Spiritual_Wellness_Holistic_Health_and_the_Practic

Politics in Public Health Education 301
parameters, they were free to select policy or practice areas of concern, such as mental
health legislation, health insurance policy, and maternal and child health policy.
Use of Data
After selecting their topic, students began an analysis of available data regarding their
legislative issue. The group reviewed and critiqued the literature and developed its
final position based on these data. Students were encouraged to think through the process
of interpreting data for its relevance to practice, such as whether statistical significance
is equal to clinical (or practical) significance. They were also helped to understand that
political decisions are made based on both scientific and value bases and that an in -
depth presentation of data is not always possible.
Values
Students were asked to use a value - based policy analysis approach to consider what
values underlie decision - making processes in the area of their selected topic. They discussed
and considered the possible value orientations of those who were in policy -
making positions and their own value positions in regard to their topic.
Constituent Groups
Each working group identified the relevant constituent groups in the community who
might have an interest in their position statement. In some cases students identified
themselves as members of a constituent group, such as professional or community
groups.
COMMUNICATION
Development and Practice of Communication Skills
Public health students increasingly want and need communication training across
the curriculum to support their advocacy and education roles. The students in this
program receive didactic and interactive instruction in presentation and argumentation
principles prior to the mock legislative hearing. The objectives of such
training are to assist students in (1) recognizing and developing propositions,
(2) identifying the elements of the Toulmin model and being able to adapt it as a
guide for structuring arguments, and (3) being able to apply tests for sources of
evidence.
The following is a brief overview of each content area.
Proposition Framing
Students were guided to clarify their purposes for speaking, generally to specify the
types of claims they were advancing based on their issues. They focused on either
propositions of fact or designative claims that posed and answered the question “ was