PSYC1001: Foundations of Psychology Assignment

Assessment 1 Written Assignment

About this Assessment

This assessment is marked out of 50 and is worth 50% of your final grade for PSYC1001. The goal of this assignment is to develop your skills in reading and interpreting a psychological article, in finding relevant, recent literature on a topic, and in applying psychological concepts and research to situations in everyday life. It will also assess your ability to write concisely and reference appropriately.

Required Reading

To complete this assessment, you will need to download the required reading about Luke’s experience with hypnotherapy (“Luke’s Story”). This reading can be found in the the Assessment 1 folder on Blackboard.

Questions

1. Does evidence suggest that hypnotherapy is an effective method for improving an individual’s mental health and/or general wellbeing? Why or why not?

• For this question, a well-rounded answer will critically consider two different impacts on mental health and/or wellbeing in the form of a discussion of peer-reviewed literature.
• Aspects of mental health and wellbeing may include but are not limited to multifaceted outcomes, such as managing stress and anxiety, improving mood, attention, motivation, academic or work performance, interpersonal relationships, or overall life satisfaction. However, it is up to you what to discuss.
• Your answer should be sufficiently detailed to cover the topic in depth, and you should finish your answer with an overall conclusion on the topic. Do not refer to Luke’s experience as supporting evidence. You must refer to peer-reviewed scientific evidence (i.e., peerreviewed journal articles and academic books) for this question.

2. To what extent is Luke’s experience with hypnotherapy consistent with scientific understanding of the effects of hypnotherapy?

• When answering this question, you should cite the literature you cited in Question One. You do not need to cite the required reading, but you should use two examples from the reading to illustrate your points.
• You should consider whether anything about Luke’s experience is surprising or different to the expected effects of hypnotherapy, or whether his experiences were largely as expected based on the research you are citing.
• Again, you can consider concepts such as managing stress and anxiety, improving mood, attention, motivation, academic or work performance, inter-personal relationships, or overall life satisfaction, although the decision on what to discuss is yours.

3. Use the Library Catalogue to find a scientific journal article (published in 2018 or later) that reports on a piece of original research (i.e., not secondary research such as literature reviews, systematic reviews or meta-analyses) about the use of interventions to improve mental health. In your own words, summarise the study aims and findings. Describe two of the implications of the findings in real-world contexts.

• Interventions to improve mental health may include but are not limited to psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance commitment therapy), meditation, improving sleep hygiene, diet, relaxation, or physical activity.

Summary of Assessment Requirements 

Assessment Type: Written Assignment
Purpose:

• Develop skills in reading and interpreting psychological research
• Find and evaluate relevant, recent peer-reviewed literature
• Apply psychological concepts and research to real-world situations
• Write concisely and reference appropriately

Key Pointers to Be Covered:

1. Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy:

   • Critically discuss two impacts on mental health/wellbeing using peer-reviewed sources
   • Include aspects such as stress, anxiety, mood, motivation, attention, relationships, or overall life satisfaction
   • Provide a well-supported conclusion based on evidence

2. Consistency of Luke’s Experience with Research:

   • Compare Luke’s experience to the scientific understanding of hypnotherapy
   • Illustrate with two examples from the required reading
   • Discuss whether experiences are typical or unexpected based on research

3. Independent Research on Interventions:

   • Find a recent (2018+) original research article on interventions for improving mental health
   • Summarize study aims and findings in your own words
   • Describe two implications of the findings for real-world practice

Step-by-Step Approach Guided by the Academic Mentor

Step 1: Understanding the Assessment Requirements

• The mentor reviewed the assessment instructions with the student, highlighting the need to use peer-reviewed evidence and to focus on critical discussion rather than anecdotal reasoning.
• Emphasis was placed on structuring answers clearly: Question 1 (general research evidence), Question 2 (specific case comparison), Question 3 (independent research).

Step 2: Literature Search and Review

• Mentor guided the student on using the Library Catalogue and online databases to locate recent, credible journal articles.
• The student learned to filter for original research (2018+) and to avoid secondary sources like reviews.
• Mentor instructed on note-taking strategies to capture key findings, methodology, and implications for practical application.

Step 3: Critical Analysis and Synthesis

• For Question 1, the student was guided to identify at least two mental health/wellbeing outcomes of hypnotherapy.
• Mentor showed how to synthesize research findings to present a balanced discussion, highlighting both positive and negative evidence.

Step 4: Linking Theory to Luke’s Experience

• For Question 2, mentor helped the student select two examples from Luke’s story to illustrate consistency or divergence from research outcomes.
• Guidance focused on clear explanation of whether Luke’s experience aligned with or differed from evidence-based expectations.

Step 5: Summarizing Independent Research

• For Question 3, mentor advised the student to clearly summarize study aims, methodology, results, and practical implications.
• Emphasis on translating research findings into real-world contexts, demonstrating application skills.

Step 6: Writing and Referencing

• Mentor guided on concise academic writing, proper paragraph structure, and referencing in APA style.
• Student was encouraged to provide cohesive answers that flowed logically from evidence to discussion to conclusion.

Outcome and Learning Objectives Covered

Outcome:

• Completed a 3-question written assignment demonstrating critical thinking, research skills, and application of psychological concepts.
• Integrated Luke’s case study with contemporary peer-reviewed evidence.
• Presented a clear summary of an independent study and its implications.

Learning Objectives Achieved:

1. Critically evaluate psychological research and interpret findings.
2. Apply research evidence to real-life scenarios and case studies.
3. Conduct independent research using academic databases and peer-reviewed literature.
4. Communicate psychological concepts clearly and concisely in academic writing.
5. Demonstrate proper referencing and academic integrity.

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