Graduate School of Public Health
San Diego State University
Undergraduate Division
Behavior Change in Communities
Fall 2010, 3 Units
Class day/time: T/Th 9:30-10:45
Class location: Communication 207
Instructor: Mary Mulvihill PhD
Instructor office hours: by appt.
Email: Please use the MESSAGES function on Blackboard to contact Dr. Mulvihill
San Diego State University is dedicated to a safe, supportive and nondiscriminatory
environment. It is the responsibility of all students to familiarize themselves with University
policies regarding nondiscrimination, misconduct and academic honesty.
Nondiscrimination Policy
San Diego State University complies with the requirements of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as well as other applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination.
No person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in,
be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination in any program of the
California State University
SDSU does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, or treatment or
employment in, its programs and activities. Students should direct inquiries concerning San
Diego State University’s compliance with all relevant disability laws to the Director of Student
Disability Services (SDS), Calpulli Center, Room 3101, San Diego State University, San Diego,
CA 92128 or call 619-594-6473 (TDD: 619-594-2929).
SDSU does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, or sexual orientation in the educational
programs or activities it conducts. More detail on SDSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy can be
found in the SDSU General Catalog, University Policies.
Student Conduct and Grievances
SDSU is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy living and learning environment for
students, faculty and staff. Sections 41301, Standards for Student Conduct, and Sections 4130241304 of the University Policies regarding student conduct should be reviewed.
If a student believes that a professor’s treatment is grossly unfair or that a professor’s behavior is
clearly unprofessional, the student may bring the complaint to the proper university authorities
and official reviewing bodies. See University policies on Student Grievances.
Statement on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty that
are intended to gain unfair academic advantage. See section 41301 of the University policies.
Plagiarism is an important element of this policy. Plagiarism is defined as ‘formal work publicly
misrepresented as original; it is any activity wherein one person knowingly, directly and for
lucre, status, recognition, or any public gain resorts to the published or unpublished work of
another in order to represent it as one’s own’. Any work, in whole or in part, taken from the
Internet or other computer-based source without referencing the source is considered plagiarism.
“Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for
textual similarity review to SafeAssign.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers
may be included as source documents in the SafeAssign Global Reference Database solely for
the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your papers in such a way
that no identifying information about you is included. Another option is that you may request, in
writing, that your papers not be submitted to SafeAssign.com. However, if you choose this
option you will be required to provide documentation to substantiate that the papers are your
original work and do not include any plagiarized material.”
Attention Students with Disabilities
If you have any disability which may impair your ability to successfully complete this course,
please let me know during the first two weeks of class. Accommodations are coordinated
through the Student Disability Services and require documentation. The SDSU office is located
at the Calpulli Center, Suite 3101, Phone: (619) 594-6473.
I. Course Description: This course will provide students with an overview of behavior change
theories, strategies and techniques used in individual, interpersonal, group and community
settings in effective, evidence-based health behavior and public health interventions.
II. Learning Objectives: At the end of the course, students will be able to
1) Be familiar with the history, basic constructs, applications and limitations of the major
behavioral theories and models commonly used in Public Health behavior change
interventions, including the Precede Proceed Model, the Transtheoretical Model, the
Health Belief Model, the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Stress & Coping Model, and
Social Cognitive Theory.
2) Apply concepts from these models and theories to contemporary topical issues in Public
Health, such as condom use, hookah regulation, vaccine adherence, violence prevention
in high crime areas, proposed regulation of junk food items, veteran suicide risk, and use
of the internet for self-help lifestyle change.
3) Apply concepts from these models and theories to a peer coaching project that focuses on
behavior change related to diet, exercise or sleep lifestyle issues to be conducted over the
semester.
4) Know the basic neuroscience underlying contemporary behavioral theory, including
reward valuation, reward deficiency & environmental enrichment, automating of habits,
threat-based habits & behaviors, and promotion of creative, flexible behavioral options.
5) Understand how these behavioral principles & concepts operate at individual, group,
community, & policy level interventions, with special attention to high risk groups from
diverse populations.
