Video Games Impact and Young People

With constant advances in technology, children are finding new ways of spending their afternoons. Instead of playing catch outside or riding their bikes to a neighbor's house, many children have resorted to sitting in front of a television and playing their favorite video game.Some people believe that video games do not have a serious effect on young children. However, research has repeatedly proven that violence in video games is having a negative effect on kids and the way they behave. Some of the games can increase a person's aggressive thoughts and make them behave very violently.Video games provoke violent thoughts and actions as the games are becoming too graphic for the kids and they're giving them knowledge about the utilization of guns and fighting skills. The video games are making kids act out violent crimes and making them very aggressive because sometimes they think it's acceptable to do what the characters do. Violent video games also have an immediate effect on a child 's mood, mind, and their brain development.Many kids enjoyed playing violent games because they were very entertaining to play and there was a lot of action and excitement in them. Also it was a rush for the kids to shoot people and blow things up. In a study that was done, which researched video game playing among 357 seventh and eighth grade students? The kids were asked to pick their favorite type of video game among five categories.The category that was most preferred was games that involved violence. Nearly 32% of the kids said they liked violent video games over any other type of game. Less than 2% of the children enjoyed playing educational games. (Funk, 86-90) The reason the students gave for liking violent video games more was that there is so much action in them and you can never get bored.Although video games are designed to be entertaining, challenging, and sometimes educational, most include violent content and many have very explicit graphics. The problem is that even though they are games, the ones involving shooting can teach some real skills about using weapons. A person who becomes good at handling a pistol or shotgun to kill fake enemies on a television screen can very easily turn those skills onto real people.And, in the process of playing the game, one becomes desensitized to the horror of real killing. Thus, if the killing ever does become real, it is carried out with a complete lack of empathy for the victims. There was an analysis done which showed that 89% of games showed some sort of violence (Children Now, 5-6), and that almost half of the video games that are out in the stores showed some extreme violence to other characters in the game. (Dietz, 425-42)Therefore, most of the games being bought by children contain some sort of violence in them. So violent video games are now becoming more popular and research has shown that these games are having negative effects on children. Kids sometimes don't realize that these games are only for fun and they shouldn't imitate what the game does. Thus, games sometimes can confuse reality with fantasy.For example, in games like Goldeneye 007 bad guys no longer disappear when they are killed. Instead they get killed in a very violent way with blood going all over the place. For example, those shot in the neck fall to the ground and blood squirts out their necks that cause them to grab their throats. Games like Unreal Tournament and Half-Life are very explicit and are very gorier.When characters get shot blood goes all over the place and when they fall there is blood surrounding the dead body. Also sometimes explosives are used and when they throw it at characters they blow up into small pieces. (APA, 78/4) Even though these games are so graphic, violent video games are the most popular games to be sold today.When these games came out kids were very addicted to them and some people believe that because the games are so graphic and violent the gamers are showing more aggressive tendencies after playing these violent games.There are many kids in which are becoming very violent and aggressive over the video games. In a study by Karen E. Dill violent video games increase aggression more then violent movies or television shows due to their interactive and engrossing nature. The two studies showed if a child is already aggressive they are now even vulnerable to violent video games and even if they get a brief exposure to the games it can increase their aggressive behavior. (Dill)There has been some research that has been done which demonstrates individual differences in response to the effects of violent video games. For example, a couple of studies showed that trait hostility might moderate the effects of playing video games.Lynch has found that the physiological effects of playing violent video games may be even greater for children who already show more aggressive tendencies. Adolescents who scored in the top quintile for trait hostility showed greater incr eases in mean arterial pressure, epinephrine, and nor-epinephrine levels in the blood than those in lower quintiles. (Lynch, 152)Therefore video games cause aggression and violence in children because they are interactive, realistically portray violence, and dangerously appeal to children. Violent video games also have an immediate effect on a child's mood, mind, and there brain development. Because they have encountered so much warfare, and gun-use in video games, children act as if they have to always be on-guard. Through many studies, scientists have observed that children develop a defiant attitude. They come to believe that every one is against them and consequently take advantage of every opportunity to create conflict.Obviously, violence is not an acceptable way of solving conflicts, especially for young children. The violence can also affect children's minds when they sleep. The article, â€Å"Media Violence† states that video games have significant effects on childre n such as nightmares when sleeping and fear of being harmed (Gentile, 19-37).The violence comes back in their dreams and severely scares them. For example, a seven-year-old boy, John Paul, played a violent video game every day after school for a month last year with his older brother. Every night, around 10:30pm, he would run into his parents' bedroom crying because he had seen the images from the game trying to attack him in his dream.These effects on a child's mind are powerful. With video games, children are repeatedly exposed to excessive violence and subconsciously fear the consequences of the enemies in their games. For young children, this fear of harm is real. In their still undeveloped minds, virtual violence is no different that actual violence. Video game violence is the most dangerous and influential in children under eight years old because their memories recall the violence as actually occurring. The first eight years of a child's life are the most important years of b rain development (Gentile, 19-37).Studies have shown that during this time, their minds cannot distinguish reality from fantasy when the events become memories (Gentile, 19-37). Therefore, when a child plays violent video games, those memories are stored in his mind as a vivid reality.â€Å"Because children younger than the age of 8 cannot discriminate between fantasy and reality, they are uniquely vulnerable to learning and adopting as reality the circumstances, attitudes, and behaviors portrayed [by video games],† (Anderson, 772-90). The violence affects children heavily, causing nightmares, anti-social attitudes, and an exaggerated fear of harm (Gentile, 19-37).Many games are limiting the amount of violence they put in their game and also many games are being banned from the shelves because they are too violent.Also parents are setting guidelines for the types of video games their children play and being aware of the content in their children's video games. Because the you nger the child, the more impressionable he or she is, and less experienced in evaluating content.† Even though a child may be chronologically a certain age, their social and emotional level of maturity may be different. Parents need to decide what is in the best interest of their children.†(Anderson, 772-90) Thus there have been many strides made, to try to restrict some of the violence in these video games and limit what is children play.As children grow up in their household, they are sometimes rewarded for kind and caring behavior. Many parents expect their children to treat one another with respect and love. By constant exposure to gruesome violence, the nature of video games makes this peaceful environment impossible to achieve.Video games cause aggression and anti-social attitudes in children because they are interactive, realistically portray violence, and dangerously appeal to children. They are having such a negative effect on kids and are becoming a major probl em in America. Society must become aware of these effects caused by video games so that we can promote a peaceful and loving generation of children that respect everyone and everything.Works Cited:Anderson, C.A., and K.E. Dill. Video Games and Aggressive Thoughts, Feelings, and Behavior in the Laboratory and Life. â€Å"Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78 (2000): 772-790.Children Now. Fair Play? Violence, Gender and Race in Video Games. Los Angeles, CA: Children Now, 2001. 5-6Dietz, T.L. (1998). â€Å"An Examination of Violence and Gender Role Portrayals in Video Games: Implications For Gender Socialization and Aggressive Behavior. Sex Roles 38 (1998): 425-442.Funk, J.B. â€Å"Reevaluating the Impact of Video Games.† Clinical Pediatrics 32, 2 Feb. 1993: 86-90.

