PSYC 4510: Community Psychology: PART 3, Option A

PURPOSE

The purpose of Part 3 is to move your research toward action. Now that you have researched an important issue that matters to you and begun applying scientific approaches to addressing it, you are ready to plan for action!

One way to act is to communicate what you have learned to an important audience. Community psychologists might communicate their research in order to raise awareness of an issue, suggest strategies for intervention, or advocate for a new policy. An effective way to do that is using infographics.

Another way to act is to apply what you have learned to understanding how community organizations seek to address important issues by implementing programs, organizing community members, or influencing policy. Community psychologists might critically analyze how community organizations do their work so that they can help organizations improve, plan their next steps, or evaluate how well they are doing.

 When you have completed Part 3, you will have taken a science-based approach to community research and action.

TASKS

1. Update Part 2 based on feedback received
2. Decide whether you want to complete Option A or B
   1. OPTION A – Communication Strategy
   2. OPTION B – Organization Analysis

Instructions: There are 3 tasks.

This step is necessary only if you want to revise Step 2 based on previous feedback, but you must submit your previous work even if you do not make any revisions.

Based on what you have learned about your social issue, answer the following questions (use the questions as headings):

1. Who is affected by the social issue?
2. How are they affected by the social issue?
3. Factors that Contribute (Describe at least two factors that contribute to the social issue)
4. Recommendations (Describe at least 2 recommendations for what can be done about the social issue)

Pro Tip: Make sure to explain the terms you are using; be as specific as possible. Think ahead to PART 3 of the project and try to summarize the types of information you will need. For example, don’t just say that veterans are vulnerable to becoming homeless after they are discharged. What are the rates of homelessness among veterans? How many veterans are homeless? Are there particular subgroups (e.g., men/women/transgendered? ethnic minorities?) that are especially vulnerable?

Communication objectives, key audiences, and key messages

Who do you want to reach with information about your social issue? What do you hope to accomplish by communicating information about your social issue to this audience? What are the main things you want your audience to know?

Copy and paste the “Key audiences” table below and complete it with appropriate information.

1. Identify Key audiences

List 3 potential audiences – people or groups. What information would be most convincing to them?

Target Audience Ranked by Importance	Type of Information

2. Reaching your intended audience

Next, select one target audience from the table above, and outline what you will communicate to that audience.

Write a brief statement (1 paragraph) identifying the primary audience you want to reach and what you want your audience to learn or take away. Your statement should answer the following questions:

• Who do you want to reach with information about your social issue?
• What do you hope to accomplish by communicating information about your social issue to this audience?
• What are the main things you want your audience to know?

Your communication product will be a fact sheet or infographic (may include elements of both)

Resources for producing these products are provided in iCollege. Your fact sheet or infographic should communicate information you gathered in Parts 1 and 2 concisely, clearly, and accurately. It should provide information that is relevant to your target audience and convey to the audience what you want them to know or do.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Submit Parts 1, 2, and 3 together to the “RAP-Final” dropbox in iCollege.  Most likely you will turn in 2 files.

File 1 should be labeled yourlastnamefirstinitial_rapfinal.docx. Use a 12-point font with 1 inch margins and include the following:

• Cover page with your project title, your name, the course number and title, the date (1 page). You do not need to include an abstract

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3 table identifying potential audiences and your statement about reaching your selected target audience
• A reference page for any sources you cite (including references from your annotated bibliography and any new references).
• Statement summarizing any revisions made to Part 2 (include your tentative grade for Part 2, what feedback you received and how you addressed it). If you do not include this you will receive the same grade for Part 2 as before (1/2 page)

File 2 should be labeled yourlastnamefirstinitial_rapfacts._ (this can be a word document or pdf depending on the format used)

Grading Rubric for Communication Strategy

	Earned Points	Possible Points
Part 1: Background Research		60
Part 2: Application of Background Research		30
Part 3a: Communication Strategy		60
Objectives and Key Messages		10
Key Audiences and Channels of Communication		10
Communication Product: Information conveyed concisely and accurately		30
Structure and Clarity: Clearly written and easy to understand.		5
Grammar and Spelling: No proper noun mistakes, agreement errors, punctuation errors, spelling errors, etc.		5

Infographics:

Canva (home | free)

Easel.ly (home)

Piktochart (home | free)

Venngage (home | free*)
*Use your GSU e-mail address.

If you need statistics for a fact sheet or infographic, you can start here.