Create a purpose statement that applies developmental theory and research to policy and community.

Create a Theory of Developmental Psychology

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, please review the required chapters from the Swanson and Chermack (2013) e-book as well as the American Psychological Association (2010) and Baltes (1987) articles for this week.

For your initial post, you will utilize information provided in the required readings and your own research to create your own developmental theory on bullying. A psychological theory is a framework for understanding a particular phenomenon related to human behavior (in this case, bullying) that is developed from a hypothesis and extensive research on that phenomenon. For the purpose of creating your theory, you may address bullying in a broad sense, or choose an aspect of bullying (e.g., cyber-bullying, school bullying, sibling bullying) to address theoretically.

Begin by researching peer-reviewed articles on bullying in the Ashford University Library that were published within the last 10 years. Look for patterns in the data presented in the articles and compile at least three peer-reviewed articles with similar findings on which to build your theory.

•Create a purpose statement that defines the phenomenon, identifies the need for better understanding of this issue, and explains human development in the context of bullying trends.

•Apply the findings within your chosen developmental research articles to the creation of your own research questions and create a hypothesis on bullying behaviors.

•Evaluate the unique scholarly perspectives presented in your research and explain how they support your hypothesis on bullying.

•After creating your hypothesis, you will devise an experiment to test it. Although you will not actually complete the experiment, describe it in detail including the sample, independent and dependent variables, materials needed, procedure, and expected outcomes.

•Analyze any ethical considerations which might affect the viability of your experiment and describe how you would address any ethical concerns regarding the use of your experiment.

•Based on the information you have collected to create your research questions and hypotheses, as well as the expected outcome(s) of your experiment, integrate this evidence into a theory by suggesting a framework for how we should understand bullying according to you, the expert.

•Choose an appropriate name for your theory and generate at least two phrases of terminology to explain the phenomenon in your own words.

•Explain how your theory addresses the hypothesis and expected outcomes of your experiment.

•Apply your developmental theory and associated terminology as “scholarly support” to propose solutions for bullying within your provided framework

Part II Program Proposal

Beginning the Proposal Process

Choose an area of interest. Students will choose a general track and define a specific issue within the track that is of interest to them and presents a contemporary problem to be solved. Please see the Program Proposal Tracks and Topics in Developmental Psychology document to view the tracks (Community, Clinical/Counseling, and Education) and suggested issues within each track for the proposal. Once the track and issue have been chosen, specific criteria will need to be identified.

Identify the target population. Regardless of the track and issue chosen, a target population must be identified for the proposal. Identify the target population associated with the chosen issue. Within the target population, choose the developmental stage that will act as the focus for the proposal. Many programs may directly and/or indirectly influence people in different stages; however, it is important to select the stage that is most applicable to the specific program being proposed. For example, in a program for adults who are caring for their elderly parents, the focus is on the adults (likely in middle adulthood) so a middle adulthood focus would be most appropriate for that program.

Identify the geographic location where the program will be deployed. Programming will be directly influenced by the location in which it will take place. For example, a child safety program in a rural farming community will likely have different objectives and needs than a child safety program in a large metropolitan city.

Research a minimum of five peer-reviewed articles on the chosen issue in the Ashford University Library. All sources utilized for the Program Proposal must have been published within the last 10 years.

Creating the Program Proposal

Program proposals take on many forms and styles. Creativity is encouraged because it not only tests the boundaries of what is possible for solutions to various issues, but also typically increases the chances for funding. Regardless of the issue being addressed, the Program Proposal must incorporate the following headings (noted in bold) and include the supporting information that is detailed beneath each heading.

Proposal Summary

Under this heading, provide a summary paragraph that presents the program, its objectives, and how the program will address an area of need in the identified geographic location and issue of interest.
•Identify the target population and developmental stage of the population, as well as the intended program track. (These will be elaborated upon further in the Program Narrative and Procedures section of the proposal.)

•Identify the geographic location for the program and the specific needs within that location. (These will be elaborated upon further in the Program Narrative and Procedures section of the proposal.)

•Create a purpose statement that applies developmental theory and research to policy and community.

•Conclude with a purpose statement in which the need for the program as well as the alignments with the support and findings are stated. (These will be elaborated upon in the Background section of the proposal.)

Organization Description and Qualifications

Under this heading, act as an individual representative and identify the community agency submitting this proposal.
•Explain what qualifies the agency to create this specific program (education, experience, history, etc.).

•Describe how the agency plans to promote the success of this program and what resources the agency has access to or can provide.

While this community agency will be a construct rather than a true community agency, the information and attributes described must align with the qualifications expected of a true agency of that nature and the qualifications should support the goals of the proposal.