Module 06: Social Action

Question 1

federal agencies

Answer 1

Government organizations that are set up to oversee specific systems at the national level such as education, housing, and criminal justice.

Question 2

grassroots

Answer 2

Individuals at the ground level of a community group or an organization are brought into key roles in intervention design and planning.

Question 3

instrumental research

Answer 3

Research used to persuade policymakers to adopt a specific policy.

Question 4

population

Answer 4

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

Question 5

interdisciplinary collaboration

Answer 5

Scientists from multiple disciplines work together to try to understand complex social and community problems.

Question 6

prevention

Answer 6

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

Question 7

transformation

Answer 7

Fundamentally changing a community and its structures such that resources and power are more equitably distributed.

Question 8

burnout

Answer 8

A feeling of overall exhaustion that results from too much pressure and not enough sources of satisfaction or support.

Question 9

community coalitions

Answer 9

A set of organizations, institutions and community agents that cooperate to improve the living conditions of the community.

Question 10

Shaping of behavior

Answer 10

A complex set of procedures that results in a change in topography, or the sequence, of behaviors.

Question 11

second-order change

Answer 11

Involves initiating more structural, long term, and sustainable transformational changes.

Question 12

Learning Theory

Answer 12

A method of learning that occurs when individuals respond to environmental factors or stimuli.

Question 13

community organizing

Answer 13

Engaging in actions in a collaborative way with other psychologists, professionals in other disciplines, community members, organizations, and local government.

Question 14

public policy

Answer 14

The laws, regulations, course of action, and funding priorities issued by the government to address a social issue at the local, state, and national level.

Question 15

stakeholders

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Operant Conditioning

Answer 16

A method of learning where an individual makes an association between a specific behavior and a consequence.

Question 17

antecedent

Answer 17

Anything preceding a behavior that signals the likelihood of a consequence if the behavior is performed.

Question 18

Extinguished

Answer 18

Decreasing undesirable behaviors by stopping the delivery of reinforcers that follow the behavior.

Question 19

policy evaluation and revision

Answer 19

The last phase of the policy process in which a policy is evaluated to determine whether it successfully addressed a social issue, and whether it can be improved to more effectively address the social issue.

Question 20

participatory efficacy

Answer 20

The belief that you can effectively participate in community organizations.

Question 21

effectiveness

Answer 21

Achievement of the results intended by the intervention (it is an indicator that the intervention works properly).

Question 22

Applied Behavior Analysis

Answer 22

The application of principles of behavioral science to applied problems.

Question 23

advocacy

Answer 23

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

Question 24

policy formation and adoption

Answer 24

The second phase of the policy process in which a policy solution to address a social issue is adopted.

Question 25

first-order change

Answer 25

Involves minor changes that lead to small, short term improvements by focusing exclusively on the individuals.

Question 26

political stream

Answer 26

The level of public concern to actually devote time and resources to one of these topics and possible solutions.

Question 27

collaborative partnership

Answer 27

A reciprocal relationship between two or more people with a shared goal in mind.

Question 28

policy implementation

Answer 28

The third phase of the policy process in which a specific policy is executed.

Question 29

empowerment

Answer 29

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 30

Community Psychology

Answer 30

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 31

small wins

Answer 31

Progress that occurs when breaking down a goal into manageable parts.

Question 32

Stimulus control

Answer 32

The process in which the rules (antecedents) in an environment become associated with consequences, and then make a behavior or group of behaviors more or less likely to happen in the future.

Question 33

agenda setting

Answer 33

The process by which social problems and the solutions to these problems gain or lose the attention of policymakers or the public.

Question 34

collective efficacy

Answer 34

The belief that the actions of the group can be successful in creating change.

Question 35

social justice

Answer 35

Involves the fair distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges that provide equal opportunities for education, healthcare, work, and housing.

Question 36

Punishment

Answer 36

A consequence associated with a behavior or group of behaviors that decreases the rate or likelihood of the behavior in the future.

Question 37

Behavioral Analysis

Answer 37

A science of behavior focusing on the relationship between behavior and its consequences, resulting in a greater understanding of the principles of behavior that are observable and replicable.

Question 38

citizen participation

Answer 38

Assures a higher level of involvement in partnerships involving both community psychologists and community members.

Question 39

Classical Conditioning

Answer 39

Refers to a procedure of learning in which a stimulus (e.g., food) is paired with a previously neutral stimulus (e.g., a bell) to shape behavior.

Question 40

policy advocacy

Answer 40

Policy work that is guided by set of principles and that involves the active promotion of these principles (e.g., social justice).

Question 41

civil servant

Answer 41

Someone employed by the government to work in the public sector to implement policies and laws.

Question 42

partisanship

Answer 42

The tendency of a member of a political party to strongly support their party’s policies and have a reluctance to compromise with members of other political parties.

Question 43

policy stream

Answer 43

The potential solutions that can address a social issue and the costs of these solutions.

Question 44

prevalence

Answer 44

The total number of cases in a population.

Question 45

policymaking process

Answer 45

A four step cyclical process that illustrates how a policy gains the attention of policymakers, is adopted, implemented, and revised.

Question 46

Behavioral Community Psychology

Answer 46

The application of the principles of behavioral science to applied problems in community settings.

Question 47

conceptual research

Answer 47

Research that is used to educate policymakers and stakeholders on social issues and propose possible solutions.

Question 48

Behavior Modification

Answer 48

A technique used to change the frequency or duration of a behavior.

Question 49

community readiness

Answer 49

Degree to which the community is prepared for the behavioral and social changes that are intended by the intervention.

Question 50

B. F. Skinner

Answer 50

An American psychologist known for his influential work in behavioral psychology.

Question 51

iatrogenic effects

Answer 51

Resulting in unintended consequences.

Question 52

resource provision

Answer 52

Ensuring a community is provided with a resource it is lacking.

Question 53

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 53

When something rewarding happens after the onset of a behavior.

Question 54

top-down approach

Answer 54

An approach to community change that originates with experts, community leaders, and other individuals in power.

Question 55

medical model

Answer 55

In psychology, the medical model involves a therapist delivering one-on-one psychotherapy to patients. In medicine, it involves physicians providing treatments for one patient at a time.

Question 56

problem stream

Answer 56

The range of social issues that may affect a given population.

Question 57

capacity building

Answer 57

A process in which communities or organizations work to improve their collective skills and resources.

Question 58

bottom-up approach

Answer 58

An approach to community change that originates with community members rather than experts.

Question 59

coalitions

Answer 59

A set of organizations, institutions and community agents that cooperate to improve the living conditions of the community.