Required Textbook: Oford, Jim. (1992). Community psychology: Theory and practice. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

Course Format. This course will be conducted in a seminar format. This means that students are expected to participate actively and to take some responsibility for determining the content and process of the class. You will be teaching and learning from each other.

Participation. You are expected to attend class meetings, to arrive on time, and to participate in class discussions and activities. Your participation will account for 50% of your final grade, as described below.

Assignments:

1. Weekly reaction papers: The first ten class sessions (after the introductory session) will be spent discussing reading assignments. For each of these sessions you will bring to class two copies of a brief (1/2 to 2 page) typewritten comment that reflects your thoughts about the readings. One copy should be anonymous (in other words, don’t put your name on it anywhere), and will be read by one of your peers at the beginning of class. The other copy should have your name at the top and should be turned in to me at the end of each class. Your consistent and thoughtful preparation of these comments will contribute to your class participation grade.

2. Selection & presentation of 2-3 readings: Each of the ten reading assignments mentioned above will consist of one chapter from the textbook and approximately 2 additional articles on a related topic. I have selected these supplemental readings for the weeks of 9/1 & 9/8. During the remaining weeks, students will participate (in consultation with me) in selecting these readings, and in leading class discussion of the reading(s) they selected. This assignment will contribute to your class participation grade. On 9/1, you will be assigned a week to select and present readings. To complete this assignment successfully, you will need to do some advance planning. Specifically, you will need to read the assigned textbook chapter about two weeks in advance of the class, and you will need to meet with me to discuss reading selections at least 10 days in advance of the class. For example, if you were scheduled to present readings on Tuesday, September 22, you’d need to read chapter five by around Wednesday or Thursday, September 9 or 10. You would need to meet with me no later than Friday, September 11. This way, readings could be selected and made available to the rest of the class by Tuesday, September 15, giving everyone a week to prepare for the September 22 discussion.

3. Action Research Proposal: Over the course of the semester, each student will develop an action research proposal, which will account for 50% of the final grade. On 9/29, our class meeting will be devoted to a discussion of community psychology research methods in general and action research in particular. For the purposes of this assignment, "action research" describes a project that has an applied component (e.g., service delivery or social change), as well as a data collection and analysis component (e.g., program evaluation, needs assessment, basic or theoretical research). The proposal should address an actual problem or need in the local community. If you have current or recent experiences in community agencies/settings, you may wish to develop a proposal that could be carried out in collaboration with your contacts at those settings. The development of the proposal will be broken down into several smaller assignments: Topics must be selected by 10/6. Optionally, you may turn in your preliminary bibliography, your introduction, and your description of the problem for feedback prior to the formal deadline. You must turn in a first draft of the paper on November 3. I will grade this draft and provide written comments by November 17. During one of the last several class meetings, you will present your proposal to the class. Final drafts of proposals will be due on December 8.
 

Schedule for action research proposal:

9/8 Preliminary topic ideas will be discussed in class

10/6 Final topic ideas due in writing

10/13 Working bibliography due

10/20 First draft of introduction due

10/27 Description of problem and/or setting due

11/3 First draft of proposal due (I will grade & provide feedback by 11/17)

12/1 & 12/8 In-class presentations of research proposals

12/8 Final drafts of proposals due

Academic Dishonesty. Plagiarism or cheating will result in your failing the course (i.e., receiving the course grade of F). It may also result in disciplinary action by the university.

Breakdown of Final Grades:

Participation Action Research Proposal

General contribution 20% First Draft 10%

Reaction papers 10% Presentation 15%

Selection/presentation of readings 20% Final Draft 25%

Week	Topic	Reading/Assignment
0	Introduction	Syllabus; Chapter I
I	Ecological Theories	Chapter II; Bronfenbrenner; Schoenwald et al.
II	Psychological Problems in the Community	Chapter III; Levine et al., Ryan
III	Social Support	Chapter IV; Felton & Shinn; Rosenfeld et al.; Fiore et al.
IV	Power & Control	Chapter V; Ronfeldt et al.; Sprecher
V	Action Research	Chapter VI; Fairweather & Davidson
VI	Consultation	Chapter VII]
VII	Prevention	Chapter VIII
VIII	Organizational Change	Chapter IX
IX	Self-Help & Nonprofessional Help	Chapter 10
X	Empowering the Community	Chapter 11
XI	Preparation for Needs Assessment (Focus Groups)	Krueger Ch 1-2, 4-5
XII	Needs Assessment Conducted	Needs Assessment Protocol
XIII	Child Abuse
XIV	Presentations	-
XV	Presentations	-

 
 

IX 10/27 Self-Help & Nonprofessional Help Chapter 10

*Analysis of Problem/Setting TBA (Sherry)

X 11/3 Empowering the Community Chapter 11

*First Draft of Proposals Due TBA

XI 11/10 Preparation for Needs Assessment Krueger Ch 1-2, 4-5

XII 11/17 Needs Assessment Protocol

XIII 11/24 Child Abuse

XIV 12/1 Presentations

XV 12/8 Presentations