Develop a leadership plan for addressing the issue identified in the Research Paper

Develop a leadership plan for addressing the issue identified in the case study - Research Paper Example The downtown areas of Monson largely populated by local government and municipal buildings suffered heavy losses of government property owing to the large scale destruction of government buildings and offices. Apart from the large scale destruction of residential and government properties the central and downtown areas of Monson also suffered from potential damage of several commercial properties. Many business offices operating in such regions had to close down or were bound to switch over to other areas by opening up newer branches. It is observed that the downtown region of Monson which was once largely populated with trees now was completely barren after being heavily struck by the tornado. Large scale destruction of residential properties in the downtown region were observed after the tornado strike ruined around 290 houses thereby claiming both properties and lives in a devastating fashion. Thus, it is found that the region of Massachusetts became struck by a tornado of deadly potential. In the light of the above case the paper tends to evaluate the leadership issues in regards to the conduct of emergency operations to save both life and property and thereby in citing an effective plan to help enhance the efficiency of the emergency plans. For Massachusetts the year of 2011 was quite a disaster as the state was struck with one of the largest tornadoes across around 18 community regions that claimed around 550 lives and made a huge chunk of the population homeless (Town of Monson, 2011, p.1; Earth Observatory, 2011). A large number of faults were observed in regards to leadership issues to render effective emergency services to the victims of such tornado devastated regions. Firstly, it was observed that there were huge communication gaps between the government authorities and the agencies that were working to promote emergency related services. There were also communication gaps where the people pertaining to the agency operations

Reasons for European Exploration to the Americas Essay Example for Free

Reasons for European Exploration to the Americas Essay There were many reasons for European exploration. As Europes demand for Eastern goods grew Europeans began to search for new trading routes to reduce the expenses. Another reason for exploration was the arrival of Marco Polo. When he returned from China, he came back with stories of the East. In addition, each empire wanted to expand its empire and acquire colonies and gold in order to fulfill the imperialism principle, which stated that a strong empire must have the most bullion or silver. Moreover, Europeans also set off to explore the land in order to spread Catholicism. In other words, God, gold, and glory stated and summarized the Europeans motives for exploration. The Portuguese and Spanish empires were one of the first to start exploring the New World. The Portuguese exploration was one of the first European explorations. The Portuguese started sending voyages to find new trading routes. The Portuguese also established trading posts along the African shore for the purchase of gold and slaves. The Portuguese established plantations on the African coastal islands of Madeira, the Canaries, Sao Tome, and Principe. The Portuguese pushed farther southward in search of the water route to Asia. DÃ ­as was the first to get to the southernmost tip of the African continent in 1488. Ten years afterwards Vasco da Gama reached India, making him the first to first to find a route to India by going around the tip of Africa or the Cape of Good Hope. Other Portuguese explorers included Magellan, who was the first to sail around the world. At the end, Portugal discovered an eastern route to India that doubled the Cape of Good Hope. Since the Portuguese set trading post and controlled the only trade route then, the Spanish set out to find their own trade route. Because the Portuguese controlled the eastward route, Columbus believed that it was possible to reach the Spice Islands by heading westward since the Earth was round. Columbus persuaded the Spanish king and queen and they granted him three ships. Heading westward, Columbus discovered a New World. He discovered the Caribbean Islands and then the Americas, but he thought he reached the Indies. This was the greatest accomplishment or rather the best failure in the Spanish exploration. The news of a New World spread like a forest fire throughout Europe and the race for colonies between Portugal and Spain began. Each country started to conquer the ancient civilizations and exploit the continents raw material; this often caused disputes over colonies and territories. In order to end disputes, Spain and Portugal formed the Treaty of Tordesillas. This treaty divided South America into two vertical divisions; the lion share went to Spain, but the Portugal received compensating territory in Africa and Asia, as well as the title to lands that one day would be Brazil. The Americas after 1492 would never be the same. In conclusion, the Portuguese exploration found a new route around the southern African tip. The Spanish exploration found the New World, which was considered a new source of raw material. After the discovery of the New World, the Spanish and Portugal raced to establish new colonies; the New World would never then be the same after 1492. www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/exage.htmAmerican Pagent 13e

Identity :: Technology, SNS Profiles

Some young people create profiles as their friends have, they desire to join in their peer group and to share a common experience with their friends. Joining like-minded peers appeals to their collective self-esteem, which eventually, gives them the unexpected pleasure in expressing themselves on SNS profiles. Often, young people provide specific information (e.g., name, birthdate, relationship status) on SNS, although such disclosure is often considered as personalized. Profile generation is an explicit act of writing oneself into being a digital environment (Boyd D., 2008) and participants must determine how they want to present themselves to those who may view their self-representation or those they wish might. With the ability to post, share and tag photos on SNS represents an important advancement in the ability to communicate. Before, if one wanted to share digital photos, one had to email everyone to let them know. With SNS and News Feeds, when one post new photos on Facebook, the friends get automatically notified in their News Feed. People will see the photos on the wall when they visit the profile page. Apart from being a place for self-presentations, profiles are a place where people gather to converse and share. Conversations happen on profiles and a person's profile reflects their engagements. Consequently, young people do not have complete control over their identities. Users are asked to invite their friends to the SNS once they have create their profiles. When relationship is confirmed, the two become Friends in SNS and their relationship is included in the public ‘News Feed’ wall. These four features – profiles, photos, friends and news feed - differentiate Facebook from other types of computer-mediated communication. Many young people join SNS to maintain connections with their friends. While viewing profiles, they are given links to their friends’ friends and so they can spend hours surfing the network, clicking from ‘Friend’ to ‘Friend’. By looking at others’ profiles, young people often get a sense of what types of presentations are socially appropriate; others’ profiles provide critical cues about what to present on their own profile. (Boyd D., 2008) Many young people also manipulate the profiles to express themselves with the choice of pictures and the answers to questions. As Manuel Castells (1997) points out, identity is people’s source of meaning and experience. From a sociological perspective, humans come into the world with an identity based on qualities such as their gender, race, family’s economic status, etc.

Intellectual Capitalism (Swot and Industry Analysis of General Motors)

