The Assignment For This Week Provides You With An Opportunit ✓ Solved

The Assignment For This Week Provides You With An Opportunity To Pract

The assignment for this week provides you with an opportunity to practice preparing a brief summary of scholarly literature that meets both academic and legal standards for court admissibility that could be used to inform a court decision. You will review the given scenario, choose a topic, and then select scholarly material that you believe would be most informative for the court. Such resources must meet these criteria: 1) Evidence of peer review, and 2) Reference citations in text and in a reference list. Websites such as Wikipedia and WebMD do not meet criteria for being scholarly sources. Use scholarly articles, books, and academic websites that have evidence of peer review and citations similar to APA format.

You will summarize your findings, making sure your summary is well written using correct grammar, good organizational skills, and correct APA format. You certainly wouldn’t want the judge to rule your summary inadmissible because it is not readable or the sources you used are not easily recognizable!

Scenario: Your agency’s supervisor asks for a literature search on a specific topic (see the following list that includes topics that represent both forensic research and clinical issues). Considering your career interests as either a researcher or as one who works from a clinical perspective, pick a topic related to the type of job you hope to have. Possible topics:

  • Sex offender victim grooming
  • Ethical issues in child custody evaluations
  • Assessment measures for psychopathy
  • Current statistical trends in juvenile crime
  • Another topic in forensic psychology that can be summarized in 1–2 pages.

Assignment:

  • Find empirical literature (minimum of three scholarly sources) on your selected topic.
  • Prepare a 1- to 2-page memo summarizing your findings, being sure to cite sources in APA style.
  • Be sure to review the Writing Example in this week's Learning Resources, which will help you with formatting and requirements.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In the realm of forensic psychology, selecting a pertinent and research-backed topic is essential for providing accurate and admissible information in court. This paper reviews scholarly literature focused on the assessment measures for psychopathy, a critical issue in forensic evaluations. By synthesizing current empirical research, the goal is to provide a comprehensive summary that meets academic and legal standards.

Literature Review

The assessment of psychopathy has been extensively studied, with several tools developed to measure this complex personality trait. The Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) remains the most widely used and validated instrument in forensic settings (Hare, 2003). Recent studies have evaluated the reliability and validity of the PCL-R across various populations, finding it to have high inter-rater reliability and strong predictive validity for criminal recidivism (Serin et al., 2021).

Beyond the PCL-R, newer instruments such as the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) have been proposed to provide a broader assessment framework that encompasses personality traits and behavioral tendencies (Lilienfeld, 2010). Studies comparing the PCL-R and CAPP indicate that while the PCL-R focuses more on criminal behavior, the CAPP offers insights into underlying personality features, which may enhance forensic evaluations (Frick & Ray, 2014).

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The legal admissibility of assessment tools hinges on their empirical backing and adherence to standards of psychological testing (American Psychological Association, 2014). The Daubert standard emphasizes the scientific validity and relevance of evidence, which the PCL-R has consistently demonstrated. Ethically, clinicians must ensure assessments are conducted with cultural competence and awareness of potential biases, given the impact on legal decisions (Lilienfeld & Shaw, 2020).

Implications for Practice

Given the robust empirical support for the PCL-R, it remains the gold standard tool in forensic psychological assessments of psychopathy. Nevertheless, incorporating supplementary measures like the CAPP can provide a more holistic understanding, especially in complex cases involving varied behavioral patterns. Ethical use and proper training are imperative for clinicians to maintain the integrity of assessments.

Conclusion

Current research underscores the importance of using validated assessment instruments, such as the PCL-R, in forensic evaluations. As courts increasingly rely on psychological expert testimony, adherence to empirical standards and ethical guidelines is crucial for ensuring that assessments are both admissible and informative.

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2014). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Author.
  • Frick, P. J., & Ray, J. V. (2014). Psychopathy and developmental pathways to aggressive and antisocial behavior. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 32(4), 465–476.
  • Hare, R. D. (2003). Manual for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R). Multi-Health Systems.
  • Lilienfeld, S. O. (2010). Psychological science’s contributions to understanding and assessing psychopathy. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 1(2), 133–147.
  • Lilienfeld, S. O., & Shaw, A. (2020). Ethical issues in forensic psychology: Balancing science and practice. Forensic Psychology Review, 2(1), 45–59.
  • Serin, R. C., et al. (2021). Validity and reliability of the PCL-R in diverse populations. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 65(3), 287–301.

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