1. Nature vs. Nurture
A Psychology Webquest

2. INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
TASK
In the Social Science of Psychology,
the question of which factor, nature
or nurture, most influences behavior
PROCESS
has been debated for decades. This
web quest will give you the
RESOURCES
opportunity to investigate some of
the most famous psychologists and
their theories on this subject.
EVALUATION By the completion of this project
you will have developed your own
theory.
CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION TASK
You and your partner will select two
psychologists and research their
TASK
philosophies and theories. You will
determine which side of the Nature vs.
Nurture debate their theories would
PROCESS
support.
Then you will prepare a presentation to
RESOURCES share your new knowledge with your
classmates.
Perhaps you will be able to provide a
EVALUATION final answer to the question,
“ Does nature or nurture determine why
we do the things we do?”
CONCLUSION

4. PROCESS
INTRODUCTION Step 1. You will be assigned a partner with whom to
complete this webquest.
TASK
Step 2: Watch the overview of various psychologists and
their theories.
Step 3: Use the resources links to gather information
PROCESS about your chosen psychologists and their
theories. Then do some more research.
RESOURCES Step 4: Prepare a presentation of at least 6 minutes to
share your new knowledge with your
classmates.
EVALUATION
Step 5: After all of the presentations are finished, join
the Forum discussion about the psychologists’
and their theories. Be prepared to give your
CONCLUSION position on nature vs. nurture and be ready to
support your position with facts.

5. Click on the black box to view a brief lecture that
outlines various psychologists’ theories.
Return to
Process

6. Evaluation
INTRODUCTION You will be evaluated based on the rubric displayed in this table.
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary Score
1 2 3 4
Research and Enough Enough Enough Enough
TASK Collection of information information information information
Materials gathered for a gathered for a gathered for a gathered for an
2-minute 4-minute 6-minute 8-minute
presentation presentation presentation presentation
PROCESS Understanding of No sign of Signs of little Signs of study, Demonstrates
Theories studying study of one but does not go an obvious
psychologists’ psychologist’s beyond basic understanding
theories theories principles of and study of
theory multiple
theories
RESOURCES Power Point Presentation Presentation Presentation Presentation
Presentation includes very includes includes facts includes
little limited facts or and some multiple facts
information visuals purposeful and purposeful
with no visuals visuals
Organization Presentation is Presentation is Presentation is Presentation is
EVALUATION not clear, sometimes, frequently clear, concise
concise or easy concise or easy clear, concise or easy to
to follow to follow or easy to follow
follow
The Forum Does not Makes 1 Attempts to Excellent
CONCLUSION (After presentations participate in comment analyze and analysis and
discussion) the Forum during Forum makes good observations
discussions observations

7. INTRODUCTION
CONCLUSION
TASK
Congratulations!
By the time you have completed this
webquest, you will have gained new
PROCESS knowledge about psychologists and
their theories. You will also have
gained a deeper understanding of the
debate about nature vs. nurture as it
RESOURCES relates to behavior.
EVALUATION
CONCLUSION
CREDITS

8. INTRODUCTION RESOURCES
Charles Darwin 1 Martin Seligman 1
TASK Charles Darwin 2 Martin Seligman 2
Wundt and James John B. Watson 1
Wilhelm Wundt John B. Watson 2
PROCESS
William James
B.F. Skinner 1
Sigmund Freud 1
B.F. Skinner 2
RESOURCES Sigmund Freud 2
Ivan Pavlov 1
Jean Piaget 1
Jean Piaget 2 Ivan Pavlov 2
EVALUATION Carl Rogers 1 Nature vs. Nurture 1
Carl Rogers 2 Nature vs. Nurture 2
Abraham Maslow 1 Nature vs. Nurture 3
CONCLUSION
Abraham Maslow 2 Nature vs. Nurture 4

9. CREDITS
Elements to compose the evaluation rubric were accessed
at www.webquest.org
Images for the PhotoStory and Inspiration web diagram were retrieved
from the following websites on October 23, 2007:
Darwin – www.swarthmore.edu
Freud – www.cranepsych.com
Freud’s couch – http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com
James – www.nndb.com
Maslow – www.trans4mind.com
Pavlov – www.muskingum.edu
Piaget – www.facade.com
Rogers – http://blog.newport.ac.uk
Seligman – www.sas.upenn.edu
Skinner – www.psychology.uiowa.edu
Watson and Little Albert – http://psycology.tripod.com/id12.html
Wundt – www.psych.upenn.edu