MSocSc in Clinical Psychology
Module – Health Psychology
Assignment Title
Critical Analysis in Health Psychology: Interventions, Policy, and Ethical Considerations
Assignment Overview
This assignment is designed to:
• Encourage a deep critical analysis of health psychology interventions and their role in
public health.
• Explore the intersections of health policy, advocacy, and ethical issues in both
research and practice.
• Enhance your ability to apply theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence to real-
world health care challenges.
You will write a comprehensive essay (approximately 3,000–4,000 words) that addresses the
critical questions listed below. Your analysis should be evidence-based and integrate at least
10 peer-reviewed sources in APA format.
Assignment Instructions
1. Literature Review and Theoretical Frameworks
• Task: Provide a concise review of key theoretical frameworks in health psychology
(e.g., the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, Biopsychosocial Model) and
explain how these theories inform public health interventions.
• Critical Question:
What are the major theoretical frameworks in health psychology that have informed
public health interventions? Critically evaluate their strengths and limitations in the
context of real-world application.
2. Intervention Analysis and Ethical Considerations
• Task: Select a real-world case study or intervention where health psychology
principles were applied. Critically analyze the design, implementation, and outcomes
of the intervention.
• Focus Areas:
o Evaluation of the intervention’s effectiveness.
o Discussion of ethical issues such as informed consent, confidentiality, and
patient rights.
• Critical Question:
How do ethical considerations in health psychology research and practice—
specifically issues like informed consent and confidentiality—influence the
implementation of psychological interventions in healthcare settings?
3. Health Policy and Advocacy
• Task: Discuss the role of health psychologists in shaping health policy and advocating
for health promotion and disease prevention.
• Focus Areas:
o Strategies and challenges in influencing policy decisions.
o The integration of psychological insights into public health initiatives.
• Critical Question:
In what ways can health psychologists advocate for changes in health policy, and
what challenges do they face in influencing these policies? Provide examples from
current initiatives or case studies.
4. Addressing Health Disparities and Future Directions
• Task: Examine how health psychology interventions contribute to reducing health
disparities. Consider the impact of emerging digital health technologies on these
efforts.
• Focus Areas:
o Successes and limitations of current interventions.
o Ethical challenges posed by digital health innovations.
• Critical Question:
Evaluate the effectiveness of health psychology interventions in addressing health
disparities. With the rise of digital health technologies, what new ethical challenges
are emerging, and how might these be addressed?
General Requirements
• Essay Structure:
o Introduction: Outline the objectives and significance of your analysis.
o Main Body: Organize your discussion into clear sections corresponding to
each of the tasks above.
o Conclusion: Summarize key insights and propose recommendations for future
research or policy advocacy.
• Formatting:
o Follow APA formatting guidelines for in-text citations and the reference list.
o Use clear headings and subheadings to organize your content.
• Submission:
o Word Count: 3,000–4,000 words (excluding references).
o Submit your assignment electronically via the course submission portal by the
due date provided in your syllabus.
• Evaluation Criteria:
o Depth and clarity of critical analysis.
o Integration and synthesis of theoretical and empirical evidence.
o Insightful discussion of ethical, policy, and advocacy challenges.
o Quality of writing, organization, and adherence to APA guidelines.
Final Notes
This assignment is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to think critically about
complex issues in health psychology. Engage with diverse sources, critically assess current
practices, and offer well-reasoned insights that could contribute to advancing both academic
understanding and practical applications in health care settings.
