PSY 305 Module Four Short Paper Guidelines and Rubric
Overview: For this assignment, due in Module Four, you will write a short paper discussing the cognitive and physical factors related to distracted driving. You have probably seen news stories about the dangers of talking on a cell phone or texting and driving. Logic tells you it is a disaster waiting to happen, but you may not have known the science behind the risk.
Prompt: After reading Chapter 4 in your textbook, you should have a clear picture of how cognitive and physical limitations combine to form a dangerous situation. Write a short paper addressing the following:
How do both cognitive and physical factors contribute to accidents when drivers talk on their cell phones and/or text behind the wheel?
Using the Shapiro Library Database Index: A–Z Databases or a credible website such as the Association for Psychological Science (APS), find a research study that investigates the risk of distracted driving and incorporate it into your paper. For example, the following study from the APS site discusses the fact that most drivers believe their skills are above average. This study, When It Comes to Driving, Most People Think Their Skills Are Above Average, could be used to propose that drivers’ overconfidence might lead them to take more risks or lead to greater inattentiveness. You cannot use this study for your own paper, but the example should spark some ideas for choosing and incorporating studies into your own research.
Citations: Use material from Chapter 4 in your textbook to back up your explanations of the cognitive and physical factors you have investigated, and properly cite that information in APA format. Also be sure to list your research–study references, including the textbook, in APA format. Refer the Purdue OWL Reference Page Formatting to facilitate this.
