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.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

Competency 2: Apply knowledge of theory and research in the study of human motivation and performance to inform personal behavior, professional goals, and values, and understand social policy.
Identify a social issue associated with a selected behavior.
Describe how public policy has addressed a social issue related to a selected behavior.
Competency 3: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of professional communities.
Apply proper APA formatting and style.
Competency 4: Use research strategies to identify information in the domain of human motivation and performance.
Produce a well-defined research topic focused on a selected behavior.
Competency 5: Explain the important theories, paradigms, research findings and conclusions in human motivation and performance.
Explain the key motivational factors associated with a selected behavior.
Competency 6: Analyze the research methodology and tools typically associated with the study of human motivation and performance.
Describe the tools and technologies used in a selected study.

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 the 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:

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.
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.
***Do some preliminary research to ensure that you have sufficient sources for your topic.
***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 current APA guidelines for 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.