1. 1.1 Why do poor countries have a predominance of infectious diseases as
opposed to the lifestyle-related diseases of wealthy countries? What is
your response to the global health inequalities that exist?
1.1 Why do poor countries have a predominance of infectious diseases as opposed to the
lifestyle-related diseases of wealthy countries? What is your response to the global health
inequalities that exist?FINAL Updated 04/03/2014 Reflective Learning & Writing Proforma
WORD VERSIONFor Assessment 2: Reflective Learning & Writing (2,500 words)HLSC 120:
Society, Culture and HealthDue date: 12 Midday, 31st March 2014 via Turnitin on LEO1.
This Proforma is available on LEO as a Word document for your use in completing this
assessment task.2. Use this proforma to organise your response to the reflective assessment
task.3. Use the steps as headings and write in paragraphs below the headings.4. All your
sources should be referenced using APA style.Step 1:Choose one question from the
Reflective Learning and Writing section of eModule 1 or 2.Write the question
here:____________________________________________________________________Step 2:Use at least two of
the four factors from Willis’ (2004, as cited in Germov, 2014, p. 7-8) sociological
imagination template to analyse the question:1. Historical factors: how the past influences
the present;2. Cultural factors: how culture impacts on our lives;3. Structural factors: how
particular forms of social organisation affect our lives;4. Critical factors: how we can
improve our social environment.Please Note:? Write approximately 700 words for Step 2.?
Use only your textbook; Second Opinion by John Germov as your academic reference.? Be
sure to specifically identify and describe issues for each factor in your analysis.Step 3:Next,
identify and cite one of the readings, articles or videos from eModule 1 or 2 and describe
how it has helped you to gain a deeper understanding of this topic.Please Note:? Write
approximately 600 words for Step 3.? Use two academic sources: Second Opinion
(Germov,2014) and one from the eModule? Remember to relate the information from the
eModule resource back to the factors from the sociological imagination template.Step
4:Now, building upon your understanding from sources you identified in the previous steps,
answer the original question you identified in Step 1, using at least four other academic
sources (e.g. journal articles, research reports but only one website) to support your
answer.? Locate these academic sources through your own literature search.? 1000
words.Step 5:Finally, choose one of the Graduate Attributes (from the Unit Outline) that is
most relevant to this assessment and explain how this reflective writing has helped you to
2. develop this Graduate Attribute. 200 words; no literature required.HLSC 120: Society,
Culture and HealtheLearning Lecture Enhancement eModule ? Semester 1, 2014eModule 1 ?
Week 1IntroductionWelcome to your first eLearning Lecture Enhancement eModule for this
unit. The purpose of these eModules is to extend the content of your weekly two hour
lecture, to create knowledge links for you to the Seminar Questions and topics that you and
other students will be planning to present in your Student Seminars, and to help you enrich
your learning as you develop your reflective learning and writing skills.In this eModule, you
will be able to explore why you need to become a more reflective person and a reflective
practitioner and the central values required to be a health care practitioner. You will then
explore the major principles that will guide your reflective learning and writing before you
take these principles a little deeper, as you plunge into the pool of sociological imagination,
through exploring and using a template for sociological analysis. You will have the
opportunity to begin establishing your ?tool box? of sociological theoretical perspectives to
help you with ongoing use of your sociological imagination and development of your
reflective learning and writing. You will also explore the concept of globalization and how it
affects society, health and health care.As you are aware from your unit outline, for your
second assessment task, you need to select, complete and submit ONE question from the
Reflective Learning and Writing Proforma questions at the back of EITHER eModule 1 or 2.