Board Members

C) The new management is becoming very aggressive with the adoption new accounting policies and financial reporting. The management is starting to take greater risk and adopt new revenue recognition policies. They believed the previous year’s policies were too conservative and inappropriate. The new management is placing higher priority on short-term performance rather than long term. The reason behind these major changes is due to the excessive pressure on management. Everyone in the management knows that they have to show an increase in the profit of the organization, or they will also lose their jobs, just like the previous management. Thus they are adopting various new accounting policies and are concentrating heavily on the short term results. This may make the company look good from the externally for a short term. However it is very likely that the numbers on the financial statement are not be accurate. The short term success of the company does not help them internally, there are many things that the new management is changing that may not be healthy for the company. The new management also indicated that the past process of determining the accounting estimates were â€Å"overly Conservative† a new method of accounting estimating is being introduced. The new method of the accounting estimates will also affect the financial statements, because it will most like overstates assets and understate the liabilities. Thus achieving the short-term goals of the management. The company’s accounting functions are decentralized, and the operating management does not sign off the reported results, they are reviewed by the CFO and CEO before being released. The needs to be changed, the reports should be signed off by the operating management because they are closer to the operations of the company. They have the knowledge and the expertise of that part of the company, the CFO and CEO are at the top they may not be able to understand what the numbers on the reports mean. The operating management can read the reports more precisely as they are the ones who are working in that particular area, it is easier for them to catch errors and frauds. The employees that prepare the statements may be overstating the numbers on the reports to show that they are achieving the required performance levels. e) The organization has great controls over the segregation of employee duties. Authority and responsibilities are assigned in a â€Å"formal, written manner†. Employees are aware of what their daily duties are and they understand their responsibilities. The company even has written job descriptions for employees and their supervisors, and these job descriptions contain specific instructions related to controls and responsibilities. The company has given significant amounts of authority to the supervisors, so they can monitor the day to day activates of the employees and make sure they are following the company policies. The organization also does a good job making sure that the supervisors do not overstep their reasonable boundaries. This is done by giving different level employees different type of authorities. Thus the organization has successfully distributed adequate amount of responsibilities to their employees and management.

Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding BY adam5701 When a bodybuilder, fitness, figure, or physique competitor begins to prepare for a contest there are so many different variables that go into how you are supposed to train. From personal experience, exercise order has not made a huge impact for the results I was striving to achieve. As long as I do not work the same muscle group within a 48-hour period (since that is the typical recovery time for your muscles to fully repair), I have achieved amazing results. Here are a few other things I highly recommend doing, which if not done properly it almost makes it impossible to ucceed. First hire a reputable coach, I initially made the mistake of taking a shortcut and hired someone because they were cheap which made me place dead last in my first competition. Since then I paid the money and hired someone who knew the ins and outs of competing and it has done wonders for me. A coachs Job is to typically plan out your diet, workout routine, supplementation, posing routine, and best of all its great to have someone else looking at you once or twice a week to see how you change and what else you need to improve on. Yes, I could have done all this on my own but this outside eye makes a huge difference and trying to plan all this out while youre brain dead from dieting can be difficult at times. Next thing is to plan out every little detail in your workout, diet, and sleep schedule for every hour each day. Consistency is a big part of competing and if you are not consistent you will not see any of the results you desire. When attempting to gain muscle mass or density, most people automatically think they have to lift heavy in order to grow. Personally I have found it much more useful o lift at a lower weight with a rep range from 8-20 depending on the exercise. I still see amazing results because each time I do this I make sure I fatigue the muscle and push it until failure. The way I achieve this is by making my rest time between sets and exercises no more than 60 seconds for a single workout, and up to 90 seconds for a drop set (which is starting off with a high weight for a low amount of reps and increasing the reps as you drop the weight, I typically drop the weight about 3-4 times). There was also a study performed where Regardless of the number of reps erformed, the subjects burned 52% more calories when they rested Just 30 seconds between sets as compared to three minutes or more. Working at 10 reps per set burned about 7% more calories than five-rep sets did (Stoppani, Jim, Flex pg. 1). There are also other things I do in order to fatigue my muscle and cause growth, rather than Just focusing on rest time. As shown in my workout plan notes you will notice that my 1 5 to 20 repetition exercises are more towards the beginning of my workout. I have it set up this way because I do not do conventional stretching before orking out since it essentially lowers the amount of weight or reps I can perform. Instead I do these warm up sets of 15 to 20, and this isnt Just light easy rep weight, I make sure its enough to where once I get to those last two reps I feel as if my muscle will give out. This enables blood to flow into the muscles and essentially gets them warmed up and ready for the heavier tasks. Another thing I love incorporating are three workouts of 1 or 2 muscle groups you are training, which I normally choose exercises that are opposite in movement), focus on the time and length of ontraction, and lastly a rest pause (which if I do not perform all 20 reps and only get to 13, I will rest for 20 seconds and complete the remaining 7). Training with these different intensities on random workouts makes a huge difference for strength and muscle gain. The main reason I have found this effective is because I am constantly tearing down my muscle fibers with a different method each workout. Another big thing to think about when training for competitions, or even Just working out in general is to achieve the mind and body connection. My theory on this s that its impossible to workout the muscle you are targeting if you are unable to feel it. In other words an isometric contraction, because any type of muscle growth and performance depend primarily on the neuromuscular system (Yessis pg. 1). A good way to practice would be Just to attempt to flex each individual muscle, which at first is very difficult for someone who is Just starting out. Also doing this between sets for 6-10 seconds can actually promote muscle growth and density. Flexing the targeted muscle(s) between sets lets you know the feeling you want to duplicate during the set. With practice, this will strengthen your focus so you can better work that area (Flex pg. 98). If you talk to almost any bodybuilder or physique athlete, they would be able to make almost any muscle they train contract on its own and will be the first to tell you its extremely difficult to hold. If you continue to train your muscles with these so-tension types of exercises you essentially get them accustomed to being in that position which is crucial for stage presence. If you do not practice this before going onto a stage, you tend to be more susceptible to cramps or its difficult o hold the pose for minutes and points will be deducted from shaking or relaxing on the pose. When training or developing a program, each muscle group needs to be trained for this sport. For me personally I have a few weak areas, which is why my individual workout I train deltoids twice a week and only incline chest workouts on there respected day. Also notice the time spread between the deltoid workouts, its Monday and Friday so I am staying within that time frame for optimal muscle repair. The reason I have so much attention on these two muscle groups are because Judges in hysique competition love the big rounded shoulder look, and a full chest. I have a disadvantage in these areas mainly because I am still only 21 so I dont have fully matured muscles yet, and many other competitors are 24 and above. The only way I compensate for this lack of size is to focus on them more than everyone else. Also for the deltoids I have a day that is more heavy, but still at that 12 rep range and another that goes up to 20 reps known as my day. I find it great to have two different variations for optimal muscle growth, especially since it is a small muscle group and s extremely easy to over stress with too much weight in turn causing injury (which I had when I first began lifting at 18). When training this muscle group I focus on the contraction, as well as the time it takes me to fully go through the concentric and eccentric motion. This method insures for me ensures optimal stress without the risk The sport of fitness competing is always plagued for injury, and there will always be that risk. Basically every muscle you train will be susceptible to injury, and there is no way to get around it. However, there are ways to significantly minimize the risks. Workout form has to be at the top of this list hands down, I see many people training and sometimes I cringe Just watching them because it looks as if they will snap their back or tear a muscle. Always make sure to have great form and control with each exercise, and this in my opinion should be applied to any workout you do not Just resistance training. Second thing would have to be the amount of weight you choose to use. I see so many individuals, guys in particular try to do so much damn weight in order to impress that pretty girl, and in turn end up getting hurt and making a fool ut of themselves. Always keep in mind everyone has to start somewhere, and remember no girl is going to care how much weight you can bench. Also perform exercises that are plausible and not these ridiculous crossflt types of movement exercises. I am sorry, but I am not a firm believer in picking up 2001b from the ground and lifting it over your head. That to me is an instant sign for so many different injuries, and not to mention the trainers instructing you allow you to do it with the most horrendous form. Make sure to stretch before working out with warm up sets to et the blood flow throughout the muscle, and after working out with conventional stretches to increase flexibility. Lastly, mind your peers when training because you in fact can injure someone else. I had an incident with a New Years resolution individual that was doing 801b with dumbbell press, and he decides it is too heavy and Just throws them on the ground and it almost bounced onto my foot, which most likely would have broken it. Now with all that being said there are some freak accidents I have seen people with perfect form and mediocre weight have one of heir muscles Just tear, and it is one of the most painful things to witness. I personally had an incident when I was doing incline dumbbell press with 1001b, I performed the exercise without any issues. However when I set the weights down on my knees to put them down, my wrist Just snapped and made this loud popping noise and it hurt terribly. I have no idea what happened and Just took a break for a few weeks because it was painful to grip anything, and it slowly went away for the most part. Since then I use wrist straps and weight belts to help stabilize those parts of my body, which I have found to help. The goal with this program is not only strength gains, but to basically look the best you can physically. It is not all about size, you want to find a nice balance between size, lean muscle mass, and proportionality for your specific division. The program I have set up is the one I currently use for my offseason training (typically the time when there are no shows for 4-6 months). This specific one is to help me gain size, while retaining majority of my lean muscle mass and density so when I have to prepare for a show I will be able to do so with an 8 week program. While prepping for show a lot of my training changes, and I add a few plyometric workouts in as well as interval cardiovascular training 4-6 days a week depending how far out I am from competing. Any type of cardiovascular training I typically do fasted in the morning, difference personally. There are millions of different workouts for different individuals, this specific one I wouldnt say should be used by every competitor since I conformed it to address my weaknesses. For a basic individual who is intermediately experienced with training, and is trying to look great however this would be a great tarting point.

