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Decision-Making

Our text suggests that objective reality is often significantly different from perceived reality and is an important variable to consider when making decisions within an organization. In addition, attribution theory describes how people create the explanations for their own and others’ actions, as well as the outcomes of the applied behaviors. Based on these two premises, consider the following and then, formulate an analysis about how attribution theory and bias (according to chapter 8 in our text) can explain human behaviors within organizations and industry.

Use, or closely follow, this template for your paper.

Consider the following information associated with attribution theory to support to your writing about decision-making:

perceptions

bounded rationality

cognitive biases

conjunction fallacy

consistency

consensus

distinctiveness

fundamental attribution error

creative decision making

Writing Content

Decision-Making

Based on our content this week, discuss the importance of rationale decision-making in an organization, using necessary citations. Include how bounded rationality cognitive biases, and conjunction fallacy might affect decision-making.

Attribution Theory

Explain attribution theory using necessary citations. Include a discussion about the effects of consistency, consensus, distinctiveness, and fundamental attribution error. Consider inclusion about the effects of perception, primacy and recency effects, selective perceptions, contrast effect, stereotyping to further support your discussion.

Personal Experience: Inaccurate Judgement

Based on our content this week, consider your own experiences with others. Have your actions ever been judged inaccurately by a person such as a boss, a peer, or a family member? How could this experience support your thesis about whether or not attribution theory and bias affect human behaviors with organization?

Can self-serving, or other, bias affect one’s perception of a behavior?

Creative Decision Making

Explain how creative decision-making can improve our ability to make better decisions, considering the numerous obstacles to do so. Include an analysis about how good decision making can potentially affect productivity and job satisfaction.

Writing considerations:

The introduction paragraph should introduce your topic and clearly explain what the paper will address.

Headings can be used to organize your information. See templatePreview the document. (Each heading should include at least two paragraphs – minimum.)

Each paragraph should make a point which can be linked back to your introduction paragraph. Design the topic sentence to embody what the paragraph will entail.

The most important consideration in the body paragraphs is the argument that you want to develop (is or is not perceptions, attribution theory and bias applicable?) in response to the topic (applicability of perception, attribution theory and bias). This argument is developed by making and linking points in and between paragraphs.

The conclusion paragraph should restate your thesis (your suggestion that perceptions, attribution theory and bias does or does not apply to human behaviors in organizations.)

Your assignment should be a minimum of five to six double-spaced pages, and should adequately discuss the topic, demonstrate maturating self-awareness, and include at least one peer-reviewed source, in addition to your text. Use the rubric to check for thoroughness. Include frequent citation to resources.

The Ashford Library should be used as your primary resource for this assignment, but other credible sources will also be accepted. Your sources should be cited according to APA format as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.).

The paper

Must be five to six double-spaced pages in length, not including the title or references pages, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center (Links to an external site.).

Must include a title page with the following:

Title of paper

Student’s name

Course name and number

Instructor’s name

Date submitted

Must begin with an introductory paragraph which will outline the two parts to be addressed within the paper.

Must address the topics with critical thought and support all assertions with peer-reviewed sources.

Must end with a conclusion that synthesizes your findings about attribution theory and bias effect on human behavior.

Must use at least one peer-reviewed sources from the Ashford University Library, not including your textbook.

Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the In-Text Citation Guide (Links to an external site.).

Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the APA References List (Links to an external site.).

Resource: Before you submit your written assignment, you are encouraged to review the The Grammarly Guide: How to Set Up & Use Grammarly tutorial set up a Grammarly account (if you have not already done so), and use Grammarly to review a rough draft of your assignment. Then carefully review all issues identified by Grammarly and revise your work as needed.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

 

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What is it truly like to have a mental illness? By considering clients’ lived experiences, a social worker becomes more empathetic and therefore better equipped to treat them. In this Discussion, you analyze a case study focused on a depressive disorder or bipolar disorder using the steps of differential diagnosis. You also describe lived experiences of depression.

To prepare: View the TED Talk “Depression, the Secret We Share” (TED Conferences, LLC, 2013) and compare the description of Andrew Solomon’s symptoms to the criteria for depressive disorders in the DSM-5. Next review the steps in diagnosis detailed in the Morrison (2014) reading, and then read “The Case of Sam,” considering Sam against the various DSM-5 criteria for depressive disorders and bipolar disorders.

By Day 3
Post a 300- to 500-word response in which you address the following:

Provide the full DSM-5 diagnosis for Sam. For any diagnosis that you choose, be sure to concisely explain how Sam fits that diagnostic criteria. Remember, a full diagnosis should include the name of the disorder, ICD-10-CM code, specifiers, severity, medical needs, and the Z codes (other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention). Keep in mind a diagnosis covers the most recent 12 months.
Explain the diagnosis by matching the symptoms identified in the case to the specific criteria for the diagnosis.
Recommend a specific evidence-based measurement instrument to validate the diagnosis and assess outcomes of treatment.
Describe your treatment recommendations, including the type of treatment modality and whether or not you would refer the client to a medical provider for psychotropic medications.
The Case of Sam

Sam is a 62-year-old, widowed, African American male. He is unemployed, receives Social Security benefits, and lives on his own in an apartment. Sam has minimal peer relationships, choosing not to socialize with anyone except his daughter, with whom he is very close. Sam raised his daughter as a single father after his wife passed away. Melissa is 28 years old and works as an emergency medical technician (EMT). When Sam was 7 years old, he was placed in foster care and has had very limited contact with his extended family.

