Assignment Instructions

HS1209/HS5508 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY AND MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY

HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
IN-COURSE ASSESSMENT (ICA) INDIVIDUAL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

OBJECTIVE
Describe and discuss psychological concepts/perspectives in individual response to
dealing with illness and staying healthy.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Select ONE health enhancing behavior from the list below – each behavior can only
be chosen by no more than seven students.

List of health enhancing behavior:

1. Eating two servings of vegetables daily.

2. Sleeping 7-8 hours every night.
3. Brisk walking for one hour daily.
4. Consuming sugary drinks only once a month.

2. After selecting the health enhancing behavior, you will answer the following
questions using the theory or model indicated for each question.

a. Health Belief Model

i. Describe the Health Belief Model (refer to “Health Beliefs and
Attitude I” lecture).
ii. Based on the Health Belief Model, describe an individual’s levels of
health beliefs that may lead him/her to have a LOWER LIKELIHOOD of
engaging in the chosen health enhancing behavior (the level of every
health belief must be indicated).
iii. In your description for a(ii), also explain how psychosocial factors may
lead to the individual to have the levels of health beliefs indicated (at
least two psychosocial factors for each health belief).

b. Attitude Change (Choose either “Elaboration Likelihood Model” or “Cognitive

Dissonance Theory”)
i. Explain the chosen model or theory.
ii. Using the model or theory, propose two ways healthcare
professionals can change an individual’s attitude to increase the
likelihood of engaging in the chosen health enhancing behavior.
iii. For each of your proposed suggestion, explain how it affects the
individual’s health beliefs, which in turn, increase the likelihood of
engaging in the chosen health enhancing behavior.
Assignment Instructions

3. Students are advised to write their essay with appropriate paragraphing and sub-
headings, using Microsoft Word, in font size 12pt, with either font type “Arial”,
“Times New Roman” or “Calibri”, and single line spacing.

4. Consult at least TWO credible sources (you may include the recommended textbook
as one of them) for your written assignment and put them in your reference list,
listed in APA (American Psychological Association) format. Note that marks may be
deducted if the sources referenced are not credible.

5. The word limit is 1000 words, excluding references (+/- 10% allowed).

6. Students will submit their work on Blackboard “Health Psychology ICA 2” submission
folder, no later than 4 Feb 2022, 5 pm. There will be 3 submission attempts given
and only the last submitted attempt will be graded.
Note that the assignment deadline is fixed and no request for deadline extension will
be entertained unless under valid circumstances (e.g., certified medical condition,
etc.).

a. Submit the following items in separate documents:

i. Grading Sheet (declaration form is included in grading sheet)
ii. Essay
iii. Reference list

Failure to submit any of these documents may result in marks being deducted for
lack of preparation.

7. Students are reminded that (a) plagiarism (< 15%) (i.e., copying another person’s
work without proper referencing) and (b) abetment to plagiarism (i.e., sharing of
your work with others) are strictly prohibited and subject to disciplinary action,
if/when committed.

8. The total mark for this ICA is 35 and it is worth 35% of the module assessment.
Grading Rubric

Grading Did not meet Novice (1 mark) Competent I (2 marks) Competent I (3 marks) Proficient (4 marks) Proficient (5 marks)
Criteria requirement
(0)
Part a (i) Did not Provided general Identified the Identified the Identified the Identified the
5 marks answer description of Health components in Health components in Health components in Health components in Health
question. Belief Model with no Belief Model with Belief Model with Belief Model with Belief Model with
explanation of accurate explanations accurate explanations accurate explanations accurate explanations
components. of 1 to 3 components. of all components. of 1 to 3 components of all component using
using own words or own words or with
with appropriate appropriate examples.
examples.
Part a (ii) Identified the level of Identified the levels of Identified the levels of Identified the levels of Identified the levels of
5 marks one of the health two of the health three of the health three health beliefs and all health beliefs and
beliefs correctly (i.e., beliefs correctly. beliefs correctly. perceived threat perceived threat
the level that explains correctly. correctly.
low likelihood).
Part a (ii) Stated psychosocial Explained influence of Explained influence of Explained influence of Explained influence of
5 marks factor(s) without psychosocial factor(s) psychosocial factor(s) psychosocial factor(s) psychosocial factor(s)
explaining their on most health beliefs on all health beliefs but on most health beliefs on all health beliefs and
influences on health but explanations were explanations were and explanations were explanations were
beliefs. irrelevant and/or irrelevant and/or relevant and/or logical. relevant and/or logical.
illogical. illogical.
Part b (i) Provided general Identified most of the Identified all Identified most of the Identified all
5 marks description of ELM or components in ELM or components in ELM or components in ELM or components in ELM or
CDT with no CDT with accurate CDT with accurate CDT with accurate CDT with accurate
explanation of explanations of each explanations of each explanations of these explanations of these
components. component. component. components using own component using own
words or with words or with
appropriate examples. appropriate examples.
Part b (ii) Proposed one to two Proposed one way Proposed two ways Proposed one way Proposed two ways
5 marks ways with no relevance based on ELM or CDT based on ELM or CDT based on ELM or CDT based on ELM or CDT
to ELM or CDT. but without clear but without clear with clear identification with clear identification
identification of identification of of concepts used of concepts used
concepts used and/or concepts used and/or and/or reflected good and/or reflected good
reflected poor reflected poor understanding of understanding of
understanding of understanding of model/theory. model/theory.
Grading Rubric

model/theory. model/theory.
Part b (iii) Poorly or inaccurately Superficially but Superficially but Sufficiently and Sufficiently and
5 marks explained how accurately explained accurately explained accurately explained accurately explained
suggestions influence how one of the how both suggestions how one of the how both suggestions
health beliefs and suggestions influence influence health beliefs suggestions influence influence health beliefs
likelihood of engaging health beliefs and and likelihood of health beliefs and and likelihood of
in health behavior (e.g., likelihood of engaging engaging in health likelihood of engaging engaging in health
explanation target the in health behavior (e.g., behavior (e.g., only in health behavior. behavior.
wrong health belief). only stated suggestion stated suggestion
increase/decrease level increase/decrease level
of health belief without of health belief without
further explanation). further explanation).
Organization/ Did not Submitted essay, Submitted essay and Essay is properly Essay is properly Essay is properly
Preparation submit any of without grading sheet either grading sheet or paragraphed but ideas paragraphed but ideas paragraphed and ideas
5 marks the required and reference list. reference list. can be better can be better well organized.
documents. organized. organized.
Submitted all three
Submitted essay and Submitted all three required documents.
either grading sheet or required documents.
reference list.
Referencing Guide

Referencing Guide

You may refer to the following websites for referencing help/guides in APA 7 th format:
NYP Library Guide on Citing Sources
https://www.citationmachine.net/apa/