In this eModule, there are five questions from which you can select. You will find them in
the section under the Reflective Learning and Writing Proforma 1 (which is a green box) at
the back of this eModule.Learning Outcomes and Graduate AttributesThe Learning
Outcomes (with numbering from your unit outline) that will be addressed in this eModule
are as follows ?1. explain changes in contemporary Australian society, culture and health
related to world globalising processes;4. relate factors that shape distribution and
ownership of resources to the maintenance of health by individuals and groups within
Australian society;8. reflect critically on your learning about cultural diversity in relation to
health care.The Graduate Attributes that will be addressed in this eModule are as follows
?GA1 demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity;GA2
recognise your responsibility to the common good, the environment and society;GA4 think
critically and reflectively.Becoming a Reflective Person and PractitionerThis unit is the first
of several values-based units in your curriculum. In these units, you will have an
opportunity of developing your ability to become a reflective person who will help you, not
only in your private life, but also in your professional life. With regards to reflecting in your
professional life, the University considers reflection to be so important that in the ACU
Graduate Attributes you are expected to ?think critically and reflectively? by the time you
graduate. Also, as shown on the previous page, one of the Learning Outcomes of this unit is
that you will ?reflect critically on your learning about cultural diversity in relation to health
care.? Additionally, critical and reflective thinking is considered central to professional
health care practice by at least two regulatory authorities as follows: (Please note: if your
professions? Code of Conduct is not present you may wish to find it or note if one has been
developed).http://www.ahpra.gov.au/#http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes
-Guidelines-Statements/Codes-
Guidelines.aspxhttp://www.physiotherapyboard.gov.au/Codes-
3. Guidelines.aspxhttp://www.atsihealthpracticeboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines.aspxHealth
Practitioners – Central ValuesIf we further explore the first link above as an example, the
Code of Professional Conduct (2008) referred to above also emphasises other central values
of this unit ? the need to respect the?dignity, culture, ethnicity, values and beliefs of people
receiving care and treatment and of their colleagues?In addition to the above regulatory
authority admonition, the Graduate Attributes of the University relevant to this unit state
that you, as a student who will one day move into a professional health care role, need
to?recognise (your) responsibility to the common good, the environment and society?
&?demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity.?In
addition, you are required to ??work both autonomously and collaboratively.?Therefore, in
addition to developing your skills of thinking critically and reflectively this semester, you
are also expected to develop values that involve respecting your own dignity and that of
everyone you meet, including your friends and family members, and your University
community, including lecturers and peers who are from a range of different, cultural,
religious, and ethnic backgrounds. These values will underpin your ability to work well and
collaboratively with your student peers as you prepare and implement your student
seminars during semester and throughout your degree. In turn these skills will become
attributes that you possess when you complete your degree and move into a professional
role in the health care system. Now here is your first Reflective Activity ?Reflective Activity
1.1Go to a quiet place and take a special exercise book with you in which you can keep a
record of your reflections during this unit. From here on, we will call this book your
Reflective Record. In your Reflective Record, please reflect upon the following questions
and write your related feelings and thoughts, consequences and plans (Bradbury-Jones,
Hughes, Murphy, Parry, & Sutton, 2009) into the table below. Please do not feel you are
restricted to the space provided below. Use as much space in your Reflective Record as you
need to fully explore the questions ?Please keep the above table handy throughout the unit,
as you will need to check in from time-to-time to reflect upon how well you are working
through your plans.Developing Reflective Learning and Writing SkillsNow that you?ve put
your foot in the waters of reflective learning and writing, it?s time to plunge into the
process more deeply. Please go to the following reading ?Reading 1.1Kessler, P.D., & Lund,
C.H. (2004). Reflective journaling: Developing an online journal for distance education.
Nurse Educator, 29(1), 20-24.Now please answer the following questions related to the
reading ?1. Atkins and Murphy (1983, as cited in Kessler & Lund, 2004) state that there are
specific ?cognitive and affective skills necessary to engage in reflection? (p. 20). Please use
the online dictionary to ascertain the meaning of the words, ?cognitive? and ?affective?.