IV. Text, Readings, Materials:
Main Textbook : Theoretical Foundations of Health Education and Health Promotion, 2nd
Edition. Manoj Sharma & John A. Romas
Supplemental Readings:
See Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs, James
McKenzie et al. (on reserve at library for PH 490B)
Operant Theory (Stimulus Response) , page 106-107
TTM, page 176-180
Behavior Change, page 218-225
Theory at a Glance. A Guide for Health Promotion Practice. U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancer_information/cancer_literature/
V. Assignments and Tests:
Exams and Finals: You will have two closed-book, in-class mid-term exams (see schedule) and
one final. The first two exams are not cumulative, but the final is cumulative and will consist
of multiple choice questions and true/false questions, covering both lecture material and
readings. [40 points x 3= 120 points]
Class Assignments. There are a number of interim assignments designed to be fun, informative,
topical and challenging so that your grade does not depend only on test scores AND you have an
experience of engaging with the class material in a personal way. Due to the size of the class, this
point based grading system is very labor intensive for Dr. M. Therefore, you must submit your
assignments on time to receive credit, as it is infeasible to administrate such a complex system
while making all kinds of individual exceptions for various reasons.
It is also your responsibility, once you’ve been notified the assignment has been graded, to check
Gradebook to make sure that your points have been awarded. As with all data entry, errors can
occur, but since everything is archived on BB, once I have been notified via Messages, I can easily
verify your assignment was completed appropriately and on time, so you will receive all your
earned points.
Behavior Change Assignments: You will be paired with a peer in class to carry out a simple
lifestyle behavior change program. This will help you get real experience in applying what you are
learning. There will be several short writing assignments to be posted on the BB Discussion Board
on your assigned day regarding this project. The Initial Behavior Evaluation will be worth 5 points.
The Final Summary will also be worth 5 points. Follow-up reports, due periodically, will be worth
1 point. The Conceptual Model of your client’s target behavior will be worth 2 points. Your
behavior change report must be posted by Sunday 9 pm of the assigned week to count for credit.
No late or make-up assignments will be accepted.
Applied Behavior Change Comment Opportunities. There will be several guest speakers and
several thought-provoking media posted on Blackboard designed to give you some practice at
applying concepts you are reading about and studying in class. These assignments should help
you understand the concepts more completely, identify what you don’t understand so you can
inquire about them, and make the leap from “book learning” to grappling with behavior change
in “real life” community situations, as we are challenged in public health to intervene with. 2
points each. Note due date when assigned as posted in Dr. M’s announcement or refer to
the Class Calendar. Late assignments will not be accepted.
Classroom Participation: Students are expected to attend class, ask questions, comment on
readings, and share their experiences, thoughts, and ideas related to the discussion topic.
Attendance is mandatory and will be periodically spot checked. Unprofessional behavior, such as
web surfing, texting or other distracting behavior will be taken as evidence of non participation.
Participation impressions and attendance may be used when a student is borderline to award a
slightly higher or lower grade.
Completion of online activities will be used as one method for participation evaluation.
Class introduction
Post in first 2 weeks of class
Behavior Change Project
Due by Sunday 9 pm of the week it was
assigned
1 point
Initial Evaluation 5 points
Conceptual Model 2 points
1 point each, first 2 Follow-Up sessions
2 points each, FU 3-6
Final Summary 5 points
Total points - 22 points
Comment on guest speaker or applied
media examples
Due by date assigned in the Class
Calendar
2 points each speaker
For example, Dr. McClure’s talk on veteran
suicide risk
2 points for each of 3 media assignments
Total points – 10 points
Create a question for the exam
Due by date assigned in the Class
Calendar.
2 points each exam
Total points – 6 points
Total Participation Points possible 39 points
Grading Scale: 159 Overall Points Possible
Percentage
Points Needed
Assigned Grade
95-100
90-94
87-89
84-86
80-83
77-79
74-76
70-73
67-69
64-66
60-63
<60
151.05
143.10
138.53
133.56
127.2
122.43
117.66
113
106.53
101.76
95.4
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Course policies
1. Attendance & Class Conduct
Attendance is mandatory. Successful completion of the course requires that student attend class..
