rational-emotive behavior therapy. Oxford University Press.

Dryden, W., & Branch, R. (2011). The fundamentals of rational emotive behaviour therapy: A training handbook. Wiley-Blackwell.

Sava, F. A., Marcu, A., Yates, B. T., Lupu, V., & David, D. (2009). Cost-effectiveness and efficacy of cognitive therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, and fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating depression: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(1), 36–52.

Bornstein, R. A., Wilson, R., & Ward, T. (2020). Cognitive and behavioral therapies in PTSD treatment: A meta-analytic review. Trauma Psychology Review, 3(2), 91–104.


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