Tasks:
• Review the expectations for each section below.
• Using these guidelines, outline each section according to the literature you selected. use the template for outlining purposes.
Introduction (approximately 1 page):
• Briefly describe the behavior you chose and the reasons why it was selected for this assignment.
o Define the health behavior
o Provide sound reason for why the health behavior should be studied
o Discuss the importance of using theory to study the health behavior
o Like / Dislikes
• Briefly describe the articles that were selected for inclusion of your paper.
o DO NOT list them off one by one.
o Are they practice or research oriented? Which theories are featured in the Body?
• Describe the process of the literature review – which databases were explored, which key words were used, etc. Also describe the challenges and successes that you had while conducting your search.
Body (approximately 3-4 pages):
• Theory # 1 –
o Discuss your observations and interpretation of the literature related to why and how this theory was chosen for the behavior you selected?
o Is it used the same way in each article? Similar methodologies? Or a variety?
o Is there a typical population or setting under review – or is there variety? Does it work better with a particular population?
o What are the major findings when using this theory?
o Research and practice observations
o *DO NOT describe each article individually – discuss them collectively!
• Theory # 2 –
o Discuss your observations and interpretation of the literature related to why and how this theory was chosen for the behavior you selected?
o Is it used the same way in each article? Similar methodologies? Or a variety?
o Is there a typical population or setting under review – or is there variety? Does it work better with a particular population?
o What are the major findings when using this theory?
o Research and practice observations
o *DO NOT describe each article individually – discuss them collectively!
• Comparing/contrasting of both theories –
o Is one theory better than the other when it comes to examining the behavior you selected?
Stronger or weaker constructs?
o Is there a better behavior that your theories are better suited for?
o Observations about the populations under study, methodologies used, overall findings?
Were the findings similar or dissimilar?
Was there anything you were expecting to see but didn’t? Were you surprised that these theories emerged as the dominant ones in the literature (as it related to your behavior)?
o *DO NOT describe each article individually – discuss them collectively!
Conclusion (approximately 1 page):
• At this point, you have described how your behavior was examined using 2 theories from class. Now it is time to describe what needs to be done. Think about the following:
o Is there a population/setting that has not been explored?
o Is there an area that needs more work? With the behavior and/or the theory?
o Are there any recommendations for research and practice from your articles that you feel are significant?
o Are the theories (or the work that has been done) too limiting? Is there an opportunity for growth/expansion? *You may find that some theories are so rigid that you can only do so much with it…
o Your last point should focus on how you as a PHE professional can one day make a contribution (using the theories for research or practice) to tackle this behavior – or perhaps another one. You can think in general or specific terms. Either way, go out with a BANG!