Q2) : What information is provided and how can this be useful in understanding your chosen company’s strategic situation? The profile covers many different areas that pertain to the strategy of the General Motors ranging from history to a swot anaylsis. History- the history of the firm will allow us to study how General Motors has acted to fulfill its mission in the past and thus give us clues to their future decisions. The history section of the profile basically lists all of the investments and divestment of GM since its inception in 1909.The list is too long to put into this case, but the lists shows that GM is not by any means strictly a car company. The list also shows that General Motors has been an international company for over 90 years. So strategically speaking GM is mildly protected from some shocks, but as we saw in 2009, they are not protected from very large global shocks to the automobile industry. Products and Services- The report also lists the car types of ca rs (12) and brands (11) they produce.Along with the finished automobiles they are actively involved in the inputs that are necessary for the production of the automobiles. They also provide a financial service for the automobiles. Revenue analysis- The revenue analysis section states the revenue figures for the company from the last two years also showing the percent increase. The section also breaks down these figures into different business segments such as GM North American and GM Asia.These more detailed figures can be used in conjunction with market share and growth of entire market to form a strategy plan for the company. For example if South America’s market is largely made up of local brands and growing at a very fast rate, it would be more beneficial for GM to concentrate their production and capital there instead of a saturated market like that of the United States. SWOT- This section included the most information from a strategic stand point. It includes strengths and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats.An example of the firms strengths would be â€Å"strong market position and brand portfolio†. A weakness would be â€Å"underfunded pension funds†. Strengths and weaknesses are characteristics of the firm as opposed to opportunities and threats which are characteristics of the firm’s environment. One of GM’s opportunities is â€Å"increased demand for cars in BRIC nations†, and one of their threats is â€Å"intense competition†. The SWOT framework is used ideally to strategically take advantage of a firms opportunity with their strengths.For example, GM should use their strong brand image and profits from strong market positions around the world to fund a stronger entrance into Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Also the converse of that strategy would be to avoid weaknesses and threats to the firm. Q3): Based on the information provided, what are the three most important things you can say about your company’s industry? 1) The effect of the financial crisis on the American Automobile market. Obviously the crisis had a major effect on the automotive market, but the effect is underestimated in the news.According to the industry report in the business source complete database the amount of passenger vehicle decreased by six million units from 2006 to 2009, so even if the saturation level of the market is at the 2006 level which is very unlikely since the population has grown since then, the U. S. market has not reached the pre-crisis levels saturation. These levels paired with renewed customer confidence and the ease of attaining credit will fuel an increase in the U. S. utomobile market. Although the increase may be gradual, it is still a realistic goal for an established brand such as GM. 2) The emergence of China as the largest automobile market in the world. As a result of increasing incomes paired with sales incentive and decreased tariffs caused by China joi ning the WTO has resulted in a booming automotive industry in China. Even though the year-to-year growth of car ownership in the nation is over 30% the market has very low saturation levels.Only 35 people per 1000 own cars in China which compared to the United States, 600 per 1000, shows there is ample room for growth in the market. Most major car manufacture has a presence in the market, but political forces limit the penetration of these companies. According to report in Business source complete, the Chinese government is even pressuring domestic companies to grow and force out foreign competition. But this goal of the Chinese government cannot be realized until the smaller local manufactures can somehow combine so they may compete with larger foreign firms. ) Environmental issues are also a main concern within the industry. This issues stems from two areas Gasoline and CO2 emissions. Gasoline a major factor pertaining not only to the consumption of cars but also the type of car t hat is demanded by consumers. While the United States gasoline prices are relatively lower than other nations, car producers world-wide are still producing different cars in the wake of high gas prices. The low emission car is the new fad in the industry and has jointly led to the production of the alternative resources cars.The combination of high gas prices and threat of damaging the environment from combustible engines has increased the consumer’s demands for automobiles to run off of alternative resources. This new development plays well into the strengths of GM because General Motors is already heavily devoted to R&D. Q4): Based on the information provided, how would you characterize the company’s competitive situation? Well I think the best way to answer this question will be to separate each answer due to the three questions. ) The financial crisis almost crippled the entire U. S. automobile industry with the both GM and Ford receiving bailout money for the Unit ed States government, but the crisis could have a created an opportunity for GM. As I stated earlier, car registration is down six million since 2006 but population has not decreased so there must be a portion of the car market that wants a car but did not have the means during the financial down turn. GM may use this period of time to gain the re-emergence of this demographic to gain market share in a semi-saturated market. ) Although China has become the largest automobile market in the world, I do not think that GM has a strategic position in the market. However, GM may be able to be very profitable in because the market is growing so fast, but the fasted growing segments are luxury cars and SUV which do not create a strategic advantage for General Motors. Also, the Chinese government will heavily regulate the growth of the market as well as give every possible advantage to the domestic manufactures. 3. ) The change in demand due to environmental pressure is an interesting factor in the automotive industry.Toyota has been the market leader in electric and alternative fuels but that doesn’t necessarily give them strategic leverage in the market. The environmental pressures will just create another segment of products for the industry much like SUV or Sedans so having experience with the technologies will not necessarily create a boost in Market Share. GM’s commitment to R&D will enable them to compete, and the use of their strong brand and supply chain management will help GM gain market share. Q5) :What useful information is provided to help you understand the competitive situation of your company?The market research report listed in Business source complete was written by Marketwatch which is also the same company that produced the company profile used in the second question. Instead of a stagnant overview of the companies past this report deals with recent moves within the industry by all of the major companies within the industry. The repor t starts off with an industry update which is the details of new investments and operations of major automotive manufactures around the world. General Motors announced to invest $450 mil in additions to one of its plants in Argentina. MarketWatch: Automotive) The investment seems like a good choice for the company since the region is growing so fast. However, the article also reports BMW’s $200 mil investment into the same region so competition will be fierce in the future especially in South America. (MarketWatch: Automotive) Along with the potentially bad news from BMW, the report also includes a recall from Toyota involving over 7 mil cars globally. The recall could signal to General Motors to act quickly, so they may be able to capture market share from Toyota’s unsatisfied customers.After the industry overview, the next section is a comment on movement within the industry away from Navigation systems. The introduction of free Google Maps paired with the popularity of the cell has severely decreased the demand from in dash and even after-market navigational systems. General Motors may be able to use this information and decrease the models in production with navigational systems, so sales are not affected by unwanted accessories. The next section is simply a report featuring some of the companies’ performances.General Motors’ metrics were not reported in this issue. The report mainly included foreign companies mostly in Europe. For example, Audi’s sales increase 14%, BMW sales increase 12%, and Renault sales decrease 29%. (MarketWatch: Automotive) These figures are very useful in understanding the competitive situation of General Motors because they allow the company to benchmark it’s success against it’s competitors. Q6) What three items did you find that are most interesting to you? Why? 1) Who may be responsible for the growth of the Chinese Automotive industry?Article from Manufacturing Engineer about Ch inese manufacturing was wrong, China’s growth in production and consumption has grown faster than estimates and this could be fueled by western investment. Companies all over the world including GM wanting to capture market share in what is now the largest market for automobile in the. According GM China’s president, GM’s plan to penetrate the market is to use Chinese researchers in China. (Nick Santhanam) I found this interesting because a side effect of the penetration into the market could be the training and development of domestic researchers within China.The two problems restricting China’s automotive manufacturing industry growth are lack of graduate level researchers and a highly fractioned industry. Both of these problems may be solved by foreign joint ventures with Chinese companies. 2) I also found it strange how the market leader in this industry is the slowest to change. The companies specialize themselves to the point where there products la ck demand in the market, and their brand and market share lose value. Ford Motor Co. was the first company to mass produce the automobile and through this innovation captured the majority of the U.S. ’s market share. However, the overemphasis on mass production sacrificed choices for the consumer which allowed General Motors to penetrate the market. General Motors then gained almost 50% of the U. S. market share by the 1960’s. But the entrance of the Asian manufactures decreased their market share slightly at first. General Motors first case was about the bankruptcy of general motors and the companies revival through a government buyout and an ipo which lead to a decrease in 40b in costs at the same levels of revenue.The case asks are these profit margins and growth figure robust or are they just because the market is recovering and the company is on a short leash. Another thing that is very interesting is how slow the companies respond to market changes especially whe n they are the market leader. The article was an interview with GM China’s president. He describes how GM will penetrate the market by taking advantage of the â€Å"talent† from local universities. He believes that the best way to innovate in China is to use younger local researcher to develop products for the Chinese market. General Motors: Leading US Car Maker Emerges From Bankruptcy. (Cover Story). †Ã‚  General Motors: Leading US Car Maker Emerges From Bankruptcy(2012): 1-16. Business Source Complete. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. â€Å"SPECIAL REPORT: Automotive Manufacturing. (Cover Story). â€Å"Manufacturing Engineer  84. 6 (2005): 26-27. Business Source Complete. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. Nick Santhanam, et al. â€Å"Automotive Innovation In China: The View From General Motors. †Ã‚  Mckinsey Quarterly  1 (2012): 85-92. Business Source Complete. Web. 9 Apr. 2013.

Early Birds Catches the Worm

Each proverb has the features of time, and new ideas can be added to the old ones. The classic proverbs never worried about fading. Like the proverb â€Å"Early bird catches the worm†, people all over the world are still saying and using this phrase today. Although in different languages, we use completely different words, but still convey the same meaning. For example, In China, there is a similar saying: â€Å"The quick-footed mount first. † This proverb usually plays a traditional role in dally life, fitting well Into this competitive and materialistic society.Everybody wants to be the first, to stand on he top of the mountain. Although the university year is still in its early stages, students who are applying for graduate positions In 2009 have almost missed their chance. Companies have begun their recruitment earlier this year. These companies never worry about lacking in people to work for them, what they really need are those who are eagerly preparing his/her re sume to get into the company. Human life Is transient, so beginning a career at a young age is an â€Å"early-bird† and wise choice.American's Next Top Model has been a hot TV show for years, which I have been watching for a long time. Every time the contestants are surely to be at a young age, because if you get into the competition at 25,you are already too old and the Judges and other competitors will always use age as an issue, though unconsciously. Most people have their dreams when they are only children. And the dream remains In their minds as time goes by. Take action, be the early bird, even with mistakes along the way. Although some of them seem so far.Don't worry, there is also a saying: Clumsy birds start flying early. Upon closer analysis by changing or adding a few words in the proverb, a whole new perspective is shown: â€Å"Urban bird catches the arm. † Early birds may catch the worm but city birds prefer a little bit late. They don't rely heavily on wo rms from the trees. Instead the city birds visit bird feeders later in the day. The researchers believe the difference in feeding is due to the â€Å"urban heat island effect†, as the city becomes warmer, the birds don't need to get up early to replace energy lost overnight to keep warm.Within a word play, the anta-proverb has similar pronunciation as the original . Using the old frame is a good way to attract other people's attention, in a humorous demonstration. Let us not focus solely on the costive side, the usage of this proverb has a great limitation. Everything in this world is not absolutely right. Getting up early means less sleep. Recently research shows that â€Å"Night owls rule the roost,† scientists found out that the late risers tire less quickly than those who get up at the crack of the dawn, thus they could have more energy to do their work.To think more critically, the early birds catch the worm, and the early worms get eaten by birds. Do any of us wa nt to be the victim? It is easy to market's need and thus become the sacrifice. Coming late into the business world ND learning from the established competitors can offer an advantage. Rival birds can turn up pretty much whenever they want and still get a decent feed, as long as they hit the right spot, to say, there are plenty of worms hanging around everywhere.Here is a interesting one: â€Å"The early bird would never catch the worm if the dumb worm slept late†, the phrase also shows not every early-birds choice could be success. There are risks we need to undertake. In any cases, getting up early is often unnecessary. â€Å"Early bird† suggests that we should be more diligent in achieving our goals and desires. Taking more time to think, the proverb â€Å"think before you leap† always relates to the early bird wisdom. After comparing this proverb and illustrating so many examples, the proverb reminds me of the Darning's famous theory, Survival of The Fittest .Although the â€Å"Early bird catches the worm† need context to make it more conceivable, if all the people on the earth were willing to be the early birds, the scene would be chaos. The nature order among human competition, allows a functional world. The fact is early birds eat early worms, late birds eat late worms. Early bird catches the worm, this proverb impresses me so much is because mama always using it to wake me up, reminds me of home. That's the warm and positive side for me. There are so many things to list within one proverb.Every coin has two sides, I don't like to live in a competitive world, but welcome to the reality world, I need to face it whether I like the life style or not. Just to say I will never treat it as my lifetime guideline. To grow with a ordinary heart, to live each day with energy and happiness is the best for me. Find out what suits you best, that's the most important essence we could characterize as our own unique proverb. Citation: The Cou rier Mail. Night owls who rule the roost†. 25 April 2009. Lexis's.

