Overview
Overview
Continue working with the same article you selected in Week 2 and analyzed in Week 3.
Option 1 – Conceptual / Applied Article David, A. M. (2010). The social psychology of status leveling in organizational contexts. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 18(1), 76–104.
This week, you will take the next step—application.
Graduate-level leadership is not only about understanding research, but about using research to inform how you think, communicate, and respond in real situations. The value of social psychology becomes most clear when it shapes how leaders interpret situations, make decisions, and interact with others.
This assignment focuses on translating research into leadership practice.
Assignment Instructions
In three well-developed paragraphs, explain how insights from your selected article would influence your approach to a leadership situation.
You may write in first person for this assignment. Maintain a professional and clear tone, and support your ideas with APA in-text citations from your selected article.
How to Organize Your Response
👉 Paragraph 1 – Leadership Context Briefly describe a real or realistic leadership situation where perception, interpretation, or social dynamics play a role.
- What is happening in the situation?
- What leadership challenge, tension, or decision is present?
- Why is this situation complex from a social or cognitive perspective?
👉 Paragraph 2 – Key Insight from the Article Identify one or two key insights from your article that are most relevant to this situation.
Explain:
- What did you learn from the article that matters in this context?
- How does the research help explain what is happening in the situation?
- How does it shape your understanding of perception, behavior, or leadership?
Use APA in-text citations when referencing the article.
👉 Paragraph 3 – Leadership Application Explain how you would adjust your leadership approach based on this research.
Focus on specific leadership behaviors, such as:
- communication
- decision-making
- managing perceptions
- responding to others
- building trust or alignment
👉 Be clear and practical—what would you do differently as a leader because of this research?
Helpful Guidance
- Focus on application, not summary or critique
- Use the article to inform your thinking and actions
- Keep your response grounded in realistic leadership practice
- You are not expected to interpret advanced statistical analysis
Submission Requirements
- Three well-developed paragraphs
- Written in cohesive paragraph form (no bullet points or headings in submission)
- Completed in Microsoft Word
- APA in-text citations and a reference page are required