Competency Essay: Abnormal Psychology
| Subject: | 👩🏼🤝👩🏽 Gender Studies |
| Type: | Exploratory Essay |
| Pages: | 6 |
| Word count: | 1559 |
| Topics: | ⚧️ Gender Roles, Social Psychology, 🗿 Cultural Diversity, 💋 Human Sexuality |
essay ASAP?
The primary learning goals for the competency include focusing on a resource to explore the manner in which human sexuality in a world of diversity is described. In particular, the focus included reading a book titled Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity (2016) and written by Spencer Rathus, Jeffrey Nevid, and Lois Fichner to understand their take on issues regarding sexual experiences as well as cultural experiences.
The learning goals, thus, revolved around the requirement to apply scholarly knowledge to classroom teachings to get an improved understanding concerning sexuality and diversity. These learning objectives have been met relatively well. This is because I have not only revealed the focus of the resource under focus, but also demonstrated the capacity to use the information gained to inform my knowledge concerning human sexuality within the context of diversity. Furthermore, I have used the resource to enlighten my perception regarding the topic as demonstrated through my ability to engage in critical reflection. This includes developing a summary of the main points based on my reading as well as presenting evidence from the book. As such, I have achieved my learning goals for the competency.
The most vital scholarly reading as well as research that have helped me in achieving the learning objectives includes Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity, which is written by Spencer Rathus, Jeffrey Nevid, and Lois Fichner. The work has been instrumental in supplementing my knowledge concerning the issue of human sexuality and diversity. This is because it is focused on broadening readers’ understanding of the rather wide range of sexual experiences as well as cultural diversity. By doing so, the scholarly resource introduces the concept of diversity and thus promising to give a comprehensive account regarding the issue. What is more, the authors ensure their work is written specifically for students and it includes a language that is both relatable and easy to understand. They have also integrated both multi-ethnic and multicultural perspectives including features that are interesting and engage the audience actively. Some of the critical information making up the resource includes changes in views towards sex among cultures and sexuality within the context of gender roles. This makes the book increasingly informative for readers seeking knowledge concerning the matter, and thus I assumed it fitting to guide my overall information towards the process of achieving my learning goals. In other words, I perceived the resource was vital to my desire to develop sufficient understanding and come up with informative reflection.
Some of the theories and research that have been increasingly meaningful in helping me achieve the learning goals include the cognitive hypothesis of rational emotive therapy as well as learning theory. Research on these concepts has been increasingly informative regarding the learning goal of developing comprehensive understanding and reflection. This is because the theories provide vital information relating to the manner in which human sexuality is conceived using different dimensions including those that characterize the diversity of the world. It must be noted these aspects include sociocultural beliefs, settings, as well as attitudes (Bolin & Whelehan, 2009). These characteristics somewhat make up the foundation of understanding sexuality within the background of diversity. Indeed, failure to engage the theories as well as research would mean that an individual is relatively less informed because he would fail to grasp the all-significant factors surrounding the topic of human sexuality and diversity. To this end, the researcher would be disadvantaged and perhaps develop conclusions and reflections that are half-true and misleading. The research procedure ought to be comprehensive, and the theories are increasingly significant towards this end all of which contributes to the process of achieving my learning goals.
The artifacts that I have produced to help me integrate scholarly reading into practice include epistemic artifact. This is typified through having the sole reason to be a tool to develop hypothesis in interplay with a discussion and perhaps verbal reflection in the realm of practice-based design study (Vaishnavi, 2007). Nonetheless, this artifact presented the benefit regarding deviation from the design context as well as turns the design practice whereby I am trained into a vital element of the research procedure. What is more, the notion regarding epistemic artifact facilitates a mode of study in which a series of parallel as well as interdependent experiments happen. This is increasingly important because the overall research process involves theories and concepts, and the production of the artifact can be said to be secondary. In other words, it includes clarification of the underlying information all of which makes me provide relationships that may otherwise be missed.
Some of the ideas regarding practice that have been challenging in the process of meeting the competency include organizing information. More so, the application of scholarly information to develop a rather constructive account concerning the topic was a challenge. It must be noted that different perspectives were made available in the book, as evidenced by the various points given in the text. Such conditions make it relatively difficult to meet the practice because a researcher can lose his focus, and instead engage in work that does not contribute to the course. As such, I realized it is increasingly significant that information is carefully selected and organized to present my ideas as intended. The other idea that has been challenging involves developing reflections using the information gathered from various sources including existing knowledge regarding the topic. In particular, issues emerge when I tried to balance my pre-existing knowledge and the information obtained from the book resource. This includes attempts to ensure problems such as bias and discrimination does not influence what should otherwise be an informed procedure of applying knowledge. The notion regarding fair information, it must be noted, represents the base of virtually all types of research and it is the responsibility of a scholar to observe integrity at all times. Achieving this feat was easier said than done. Also, the idea regarding the need to draw upon theories was challenging. This is because I found that pinpointing the required information as well as merging it to create sense is relatively difficult. Indeed, in doing research an individual is responsible for determining applicable information and form conjectures based on ideas borrowed elsewhere and perhaps pre-existing perceptions. The procedure must avoid the influence of biases, which implies the need to read, understand, as well as use information objectively.
My current thinking about best practice regarding my professional work in relation to the competency is that finding quality sources or information and using them is increasingly important. This is because a successful study process is intended to investigate ideas as well as uncover useful knowledge that enriches one’s familiarity with a topic. For this reason, professional work should avoid presenting propaganda as facts to ensure the account provided is objective. I think of a competent scholar as one who makes sure his work reflects a sincere desire to establish the truth. It must be noted that such success cannot be attained without drawing upon available information. The procedure of producing professional work must therefore involve discernment of ideas that are presented as well as include honesty, which is all about evaluating information sources. This includes acknowledging possible limitations, errors, and contradictory facts with the aim of pinpointing the truth (Litman, 2012). I think the process becomes deliberative as the researcher determines not only the information sources, but also the credible one and the manner in which to apply it. The objective is to provide a comprehensive overview regarding the subject including a discussion of its context. To this end, professional research work must avoid misrepresentation of facts and it should involve reference to source with suitable background information. It follows that the analysis procedure ought to follow a meticulous plan leading to informed conclusions. Indeed, users of professionally produced work should be able to grasp its purpose and they should possibly become influenced to take actions of their own.
I would like to grow my skills to become a seasoned researcher. Achieving such a feat requires time as well as patience even as an individual learns from mistakes and learns new tricks to navigate the rather murky world of research. Usually, a scholar encounters many information sources and it is upon him to get the best out of available data. As such, growing one’s skills to become an experienced researcher is increasingly significant given that the desire to acquire knowledge is a seemingly endless cycle among humans. It is beyond doubt that people who know how to source the right information as well as apply it in the correct areas are best placed to benefit in life. More so, students and others personnel in different areas of study must learn to exercise their skills to demonstrate competency. This includes engaging in rigorous research processes to ensure it is personally rewarding as well as beneficial to society and others. The suggestion is that a study process should always strive to satisfy its aim, and possessing the necessary skills such as analytical and reflective abilities is an indispensable requirement among professional scholars.
- Bolin, A & Whelehan, P. (2009). Human sexuality. USA: Taylor & Francis.
- Litman, T. (2012). Evaluating research quality.
- Rathus, S, Nevid, J, & Fichner, L. (2016). Human sexuality is a world of diversity. Toronto: Pearson.
- Vaishnavi, V. (2007). Design science research methods and patterns. USA: CRC Press.
Offered for reference purposes only.