How to Write a PhD Personal Statement

How to Write a PhD Personal Statement How to Write a PhD Personal Statement A person might be required to write a personal statement when he or she is completing a PhD application. Professionals in this area have specific guides that need to be followed when completing the application process. The reader is supposed to understand what type of PhD program is being sought and the reasons behind the student’s preference to study in the proposed university. The reader must understand clearly what is of most interest to the customer in the specific field of study. A good PhD personal statement should have all of these details, and the writer should be able to provide a background of their earlier academic credentials and empirical experience which may highlight his or her interest in the specific area of study. When applying for a PhD, experience and prior knowledge is very important to help convince the board that one actually qualifies for the program. This is the highest level of study and hence professionalism and integrity applies at all times. As such, the skills and experience acquired by the applicant are vital in the process of transition from the undergraduate program to the postgraduate program. This also guarantees the level of success in the area of study. One may not want to apply the same statement to every application, and instead make each application unique based on the area of interest and the person who will be reading it. In addition, it is of great use to a writer if they conduct thorough research on the University that offers the program that they are applying to. Grammar and type of vocabulary used must be well thought out. Very long sentences with repetition should be avoided at all cost. The sentences should be short and precise and the tone of the statement should be positive and enthusiastic. The word limit should also be adhered to. The statement should be structured with an introduction, main body and a conclusion. The purpose of the introduction is to captivate the reader and make them interested in reading the statement to the end. The reasons for choosing that particular institute of learning must be explained and the individual’s strength and personal skills should also be highlighted. The ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team should be brought out by the writer. What’s more, the relevance of the undergraduate program to the PhD study should be described to demonstrate the foundation which was laid for further research and study. The career aim should be exemplified to demonstrate the intended c ontribution to society. One must try to make their statement unique; it must stand out among the rest. Professional personal statement help at is provided by academic experts. They can write a custom personal statement paper starting at $13/page. High quality and on-time delivery guarantee!

