For this 4–5-page assessment, you will examine specific aspects of behaviorism as a learning theory, including the application of behaviorism to a practical situation in your specialization, behaviorism as it applies to a difficult student, and behaviorism in terms of its strengths and weaknesses. This assessment is highly relevant because teachers must understand how to apply learning theories to meet individual instructional needs. Show Less By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria: Competency 1: Evaluate the four major learning theories (behaviorism, social cognitive theory, cognitive information processing, and constructivism). Summarize behaviorism’s four conditioning theories. Apply behaviorism to a practical situation. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of behaviorism in general, and as it applies to a practical situation. Competency 2: Analyze the influence of behavioral and cognitive sub-processes on learning. Analyze the expected outcomes of applying the theory of behaviorism in a teaching situation with a difficult student. Competency 3: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the psychological professions. Write in a concise, balanced, and logically organized manner. Use grammar, punctuation, and mechanics expected of graduate-level composition, including APA style and formatting for all citations and references. Examine specific aspects of behaviorism as a learning theory. The paper should be four to five pages in length, not counting your title sheet or references. Be sure to use examples from your research to support your position throughout your paper. Papers should be double-spaced with a font size of 12 and follow APA style. Summarize the four conditioning theories of behaviorism. Apply behaviorism to a practical situation in your specialization. Describe the situation, how the theory can be applied, and what the expected outcomes would be. Analyze the application of behaviorism with a difficult student. Describe the situation, how the theory can be applied, and what the expected outcomes would be. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of behaviorism, in general, and as it applies to your situation. Write in a concise, balanced, and logically organized manner. Use grammar, punctuation, and mechanics expected of graduate-level composition, using APA style and format for all citations and references. Additional Requirements The 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: There are three different types of articles. 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. 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 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, and instructor’s name). Abstract (optional). The body of the 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 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 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 you present.