Social and Behavioral Sciences - Online Study Guide Questions
Which of the following do social cognitive theory and the social ecological model have in common? (A) Both take into consideration factors that are within the individual and factors that operate outside the individual. (B) Both focus primarily on environmental determinants of behavior that must be addressed at the policy level. (C) Both come out of the value expectancy paradigm that associates behaviors with valued outcomes. (D) Both originally were developed exclusively to explain unhealthy versus healthy behaviors.
(A) Both take into consideration factors that are within the individual and factors that operate outside the individual. Social cognitive theory and the social ecology model both consider factors that are within the individual and factors that operate outside the individual (the social and physical environments). See McLeroy, et al.
Which term refers to a collective body of individuals identified by geography, common interests, concerns, characteristics, or values? (A) Community (B) Population (C) Sample (D) Group
(A) Community A "community" can be defined as "a collective body of individuals identified (or defined) by geography, common interests, concerns, certain characteristics, or values".
Scenario for Questions 6-9. Franklin 's Grove is the county seat of Franklin County , a small rural county in the So utheast. On the basis of its demographic and economic profile, it was selected as a health improvement zone to receive Federal funds to implement programs to improve progress toward reaching the national health objectives. Communities receiving such funds are charged with identifying the most significant gaps between the current health status and national health objectives and with putting programs in place to narrow such gaps. What is the first step to take to address the goals of the funding? (A) Consult Healthy People 2010 to identify relevant objectives (B) Convene a group of community leaders to decide how to spend the funds (C) Convene a group of community citizens to decide how to spend the funds (D) Consult an expert in community health to draw up a program plan
(A) Consult Healthy People 2010 to identify relevant objectives The first step for implementing programs that could narrow the gaps between the current health status in the county and the national health objectives would be to consult Healthy People 2010, a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative to increase the quality and years of healthy life and to eliminate health disparities. This action identifies the actual national health objectives so that programs can be developed and implemented to achieve these specific goals locally (http://www.healthypeople.gov).
A community has high rates of HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs). The community council decides to legalize needle exchange programs in an effort to provide clean syringes to prevent the sharing of contaminated needles in drug-using networks. This type of program is an example of: (A) Harm reduction (B) Policy advocacy (C) Community organization (D) Behavior change
(A) Harm reduction Harm reduction interventions are designed to encourage individuals to adopt a behavior that reduces risk when they are unable or unwilling to completely eliminate their behavioral risk (e.g., reducing the number of cigarettes smoked, but not totally quitting).
Which of the following is not an example of a methodology used during a social assessment? (A) Process evaluation (B) Focus groups research (C) Delphi method (D) Survey administration
(A) Process evaluation Social assessment is the process of gathering information through multiple sources and through broad participation in order to enhance the understanding of people regarding their own quality of life and aspirations for the common good. Strategies to conduct social assessment include asset mapping, the nominal group process, the Delphi method, focus groups, surveys and public service data. Reference: Green and Kreuter (2005)
When a person is healthy, without signs and symptoms of disease, illness, or injury, the level of prevention most appropriate would be: (A) Primary prevention (B) Secondary prevention (C) Tertiary prevention (D) No prevention level is needed
(A) primary prevention Primary prevention includes preventive measures that forestall the onset of illness or injury during the prepathogenesis period. Reference: McKenzie et al (2009)
Scenario for Questions 6-9. Franklin 's Grove is the county seat of Franklin County , a small rural county in the So utheast. On the basis of its demographic and economic profile, it was selected as a health improvement zone to receive Federal funds to implement programs to improve progress toward reaching the national health objectives. Communities receiving such funds are charged with identifying the most significant gaps between the current health status and national health objectives and with putting programs in place to narrow such gaps. Given the factors presumed to be responsible for the major health problems in this scenario, what would be the best source for community planners to use to find data on how widespread each behavioral factor is at the state or local level? (A) Healthy People 2010 midcourse review (B) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (C) Community Guide to Preventive Services (D) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(B) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operates the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a state-based system of health surveys that collects information on health risk behaviors, preventive health practices, and health care access, primarily related to chronic disease and injury. For many states, the BRFSS is the only available source of timely, accurate data on health-related behaviors.
Which of the following is not a principle/key concept in community organization and community building practice? (A) Critical consciousness and empowerment (B) Critical allocation of resources and sharing among partners (C) Principle of relevance or "start where the people are" (D) Principle of participation
(B) Critical allocation of resources and sharing among partners Although there is no single model regarding community building there are several key concepts that affect and measure change at the community level. These are: critical consciousness and empowerment, community competence, the principles of participation and relevance, issue selection and measurement and evaluation of community organizing efforts. Reference: Minkler, M. (Ed.) (1999)
An individual's capacity to obtain, interpret, and understand basic health information and services and the individual's competence to use such information and services in ways that enhance health are called: (A) Medical informatics (B) Health literacy (C) Health education (D) Patient education
(B) Health literacy Health literacy includes the capability to read and comprehend the label on a prescription bottle and then to take the medicine exactly as prescribed.
