Psychological Insights for Positive Change: Infographic and Reflection

PSY 201 INTEGRATIVE LEARNING PROJECT

Basic Project Instructions
• Choose three topics in psychology that interest you and can be applied to our lives.
• Create an infographic to illustrate one of those psychological concepts.
• Write a two-page summary of your findings.
Purpose
Your primary goal should be to raise awareness and show how psychological concepts can be used to improve the human condition. During your study of psychology, it is important for you to consider how you can apply what you have learned. It is also important to reflect on ways that you can utilize your knowledge to benefit the broader community.
This project is a unique opportunity to apply what you are learning in PSY 201 to real life situations. It may also be applied to a future career choice. A student who is interested in nursing might create an infographic on how psychological concepts can be used to encourage regular checkups whereas a student who is interested in neuroscience or sport and exercise science might create an infographic or video on limiting brain damage from sports-related head injuries.
Instructions
This project consists of two parts. You will:

A) Create an infographic that illustrates a psychological concept and how applying it can change our lives in positive ways.

B) Write a reflection on your three topics, overall experience and skill development related to the planning and production of your project.
Where to start?
Part A: Create a Resource to Illustrate and Apply Psychology
• Choose three specific concepts (e.g., foot-in-the-door technique, Alzheimer’s prevention, bystander-effect) in psychology that interest you and research these concepts. Use your textbook.
• Choose one topic and create your infographic. Be creative! Think about your audience and check to be sure that your infographic is clear, engaging, accurate, educational, and free of errors (including spelling or grammatical errors).
o Special Note: You can’t include everything in your infographic. Include the content that you think is MOST important! You will have a chance to share more information and the other two concepts in your reflection paper.
• Research and identify one organization in the community (e.g., Sistercare, a co-worker, Department of Education) that would benefit from your infographic. This is your target audience.
o Summarize the information you have collected to use in your reflection paper.
PART B: Written Reflection and Skills Assessment
Formatting

Basic MLA should be used for this paper
• MLA formatting
• All written assignments must be in electronic format and word processed

Write a 2-page summary of your experience researching your topic, targeting your audience, and creating your resource. Be sure to include:
• The organization that you targeted for your infographic.
• Discuss the three psychological concepts you researched and how they apply to our lives. Be sure to use examples as support.
• Using The Skillful Psychology Student handout, think about the skills you developed and used while working on this project and be sure to reflect on at least two of these in your paper.
• While reviewing this project what are two things you can improve upon when working on future projects?
Submit BOTH your infographic and your 2-page reflection electronically via the Dropbox in D2L. (Make your Infographic into a PDF, save then upload into the Dropbox)
Review the Integrative Learning Project Rubric before you submit your final work.
If you use document sharing and your professor is unable to open the document share it may result in a 0 for your project. Be sure to download, save, and upload your documents into the dropbox to ensure your professor can open the document.

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Integrative Learning Project: Applying Psychological Concepts

Psychology offers valuable insights into human behavior, enabling individuals and communities to address challenges and improve well-being. This project explores three psychological concepts—foot-in-the-door technique, Alzheimer’s prevention, and the bystander effect—and their practical applications. An infographic targeting a community organization illustrates one concept, while this reflection discusses all three, their relevance, and the skills developed during the project. The work aims to demonstrate how psychological knowledge can foster positive change. The target audience for the infographic is the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Foot-in-the-Door Technique
The foot-in-the-door technique involves securing compliance by starting with a small request before making a larger one. This method relies on the principle of consistency, where individuals align their actions with prior commitments. For example, a charity might ask volunteers to sign a petition before requesting a donation, increasing the likelihood of agreement. Research shows this technique effectively promotes prosocial behaviors, such as volunteering or charitable giving (Pascual et al., 2018). Consequently, organizations can use this strategy to encourage community engagement, enhancing participation in social initiatives.

Alzheimer’s Prevention
Preventing Alzheimer’s disease involves adopting lifestyle changes that support cognitive health. Regular physical exercise, a balanced diet, and cognitive engagement reduce the risk of cognitive decline. For instance, studies indicate that aerobic exercise improves memory and brain function in older adults (Erickson et al., 2019). The Alzheimer’s Association, the target organization for the infographic, promotes these strategies to educate communities. By raising awareness through visual resources, the organization can empower individuals to take proactive steps toward brain health.

Bystander Effect
The bystander effect occurs when individuals are less likely to intervene in an emergency when others are present, assuming someone else will act. This phenomenon highlights the importance of social influence on behavior. For example, in a crowded setting, a person may hesitate to assist someone in distress due to diffused responsibility. Training programs that teach individuals to recognize and overcome this effect can increase helping behaviors (Fischer et al., 2021). Community organizations can use this knowledge to design interventions that encourage active bystander participation.

Infographic Development and Target Audience
The infographic focuses on Alzheimer’s prevention, designed for the Alzheimer’s Association to educate families and caregivers. It highlights key prevention strategies, such as exercise, diet, and mental stimulation, using clear visuals and concise text. The process of creating the infographic required synthesizing complex research into an accessible format, ensuring accuracy and engagement. The Alzheimer’s Association can distribute this resource at community events to promote proactive health measures. This approach aligns with the organization’s mission to enhance public understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2023).

Skill Development
Creating this project developed critical skills outlined in The Skillful Psychology Student handout. First, critical thinking was essential in evaluating research to select the most impactful content for the infographic. Analyzing studies on Alzheimer’s prevention required distinguishing credible evidence from less reliable sources. Second, communication skills improved through designing a visually appealing infographic that conveyed complex information clearly. These skills enhance academic and professional capabilities, particularly in presenting psychological concepts to diverse audiences (American Psychological Association, 2018).

Areas for Improvement
Reflecting on this project reveals two areas for improvement. First, time management could be enhanced by setting earlier deadlines for research and design phases to allow more time for revisions. Second, incorporating feedback from peers during the infographic’s development could improve its clarity and visual appeal. Implementing these improvements in future projects will ensure higher-quality outcomes. Additionally, practicing these skills will strengthen project execution. Continuous reflection fosters growth in academic endeavors.

Conclusion
Psychology provides tools to address real-world challenges, as demonstrated by the foot-in-the-door technique, Alzheimer’s prevention strategies, and the bystander effect. The infographic on Alzheimer’s prevention targets the Alzheimer’s Association, promoting actionable health measures. The project enhanced critical thinking and communication skills, preparing for future academic and professional challenges. By applying psychological concepts, individuals and organizations can improve community well-being. This integrative approach underscores the value of psychology in fostering positive change.

References
Alzheimer’s Association. (2023). 2023 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 19(4), 1598–1695.

American Psychological Association. (2018). The skillful psychology student: Prepared for success in the 21st century workplace. Available at: https://www.apa.org/careers/resources/guides/transferable-skills.pdf

Erickson, K. I., Hillman, C. H., & Kramer, A. F. (2019). Physical activity, brain, and cognition. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 28, 83–90.

Fischer, P., Krueger, J. I., & Greitemeyer, T. (2021). The bystander effect in the age of social media: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 147(5), 514–535.

Pascual, A., Carpenter, C. J., & Guadagno, R. E. (2018). The foot-in-the-door compliance technique: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 48(6), 317–326.

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