1. Write a 6–8-page action plan to resolve issues in a case study
based on evaluation of relevant psychological theory, research,
principles, and standards.
When faced with a problem that involves psychology, you could
merely rely on lessons drawn from your own personal
experience, but of course, your education in this field has given
you greatly enhanced sources of guidance.
Preparation
Return to the case study that you considered in Assessments 1
and 2.
Identify two or three psychological theories and principles that
help to explain the reasons for the problem and point toward
potential solutions for it.
Use the Capella University Library to locate at least three
scholarly research studies in an area of psychology relevant to
the problem. If you have had the opportunity to conduct or
assist formal research in an academic or professional context,
you may be able use the study in this assessment. However, if
you wish to do so, e-mail a copy of the study to your instructor
and ask for confirmation that it is appropriate for the
assessment.
Instructions
Complete the following:

2. Create a title page
: Write a brief title that concisely conveys the purpose of this
report. It is suggested that you use the APA Paper Template,
linked in the Resources under the APA Resources heading, to
format your paper to format your work according to the APA
manual (current edition).
Write an introduction
: For the introduction section of your paper, include the title at
the top of the first page. (In APA format, the word
Introduction
is not used as a heading.) Briefly summarize:
The case you have chosen.
A high-level summary of ethical and cultural issues that you
identified in the case.
How theories and research, in general terms, help explain the
problems in the case and point toward solutions.
How the case relates to a larger societal problem or problems.
Create a heading titled
Case Issues
: Review the case issues, including the ethical and cultural
issues, in more detail.
Create a heading titled

3. Theoretical Framework
: Analyze how two or three psychological theories help explain
the problem and point toward potential solutions. In doing so,
cite relevant principles or concepts derived from these theories.
For example:
Let us say that we are assisting an adolescent from Germany
who has moved to the United States and is having a rough time
adjusting to her new high school. In addition to information
gathered from her, her parents, and the school, we could
consider Erikson's psychosocial theory and the stage of identity
and role confusion in which adolescents search to establish their
own values, beliefs, and goals. During this important time of
identity development, the teen has been immersed in an entirely
different culture with values and beliefs different from the one
which she knows. We could consider to what extent she was
mastering the stage prior to and then after the move. Based on
sociocultural theory, we would enquire about the differences in
culture that may be impinging on her success in interacting in
her new environment. By integrating the two theories, we can
get a better understanding of how her developmental stage is
clashing with her sociocultural context. We might search for
research on adolescent development and cross-cultural
experiences to get a better understanding of what research
demonstrates is effective in assisting teenagers in this position.
Create a heading titled
Related Research
: Summarize at least three research studies that pertain to the
problem. A summary will provide your reader with a clear
understanding of the purpose of the study, the methods, and the
findings.

4. Describe the research designs and methods used in the studies.
Use principles of critical thinking to evaluate the quality of the
research and analyze the relevance to the problem.
Evaluate how the research methods employed support the
studies' findings.
Analyze how the studies' findings explain reasons for the
problem and point toward potential solutions.
Analyze how the studies' findings relate to the psychological
theories you previously cited.
Compare findings of the studies and assess how they support or
contradict each other.
See if any contradiction is apparent. If so, try to explain why
the contradiction may have developed and which position is
more credible and why.
Create a heading titled
Action Plan
: Based on your theoretical and research findings as well ethical
and cultural considerations, provide an action plan with
recommendations for how to resolve the problem you researched
in a fair and just manner.

5. Make clear how the objectives of your plan are specific,
measurable, achievable, and relevant to the problem, and the
timeline for implementation should be.
Integrate information from your sources to support your
recommendations.
Create a heading titled
Conclusion
: Briefly summarize the importance of the problem, how
psychological theories, principles, and research may point to
ways improve the problem, and the implications for a larger
societal problem or problems.
Keep in mind throughout this assessment that while your
writing must conform to APA standards, you must explain all
information in a manner that can be easily understood by a
nonacademic or nonscientific audience.
Refer to the Research Analysis and Action Plan Scoring Guide
to ensure that you meet the grading criteria for this assessment.
Additional Requirements
Your assessment should meet the following requirements:
Written communication
: Written communication is well organized and free of errors
that detract from the overall message.

6. APA style
: Comply with current APA style and formatting.
Number of resources
: A minimum of three academic resources.
Length
: 6–8 typed, double-spaced pages, excluding the cover page and
references.
Font and font size
: Times New Roman, 12 point.