Environmental Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Environmental Issues - Essay Example Handling temperatures and pressures of subsea oil can easily be monitored through the use of sensors and other instruments even during drilling (p. 135). But Rose argues that even though modern technology, research and monitoring systems have reduced the frequency of ecological catastrophes, still, there are factors that can cause oil-well blowout from high-pressure and high-temperature which can result to emission of buoyant plume of oil, producing water and methane (p. 141). Baird stated that â€Å"hurricanes have become manageable, with oil lines now being capped at or beneath the ocean floor† (p. 135). But aside from oil lines on and beneath the ocean floor, Rose said Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed 115 platforms, spilling roughly 17,700 barrels of petroleum and 25,110 barrels of mixed crude oil from above-ground storage tanks in Louisiana (p. 141-142). Petroleum leaks, Baird said, can now be restrained by industrial seals (p. 135). Although this is the case, the pro blem does not stop at petroleum leaks. Rose argues that another disturbing impact of offshore oil is the volume and type of wastes, such as produced water, drilling fluids, cuttings, diesel emissions, and chemicals associated with operating mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical equipment (p. 142). Even with modern technology, we cannot guarantee that offshore drilling can withstand the force of God, which include hurricanes and other natural disasters, and human errors. Modern technology cannot reverse the destructive environmental impacts of offshore drilling gone wrong. It is better for us to find alternative sources which are safer for the environment and for the people’s health. Protecting the environment does not mean we are less concerned about protecting the country from economic problems, but other alternative sources can lower oil imports and thus save our country from further spending. Issue 8 - The release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to global w arming and is thus a danger to the well-being of human beings. To ease global warming, either people refrain from using fossil fuel as an energy source or capture carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere (Easton, 2011, p. 148). In carbon capture technology, the debate is not about the existence of the said technology but on their sustainability, safety and viability in being stored underground indefinitely (p. 149). In a nutshell, there are three issues surrounding the debate between David Hawkins and Charles Schmidt – the availability of technology, safety concerns and the political will to end the use of coal (Easton, 2011, p. 149-150). Hawkins maintains that the technology to capture carbon emissions are already existing and can already be utilized while Schmidt contends that the available technology is not yet technically and financially viable to be utilized in a major scale (p. 149). Anent to this issue is the question on safety, while Hawkins maintain that the t echnology on safety concerns are already feasible, Schmidt contends that there is still no assurance that carbon dioxide can be stored and can remain in containment underground indef