Principal methods for healthcare research The WritePass Journal

Principal methods for healthcare research Introduction Principal methods for healthcare research IntroductionTheir Respective Research Design and philosophyThe Contrasting   Research HypothesizesApproaches to samplingData Collection Methods and Data analysisQuality of studiesCriteria to establish rigor in qualitative methods. Patton (2002) p.552-558Study:Jeppson et al (2003)Binge and Purge Processes in Bulimia Nervosa: A Qualitative StudyMy interpretationQuestionDiscussionRelated Introduction Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder, which is characterised by repeated episodes of over eating and bingeing and by a set of   compensatory behaviours intended to cause weight loss which includes vomiting, purging, fasting and excessive exercise. The American Psychiatric society (A.P.A. DSM-IV, 2000) and the World Health Organisation ( World Health Organization. International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Geneva, Switzerland: W.H.O., 1992),   both suggest the following diagnostic criteria for the disorder 1. A persistent preoccupation with eating and irresistible craving for food. 2 .Repeated episodes of binging/overeating in which large quantities /amounts of food are   consumed 3. Patients experiencing BN take excessive measures to compensate for the ‘fattening‘  Ã‚   effects of food e.g. vomiting, purging and fasting. The Beating Eating Disorder Association (BEAT). Formerly known as the Eating Disorders Association, a voluntary sector group in the UK., as provided figures that up to 1.15 million people in the UK, experience a significant problem with BN, and up to 90.000 people are receiving treatment at any one time. It is not therefore surprising that BN is a major and widespread   problem. Consequently a number of treatments have been developed and trialled, based on focused research, and developing an evidence base. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). Published guidance in 2004, (Eating disorders: Core interventions in the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and related eating disorders. London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2004). Which recommends Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) as an efficacious treatment as well as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) such as Fluoxetine. Research in this area is an important on a number of counts. Firstly, on clinical intervention grounds so that the treatment offered for the disorder can be expanded and improved and secondly given that the Disorder was only recognised in 1979 ( Russell, G.1979), and with a widespread epidemiology, sufferers experiences of t he disorder are important in clinical practice to deepen understanding of sufferers experiences.. The two papers presented here both focus on the condition from different perspectives and   ask different questions. The first paper is a qualitative study: Binge and purge Processes in Bulimia Nervosa: A Qualitative Investigation (Jeppson et al. 2003) using a grounded theory design focusing on the two core diagnostic behaviours of BN; binging and purging. They aimed to elucidate information on these processes and their function for Bulimic’s experience. The second paper is a comparative intervention study, following a quantitative research design a   form of Randomised Control Trial (RCT) Cognitive-Behavioural, Fluoxetine and Combined Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa: Short- and Long-term Results (Jacobi et al.2002). Both papers illustrate their design paradigms and contain a number of flaws, which will be discussed in relation to their respective research methods. Their Respective Research Design and philosophy Jeppson et al(2003), deployed a qualitative research design, which followed a grounded theory approach (Glaser Strauss,1967). Grounded theory was originally developed by these social researchers, before the approach ‘split’ into different camps, (Stebbins, R.A., 2001),   the approach essentially emphasizes the ’generation of theory’ from data that is acquired in the actual process of conducting the research. So rather than beginning with an hypothesis that needs to be tested   that is the hallmark of the experimental quantitative research design, grounded theory begins the research process with an aim for exploration. The quantitative paradigm illustrated by the Jacobi et al. (2002) paper, forms the basis of RCT’s and Therapy trials which are common in much of health care research, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and treatment approaches/interventions to Bulimia Nervosa.   At its philosophical ‘core’ is the notion of empiricism (Owen, F. Jones R, 1977), whereby quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships are observed and studied. Thus the process of measurement is crucial to the paradigm and this affords the connection between ‘empirical’ observations i.e did X effect Y and mathematics, through the expression of quantitative relationships As measurement is crucial to the quantitative paradigm, the choice of Randomised Comparison Study is entirely appropriate for the Jacobi investigation, as it wants to compare the treatment effects of three different conditions treating the disorder. Studies of this type are a form of scientific experiment, with RCT’s often referred to as the ‘gold standard’ for intervention studies (Cartwright, A. 2007). They are often used for ‘safety’ studies in drug trials and for testing the effectiveness   of clinical interventions and services The two research studies presented here, display different philosophical foundations, which shape their whole approach to research deign. The Contrasting   Research Hypothesizes Jeppson et al (2003), developed an aim for their qualitative study based on previous research they had encountered on the BN binge-purge process that is seen to be central to the disorder. The study was not concerned with assessing the ‘effects’ of interventions on binge and purge behaviour, but rather to try and understand what these behaviours meant and the functions they served for the patients they studied. They considered in previous research that quantitative methods, had focused on self-monitoring of these episodes and ranking them to ‘measure’ links to mental state e.g. Stress, and had deemed that it had not sufficiently led to an understanding of their function as experienced by BN patients themselves. They had an idea that these behaviours were crucial and played a part in assisting sufferers with their ‘emotional regulation’, but were curious and wished to expand an understanding of their role. They therefore set out with an ‘aim’ for the research to find out what BN patients experiences of these two processes and the meanings /function they served for them, I believe this ‘aim’ was entirely congruent with the qualitative method, and provided a question that RCTs looking at interventions had not and could not study. The Jacobi et al., paper(2002),   asked a different set of questions. They were interested in how CBT compared with the SSRI Fluoxetine, and a combination of them both .   They considered that both the psychological (Wilson, G.T., Fairburn, C.G., 1993) and pharmacological interventions (Goldstein et al.,1995) had developed an evidence base for treating BN. They designed an ambitious study to investigate the question of the relative short and long-term effectiveness of the three interventions. They questioned whether the combined approach would be more beneficial in the long-term, as previous research studies investigating a combination approach, had experienced high drop-out rates due to the side effects of the of the SSRI, which may have influenced their results. The study did not include a control or placebo condition, which would be the normal procedure for intervention type studies.The reason for this was that they considered   previous research had demonstrated the effectiveness of CBT and   Fluoxetine, and was not needed. The study had four aims: To compare the effectiveness of CBT, Fluoxetine and there combination, to compare the short and long-term effects of these treatments. To inquire about the possible ‘additive’ effect of combined intervention and to examine the differential effects of the treatments. These types of intervention question are suitable for a randomised study as the questions Jacobi and team are asking are essentially ones of intervention and differential effectiveness/measurement on a number of variables e.g. Binging and purging episodes, short and long term effects as ascertained by validated psychological questionnaires and clinical interview. Approaches to sampling It is generally considered that sample size is generally much smaller in qualitative studies than those recruited for quantitative studies such as RCT’s (Cresswell,J.W., 2003).   As qualitative studies are generally smaller in size, criticisms have been leveled at this paradigm. Although the paradigm does not seek to study the ‘total‘ population, issues surrounding diversity and variation within a population are often cited (Jones,2007). The Jeppson study used only eight participants The approach to sampling used in the study is important   as the process of selecting participants is relevant to the aims of the study.   They used purposeful sampling to generate the data for their enquiry. Purposeful sampling generally refers to the selection of participants who have experience or knowledge of the area under investigation (Procter et al, 2010) As all participants were selected with a specific diagnosis of BN (APA., DSM-IV,1994) they would all currently have experiences of the processes under investigation. They were recruited from a suburban area in Utah, USA., Descriptive information, including socio economic variation, inpatient and out patient status and educational information was given.  Ã‚   This form of sampling used in the study is not random or based on statistical probability as in quantitative studies. Sampling in quantitative research design, especially RCT’s, differs. This type of sampling is in essence the selection of of observable units, which can be measured (Maxim, P.S., 1999). As outlined in the introduction, BN is widespread in the UK (and other european countries). It is not possible in the Jacobi study to observe the effects of the treatment interventions with the whole population of people experiencing BN. Therefore quantitative studies tend to study a sample of the group or population which may represent the larger population. The study recruited its patents by a mixture of media advert and direct referral to the Department of Psychology at the University of Hamburg. All underwent telephone screening, by a clinician not involved in the study (to assess inclusion criteria) and a semi structured psychiatric interview,and physical examination As selecting people for therapy trials is   open to sampling errors, in that   some people selected,may be ‘exceptional’ or ‘different’ from those of the larger ‘Bulimic’ population.The method attempts minimize these possibilities, by careful inclusion/exclusion criteria and the random distribution of   the participants into one of the three treatment conditions[1] The size of sample for the Jacobi study is more important than the qualitative study, to gain meaningful results. Data Collection Methods and Data analysis The Jeppson et al study (2003) study, collected its data from interviewing eight participants who agreed to take part in the study, by using a semi-structured interview format, lasting one hour. The semi-structured format differs from a more limited ‘formalized’ set of questions, by nature of its flexibility. It allows for new questions to be added in response to what the interviewee says, inviting and generating further information, which the study utilised. The study used a ‘framework’ and ‘interview guide’, which is a collection or set of topics to guide the interview process (Lindlof Taylor, 2002). The paper, makes reference to this, but does not provide specific details of what constituted the ‘guide. To enhance validity, ‘member checks’ were conducted post interview, all participants received a 20 minute phone call, where findings were ‘shared’; allowing corrective feedback on accuracy. Transcripts were also read by three mental health professionals The study reported that ‘redundancy’ or theoretical saturation occurred between interview 5-7. Grounded theory employs this framework, so sampling frame   may be modified as a result of a process deemed, ‘constant comparison analysis’ i.e, that data is determined by its recurrence and re-evaluation to assist with the ‘theorizing   process’ of the area under investigation. The type of process involved in the   purposeful sampling used in Jeppsons study, accepts that it is impossible to identify ahead of time, all categories of emergent data that the researcher needs to review.   So its is purposely designed to pursue data collection categories to the point of concept or ‘data saturation’, which occurs when the data   is stable and the pattern(s) unlikely to change (Locke,2001). They found this occurred during the interviewers   5-7, and added 1 further interview according to protocol. (Lincoln Guba, 1985) Once   Jeppson collected the data, key points were assigned (or marked) to it, referred to as ‘codes’. Concepts and categories were then then worked out. The categories that emerged are seen within this methodology as the basis of theory generation for the study. This process as been referred to by Glaser and Strauss (1967) as the reverse emergence ‘hypothesis’.   Thus, it was considered that to gain information on the participants binge and purging behaviours it was best to ask them about their experiences so as generate theory from their responses, rather than to come to the study with a pre-determined hypothesis or theory which needed testing. As the researcher is part of the ‘research process’ and data collection, ‘reflexivity’, is a feature of the data collection process. This can be divided into ‘personal reflexivity’ and ‘epistemological reflexivity’. ‘Personal reflexivity’ involves the researcher being aware and examining their own values, experiences etc. and how this may have shaped the research. It also involves thinking about how the research may have affected and possibly changed people and researchers. ‘Epistemological reflexivity’ as such, asks   how the research question is defined and conducted and how it may of limited what was found? by asking   searching questions about the data and its findings (Willig,C. 2001). Jeppson notes, that he was ‘aware’ of himself and the potential influence on the study. Jacobi, collected its data by using a battery of   validated Psychological Measures to assess outcomes from the three intervention conditions.They were administered at pre and post treatment, and   at 3 months and one year follow up. Descriptive statistics[2] were given using the mean[3]   and standard deviation[4] of patients with regard to age, marital status, and   education. Frequency of binging and vomiting, onset of these behaviours , lowest BMI etc., no table provided. Data analysis was conducted by using a number of inferential statistical tests, to ‘measure’ and quantify a host of possible influences on the outcome results obtained form the measures of each condition. Individual one-way analyses of variance ( ANOVAs) were used to compare data, i.e., demographics, clinical variables:   frequency of binging etc pre and post.   The ANOVA technique involves measuring the variance of the group means and comparing that to the variance predicted if all groups were randomly sampled   from the same population i.e ANOVA, tests hypotheses about the mean(s) of a dependent variable(s) e.g frequency of binge eating across the different treatment groups, in relation to the independent variables i.e. group condition To analyze the differential effects of the 3 treatments is was originally proposed to use uni and multivariate analyses of covariance[5], e.g .to study the covariance of say mood state with frequency of purging across the treatment conditions, to see if the amount of change between two or more variable maps changes in another variable, an estimate of correlation.[6] Sample size, through attrition was assessed as to small to run theses tests, at one year follow up. The ANOVAs and MANOVA tests used in this study produce the F-statistic[7], which is used to calculate the P-value,[8] and significance. The choice of tests was appropriate[9], given 3 treatment conditions, and the comparative nature of the research question/hypotheses. A   intention to treat analysis, conducted for drop-outs was in line with the research protocol for this study design. Quality of studies The two papers have approached the subject of BN from different research designs. It is important when considering   research papers to assess their quality, in respect of their chosen methods. Jeppson’s paper, in a my opinion is a well designed study. The aim is suited to qualitative methodology. Assessing the quality of the study as proved challenging as its requires a different set of criteria, from quantitative research (table 1), And Patton (2002), outlines a series of considerations to establish rigor for qualitative research (table 2 ). The use of one interviewer, sample containing severe bulimics (Anorexia?), may have influenced the themes and results?   Also some ‘reporting issues‘   concerning method etc,, can   all factors effecting quality. Table1 . Critical evaluation of qualitative study Table 2. Criteria to establish rigor in qualitative studies Criteria to establish rigor in qualitative methods. Patton (2002) p.552-558 Study:Jeppson et al (2003) Binge and Purge Processes in Bulimia Nervosa: A Qualitative Study My interpretation (a)  Ã‚   Persistent observation(b)   Peer debriefing (c)  Ã‚   Progressive subjectivity (d)   Member checks (e)  Ã‚   Triangulation (f)  Ã‚  Ã‚   Transferability (g)   Dependability (h)  Ã‚   Authenticity and fairness (i)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   confirmability Themes became redundant before last interview -observationStudy does not mention that this procedure occurred. Unclear in paper- could be implicit in methodology, not mentioned overtly Yes conducted Yes Makes case in conclusion for clinical enrichment and therapeutic alliance Process was of medium/high quality audit conducted Study was conducted and reported with ‘fairness’ to process Researcher is ‘aware’ of potential influence audit conducted The Jacobi research aims were entirely suited to the quantitative randomised trial it adopted   to look at the effect of the three treatment interventions and there effects in the short and long term . It, however, suffers from a number of serious flaws, undermining its validity and effects when assessed to by RCT quality criteria (Greenhalgh T.,2006). Firstly, the study fails to provide a power calculation. For to detect differences between   the   three intervention groups using randomisation, it is considered that the study should be ‘powered’ i.e contain enough patients to determine statistical accuracy. Normally 80% is considered the minimum standard of accuracy for clinical trails. (Ellis, Paul D, 2010), and leaves it open to type 2 errors.[10] This was not assisted by the attrition rate, especially at follow up. It contributed to the study being significantly ‘underpowered’, so much so that the results   at one year follow-up   being of   poor quality, the results could be dismissed[11] (Table 3 provides a critical evaluation) Table 3. Critical evaluation of quantitative study. Question Study: Jacobi et al. (2002) Cognitive-behavioural, Fluoxetine and Combined Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa: Short and long term results Does the study address the focussed question? Yes Were the patients randomly selected from a defined population? Patients were selected/recruited by advertisement and referral to the Psychology dept. Of Hamburg University. All had met the diagnostic criteria for BN. Was the assignment of patients to the intervention and control group randomised? There was no control group. Study compared effects of three different treatment conditions. Paper states they were randomised, but does not say how and by what method Were the participants and observers both blinded? Not stated though this difficult to achieve within psychotherapy trials Aside from the intervention were the groups treated equally? Yes Was a follow up completed Yes- at I year Did the study have adequate power to see an effect if there was one? No, there was no power calculation provided though this is common in psychotherapy intervention trials/studies. Very high attrition rate at follow up. Were all the patients who entered the trial properly accounted for? Full disclosure is given about the dropouts, calculations were made that suggest that the results at   follow up lack validity Were the results of the trial presented in a manner that allowed for full examination? No: adequate data was presented on tests MANOVA/ANOVA.   Ci’s not reported Secondly, the randomization procedure which gives the randomized controlled trial its strength. The investigators did not provide details of the randomization methods its used for the study[12], although this may be attributable to poor reporting, its is a significant emission (Jadad, 1998). The paper whilst providing a range of data, omits to report confidence intervals (CI)[13] for the three conditions and its results, and their were no   proposed effect sizes included the aims/hypotheses. Discussion Both studies addressed their research using different methods. Both were appropriate for the investigation, illustrating that methodology needs to be tailored to   the aim/hypotheses of the question under investigation. The Jeppson study was well designed, and managed to explore its research aim sufficiently, so some its findings had generalisability in treatment settings, and would benefit the CBT practitioner working with BN and aid ‘therapeutic alliance’ by taking into account its findings. By increasing understanding of how the processes have functions for the individual, well beyond the ‘behaviour’ itself. Jacobi’s study, although ambitious with a good design in principle, was seriously flawed. The under-powering of the study, the absence of good reporting on a number of methods and data, leave the study flawed. Its hypothesis and aims were suited to the methodology, but its sample size and attrition rate made   generalizability of the results difficult. It did provide some evidence (weak), that CBT is efficacious for the treatment of BN, which continues in clinical practice. Word Count:   3489 References   American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Washington DC., American Psychiatric Association. Cartwright, N. (2007). Are RCTs the Gold Standard? Biosocieties(2): 11-20. Cresswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA., Sage. Daly, J., Lumley, J. (2002). Bias in Qualiative Research. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 26(4): 299-230. Ellis, P. D. (2010). The Essential Guide to Effect Sizes: An Introduction to Statistical Power, Meta-Analysis and the Interpretation of Research Results. Cambridge, C.U.P. Glaser, G. B., Strauss, A. L. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory. Chicago, Aldine Publishing Company. Goldstein, D. J., Olmsted, M., Thompson, V.L., Potvin, j.H., Rampey, A.H. (1995). Long term Fluoxitine treatment of bulimia nervosa. British Journal of Psychiatry(166): 660-666. Greenhalgh, T. (2006). How to read a paper: the basics of evidence based medicine. London., BMJ Publishing Group. Jacobi, C., Dahme, B. Dittmann, R. (2002). Cognitive-Behavioural, Fluoxitine and Combined Treatment for Bulimia Nervosa: Short- and Long-Term Results. European Eating Disordrs Review(10): 179-198. Jadad, A. R. (1998). Randomised controlled trials: a users guide. London, BMJ Books. Jeppson, J. E., Scott Rchards, P., Mac Hardman, R.K. Mac Granle, H. (2003). Binge and Purge processes in Bulimia Nervosa: A Qualitative Investigation. Eating Disorders(11): 115-128. Jones, R. (2007). Strength of evidence in qualitative research. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology(60): 321-323. Lehman, A. K., Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic inquirey. London., Sage. Lindlof, T. R., Taylor, B.C. (2002). Qualitative Communication Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA., Sage Publications Locke, K. (2001). Grounded Theory in Mangement Research. London, Sage Publications. Maxim, P. S. (1999). Quantitaitive research methods in the social sciences. oxford., Oxford University Press. NICE. (2004). Eating disorders: Core interventions in the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and related eating disorders. N. I. f. H. a. C. Excellence. Owen, F., Jones R, (1977). Statistics. London, Polytech Publishers. Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative Research Evauation Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA., Sage Publications. Procter, S., Allan, T., Lacey, A. (2010). Sampling. The Research process in Nursing. Eds Gerrish, Lacey, A. Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell. Ragin, C. C. (1994). Contructing Social Research: TheUnity and Diversity of Method, Pine Forge Press. Russell, G. (1979). Bulimia nervosa: an ominous variant of anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine 9(3): 429-480. Stebbins, R. A. (2001). Exploratory Research in the Social Sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA:, Sage Publications. W.H.O. (1992). International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Geneva, Switzerland: . Willig, C. (2008). Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology. Maidenhead, Open University Press. Wilson, G. T., Fairburn, C.G. (1993). Cognitive treatments for eating disorders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology(61): 261-269.