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get notes from another class member and find out
from them what you missed. If you have an unexpected illness or an unavoidable conflict with
class one week, please let me know in advance if you can if you will be absent. If you have an
emergency, please contact me as soon as possible, so I know what is going on.
Professional behavior will be expected including arriving to class on time and not leaving early.,
respectful comments, appropriate use of laptops. Active positive, participation, such as
answering in class questions, making valuable comments, brining items to my attention,
helpfulness to other students, serving as a peer mentor, may be used to award a higher grade
when students are borderline. Conversely,, negative class behavior issues, such as lateness,
talking in class, surfing the web during class, multiple absences, leaving early may be used to
award a lower grade
2. Religious holidays
According to the University Policy File, students should notify the instructors of affected courses
of planned absences for religious observances by the end of the second week of classes.
3. Writing Style for Assignments. In addition to spelling, grammar, and writing style, your
work will be evaluated based on professional appearance (examples of non-professional
appearance: crinkled pages, stains, poor staple job).
4. Blackboard:
Announcements, assignments, and class information will be posted on Blackboard. It is your
responsibility to check Blackboard at least once a week. Students must also maintain their
Blackboard contact information (email address) current. If a class must be cancelled without prior
notification, it will be posted on BB the day of the class as early as possible.
5. Other Policies:
 No cell phones in class. No texting please.
 Laptops are allowed during lecture, but not during guests speakers/applied portion of
class. They must be used appropriately – no web surfing or email in class. This is very
distracting to both professor and fellow students.
 No late or make-up assignments will be accepted.
 If you have an insurmountable technical difficulty posting your blog comment on your
assigned day, you may email the comment to me. No other assignments will be accepted via
email
 You are strongly encouraged to keep computer backups of your work to avoid losing
information and time.
 Incomplete: Medical emergencies verified by practicing clinicians and limited other
emergencies are the basis for an incomplete.
PH 303 Course Calendar
DATE
Topic &
Homework
Assignments
DATE
Jan 19
Operant Behavior
Principles
Jan 26
Initial Behavioral
Evaluations
Modifying Sleep
Behavior
Feb 2
Jan 24
Jan 31
Feb 9
Topic &
Homework
Assignments
Introduction and
Overview
Operant
Behavioral
Principles
Exercise & Diet
Behavior
Transtheoretical
Model
Test question 1
due
Feb 7
Precede/Proceed
Model
Practice Test 1
Don’t Shoot
comment due
Feb 16
Review Exam 1
Demonstration of
problem solving
Social Cognitive
Feb 23
Reading
Assignments
Chapter 1
Behavior
Evaluation
Chapter 2
Conceptual
Model
Chapter 4
FU Session 1
Chapter 7
Exam 1
Feb 14
Feb 21
Feb 28
Behavior
Change
Assignments
March
Social Cognitive
Theory 1
Reward
FU Session 2
Chapter 5
March
6
March
13
March
20
March
27
April
3
April
10
April
17
April
24
Theory 2
Hookah or Condom
Use comment due
Video : The
Interrupters
Health Belief
Model
Test question 2 due
Exam 2
Spring Break
Guest
Speaker
Behavioral
Assessment
of Iraq
Veterans
Guest Speaker
Online Behavioral
Assessment
March
8
March
15
March
22
March
29
April
5
April
12
Brain & Behavior
issues related to
Mindfulness &
Meditation
Threat Based
Behavior 1
Junk food or
vaccines comment
due
April
19
Promoting
Flexibility,
Creativity &
Diversity
Test question 3 due
May 3
May 1
May 8
1
FINAL EXAM
(cumulative)
Valuation,
Reward
Deficiency
Habit Formation
Interrupters
comment due
Theory of
Reasoned Action
Practice Test 2
Review Exam 2
Smoking
Cessation
Spring Break
Stress &
Coping
1
Speaker
comment
due
Stress & Coping
2
Speaker
comment due
FU Session 3
Chapter 3
FU Session 4
FU Session 5
Dalaii Llama
Visit
DL comment due
FU Session 6
Threat Based
Behavior 2
Final
Behavioral
Evaluation
due
April
26
Review for Final
Practice Test 3
Chapter 6