Perspectives on Drive and Motivation

Write a 4-page assessment in which you describe the current understanding of motivation related to an identified behavior and discuss applications of research to social policies associated with that behavior.

Suggested Resources

The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.

Capella Resources

Click the links provided to view the following resources:

• What Is Scholarly?

SHOW LESS

Library Resources

The following e-books or articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course:

• Whiteley, P. (2002). Motivation. Oxford, UK: Capstone Publishing.
• Armeli, S., Conner, T. S., Cullum, J., & Tennen, H. (2010). A longitudinal analysis of drinking motives moderating the negative affect-drinking association among college students. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 24(1), 38–47.
• Molnar, D. S., Sadava, S. W., DeCourville, N. H., & Perrier, C. P. K. (2010). Attachment, motivations, and alcohol: Testing a dual-path model of high-risk drinking and adverse consequences in transitional clinical and student samples. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 42(1), 1–13.
• Litvin, E. B., & Brandon, T. H. (2010). Testing the influence of external and internal cues on smoking motivation using a community sample. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 18(1), 61–70.

Course Library Guide

A Capella University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the PSYC-FP3770 – Psychology of Human Motivation and Performance Library Guide to help direct your research.

Assessment Instructions

For this assessment, identify a topic focused on one aspect of a behavior. Then research and write a paper that describes the current understanding of motivation related to the behavior you identified and discusses applications of research to social policies associated with that behavior.

Assessment Preparation

Select one of the following three broad areas of behavior:

• Eating behaviors.
• Intimacy behaviors.
• Drug use and addiction behaviors.

Then identify a research topic associated with behavioral area you selected. An important skill in conducting research is to narrow the focus of your topic to keep the content manageable and to facilitate finding supportive evidence. To identify a properly narrow topic:

1. Begin with your selected behavior and start to narrow the focus. See examples of topics listed below. You may use one of the examples or identify your own.
2. Continue to narrow the focus of your topic with consideration for other relevant factors, such as age of the research subjects (adults versus children), their gender, their educational level, or other demographic or topical factors. Your goal is to identify a research topic that is appropriately narrow and can be sharply defined, and for which research is available.
3. Do some preliminary research to ensure that you have sufficient sources for your topic. To find sources, select key words and enter them into the Summon search engine in the Capella University Library. If you do not find sufficient resources, revise the focus of your topic and try again.
4. Finally, develop a working title for your paper (for example, “Motivational Factors in Adolescent Females With Anorexia”) that addresses the narrowed and manageable research topic.

Examples of Topics

• Eating behaviors. 
  • Normal hunger and eating patterns.
  • Cravings for certain foods or food-like substances.
  • Compulsive eating (obesity).
  • Dieting or controlled eating.
  • Eating disorders (anorexia).
• Intimacy behaviors.
  • Sexual arousal (passion).
  • Attraction.
  • Commitment.
  • Sexual orientation.
• Drug use and addiction. 
  • “Social” alcohol or drug use.
  • Initial motivation to use drugs.
  • Why people become addicted.
  • Cigarette use or quitting.
  • Quitting addictive behavior.
  • Abstinence versus moderation.

Instructions

To complete this assessment, research your topic and write a paper in which you complete the following:

• Focus on a well-defined research topic associated with the behavior you selected.
• Describe the tools and technologies used in one of the research studies on this topic.
• Explain the key motivational (biological, learned, and cognitive) factors associated with the selected behavior.
• Identify a social issue associated with the selected behavior that can be addressed by public policy.
• Integrate research findings into a description of how public policy has or could address a social issue related to the selected behavior. That is, consider how an understanding of this research could inform public policy related to this issue.

Additional Requirements

Your paper should meet the following requirements:

• Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to APA sixth edition style and formatting.
• Number of resources: At least 3 scholarly academic resources are included.
• Length of paper: The length is a minimum of 4 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page and reference list.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12-point font is used.

Perspectives on Drive and Motivation Scoring Guide

CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED Produce a well-defined research topic focused on a selected behavior.Does not identify a research topic. Identifies a research topic focused on a selected behavior, but the topic is broad or poorly defined. Produces a well-defined research topic focused on a selected behavior. Produces a well-defined research topic focused on a selected behavior and integrates relevant demographic or topical factors into the topic. Describe the tools and technologies used in a selected study.Does not identify the tools and technologies used in a selected study. Identifies but does not describe the tools and technologies used in a selected study. Describes the tools and technologies used in a selected study. Evaluates the appropriateness of the specific tools and technologies used in a selected study. Explain the key motivational factors associated with a selected behavior.Does not identify motivational factors associated with a selected behavior. Identifies but does not explain the key motivational factors associated with a selected behavior. Explains the key motivational factors associated with a selected behavior. Analyzes the key motivational factors associated with a selected behavior. Identify a social issue associated with a selected behavior.Does not identify a social issue. Identifies a social issue, but it is not clear how that issue is associated with a selected behavior. Identifies a social issue associated with a selected behavior. Identifies a social issue associated with a selected behavior and explains the societal costs and benefits associated with the issue. Describe how public policy has addressed a social issue related to a selected behavior.Does not identify how public policy has addressed a social issue related to a selected behavior. Identifies but does not describe how public policy has addressed a social issue related to a selected behavior. Describes how public policy has addressed a social issue related to a selected behavior. Describes how public policy has addressed a social issue related to a selected behavior and makes recommendations for improving future policy. Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of professional communities.Does not communicate in a manner that is scholarly and professional. Communicates in a manner that is scholarly and professional but is not consistent with expectations for members of professional communities. Communicates in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of professional communities. Communicates in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of professional communities, with written communication that is free of errors that detract from the overall message. Apply proper APA formatting and style.Does not apply proper APA formatting and style. Uses adequate written communication but includes some APA errors and inconsistencies. Applies proper APA formatting and style. Applies scholarly writing skills and uses proper APA formatting and style throughout the assessment.