Order Public Policy Psychology Assignment

Order Public Policy Psychology Assignment
Policy Memo Assignment Instructions (be sure to read all 7 pages)
For the final assignment you will write a brief memo, advocating for a psychology–based policy
solution for a particular social issue. First, choose a social issue that you think should be
addressed (if it is not currently being addressed) by the government (federal, state, or local) or
that it should be addressed differently; and the solution(s), at least partly, should be based on
psychological research. You can choose any issue that either was covered or not covered in
this class, except for the suspension/expulsion issue that I discussed in my lecture. You may
choose any of the covered course materials to support your evidence-based solution(s). You can
also find additional scientific literature to provide support to your claims.
Your Memo should include the following information:
Order Public Policy Psychology Assignment
1. Description of the social issue that you believe the government needs to address
differently; and explain why the government should be concerned with the issue.
2. Describe any governmental program(s) or law(s), if any, that are already in place to
address the issue. If none exists, state that. Explain why more needs to be done (e.g., is
the law/program ineffective?)
3. Discuss the complexity of the issue (please refer back to my “wicked problems” lectures
and reading by Rittel and Webber, 1973).
4. and finally explain why a new policy based on psychological research will be more
effective than what is currently in place (if anything). Explain how psychological
research can shed more light on the issue and its potential solution.
USE THE TEMPLATE BELOW TO WRITE YOUR PAPER
REFER TO THE GRADING RUBRIC FOR ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS
Summer 2019
2
Policy Memo
To: Name of the individual or government organization that should read this memo
From: Your First and Last name
Re: [Insert Your Main Message/Proposal/or Conclusion]
___________________________________________________
Order Public Policy Psychology Assignment
Executive Summary (about one or two paragraphs)
This part of your memo should provide a clear and concise summary of the memo (background,
analysis, and recommendations). Highlight major ideas and draw together key points, as this
may be the only part of the memo that the reader be willing or able to read. Make every word
count.
Background (about two or three paragraphs)
Briefly provide background information on the social issue. The purpose of this section is to get
your reader up to speed on the issue and the policy area that he/she may not be familiar with.
Analysis (this is the main body of your memo)
Describe the “wickedness” of the issue; and what, if anything, has been done to solve it.
Then, discuss the psychology of the issue, and explain how psychology can help address it. Cite
at least 5 different academic sources; at least 4 must come from psychological literature,
published in professional journals (feel free to use the articles discussed in this course).
You can also include additional sources of evidence that were not covered in the class, as long as
they come from credible sources and relevant to your point.
Organize and connect the topics in such a way that together they provide a clear, concise and
coherent assessment of the effectiveness of your proposal.
Conclusion (about one paragraph)
Summer 2019
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Conclude your memo by giving your final thoughts on the issue and policy solution. For more
help on how to write a policy memo, visit http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/policymemo
References (separate page)