Module 02: Theory, Research, & Practice

Question 1

intervention

Answer 1

Prevention or promotion programs that aim to promote behavioral change in defined community contexts to address social problems.

Question 2

post-test

Answer 2

A test designed to gauge participants’ scores after an intervention.

Question 3

research design

Answer 3

A collection of decisions a researcher(s) makes tailored to what is being studied.

Question 4

reliable

Answer 4

The degree to which a study produces results that prove to be consistent, no matter who is conducting the research.

Question 5

control group

Answer 5

A design decision that dictates whether or not there is a control group (a group that is used for a baseline without intervention and to compare with the group of participants with the intervention).

Question 6

community-based participatory research

Answer 6

Research that involves an exchange of resources and ideas between researchers and the community members as a way of understanding that is guided by community needs, also known as “participatory action research.”

Question 7

pre-test

Answer 7

A test designed to gauge participants’ baseline scores.

Question 8

meta-analysis

Answer 8

A method for statistically summarizing the findings of multiple studies to quantify an average effect and identify possible predictors of variability of outcomes.

Question 9

populations

Answer 9

A group of individuals that share a characteristic which is the focus of scientific research.

Question 10

interdependence

Answer 10

Because everything is connected, changing one aspect of an environment will have many ripple effects.

Question 11

replicable

Answer 11

The ability to replicate a study’s findings.

Question 12

advocacy

Answer 12

Advocacy involves active promotion of a cause or principle involving actions that lead to a selected goal.

Question 13

empowerment theory

Answer 13

Originally described by Julian Rappaport (1981), empowerment refers to the capacity for individual growth, self-determination and autonomy through the prescribed use and access of community resources.

Question 14

respect for persons

Answer 14

A research ethics principle that states children, prisoners, and pregnant individuals are considered vulnerable populations, and they require special protections when involved in research.

Question 15

prevention

Answer 15

The focus on actions that stop problems before they happen by boosting individual skills as well as by engaging in environmental change.

Question 16

participants

Answer 16

A pool of people that are volunteering or being paid to participate in a study.

Question 17

**implementation

Answer 17

Sequence of actions that goes from the planned on paper to actions in natural community contexts. Good implementation depends on the skills of the community psychologists involved and the degree of community readiness.

Question 18

**expertise

Answer 18

The level of competence whereby community psychology practitioners have developed further experience and continuing education in a competency to the extent that they are able to teach and supervise others (Dalton & Wolfe, 2012).

Question 19

**experience

Answer 19

The level of competence whereby students or CP practitioners have engaged in supervised practice, in performing the tasks related to the competency (Dalton & Wolfe, 2012).

Question 20

praxis

Answer 20

A repetitive process of turning a theory, lesson, or skill into an actualized action.

Question 21

exposure

Answer 21

The level of competence whereby students or community psychology practitioners have become aware of the competency, understand its value, and know how it can be applied in community psychology practice (Dalton & Wolfe, 2012).

Question 22

**SCRA

Answer 22

SCRA is the official organization of Community Psychology in the United States, yet it also supports global connections and goals, with about 20% of its membership international.

Question 23

adaptation

Answer 23

Focuses on interactions between persons and their environments to better understand why behavior that is effective in one setting may not be useful in others.

Question 24

**Community Psychology

Answer 24

A field that goes beyond an individual focus and integrates social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, and international influences to promote positive change, health, and empowerment at individual and systemic levels (SCRA27.org).

Question 25

succession

Answer 25

Refers to the fact that communities are in a constant process of change, and this process causes changing requirements for adaptation.

Question 26

beneficence

Answer 26

A research ethics principle that requires that researchers do no harm and maximize possible benefits, and they can do this by finding less risky methods to achieve research goals.

Question 27

ecological perspective

Answer 27

Understanding the relationships between people and their social environments (e.g., families, groups, communities, and societies).

Question 28

**empower

Answer 28

The process of gaining power emerging at the individual, organizational, community, and societal levels, which are affected by peoples’ previous experiences, skills, actions, and context.

Question 29

mixed methods research

Answer 29

Thoughtful combining of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.

Question 30

justice

Answer 30

A research ethics principle that indicates research should have similar benefits, risks and burdens to all populations.

Question 31

evaluation

Answer 31

The use of different research methods to understand person-environment interactions and also determine whether community interventions have been successful.

Question 32

behavior setting theory

Answer 32

Natural or developed ecological environments where behaviors evolve over time. A process by which different types of settings can be expected to influence the behaviors of people within a variety of different types of situations.

Question 33

**prevent

Answer 33

The focus on actions that stop problems before they happen by boosting individual skills as well as by engaging in environmental change.

Question 34

dissemination

Answer 34

The deliberate sharing of research findings to groups and communities that would benefit from said findings.

Question 35

qualitative methods

Answer 35

Methods involving collecting data that typically consists of words that provide comprehensive descriptions of participants’ experiences.

Question 36

social climate theory

Answer 36

Understand how people adapt to their social contexts, how they survive traumatizing contexts, and how contexts adapt to persons within that context; addressing the power and fragility of social settings.

Question 37

social network

Answer 37

A method for identifying how relationships may influence attitudes and behaviors.

Question 38

sense of community

Answer 38

An individual’s perception of similarity to others, giving to others what one expects from them, and the feeling that one is part of a larger dependable and stable group.

Question 39

Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA)

Answer 39

SCRA is the official organization of Community Psychology in the United States, yet it also supports global connections and goals, with about 20% of its membership international.

Question 40

mentoring

Answer 40

The ability to assist community members to identify personal strengths and social and structural resources they can develop further and use to enhance empowerment, community engagement, and leadership.

Question 41

cycling of resources

Answer 41

The systematic process of using and developing materials and resources that impact community growth and development.

Question 42

stakeholders

Answer 42

Those who have something to gain or lose from a study.

Question 43

evidence-based

Answer 43

An approach to intervention based on research that systematically demonstrates its effectiveness.

Question 44

**Community Psychology practice competencies

Answer 44

Having the required skills to effectively engage in community psychology practice.

Question 45

random assignment

Answer 45

A design decision that involves the random assignment of participants into either an experimental group or a control group.

Question 46

quantitative methods

Answer 46

Methods involving collecting data in the form of numbers using standardized measures in an attempt to produce generalizable findings.