Setting a Purpose for Motivated Reading

Setting a Purpose for Motivated Reading Setting a purpose for reading helps keep students focused and engaged while reading, and gives them a mission so that comprehension can be reinforced. Reading with purpose motivates children and helps students who tend to rush, take their time reading so they wont skip over key elements in the text. Here are a few ways teachers can set a purpose for reading, as well as teach their students how to set their own purpose. How to Set a Purpose for Reading As the teacher, when you set a purpose for reading be specific. Here are a few prompts: Read until you get to the part where so and so did this.Stop reading until you find out about so and so.Read until you discover___.Read until you find out where the story takes place.Close the book when you figure out the problem in the story. After students have completed your task you can help build comprehension by asking them to do a few quick activities. Here are a few suggestions: Draw a picture of what they think will happen next in the story.Create a concept map recording elements in the story.Write down a problem they discovered while reading the story.Ask critical thinking questions, such as What the solution to the problem in the story?...What is the purpose of this book?....What is the author trying to accomplish?...What issues arise in the story?Retell the story in your own words with a partner.Compare how the characters have changed throughout the story. Teach Students How to Set Their Own Purpose for Reading Before teaching students how to set a purpose for what they are reading make sure they understand that a purpose drives the choices they make while they are reading. Guide students into how to set a purpose by telling them the following three things. You can read to perform a task, such as specific directions. For example, read until you meet the main character in the story.You can read for pure enjoyment.You can read to learn new information. For example, if you wanted to learn about bears. After students decide what their purpose for reading is then they can select a text. After the text is selected you can show students before, during, and after reading strategies that match their purpose for reading. Remind students that as they read they should refer back to their main purpose. Checklist for Reading Purposes Here are a few tips, questions, and statements students should be thinking about before, during, and after reading a text. Before Reading: What do I already know about the topic?What can I expect to learn?Skim the book to find out what I will be learning. During Reading: Pause during reading to reflect upon what was just read. Try to link it to something you already know.Do I understand what I just read?Place a sticky note next to any question, unfamiliar word, or comment you would like to share in the text. After Reading: Reread any passages that confused you.Go over your sticky notes.Summarize in your head what you have just read.

Management Training and Resulting Conflict Management Effectiveness in Dissertation

Management Training and Resulting Conflict Management Effectiveness in Hospitals - Dissertation Example One of such environment is hospital therefore conflict management in healthcare settings is a must. This study explores the effectiveness of conflict management in healthcare settings and presents conflict resolution maps for healthcare practitioners to ensure conflict management practices matches healthcare organisations standards. The study specifically discusses conflict resolution in the light of conflict situations unique to healthcare settings and uses secondary data on conflict resolution training programs suggested and carried out at NHS to make recommendations for healthcare management. Table of Contents ABSTRACT 2 1. INTRODUCTION 5 1.1 Background and Context 6 1.2 Research Question and Objectives 7 1.3 Rationale of the Study 8 1.4 Structure of the Study 9 2.LITERATURE REVIEW 10 2.1 What is Conflict and Conflict Management? 10 2.2 Different Views on Conflict 11 2.3 Types of Conflict 13 2.3.1 Interpersonal Conflict 14 2.4 Conflict Management Process 15 2.5 Conflict Handling S trategies 16 2.6 Conflict Situations in Healthcare Settings 18 2.7 Research Studies on Conflict Management in Healthcare Settings 19 2.8 Research Gap and Conceptual Framework 21 3.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 23 3.1 Role of the Researcher 23 3.2 Research Design 23 3.3 Data Collection and Analysis 24 3.4 Research Validity and Triangulation 25 3.5 Summary 26 4.FINDINGS 27 4.1 The Patient-Staff Conflict 28 4.2 The Doctor-Doctor Conflict 30 4.3 Conflict among Nurses 30 4.4 The Doctor-Nurse Conflict 31 4.5 Summary 32 5.DISCUSSION 34 6.CONCLUSION 37 6.1 Recommendations 38 References 40 1. INTRODUCTION Conflict is an inevitable part of social life and communication, flexibility and willingness to change are a few ways to handle conflict effectively (Guffey & Almonte, 2009). However, not everyone is good at conflict management and hence without one knowing these strategies it becomes difficult to handle conflict effectively. In organisational context, chances of conflict increases where pressure is high and duties are complex. One of such environment is hospital. Healthcare personnel work under immense pressure and they are performing several responsibilities simultaneously; in addition to this, their duties are linked to a person’s life which even complicates the situation and increases the pressure. Besides tough working conditions there are many other reasons of conflict within organisations. These reasons include differences in goals and values of employee and employer, power differentials, lack of understanding of organisational structure and functions, scarcity of resources, or refutation of one’s self-image. To ensure an organisation remains stable and consistent, conflicts should be handled effectively whenever they arise. Nonetheless, everyone is not good at conflict management and this fact makes it necessary to ensure personnel in organisations know well how to handle conflict and maintain harmony in the workplace. Conflict management has become a maj or subfield of management and organisational behaviour. Conflict among groups in organisations is now an important area for researchers. Though the research shows that there are positive effects of conflict on group identity and development (Jones, 1993; De Dreu, 1997) however negative and destructive conflict can lead to disaster. Due to the negative consequences conflicts can bring to an organisation, it is important to ensure that employees understand conflict management strategies. Including hospitals, the ability to manage internal conflict