Total Quality Managment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Total Quality Managment - Research Paper Example The increased pace of technological development, complex customer demand as well as local and global market competition have turned out to be more sophisticated and intense, complicating the overall business activities. To counter the ever increasing contemporary business challenges, a good number of modern global organizations have embarked on utilizing TQM, which presents numerous opportunities. Using resources in the expansion and technologically oriented approaches in their daily business undertakings. This contributed to numerous quality management standards such as Total Quality Management. This paper explores issues regarding TQM and its benefits as a management approach for organizations. Total quality management has numerous advantages. TQM is an effectual and variable management system restrained not only in the quality assurance department, but also in the entire organization businesses. Therefore, Total Quality Management can be implicated to be an incredibly influential intervention mechanism that can last for an extended period of time if properly managed and modified to lime with emerging technology and demands (Evans, 2011). Total Quality Management is based on four major philosophical assumptions. For a starter, Total Quality Management is presumed to be cheap compared to the other conventional mechanism and it is incredibly decisive for long term development of an organization. Secondly, employees are always concerned about their responsibility in improving the quality of the product and service delivery. Therefore, employees only require to be provided with the necessary tools, skills, and maximum respect from the management to improve their performance. Thirdly, the entire organizational system is composed of highly independent sections. For this reason, the crisis in one section affects extensively

Staffing Strategy for a New Plant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Performance Management - Assessment item 1 (Essay) Essay

