For this paper, you are asked to examine specific aspects of social cognitive theory and compare it to behaviorism. Your paper should be four to five pages in length, not counting your title page or references. Be sure to use examples from your readings and research to support your position throughout your paper. Papers should be double-spaced with a font size of 12 and follow APA style. Address the following in your paper:
•Summarize the major aspects of social cognitive theory.
•Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of social cognitive theory, in general.
•Apply social cognitive theory to a practical situation in your specialization. Describe the situation, how the theory can be applied, and what the expected outcomes would be.
•Describe the relationship between social cognitive theory, motivation, and self-efficacy.
•Compare behaviorism to social cognitive theory.
•Write in a concise, balanced, and logically organized manner.
•Use grammar, punctuation, and mechanics expected of graduate-level composition, using the accepted form and style of the profession, including APA cited support and format.
Paper Requirements
•Number of References: A paper of this length should include references. As a graduate student, you are responsible for determining the appropriate number of resources. The majority of them should be original research articles published in legitimate scientific journals. A few review or survey articles are also acceptable.
•Article Distinctions: Research articles present original research, review articles discuss research already presented elsewhere, and survey articles are comprehensive review articles that discuss an entire field or area of research. If these distinctions are unclear to you, investigate them using the resources in the Writing Feedback Tool or ask your instructor for help. References to books are acceptable, but they should be kept to a minimum—probably no more than five.
•APA Style: You must use proper APA style to cite and list your references. Refer to the Capella Online Writing Center’s APA Style and Formatting guidelines for more information.
•Format: Use the following structure to organize your paper:
■Cover page (your name, your specialization or program, title and course number, current quarter and year, instructor’s name).
■Optional: Abstract.
■Body of paper, including headings and subheadings over the appropriate content.
■Reference list.
■Refer to the APA Style and Formatting guidelines for additional formatting information.
•Style: Write in the third person as an impartial narrator. Avoid the use of I, we, or you. In particular, avoid phrases like “I think” in favor of phrases like “the evidence suggests” or “research indicates.” In science, personal opinion carries no weight unless it is supported by a combination of empirical research and statistical or logical-mathematical inference.
•Other Notes: Avoid long quoted passages from your source texts. Your paper should be a synthesis of your own ideas, in your own words—even if your ideas refer to the original ideas of others, in which case the references should be explicit. A paper at the graduate level should be scholarly and more than a mere summary. It should present a unique thesis or at least a significant point that you are trying to make, adding appreciably to what is already known of your topic. Your point or thesis will stand or fall solely on its strength—that is, the quality and quantity of the evidence that you present.