Which of the following terms from the social cognitive theory refers to the dynamic interaction among the person, environment, and behavior? (A) Behavioral norms (B) Reciprocal determinism (C) Decisional balance (D) Bidirectional dependence
(B) Reciprocal determinism Reciprocal determinism comes from social cognitive theory (SCT) and refers to the interrelationship between a person, her environment, and her behavior. In other words, behavior both influences, and is influenced by, the social and physical environment.
Scenario for Questions 6-9. Franklin 's Grove is the county seat of Franklin County , a small rural county in the So utheast. On the basis of its demographic and economic profile, it was selected as a health improvement zone to receive Federal funds to implement programs to improve progress toward reaching the national health objectives. Communities receiving such funds are charged with identifying the most significant gaps between the current health status and national health objectives and with putting programs in place to narrow such gaps. Using the PRECEDE framework, the county health department has conducted a social and health diagnosis. Some of the most severe quality-of-life problems were related to limb amputation and kidney failure. Prevalent health problems included diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Which of the following behavioral factors are most likely responsible for the above health and quality-of-life issues in Franklin 's Grove? (A) Unprotected sex, early sexual initiation, use of drugs (B) Sedentary lifestyle, high caloric consumption, low fiber intake (C) Advanced age, low levels of education, history of racism (D) Frequent tobacco, drug, and alcohol use
(B) Sedentary lifestyle, high caloric consumption, low fiber intake The behavioral factors associated with such diseases as diabetes, hypertension, and CV disease include sedentary lifestyle, high caloric consumption, and low fiber intake.
The construct of normative beliefs is from which model/theory? (A) Transtheoretical model (B) Theory of reasoned action/planned behavior (C) Social cognitive theory (D) Social ecological model
(B) Theory of reasoned action/planned behavior The construct of normative beliefs comes from the theory of reasoned action/planned behavior. It is the belief about whether each referent (i.e., the people important to someone) approves or disapproves of the behavior. Additional explanations of this concept are available in several general texts (e.g., Coriel, Glanz, Nutbeam).
Theory is defined as: (A) A branch of philosophy that deals with morality (B) A tested set of hypotheses listed in order of importance (C) A systematic relationship of constructs devised to analyze, predict, and otherwise explain the nature of behavior of a specified set of phenomena (D) A verified fact that the majority does not believe to be true
(C) A systematic relationship of constructs devised to analyze, predict, and otherwise explain the nature or behavior of a specified set of phenomena Reference: Glanz, et al. (2002)
All intervention messages (printed, computer-delivered, or Internet-based) must: (A) Start with the most important information first (B) Include graphics, pictures, and the like to attract people's attention (C) Be written at a reading level suitable to the target population (D) Be no longer than four sentences so that the reader does not become bored
(C) Be written at a reading level suitable to the target population Reference: National Cancer Institute (NCI). Making Health Communications Work.
Which of the following is not a construct from the Health Belief Model? (A) Susceptibility (B) Cues to action (C) Decisional balance (D) Barriers
(C) Decisional balance Susceptibility, cues-to-action and barriers are classic HBM constructs, going back to the initial formulations of this theory. On the other hand, decisional balance is often employed within stages of change theory, particularly in SOC's Strong and Weak Principles. Reference: Glanz, et al. (2002) pp. 45-66
Which of the following most directly deals with the issue of internal validity in program evaluation design? (A) Having a reliable and valid measurement instrument (B) Having well-written process objective (s) (C) Having a comparison group (D) Ensuring generalizability of program effects
(C) Having a comparison group Internal validity is defined as the extent to which an observed impact can be attributed to a planned intervention and not to other factors. In order to do that, we employ evaluation designs, where in most cases, except for the one group pretest and post-test design which is the weakest design-a comparison group is incorporated. Reference: Windsor et al.(2003)
Many people do not attempt to decrease unhealthy behaviors such as overeating or smoking because they lack the confidence that they can successfully change. This is an example of: (A) Perceived susceptibility (B) Perceived severity (C) Perceived self-efficacy (D) Perceived response efficacy
(C) Perceived self-efficacy Perceived self-efficacy is a construct from social cognitive theory. It is defined as the level of confidence in one's ability to undertake the recommended preventive behavior. Self-efficacy is situation specific, so a person can be very confident in some circumstances and not in others. Additional explanations of this concept are available in several general texts (e.g., Coriel, Glanz, Nutbeam).