What are the main differences in the meanings?2. Atkins and Murphy (p. 20) outline the
cognitive and affective skills required for reflection and describe them as follows ?Cognitive
and/ or Affective SkillsDescriptionSelf-awareness Allows a person to honestly examine how
the situation affects the individual and how the individual affects the situation.Description
Includes the ability to observe, recollect, and describe aspects of an experience and then to
communicate these aspects verbally or in writing.Critical analysis Involves being able to
examine a situation, identify existing knowledge, challenge assumptions, and envision and
explore options.Synthesis Involves the integration of previous with new
4. knowledge.Evaluation Allows judgments to be made about a situation according to
established criteria and standardsNext, please go to page 22 of Kessler and Lund (2004),
and note Table 1: Skills of Reflection in which there are examples of each of the above
skills.3. Can you identify the differences in each of the examples provided? Now reflect upon
a situation in which you?ve recently been involved. It might be a personal or a work-related
situation. See if you can reflect upon this situation using each of the above skills. Write
down your reflections for each skill. Please don?t be limited by the space below; use as
much space as you need in your Reflective Record.Cognitive and Affective Skills
ReflectionsSelf-awarenessDescriptionCritical analysisSynthesisEvaluation4. Please use the
guidelines for reflective journaling provided by Kessler and Lund (2004, pp. 22-24) to
evaluate your reflections. These guidelines are that you need to focus on ?? Reflections, not
description? Process, not product? Quality, not length? Safety, not sanctionsHow did you go
with writing your reflections? Were you able to apply the guidelines above? If you had
difficulty with this, you could go back and try again. If you still have problems, you might
need to contact your Tutorial Facilitator to make a time to receive some help before you
move onto the next step in the reflective learning and writing process below.Remember! ? If
you are having any problems with reflective learning and writing, please make an
appointment to see your Tutorial Facilitator as soon as possible, and take your reflective
writing efforts with you to show your Facilitator. It?s important that you start early on
developing this skill as it is the foundation for this and other units in your course.Now that
you have some of the basic principles of reflective learning and writing ?under your belt,? it
is time to move onto the sociological content of this unit.What is Sociology?To help you get
started, you need to have an understanding of sociology and the sociological perspective.
Sociology has been defined as ?the study of human society and social relations, initially
associated with the social problems of industrializing nations? (Bradby, 2009, p. 2).Please
note – it is not the study of the individual, which is psychology; rather it is the study of how
people live together in society and relate to each other. For a better understanding of this
definition, please go to the following excerpt ?The Three Minute Sociologist. (2009, May 28).
Sociology ? What value? Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIdMCKaI9Y&playnext=1&list=PLEA668F2E77362CD
9Sociological Imagination: a Template for Sociological AnalysisWe will now move on to gain
a better understanding of the term that you hear frequently in this unit – the sociological
perspective. So what does this term ?sociological perspective? mean and how do we
develop and apply it when we are reading, thinking and reflecting?In order to have a
sociological perspective, we need to develop a sociological imagination (Germov, 2014).
Mills (1959, as cited in Germov, 2014, p. 7) wrote that sociological imagination is ?a quality
of mind that seems most dramatically to promise an understanding of the intimate realities
of ourselves in connection with larger social realities.? And according to Mills, the major
focus of this ?quality of mind? is being able to make a link ?between ?private troubles? and
?public issues?? (p. 5).Therefore, the way of thinking with a sociological imagination means
that instead of thinking that our personal issues/problems are ours alone, we can look
around and see that other people may have similar issues/problems. Thus, private troubles
often can be caused by public issues (Germov, 2014). Moreover, Germov asserts that it is
5. possible that the private problems may have a common cause in the structures and
functions of society around us and often this cause can be ameliorated by collective
action.So let us find out more about this different way of thinking about our society ? the
sociological perspective – and how we can develop our sociological imagination by going to
this excerpt ?Professor Hahn. (2011a, January 16). Introduction to sociology: The
sociological imagination. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vz0QOkZtt8The sociological imagination is comprised
of four interrelated factors ?1. Historical factors: how the past influences the present2.
