Rather than focus on the treatment of chronic disease, policies that influence population health tend to emphasize prevention and wellness; the reduction or elimination of waste and the eradication of health disparities based on race, ethnicity, language, income, gender, sexual orientation, disability and other factors. The reasoning is that good health belongs to the whole, not just an individual. (New York State Dept. of Health, n.d.)  

Regardless of political affiliation, every citizen has a stake in healthcare policy decisions. Hence, it is little wonder why healthcare items become such high-profile components of presidential agendas. It is also little wonder why they become such hotly debated agenda items.

Consider a topic (mental health, HIV, opioid epidemic, pandemics, obesity, prescription drug prices, or many others) that rises to the presidential level. How did the current and previous presidents handle the problem? What would you do differently?

Reference:New York State Department of Health. (n.d.). Making New York the healthiest state: Achieving the triple aim. Retrieved June 21, 2021 from https://www.health.ny.gov/events/population_health_summit/docs/what_is_population_health.pdf

Applying theories to learning and instruction becomes problematic when theories contradict one another. For example, while cognitive dissonance theory asserts that beliefs and behaviors can influence attitudes, social attribution theory holds that people make causal inferences to explain others behaviors, actions, and mental states. In this assignment, you will revise your work on the self and interactions with the environment, contrast cognitive dissonance theory and social attribution theory, and you will consider how cognitive dissonance theory and attribution theory could be applied to improve learning and instruction. You will also consider the potential for personal worldview to countermand cognitive dissonance.

General Requirements:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

• Refer to your Topic 5 submission of “Benchmark – The Self and Interactions with the Environment.”
• This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
• Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.
• Refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for specific guidelines related to doctoral level writing. The Manual contains essential information on manuscript structure and content, clear and concise writing, and academic grammar and usage.
• This assignment requires that at least two additional scholarly research sources related to this topic, and at least one in-text citation from each source be included.
• You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Directions:

Part 1

Present a revised version (1,750-2,050 words total) of the paper “Benchmark – The Self and Interactions with the Environment” that makes improvements in the caliber of the writing and incorporates instructor feedback regarding content and writing. Include the following in your submission:

1. A reflection (250-300 words) that provides a bulleted list of the changes you made to the paper and discusses your revision process including how you incorporated your instructor’s feedback into the revised version. Similar to an abstract, this section will receive its own page following the title page and preceding the introduction to the paper.
2. The revised paper that incorporates instructor feedback; clarifies the thesis statement and solidifies supporting arguments; edits for grammar, spelling, and punctuation; adjusts word choice to display professional and scholarly language; and adjusts sentence structure for improved readability.

Part 2

Write an additional 1,500-1,750 words in which you contrast cognitive dissonance theory with attribution theory, consider how cognitive dissonance theory and attribution theory could be applied to improve learning and instruction, and consider the potential for personal worldview to countermand cognitive dissonance. This section should flow naturally from the revised paper. So, you may also need to revise your introduction and thesis statement to allow the ideas to connect.  Include the following in your paper:

1. A discussion of the theoretical perspective and current research on cognitive dissonance theory. Provide examples that support the research claims. (Benchmarks C3.2: Analyze theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding mental processes.)
2. A discussion of the theoretical perspective and current research on social attribution theory. Provide examples that support the research claims.
3. A discussion of how cognitive dissonance theory and attribution theory could be applied to improve learning and instruction. How does research regarding interactions of the self and the environment influence your view? (Benchmarks C3.4: Apply the theories of cognitive psychology to learning and instruction.)
4. A discussion of personal worldview as a means to countermand cognitive dissonance. How might a distinctly Christian worldview function in this role?