Probable Chance of Showers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Probable Chance of Showers - Essay Example Because of the above increased reliance on statistics and probabilities, the chances of wrong weather predictions are always there. This paper analyses how concepts used in probability theory are employed by meteorologist to determine when rain will rain in a certain region an how many inches.   In meteorological forecasting, the categorical forecast is one that has only two probabilities: zero and unity (or 0 and 100 percent). Thus, even what we call a categorical forecast can be thought of in terms of two different probabilities; such a forecast can be called dichotomous. On the other hand, the conventional interpretation of a probabilistic, forecast is one with more than two probability categories; such a forecast can be called polychotomous (Probabilistic Forecasting - A Primer) Dichotomous weather prediction is more accurate than polychotomous prediction. In polychotomous prediction more probabilities are there compared to the dichotomous prediction and it is impossible to the public to know how much rain may rain or at what time the rain starts. In other words, polychotomous prediction is only an assumption which lacks scientific facts. On the other hand, dichotomous prediction may have better scientific backing. It always says accurately whether rain comes or not at a particular period over a particular place. In other words, dichotomous prediction is 100% accurate. Dichotomous predictions are not always easy because of the changing climate cycles. Great uncertainties are prevailing in human life and weather prediction is also not free from uncertainties. Because of the increased element of uncertainties involved in weather prediction, probability theory is quite often used in weather prediction. â€Å"Probability starts with logic. There is a set of N elements. We can define a sub-set of n favorable elements, where n is less than or equal to N. Probability P = n/N† (Theory of Probability: Best Introduction, Formulae, Algorithms, Software). In w eather prediction, the favorable elements of rain are atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure, cloud conditions etc. In other words, the above elements can determine whether rain happens or not at a particular period of time. When the number of favorable elements more, n > N and the probability becomes more than unity. When probability is more than one or equal to one, the chances of rain are more. On the other hand in some cases, N might be the double of n. In such cases, the probability becomes .5 or the chances of rain become 50%. For example while tossing a coin, the probability of getting a tail and head is 50%. Here the attempt made or N is 1 and the coin has 2 sides or n is 2. So the probability p= ? or 0 .5. Probability theory is used based on the frequency of occurrence of events also. It is an accepted fact that during monsoon period, heavy rain will take place. The arrival of rain during monsoon period has started long time back and it continues so. Weather or rain pr ediction during monsoon periods can be easy for the meteorologists by analyzing the frequency of occurrence of rain during the monsoon season. It is possible for meteorologists to analyze the rain data or statistics over a particular period of time and to predict the possible amount of rain which may happen in a particular year. All these calculations are made with the help of probability theory

Visual Communication in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Visual Communication in Business - Essay Example The disturbing question that emerges in this context is that should the sensitive and socially vital institutions like the prisons be exposed to the gross blunt of privatization? Should the private corporations be allowed to handle the socially crucial institutions like prisons? Pragmatically speaking, private corporations are certainly not the qualified and valid entities to be trusted with the management and administration of law and order related institutions like prisons, which serve a broader purpose in the society and hence aught to be guided by humane and ethical considerations, rather then being subjected to purely monetary targets and objectives. The very fact that the private corporations work for purely profit motives renders them incapable of being allowed to run the prisons or any other institution that is basically expected to adhere to welfare objectives and rehabilitation goals, even at the cost of incurring some losses. A realistic comprehension of this complex idea can be facilitated by the usage of various approaches to visual communication like charts and graphs, maps and cartoons and illustrations. It is imperative to understand that there exist primarily two ethical approaches pertaining to the institution of prisons. There is one school of thought that holds that the prisons should have a deterrent effect on the criminals and antisocial elements and hence the prisons should be stringent in their approach towards prisoners, so far as the availability of basic facilities is concerned. There is one another school of thought that is more contemporary and humane in its approach and holds that the prisons are the places that give the criminals a chance to pay their debt to the society. Such thinkers believe that prisoners should not only be provided with the basic amenities and health facilities in the prisons, but must also be extended the opportunity for rehabilitation and assimilation into the public mainstream in the form of vocational

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Case study - Essay Example On this end, much depends on how Maersk Line implements business strategy that would ensure efficient use of resources at their disposal to effect a sustainable change (Ferrulli 2005, p.26). The new business model that Maersk Line intends to implement is appropriate in terms of the company’s position as a leader in the shipping business. Compared to competitors, Maersk Line is in ideal position to capitalize on its stature as a world leader in container shipping to increase its clientele. In addition, the company deals in the shipment of various goods and this provides a competitive edge compared to other companies that specializes in the shipment of goods from one line. The company also boasts of an edge over competitors in regard to its extensive network globally and essential in improving the company’s sales across the globe. In terms of modernization, the company boasts of modern vessels compared to competitor’s vessels and this is important in enhancing the shipment of sensitive cargo. The strategy of focusing on long term contracts is essential in terms of maintaining a significant number of clients that deals in large shipment globally such as Nike and Walmart. The existence of extra add-value services as offered by Maersk Line is very essential in terms enhancing customer satisfaction, often disappointed with delays in the delivery of goods. In this sense, despite Maersk Line improving its competitiveness in container shipping, the challenges that still exist in the container shipping business require the company to adopt other business strategies significant in resolving the identified challenges (Slack & Fremont 2009, p.23). Differentiation as a business strategy is important in terms of improving a company’s advantage over competitors in the same line of business. This is important in attracting and maintaining previous customers or clients that a company serves, and the main features of differentiating involves reviewing a company’s available human skill, the techniques used to provide services to customers and brand name incapable of duplication by competitors, without incurring extra costs and risks. In addition, differentiation as a strategy entails setting out predetermined measures ideal in producing or delivering services to customers in a way that customers view as different (Slack & Fremont 2009, p.26). As a result, the strategies that Maersk Line intends to implement should target unique needs of the customers and in a way that provides Maersk Line a competitive edge. The current trend in container shipping business is hyper-competitive and adopting a formidable business strategy in terms of differentiation is necessary. Companies often compete by either adopting a low price strategy or implementing an efficient differentiation strategy that improves sales. In essence, differentiation as a marketing tool is important for any company’s survival in a competitive global market. W hile Maersk Line intends to address the challenges, it has identified in the container shipping industry to improve its competitiveness, it is also important to look at issues such as performance gap, as felt by customers in the

Quantitative and Qualitative research into the voyeuristic appeal of Paper

Quantitative and Qualitative into the voyeuristic appeal of watching observational reality TV - Research Paper Example Mostly, it is assumed that the audience may not tell the difference between information and entertainment, or reality and fiction in popular factual television. Therefore, in regards of the audience and reality TV it is significant to examine this genre’s development and audience relationships with the popular factual output. Audiences have a different response to the reality shows and teenagers and young youth seem to develop more interest in the observational reality shows. There has been a great amount of open criticism of the observational reality show genre popularity and few articles explain the consumer’s appeal. There are reports that propose that viewers watch this kind of reality entertainment due to aspirational or voyeuristic needs. The reports of the external audience suggest that the television audiences perceive observational reality themselves as being voyeuristic. Hence, it is this voyeurism part that is attractive. Additionally, the Week online magazine (2015) suggest that it is intrinsically fascinating in observing how some individuals behave and speak in pressured situations. As a result, many intellectual people find themselves fixed by The Only Way is Essex and other observational reality shows. Thus, teaching them the aspects of human nature and widening their experience. Charlie King, The Only Way is Essex star was bombarded by scholars with gayism accusation on the reality show and accused of inspiring young people on revealing their sexuality. He openly revealed his true sexuality on the ITV program (2014). IMDB (2015) says that The Only Way is Essex got first aired on 1oth October 2015 and were currently the top rating show on ITVB channel. Adam Croizer (2010), the chief executive of ITV states that the target audience was for 16-34 years old. He added that the objective was to reinforce plans to increase revenue and audience in the Telegraph interview (2015). The informal and content motives of â€Å"The Only

Organisational leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

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Quantitative and Qualitative research into the voyeuristic appeal of Paper