Cultural factors: how culture impacts on our lives3. Structural factors: how particular forms
of social organisation affect our lives4. Critical factors: how we can improve the current
environment (Willis, as cited in Germov, 2014, p. 8).These factors can be represented as a
template as shown below in Figure 1 ?HistoricalStructural Sociological Analysis
CulturalCriticalFigure 1: The Sociological Imagination Template (Germov, 2014, p. 6)So,
whenever you need to analyse some issue sociologically, Germov (2009) suggests you keep
this template in your mind to help you. However, Germov cautions that you need to be
aware that some of the factors overlap ? you cannot always keep the factors separate when
you are analysing sociologically, as they merge together sometimes. He also warns that at
times, some factors will have more emphasis than others, which is quite normal. The benefit
of the template is that it will guide your thinking and the questions you need to be asking
when you are facing personal and professional issues.Now it is time to move on to some
readings from your text book so you can start developing your sociological
imagination.Reading 1.2Please read the following chapter ?Germov, J. (2014). Imagining
health problems as social issues. In Second opinion: An introduction to health sociology (5th
ed.). (Chapter 1). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.When you have read the
chapter, please answer the Discussion Questions on page 20 and Further Investigation on
page 21 of your text book.Please note! ? You will be referred to readings in Germov (2014)
frequently as you work through the eModules in this unit. If you are not able to afford to
purchase Germov you might be able to afford to share the cost with other students in the
class. Alternatively, you can borrow the text from the Library, where there are multiple
copies available for short-term borrowing.Reflective Activity 1.2Sociological reflection (see
Germov, 2014, p. 19): Please use the sociological imagination template above to reflect upon
and explain the person you are, and then write a short sociological autobiography by briefly
identifying the factors that have affected you directly or indirectly in terms of what you
believe in, what you?re interested in, and how you usually behave.Historical factors: how
has your family background or key past events and experiences shaped the person you
are?Cultural factors: what role has cultural background, traditions, and belief systems
played in forming your opinions and influencing your behaviour?Structural factors: how
have various social institutions (e.g., family, school, church) influenced you?Critical factors:
have your values and opinions about what you consider important changed over time? Why
or why not? (Germov, 2014, p. 19)Now, please repeat the above sociological reflection, but
this time apply the template to a health problem in which you are interested (e.g., obesity,
smoking, eating disorders, food addictions, etc.). Take note of any key points that come up
for you under the four components of the template. What insights about yourself, health,
6. society, can you develop by using your sociological imagination? (Germov, 2014).Now it is
time to move on to the next reading, so you will have a ?tool box? of sociological theoretical
perspectives to help you with ongoing use of your sociological imagination and
development of your reflective learning journaling.Reading 1.3Please read the following
chapter ?Germov, J. (2014). Theorising health: Major theoretical perspectives in health
sociology. In Second opinion: An introduction to health sociology (5th ed.). (Chapter 2).
South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.When you have read the chapter, please answer
the Discussion Questions on page 40 and Further Investigation on page 41.Reflective
Activity 1.3Sociological reflection (see Germov, 2014, p. 19): Sociological theories can help
us to understand how and why particular health problems exist. Germov groups the
theories into seven major perspectives, which he explains in Chapter 2. Please read these
explanations in conjunction with the relevant YouTube excerpt below to give you further
ideas about the perspectives – 1. FunctionalismProfessor Hahn. (2011b, January 16).
Introduction to sociology: Sociological theory ? Functionalism. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6vRMfU4DPE2. MarxismGluntz, A. (2008, September
25). Part 1: What is Marxism-Leninism? Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo32jlgrR9Y&feature=related3. Symbolic
interactionismSoctheory, (2008, March 30). Symbolic interaction theory. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy-GE5vcOLk&NR=14. FeminismGodwin20508. (2008,
May 6). Are you a feminist? Pt 1. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMYjNSIJgcs&feature=related5. Contemporary
modernismLivesey, C. (2008, November 17). What is modernity? Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMxUO-6hfDU6. Poststructuralism/postmodernismThe
Gospel Coalition. (2008, November 9). Bill Kynes ? What is postmodernism? Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtGrf7I5SIQChoose a couple of the above
theories/perspectives. Using your sociological imagination, can you identify the key insights
into understanding health and illness that your selected theoretical perspective(s) gives you
(Germov, 2009)? How does the selected theory relate to your own personal values and
beliefs?GlobalizationNow it is time for a change of pace as we explore the concept of
globalization, which is a concept rarely heard and thought about just ten years ago, and now
it is commonly heard and seen in all forms of mass media. As a health care practitioner, you
will need to have an understanding of what globalization is and how it affects health care
around the world, as well as in our own country. For an insightful overview of these
processes and how they benefit and challenge global health, please go to the following
reading – Reading 1.4Broom, A., & Germov, J. (2014). Global public health. In Second
opinion: An introduction to health sociology (5th ed.). (Chapter 4). South Melbourne: Oxford
University Press.Also, please go to the Web resources listed on page 81 of Germov (2014)
?Homepagehttp://www.whiteband.org/http://globalhealth.kff.org/There are also three
websites to access to help with your understanding of this concept. You may like to watch
all three, or watch one or two of your choice ?Albright, A., Hartin, J., Lehmann, L., Flowers, E.,
Floyd, R., & Dewhurst, K. (2008, September 15). Globalisation in our world. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWzxBkszN8k&feature=fvwrelChomsky, N. (2006,
October 30). Discussion of globalization. Retrieved from
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHJPSLgHemM&feature=relatedKatalyst Productions.
