The social marketing theory is a combination of theories that aim to influence attitudes and behavior. The theory has been applied extensively in the public health field to influence both healthy and unhealthy behavior. While behavior influence is one main objective of the theory, it relies on four basic principles.

1. Identify and describe the four main principles of the social marketing theory.
2. Provide at least one example how the theory can be applied to influence behavior in a healthy way and an unhealthy way.
3. View the Social and behavioral change communication challenge (SBCC) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utW3c7ybv98&feature=youtu.be.
4. According to the video, what social marketing approach is needed today to effectively influence health behaviors?
5. Identify two areas mentioned in the video that social marketing have been used and found to be successful in promoting health behavior changes.
6. Which Responsibilities and Competencies of a Health Education Specialist can the social marketing theory be applied to? Please explain.

Length: 2-3 pages (excluding the cover page and the reference list).

File format: Your work should be prepared using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel depending upon the assignment instructions. For assignments requiring video or voice recordings, use media formats that are supported by MyTLC Courses as noted in our Trident Support page.

In-text citations and references: Be sure that all information and ideas in your papers are supported by in-text citations and corresponding references at the end of the paper.

Scholarly sources: Online sources must be limited to credible professional and scholarly publications such as peer-reviewed journal articles, e-books, or specific webpages on websites from a university, government, or nonprofit organization (these have extensions .edu, .gov, or .org). Presenting consumer sources such as e-magazines, newspapers, Wikipedia, WebMD, or other commercial websites (these have extensions .com) as references is not appropriate.

Scholarly writing: Use an academic paper format, not an essay based on your opinions or experience. Avoid using the first person in writing. Synthesize what you learned from the sources you read; write papers in your own words; and cite sources within the text, as well as include a properly formatted reference list.

Use of your own words: Your paper should be written in your own words to enable faculty to assess your level of understanding. Avoid the use of direct quotes. Only use direct quotes when preserving the exact words of an author is necessary. In the rare instance that directly quoted material is used, it must be properly cited (with quotation marks and page numbers in the in-text citation); quotes should not exceed 5-10% of the total paper content.

The Writing Style Guide that is linked on the TLC Portal homepage under My Resources will help clarify expectations.

Daniel, K. L., Bernhardt, J. M., & Eroglu, D. (2009). Social marketing and health communication: From people to places. American Journal of Public Health, 99(12), 2120-2122. (Use “Academic Search Complete” search engine in the Library Portal)

Holmsen, K. (2017). Social and behavioral change communication challenge (SBCC) . Accessed at https://youtu.be/utW3c7ybv98.

National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). (2017). Areas of responsibility for health education specialist 2015. Retrieved from https://www.nchec.org/assets/2251/hespa_competencies.pdf

Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council. (2016). Advocacy toolbox. Retrieved from https://orc.okstate.edu/content/advocacy-toolbox

Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council. (2016). Writing to government officials or lobbyists. Retrieved from https://orc.okstate.edu/content/writing-government-officials-or-lobbyists

Patane, D. (2011). Social marketing theory. Retrieved August 1, 2016 from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/social-marketing-theory.html

Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). (2017). Health education specialist. Retrieved from http://www.sophe.org/careers/health-education-profession/

Optional Reading

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2015). Prescription drugs. Accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/prescription.html

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]. (2015). Prescription drug misuse and abuse. Accessed at https://www.samhsa.gov/prescription-drug-misuse-abuse