Quantitative and Qualitative into the voyeuristic appeal of watching observational reality TV - Research Paper Example Mostly, it is assumed that the audience may not tell the difference between information and entertainment, or reality and fiction in popular factual television. Therefore, in regards of the audience and reality TV it is significant to examine this genre’s development and audience relationships with the popular factual output. Audiences have a different response to the reality shows and teenagers and young youth seem to develop more interest in the observational reality shows. There has been a great amount of open criticism of the observational reality show genre popularity and few articles explain the consumer’s appeal. There are reports that propose that viewers watch this kind of reality entertainment due to aspirational or voyeuristic needs. The reports of the external audience suggest that the television audiences perceive observational reality themselves as being voyeuristic. Hence, it is this voyeurism part that is attractive. Additionally, the Week online magazine (2015) suggest that it is intrinsically fascinating in observing how some individuals behave and speak in pressured situations. As a result, many intellectual people find themselves fixed by The Only Way is Essex and other observational reality shows. Thus, teaching them the aspects of human nature and widening their experience. Charlie King, The Only Way is Essex star was bombarded by scholars with gayism accusation on the reality show and accused of inspiring young people on revealing their sexuality. He openly revealed his true sexuality on the ITV program (2014). IMDB (2015) says that The Only Way is Essex got first aired on 1oth October 2015 and were currently the top rating show on ITVB channel. Adam Croizer (2010), the chief executive of ITV states that the target audience was for 16-34 years old. He added that the objective was to reinforce plans to increase revenue and audience in the Telegraph interview (2015). The informal and content motives of â€Å"The Only

Relationship of Staff Perception of the Importance of Physical Dissertation

Relationship of Staff Perception of the Importance of Physical Education and their Physical Well-Being to their Academic Perform - Dissertation Example Moreover, the importance of movement and physical activity among children and youth can not be discounted. Likewise, evidence from research during the 1990s has uncovered that â€Å"regular physical activity can make significant positive contribution to physical, mental and emotional well-being of children† (Bailey, 2001:2). 1.1. Aims It should not, therefore, come as a surprise that in many studies, physical education is regarded as among the most important areas in the curriculum by teachers and students alike (Bailey, 2001). In this regard, this study is being proposed to evaluate the importance of physical education and physical well-being among staff and how their perceptions of such importance influence their academic achievement in English and Mathematics subjects. Bailey (2001) argued that physical education (P.E) teachers are in a good position to encourage and motivate students to learn, and that the P.E teachers are highly responsible not to drive students away from physical education and physical activity, since the latter can happen if the P.E teachers are amiss in their roles. 1.2. ... This serves as the primary justification for the conduct of the proposed study. 1.3. Statement of the Research Problems The following problems will be addressed in this study: 1.3.1. What is the profile of the secondary students in the research locale in terms of gender, age, year level, and grades in English and Mathematics? 1.3.2. What is the perception of the staff of the importance of physical education in their life in general; and in their life as students? 1.3.3. What is the perception of the staff on the importance of physical well-being in their life in general; and in their life as students? 1.3.4. What is the relationship between the staff of the importance of physical education and their academic performance of their students in English and Mathematics? 1.3.5. What is the relationship between the staff’s perception of the importance of physical well-being and the academic performance of their students in English and Mathematics? 1.3.6. Are there significant differe nces in the staffs’ perception of the importance of Physical Education and their physical well-being when they are grouped in terms of gender, age, year level, and grades in English and Mathematics? 1.3.7. What strategies may be integrated in the Physical Education classes to ensure that students are appropriately motivated to learn in school? 1.4. Statement of Hypotheses Grounded on the research problems presented, the following hypotheses, stated in the null form, will be tested using non-directional or two-tailed analysis and 0.05 level of significance (?=0.05) 1.4.1. There is no significant relationship between the staffs’ perception of the importance of physical education and the academic performance of their learners in English. 1.4.2. There is no significant

Promote Professional Development Essay Example for Free

Promote Professional Development Essay Principles * Professional development deepens and broadens knowledge of content. Knowledge of a common core of content—which we deï ¬ ne as including the â€Å"various ways of knowing† that are intrinsic to each discipline—allows us to communicate, to work together toward common ends, to function as a cohesive democratic society, and to ï ¬ nd shared ground on which to build tolerance for our differences. * Professional development provides a strong foundation in teaching. * Professional development develops an understanding of: 1. The most useful ways of representing ideas 2. The most powerful illustrations and analogies for representing a concept 3. It makes learning speciï ¬ c things in a content area easy or difï ¬ cult; 4. It bring kinds of questions that help to reveal and develop understanding 5. It is the most effective strategies to address the misconceptions that commonly arise with regard to particular content at particular developmental levels, given with speciï ¬ c background experiences and prior knowledge. see more:what are the components of a personal development plan * Professional development provides knowledge about the teaching and learning processes. 1. Creates and maintains appropriate, orderly teaching and learning environments 2. It brings any assessment issues and clears any misunderstanding. * Professional development contributes to measurable improvement in one’s achievement. * Professional development is intellectually engaging and addresses the complexity of one’s job role. * Professional development is job-embedded and site speciï ¬ c that helps in the day to day growth of one’s knowledge and skills. * Importance: It is a tool for self-management of your development. It can provide a framework to support your development in a number of different ways. Fundamentally, its a question of regularly setting yourself objectives for development and then charting your progress towards achieving them. Its about being clear where you are, where you want to be, how you plan to get there, and how this meets current and future business needs and it is about a continuing process of reflecting on your learning and your experience to maximise its value. There is an expectation that regulators will be life-long learners in order to keep their professional skills, knowledge and experience up to date in an ever changing legislative, social and economic environment, and to ensure positive development through the right experience, and by getting the most (in terms of learning) from that experience. As a professional, you have a responsibility to keep your skills and knowledge up to date. It helps many of us already to externally verify our accreditation. Reflective learning provides a positive opportunity to identify and achieve your own career objectives. Reflecting on past experience and planning for the future in this way makes your development more methodical, and helps you to assess, and get the most from your learning. Potential Barriers to professional development: * Time Time is a crucial factor in personal growth and development, and many individuals lack enough of it. Between work responsibilities, childcare issues and just trying to survive on a day-to-day basis, you may find yourself lacking the hours necessary to devote to your own goals. * Attitude A negative attitude is a major factor in this area. If you start out with the belief that positive development is unlikely to occur, then no matter how hard you work on it, your belief will sabotage any efforts you may make. * Family Family also can be a hindrance when it comes to personal growth. Often, individuals are entrenched with ideas from their families about how much someone can develop as a person, so they dont seek to move past these set levels. * Peers Peers also can complicate our efforts to improve ourselves. Peers often try to sabotage our goals, either consciously or unconsciously. They degrade our efforts toward growth because those efforts remind them of the growth they could be pursuing, but have chosen to forgo. * Motivation Lack of motivation can be an enormous barrier to personal development. Without motivation, you have little energy to accomplish tasks leading to growth. With the right amount of motivation, however, those tasks can seem easy, and even enjoyable, to accomplish. * Money Personal growth does not have to take a great deal of money to accomplish, but depending on your goals, a lack of it can stall your efforts. Materials to learn about new topics and ways of living often cost money, but they are an investment in you. * Failure to Plan Lack of proper planning and preparation can lead to haphazard attempts to fulfil goals a recipe for wasted energy and efforts. If you are trying to break a habit, start a new career or glean insights into your thought processes, be sure to have at least a rudimentary plan to reach these goals. * Distractions Distractions, whether in the form of minor demands or activities that offers immediate gratification, can be counted on to undermine your efforts toward personal growth. * Perseverance Finally, when trying to reach personal goals, we often forget that perseverance is a key. Dont expect to achieve your dreams overnight. Overcoming obstacles consistently is the only way to become the individual you want to be. Different sources and systems of support for professional development The following are the different sources and systems of support for professional development * Inductions given for new staff. These includes giving information regarding the policies and procedures, what the company expect from them, their rights, etc. (copy of 24 hour induction form attached) * Appraisals The Annual Staff Appraisal scheme is based on objective setting in all aspects of an individual’s job, based on the contributions that they make. The review period will cover the previous 12 calendar months * Development plans A Professional Development Plan (PDP) is a short planning document that examines an individual’s current CPD needs, looks at how these might be met and lists objectives for the future. It helps the individual to structure and focus one’s training needs and should address the following points: Where am I now? Where am I going? How am I going to get there? In producing a PDP, one should: Consider once current job and the skills they need to do it competently. What changes are likely to occur in the next few years? The individual should list both short and long-term ambitions. Be realistic about their ambitions and the time needed to achieve them. Think about the areas in which they will need to target the CPD to achieve their ambitions – be realistic and prioritise. A PDP is not a request for unlimited training. Their employer will be interested in the business case for their PDP. Look to the future; don’t restrict one’s self to thinking about current professional responsibilities. Should they strengthen existing skills or develop new ones? List their priorities for the next two years. These will form the basis for deciding what CPD opportunities to take up. It is important to remember that their priorities are not cast in stone; they may decide to change them in the future. They should review and update their PDP regularly to respond to changing needs, challenges and opportunities. * Shadowing – when an individual require more supervision to ensure the quality of their job and provide teaching how do we expect them to work. * in-house training – providing all the in house training will make an individual feel that they are valued and this help them to practice in a safe way. * Training organisations – using other training organisations helps build relationship outside and helps with building competence in dealing with other individual. * Mentoring is providing support and encouragement to individual to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be. * Supervisions is one of the most important drivers in ensuring positive outcomes * Reflective Practice Reflective practice is a way of studying your own experiences to improve the way you work. It is very useful for health professionals who want to carry on learning throughout their lives. The act of reflection is a great way to increase confidence and become a more proactive and qualified professional. Engaging in reflective practice should help to improve the quality of care you give and close the gap between theory and practice. The following examples of reflective practice which will provide some idea of the various methods one can choose from. Gibbs reflective cycle Gibbs reflective cycle is a process involving six steps: * Description What happened? * Feelings What did you think and feel about it? * Evaluation What were the positives and negatives? * Analysis What sense can you make of it? * Conclusion What else could you have done? * Action Plan What will you do next time? It is a cycle because the action you take in the final stage will feed back into the first stage, beginning the process again. Johns model for structured reflection This is a series of questions to help one think through what has happened. They can read the questions here This can be used as a guide for analysing a critical incident or for general reflection on experiences. John’s model supports the need for the learner to work with a supervisor throughout the experience. He also recommends that the student use a structured diary. He suggests the student should ‘look in on the situation’, which would include focusing on yourself and paying attention to your thoughts and emotions. He then advises to ‘look out of the situation’ and write a description of the situation around your thoughts and feelings, what you are trying to achieve, why you responded in the way you did, how others were feeling, did you act in the best way, ethical concepts etc Rolfe’s framework for reflective practice Rolfe uses three simple questions to reflect on a situation: What? so what? and now what? He considers the final question as the one that can make the greatest contribution to practice. * What is the problem? was my role? happened? were the consequences? * So what was going through my mind? should I have done? do I know about what happened now? * Now what do I need to do? broader issues have been raised? might happen now? Factors to consider when selecting opportunities and activities for keeping knowledge and practice up to date * Relevance -It has to be relevant to the job role. * Time The length of the activity should be consider/ or how long will it take for you to finish the training or course. Sometimes you can get bored and loose the motivation because it is dragging to your job role or to your other responsibilities. * Benefits – It has to benefit the company, yourself, other staff and most especially people receiving your service. * Benefits for you: 1. enhanced reputation and job satisfaction 2. increased confidence and self esteem 3. improved career prospects and employability 4. improved professional status 5. Development is a transferable skill. * Benefits for your other staff: 1. better quality training 2. up-to-date advice and information 3. training that employs new approaches and methods 4. training that better meets needs 5. Greater confidence in the training provided for your organisation. * Benefits to the people who receives service: 1. enhanced reputation more likely to be seen as credible and reliable and to become a trusted organisation in care 2. more influence from the MDT’s 3. Family and friend of the people who uses services can be good ally and so as the service user 4. A more exciting learning environment and opportunities to learn from each other. (MDT’s) * Benefits to the organisation: 1. staff who can do the job 2. more likely to achieve evolving organisational goals 3. managers can be confident that staff skill levels are compliant and up-to-date with requirements 4. improved employee engagement 5. enhanced external reputation * Refresher course to be available – This help you update if there is a refresher course available for some of the trainings you take. * Cost – cost of the training usually is an issue especially if the training budget should be distributed amongst staff. Check for charity organisations who provide courses and take the opportunity to take it as long as it is related to your job role * Availability – it is difficult when the training you like to do is not available straight away and you will need to wait for it to be available. This can be frustrating at times and hinders the development plan. Beyond these factors it is good to get a balance of learning across: * Maintenance and development needs What you need to keep refreshed and up-to-date against what will be new areas of learning for you. * Specialist subjects and training skills/knowledge If you train in a particular subject area you will need to maintain you technical abilities and knowledge, as well as developing your skills and knowledge as a trainer. * Performance requirements and personal aspirations As well as the learning you have to undertake for your job and professional requirements, you may also have personal aspirations or long terms plan you want to prepare for. * Different learning methods Even if you have a preferred learning style it is important to involve yourself in a range of different approaches. Challenge your preferences sometimes – maybe opting for a highly participative learning activity, even though you would normally choose to learn through researching or reading – and develop your other styles in doing so. Continuing professional development (CPD) is the action we take to maintain, update and grow the knowledge and skills required for our professional role. As the name suggests, it is an on-going commitment, lasting for as long as we remain within our profession. There are many reasons why we are motivated to learn new things. The fact that we are in this profession suggests that we are already enthusiastic learners. CPD requires us to focus a part of our learning specifically on areas that are related to our profession. One of the key features of CPD is that it has to be: SMARTSpecific – be clear about what you want to achieve; what is the actual result or outcome that you want?Measurable – how will you know that you have achieved? What will you see, hear and feel that will tell you that you have achieved?Achievable – the objectives in your plan should be realistic and achievable steps to take you closer to your overall ambitions.Relevant – your objectives should be steps to larger career and personal aspirations, not just random pieces of learning.Time-bound – each outcome should have an achievable end-date – ideally within the timescale of your CPD planning period.|