Performance Management - Assessment item 1 ( ) - Essay Example Performance appraisals are used to determine the quality of performance of each employee in his job. An idea as to those who have talent or need training and those who may be promoted, demoted, retained, or fired will be obtained. The transitional differences in organizations over the recent years have influenced the performance appraisal systems too to accommodate larger business opportunities and priority in the aims (Sonnentag, 2002, p. 115). Sonnentag has described performance appraisal as a â€Å"generic term covering a variety of processes whereby an individual’s work performance is assessed, usually by that person’s line manager and discussed with a view to solving problems, improving performance and developing the individual appraised† (2002, p.116). He has detailed three perspectives contributing to employee performance: the individual, situational and performance regulation. The behavior, motivational personality and the interpersonal relationships of the employees play a role in the success of the appraisal systems. The appraisal would materialize based on the organizational politics and conflict avoidance of the appraiser, the appraisee’s behavior and the relationship between the two parties. The appraisee’s differences in behavior change his views on the â€Å"need for achievement, goal orientation, self awareness and self efficacy, self esteem, locus of control and feedback attitudes† (Sonnentag, 2002, p. 115). His performance level would depend much on his personality and mental make-up, the situational aspect where events may facilitate or obstruct his functional performance and the organizational performance regulations of goal setting (Sonnentag, 2002, p. 8). â€Å"declarative knowledge, procedural knowledge and skills and lastly motivation† (1990). Campbell’s model was considered proficient. The

Nursing Science in Research and Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nursing Science in Research and Practice - Essay Example M., 2002). Evidence-based science is needed to be integrated into the nursing practice to meet the nursing roles of 21st century standards. By evidence-based practice, it is meant that these are proven ways to diagnose and treat patients based on rigorous evidence from contemporary science that may include not only theoretical perspectives, also practice perspectives. By practice perspectives, it is intended to mean studies that elucidate the clinical effectiveness of a particular practice. Authors have also defined it as application of best available empirical evidence that applies recent research findings to clinical practice so it may come into assistance of the clinical decision making of the nurse. To move into the 21st century, the nurses need to base their clinical practice on such empirical evidence to optimize outcomes of clients, to provide safe and accountable practice within the ethical realm, to ensure cost-effective practice on the face of resource constraints, and by these, to e nhance credibility of the profession (Litchfield, M., 1999). When the question of roles that nurses need to play to be able to efficiently do this arises, the answer is simple. They need to fill the gap between research findings and their implementation in their practice. In practice the academic structure for the basic nursing training should be oriented in such a manner that they can overcome the currently observed difficulty in synthesizing empirical and contextual evidence in order to integrate evidence-based changes into practice. Thus, their role should increasingly demonstrate skills and resourcefulness to appraise, synthesize, and implement best evidence into practice. This indicates an organized drift from the established knowledge and practice, and the nurses need to assume the dual role of a practitioner and a researcher. The science of nursing knowledge is a same scholarly investigative process that attempts to find out the factors that cause a change in the phenomenon. Thus, they should accept a practice activity that has been substantiated as predicting valid and reliable outcomes for their clients. This could only be done through establishment of a new body of knowledge confirmed by numerous research efforts and implementation of change in conventional practice based on that knowledge (Rogers, M. E., 1970). The integration of nursing practice should happen with strong rigorous empiric evidence, and such practice is always underpinned by nursing theory and science. The 21st Century nurses, thus would practice a systematic way of knowing that allows them to understand, predict, and explain the outcomes of their practice that is desired to help clients. It is important to note that now, the knowledge is being generated as a rapid pace, and they must adjust to this speed where they are able to understand and articulate clearly the theoretical bases of their discipline, both past and present. With a scholarship only, they can diagnose

Discussion wk 4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion wk 4 - Assignment Example Similarly, firms that are looking to minimize their risk even at a higher cost would go for conservative financing strategies. Nominal interest rate is also termed as the stated interest rate. This interest rate does not include the compounding of the period or the time of the loan or investment and this interest rate is the simple interest rate. On the other hand, effective interest rate considers the compounding of the period throughout the period of the loan or investment. Effective interest rate is used in order to analyze and compare the annual interest between loans or investment with different time periods. Generally, the nominal interest rate is less than the effective interest rate (Elias). Therefore the main factor that causes these two types of interest rate to differ is the period of the loan or investment. Elias, G. What is the difference between effective interest rates and nominal interest rates?. Engineering Economy, 26 Jan. 2014.