Which of the following is the best example of intrapersonal factors that affect an individual's behavior as outlined by the Social Ecological Model ( McLeroy et al., 1988)? (A) National laws and policies (B) Informal social networks (C) Personal knowledge or skills (D) Community partnerships
(C) Personal knowledge or skills Intrapersonal factors are defined as characteristics of the individual such as knowledge, attitudes, self-concept and skills. Reference: McLeroy et al (1988) pp 351-377
The social marketing conceptual framework if known for its 4 P's and competition. Which of the following is not one of the 4 P's? (A) Price (B) Product (C) Population (D) Place
(C) Population The social marketing framework includes five key concepts: the product (behavior being promoted) and its competition; the price (social, emotional, and monetary costs exchange for the product's benefits); place (where the exchange takes place and/or where the target behavior is practiced); and promotion (activities used to facilitate the exchange.) Reference: Coreil and Henderson (2001)
A population of rural women experiences a high rate of mortality related to breast cancer. Researchers at a local university implement a breast cancer screening intervention. This intervention is an example of: (A) Tertiary prevention (B) Advocacy (C) Secondary prevention (D) Primary prevention
(C) Secondary prevention Secondary prevention refers to actions taken to prevent recurrence of a previous condition or worsening of a current condition. For instance, taking part in a cardiac rehabilitation program is secondary prevention, to stop one having another heart attack.
Which of the following is defined as a community's ability to define and solve its own problems? (A) Social capital (B) Community development (C) Community organization (D) Community capacity
(D) Community capacity The more skills, assets, and strengths that a community has, the better prepared it is to achieve its goals (http://www.communitycapacity.org).
Which of the following processes from the Transtheoretical Model refers to substituting healthy behaviors for unhealthy ones? (A) Stimulus control (B) Consciousness raising (C) Reinforcement management (D) Counter-conditioning
(D) Counter-conditioning Within the Transtheoretical Model, stage movement is accompanied by one or more processes of change. Counter-conditioning, that is substituting healthy behaviors for unhealthy ones, is active during action and maintenance. Reference: Glanz, et al. (2002) pp 99-120
Biological, environmental, behavioral, organizational, political, and social factors that contribute to the health status of individuals, groups, and communities are commonly referred to as: (A) Health behavior causal factors (B) Social ecology factors (C) Needs assessment factors (D) Determinants of health
(D) Determinants of health All biological, environmental, behavioral, organizational, and political, and social factors that contributes to health status for individuals, groups, communities and beyond, are all referred to as determinants of health.
Which of the following is the best example of a process evaluation for a program designed to decrease mortality from drinking and driving among high school youth? (A) Document change in mortality associated with drinking and driving (B) Document change in numbers of youth riding with impaired drivers (C) Document about risks of riding with impaired drivers (D) Document number of students who attend the school's alcohol-free party
(D) Document number of students who attend the school's alcohol-free party Process evaluation is concerned with how the program is delivered. It deals with issues such as when program activities occur, where they occur, and who delivers them and how many people participate in those activities. Reference: Steckler & Linnan (2002)
In the planning process, the group being served is referred to as the: (A) Pilot population (B) Key informants (C) General population (D) Priority population
(D) Priority population The priority population is the people for whom the program is intended. Reference: McKenzie et al (2009)
Scenario for Questions 6-9. Franklin 's Grove is the county seat of Franklin County , a small rural county in the So utheast. On the basis of its demographic and economic profile, it was selected as a health improvement zone to receive Federal funds to implement programs to improve progress toward reaching the national health objectives. Communities receiving such funds are charged with identifying the most significant gaps between the current health status and national health objectives and with putting programs in place to narrow such gaps. The Franklin County health program planners intend to keep close track of the number of programs and activities offered, the number of adults and children who participate in each program or activity, and all feedback given by community members about the programs and activities. These actions would most appropriately fit into which of the following evaluation categories? (A) Cost-effectiveness (B) Impact (C) Outcome (D) Process
(D) Process When health programs track the number of programs, activities, and participants and also gather feedback from community members, these actions constitute process evaluation. See: Kettner PM, Moroney RK, and Martin LL. 2003. McKenzie JM and Smelter J. 2005.
Which of the following terms refers to a consumer-driven application of sales and promotional techniques to the analysis (including the review of background information and formative work), planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs designed to encourage positive health behaviors within intended audiences? (A) Health communications (B) Health promotion (C) Focus group testing (D) Social marketing
(D) Social marketing Reference: National Cancer Institute (NCI). Making Health Communications Work.