Same Sex Parenting and Adoption Essay -- adoption, homosexuality, fami

Adoption for same sex couples is a very controversial topic in Family Law, and often same sex couples face many unique issues if they wish to adopt. Many states have different laws that apply for gay and lesbian adoption, as opposed to heterosexual couples. Several states also have special rules that apply when a child is born into a gay or lesbian partnership. Gay and lesbian couples may sometimes opt to bring a child into their lives through conception and birth as well. For a lesbian couple, this is usually done through a male donor or a sperm bank and having one of the couple become pregnant. Similarly, gay men may use a surrogate mother and then become a legal parent through adoption. The other parent then can become a legal second parent through stepparent or second parent adoption. However, many states including Virginia don’t allow second parent adoption. The definition of a legal ‘parent’ is (n.) the lawful and natural father or mother of a person. The word does not mean grandparent or ancestor, but can include an adoptive parent as a replacement for a natural parent. Adoption laws vary from state to state, and there are some states that do allow lesbian and gay couples to adopt children as legal, joint parents. Gay and lesbian couples in these states can go through adoption agencies in order to adopt, personally arrange their adoption, or even adopt internationally. In many states, however, stepparent, second parent or even joint adoption is not an option for gay and lesbian couples. Although the Commonwealth of Virginia does not have a law in place that prohibits same sex couples from adopting a child, it is usually a very hostile situation and it may be very difficult in many occasions for gays and lesbians to ... ...he way society will treat the child, the psychological effects on the child and the child’s well being and safety above all are the main factors that the courts should look at when dealing with this issue. As previously stated the issue of same sex adoption is one of the most controversial topics in today’s Family Law across the country and with good reason. Given that this involves the upbringing of human beings who are the future of our society, it is extremely important to make sure that they are given the best care and best influences in their lives in order to make good moral and educated decisions in their future lives. Same sex parenting may not be as bad as society has made it seem but it absolutely has to be socially and scientifically proven before any more steps are taken in this matter because, after all, it is in the â€Å"best interest of the child.†

Essay --

William Jewell History and Student Programs William Jewell was founded by affiliates of the Missouri Baptist convention in 1849. The college shares the name of Dr. William Jewell, because he donated $10,000 to the creation of the school. The school was originally associated with the Missouri Baptist convention, but in 2003 it became an independent college. One of the more famous campus chapels is the John Gano chapel; it was funded by John Gano’s great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Price, in 1926. However, the first building made was Jewell hall, which remains the focal point of the campus. Jewell’s first gymnasium separate from the school was made in 1896. World War One, as well as the burning of another women’s college in the area lead to women coming to Jewell, and they received the same admittance as men at the time. During World War Two, Jewell had a naval flight training school. This brought them more students during this time and in the years following. Jewell has had four presidents speak and many of th e world’s leading performers has have recitals on the Jewell campus. Jewell has more than seventy student programs. Including things like, Fellowship for Christian athletes, honors societies, orchestras and choirs, and many sorority and fraternity options. Jewell has dormitories on campus, and it is required that students live on campus for their first four years, with few exceptions. Background Information William Jewell is a liberal arts college in Liberty, Missouri with majors and minors from business to theatre. Jewell admission starts at $40,030 for room and board, tuition, and other fees. However, due to the fact that is a private school, it is generous with scholarships. William Jewell currently has a campus of 1,100 ful... ... musically and many other ways. William Jewell has the only Oxbridge program in existence (as stated earlier in the paper). Jewell also has the Harriman-Jewell series, and the teachers have an intimate relationship with the students. The students get to know one another by living on campus and through the numerous student run organizations. Summary William Jewell is strong academically, musically, and socially. It gives students opportunities to interact socially with other students and teachers with the small class size. Jewell is in a location that is conveniently near home but far enough away that I can be isolated. I would be able to satisfy my needs and enjoy myself with the clubs. I would be able to be a part of the track team and I would be able to thrive on the violin. The weather is mild but warm in the spring and early fall. So, I could be a cardinal.