Prior to September 11, 2001, Sam had a steady employment history in food services and retail. He had no psychiatric history before that time. Sam reported his religious background is Catholic, but he is not affiliated with a congregation or church.

Sam became depressed and psychotic sometime after 9/11 and had to be taken to an emergency room. He was hospitalized at that time for several weeks. His mental status exam (MSE) and diagnostic interview showed no history of alcohol or substance abuse issues, and he had no criminal background or current legal issues. Sam was released to outpatient care but was deemed unable to return to work. At that time, he had a diagnosis of major depression with psychotic features; he also has a history of high blood pressure and migraines. After several additional multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, he was gradually stabilized.

Sam has been seeing a psychiatrist once a month for over a decade for medication management and is currently prescribed Depakote®, Abilify, and Wellbutrin®. Sam has a positive history of medication and treatment compliance. He was treated by a social worker at an outpatient program for about 2 years after his hospitalizations for his psychosis and depression. He gradually stopped attending sessions with the social worker after his symptoms stabilized, and his termination from the outpatient program was deemed appropriate; he continued to see the psychiatrist monthly for medication management.

After about 10 years of seeing only the psychiatrist, Sam scheduled a meeting with this social worker for increased feelings of depression. These feelings were brought on after his daughter moved out of the apartment they had shared for many years to live with her boyfriend. He reported difficulty adjusting to living alone and said he often feels lonely and anxious. He reported during sessions with his social worker that he speaks to his daughter frequently, and although she only lives 10 blocks away, he misses her terribly.

Our sessions for the last 3 months have focused on his mixed feelings around his daughter’s new life with her boyfriend. He said he is happy that she is happy but misses her very much. I emphasized his strengths and helped him reframe his situation by focusing on the positive changes in her life as well as his own life. Our goals were to help him reduce his symptoms of anxiety and begin searching for new opportunities for socialization outside of his daughter.

During our last two sessions, I became concerned because Sam, who was normally articulate, had been appearing confused and slightly disorganized. I asked him if he had a recent medication change and if he had been compliant with his current medications, but he denied noncompliance or any recent medication adjustment.

I asked Sam if he was experiencing any physical health problems. He denied any ongoing problems but mentioned that he had collapsed on the street recently. He reported that he had been hospitalized and had undergone a number of tests, which he thinks were all negative. He said he still feels “foggy” at times, and sometimes time seems to be “missing.”

I reviewed his medications with him. As he went down the list, he reported taking Cogentin® and Ativan®, which according to his chart history had been discontinued months ago. When I asked Sam where he obtained these medications, he stated, “I got them out of the bag.” Sam reported he has a bag at home in which he puts all leftover and discontinued medications. He could not explain why he was taking discontinued medication or for how long. Sam stated, “I thought I was supposed to take it.”

I called his daughter, and she verified he had recently been hospitalized and that the MRI, CT scan, and EEG tests were negative. I requested that Melissa go to her father’s apartment to look for the bag of medications he mentioned, because it seemed likely that her father was taking discontinued medications. I then scheduled a meeting with Sam and his daughter for later that week. During that session, Melissa reported that she found multiple vials of old medication on the kitchen counter mixed in with her father’s current medications. Melissa reported that she collected and disposed of all the old medications. I recommended obtaining a daily medication planner. Although the hospital tests were negative, I recommended scheduling an appointment with a neurologist, and both agreed.

Sam saw a neurologist who reported that his test results were negative but did not rule out the possibility of a seizure disorder. The neurologist recommended a follow-up appointment in 3 months. He also contacted Sam’s psychiatrist and recommended that the Wellbutrin be discontinued because it is known to have the potential to cause seizures and that Sam should start on another antidepressant. Sam began to focus and become more cognitively alert after the discontinued medications were disposed of and the Wellbutrin was discontinued.

I scheduled another family session for Sam to discuss his feelings regarding Melissa moving out. Sam was tearful when he told Melissa he missed her and her dog Sonny. He also told her he was concerned he would not be financially able to remain in the apartment. Melissa reported working long and odd hours but did call her father often and invited him over to her apartment. She further reported that he often declined her invitations. Sam reported he declined because he did not want to intrude on her life or her boyfriend. Melissa assured her father that both she and her boyfriend wanted him to visit and be part of their lives. I asked Sam if Melissa’s dog had been company for him, and he replied, “Yes, and I miss him.” I asked Melissa if it would be possible for Sonny

to spend some time with her father. Melissa reported her long work hours were making it difficult to take care of Sonny and asked her father if he would like Sonny to live with him. Sam replied, “I would like that.”

I discussed with Sam how he spends his time, which normally consists of reading a newspaper, watching television, or listening to talk radio. I suggested Sam increase his socialization and recommended a social club for older adults that is near his home. Sam said he would consider this idea. I asked Sam to discuss his financial concern that he may not be able to remain in his apartment. Sam stated that Melissa had been contributing to the household expenses but stopped when she moved out. He stated he had been too embarrassed and ashamed to discuss this with Melissa and had been keeping this to himself. Although Sam is on a fixed income, he is currently able to meet his expenses. However, he is concerned about his rent, which is his largest expense.

I explored state and federal rent assistance programs for seniors and the disabled. I found a program through which tenants who qualify can have their rent frozen at their current level and be exempt from future rent increases. Sam met the program requirement of being at least 62 years of age, currently living in a rent-controlled apartment, and having a household income that was within the specified guidelines. I obtained the required forms and personal documentation from Sam and completed the application, sending it to the appropriate agency.

Adapted from: Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. (2013). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Publishing.

 

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