CABE Essay Competition

Students are invited to write an essay of no more than 750 words that addresses the topic of AI Challenges and Opportunities in the Field of Psychology. 

Deadline:

Sponsor: Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education (CABE)

Description

Join us in helping psychology students prepare for how artificial intelligence (AI) may present challenges and opportunities in the ways we learn, teach, and work.

The APA Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education (CABE) invites undergraduate psychology students to share their insights on how we can think critically about AI-generated content and use AI tools ethically for teaching, learning, and working in psychology. 

Award details

CABE will award up to two prizes of $250 each to undergraduate students (current majors or 2024 graduates) for the best essays on the theme: AI Challenges and Opportunities in the Field of Psychology.

To help current and future psychology students, we encourage you to write an essay (up to 750 words) that addresses how to think critically about using AI-generated content that could include misrepresented or false information. Also, your essay should address how to use generative AI tools and content ethically in the classroom or the workforce.

All essays should consider the following: 

  • How can psychology students or psychology professionals think critically about AI-generated content? 
  • How can psychology students or psychology professionals use AI tools ethically? 
  • Essays that illustrate or otherwise support the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion are judged more positively.

Entries will be judged for relevance to the call, impact, illustration/support of EDI values, and quality of writing by a panel of psychology faculty members who serve as CABE members.

Students who win the award will receive $250 and may have their essays published on the APA website.

How to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to review the rubric that CABE members will use to judge the essay. Applicants who are considering using AI to assist in the planning or writing of their essay should read the instructions below on how to credit AI before starting that process.

Please complete the brief application form and upload your essay and the exact text generated by your AI prompt if AI was used by October 8. Essays will be reviewed by CABE members. Decisions will be announced by November 25.

Apply online

Instructions on crediting AI

Students must disclose if they used AI in the drafting of their essay and provide the prompt used and the exact text generated in response to the prompt.

In the essay itself, applicants using AI must:

  • Name the tool that was used (e.g., ChatGPT)
  • Describe how it was used (including the specific prompt)
  • Identify any information in the essay that should be attributed to the AI tool.
    • The APA style blog provides an example of how to cite AI.
    • Keep in mind that APA style recommends that you generally paraphrase sources (including AI) rather than directly quoting them because paraphrasing allows you to fit the information into the flow of your writing. Direct quotes are most appropriate for specific definitions or memorable statements. If you do choose to quote an AI tool verbatim, make sure to identify the statement as a quote (for more on using direct quotations in APA style writing, see APA Style).

When completing the essay competition form, you will be directed to upload a copy of the exact text that was generated by your prompt.

Student essay rubric

Essays will be judged on the extent to which the essay meets the following criteria:

Relevance to the call

  • Addresses how psychology students and psychology professionals think critically about using AI-generated content that could include misrepresented or false information
  • Addresses how to use generative AI tools ethically

Impact

  • Has a central message that is precisely stated, compelling, and memorable
  • Is impactful

Equity, diversity, and inclusion

  • Illustrates or otherwise supports the values of equity, diversity and inclusion

Quality of writing

  • Is well-organized, concise, grammatically correct, free from typos, and appropriately pitched to the intended audience

For those essays that include AI-generated text,

  • The essay properly cites AI
  • Appropriate documentation is provided
Past Recipients

2024 award winners

  • Chandan Das, Sikkim University
    How to Think Critically about using AI-generated Content that could include Misrepresented or False Information
  • Shivani Shrotri, Cornell University
    Smart Tools, Smart Choices: Navigating AI in Psychology

2023 award winners

  • Nicole Drapluk, Delaware State University
    Carolina in My Mind: Utilizing Skills Learned as an HBCU Graduate
  • Mikayla Blankenship, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
    Thriving in Careers with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

2022 award winners

  • Sabrina Chan, University of Toronto
    Thriving in Careers with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
  • Monique Santoso, Middlebury College
    Thriving in Careers with an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree

Honorable mentions 

  • Nakyah Bourgeois, California State University, Los Angeles
    CABE Essay Submission
  • Allston Lewis, Texas Christian University
    Why Psychology?
  • Folakemi Sampson, Washington and Jefferson College
    Applying Psychology to Success Coaching

2021 award winners

  • Victoria R. Everett, Augusta University
    Applying Skills Learned in Psychology Courses to the Pursuit of a Career
  • Nehme G. Melhem, University of Massachusetts
    CABE Essay Submission

Honorable mentions

  • Alivia Carlin, University of Massachusetts—Boston
    Careers in Psychology with an Associate or Baccalaureate Degree
  • Madison Estep, West Liberty University
    CABE Essay Submission
  • Micha Gonzalez, West Liberty University
    Careers in Psychology
  • Lexi Kinard, Kennesaw State University
    Fulfillment in a Psychology Degree
  • Maggie Lee, Texas A&M—Texarkana
    Careers in Psychology
Last updated: July 2024Date created: August 2021