(2008, May 17). BBC Globalisation. Retrieved July 4, 2011, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxGyKyzfP8&feature=relatedReflective Learning and
Writing 1Remember that your Reflective Learning & Writing Proforma is available as a
Word document on LEO.You are asked to select one question from this green box section in
either eModule 1 or eModule 2 to answer for your first written assessment.1.1 Why do poor
countries have a predominance of infectious diseases as opposed to the lifestyle-related
diseases of wealthy countries? What is your response to the global health inequalities that
exist?1.2 Reflect on and discuss some of the underlying causes of world hunger? (Broom &
Germov, 2014).1.3 What is your response to the statement that ?aid? is ?mostly ineffective
and primarily used to benefit the national interest of the donor country?? (Broom &
Germov, 2014).1.4 Should ?traditional health practices? in poor countries be encouraged by
the World Health Organisation? (Broom & Germov, 2014). If so, why? If not, why not?1.5
How can individual health care practitioners such as paramedics, nurses and midwives, and
various professional organisations, work to improve the overall health of people in poor
countries and poor people in rich countries?ConclusionWell done! You have completed the
first eModule for this unit. It has been a long journey as you have been introduced to the
processes of reflection as well as the use of your sociological imagination. You then had an
opportunity of exploring globalization and how it affects health around the world.
Hopefully, you have increased your awareness of and understanding of the processes that
are making us feel we live in a global village with numerous intersections and relationships,
rather than in a world with totally separate countries and sections.In the next eModule (no
2), you will explore cultural diversity in Australia and how it impacts on the provision of
health care. ReferencesAustralian Nursing and Midwifery Council. (2008). Nursing
code of professional conduct. Retrieved fromBradbury-Jones, C., Hughes, S.M., Murphy, W.,
Parry, L., & Sutton, J. (2009). A new way of reflecting in nursing: The Peshkin approach.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(11), 2485-2493.Bradby, H. (2009). Medical sociology: An
introduction. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.Briggs, A, & Jordan, J. (2010). The importance of health
literacy in physiotherapy practice. Journal of Physiotherapy 56(3), 149-151.Broom, A., &
Germov, J. (2014). Global public health. In Second opinion: An introduction to health
sociology (5th ed.). (Chapter 4). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.Chomsky, N.
(2006, October 30). Discussion of globalization. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHJPSLgHemM&feature=relatedDictionary.com.
(2010). Dictionary.com.LLC. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/Kessler, P.D.,
& Lund, C.H. (2004). Reflective journaling: Developing an online journal for distance
education. Nurse Educator, 29(1), 20-24.Germov, J. (2014). Imagining health problems as
social issues. In Second opinion: An introduction to health sociology (4th ed.). (Chapter1).
South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.Germov, J. (2014). Theorising health: Major
theoretical perspectives in health sociology. In Second opinion: An introduction to health
sociology (5th ed.). (Chapter 2). South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.Gluntz, A. (2008,
September 25). Part 1: What is Marxism-Leninism? Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo32jlgrR9Y&feature=relatedGodwin20508. (2008,
May 6). Are you a feminist? Pt 1. Retrieved from
8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMYjNSIJgcs&feature=relatedKatalyst Productions.
(2008, May 17). BBC globalisation. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxGyKyzfP8&feature=relatedLivesey, C. (2008,
November 17). What is modernity? www.onlineclassroom.tv Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMxUO-6hfDUProfessor Hahn. (2011a, January 16).
Introduction to sociology: The sociological imagination. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vz0QOkZtt8Professor Hahn. (2011b, January 16).
Introduction to sociology: Sociological theory ? Functionalism. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6vRMfU4DPESoctheory, (2008, March 30). Symbolic
interaction theory. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy-
GE5vcOLk&NR=1The Gospel Coalition. (2008, November 9). Bill Kynes ? What is
postmodernism? Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtGrf7I5SIQThe
Three Minute Sociologist. (2009). Sociology ? What value? Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YIdMCKaI9Y&playnext=1&list=PLEA668F2E77362CD
9