University of Dallas Education Essay Example for Free

University of Dallas Education Essay In attending the University of Dallas, I expect to broaden my views in the understanding that I currently have of my community and the world I live in. In obtaining an education at this University, I am opening my mind to gain an understanding to all that there is here to take in and understand. I expect to gain the knowledge and skills that will help me to succeed for the rest of my life from my university education here. I expect to graduate and earn a higher income, become a more skilled professional, be prepared for more job opportunities and reach a higher potential for myself than had I not attended the University of Dallas. I expect to gain an increased quality of life from the education I receive here, like mentioned in the following information from an educational site: â€Å"Children of college-educated parents are more likely to graduate from high school and continue onto college; they are more likely to have higher cognitive development; and sons and daughters of college educated mothers and fathers are considerably less likely to become unmarried teen parents† (Benefits, 2007). I expect to gain the knowledge and skills training, education from the program that I am in to graduate and be prepared to work in the field I am preparing to go into. But most of all, I expect to gain from my education from University of Dallas what I put into it. I know that an education of and in itself is not a magic pill to anything. However, by applying myself as well as I can in all of my classes and in all of the coursework I take here, I expect from my University of Dallas education the extent to which I put into it . Reference Benefits of College. Retrieved April 13, 2007, from Think College Early Massachusetts Web site: http://www. thinkcollegeearly. org/benefits/benefit. htm

What Is Digital Communication?

What Is Digital Communication? Digital communication is an electronic transmission of information that has been encoded digitally for storage and processing data by computers. The internet, web sites, virtual meetings and emails are all part of digital communications. This report discusses the role of digital communication in cross-cultural issues such as religion, hierarchy and business ethics. In this report, cross cultural issues and the access of digital communication is discussed. Digital communication is essential for every business. In this report I have compared Australian and Indian culture and role of digital communication in cross cultural issues of these two countries. In todays world, communication plays an integral part to establish the business within the country or among other countries. Establishment of business depends on various aspects like religion, hierarchy and business ethics. Cost -benefit ethics are good for an organisation. Digital communications like internet, virtual meetings, email are beneficial for an organisation. The Communication is a method of exchanging information with each other. In old times people used to communicate through phone, letters and visiting physically. Nowadays everyone is using technology to communicate locally or overseas. Digital communication plays a vital role in business. Use of Internet, websites, virtual meetings and email, videoconferencing and teleconferencing gives us more freedom to communicate anywhere in the world. But this freedom can create troubles sometimes (Robert,n.d). Studies have shown that access to digital communication may or may not have any influence on cross cultural issues. This report has discussed the Indian culture, the Australian culture and role of digital communication in cross-cultural issues of these countries. 2.1 Indian Culture India has a rich and colourful culture. According to Grihault ,2003 India has given the world two greatest religions :- Hinduism and Buddhism. The Hinduism is dominant religion in India. There are other religions in India as well: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jain. Majority of Indians have strong belief in religion. Indian society is based on hierarchy. Hierarchy is not only seen in families but also in businesses. Indian culture is male dominant. Although India is a political democracy, in everyday life there is little encouragement to notions of equal opportunity. In India all relationships involve hierarchies. Yousuf et al. 2007 conducted a survey in Kashmir (state of India), to evaluate the perceptions and practises of medical practitioners in matters relating to informed consent in certain hospitals. Results of the survey showed if consent was refused, medical practitioners would still proceed with the intervention without any justification for consent. Doctors opinion was considered the most important in clinical decision making. Results also showed that not all information was disclosed to female patients. This study highlights the male dominance, decision making process and hierarchy system in India. Here are some of the business ethics in India. Indians prefer to do business with those they know better and build relationships upon mutual trust and respect. Indians conduct meetings either in late mornings or early afternoon. Meeting can be cancelled in short notice or at last minute. Indians are impressed with punctuality. In India decision is only made by the authority. Indian people who do business dress up in traditional garments. Indians reserve titles; for example Professor, Doctor and Engineer and status is strong-minded by age, qualification, cast and profession. Indians also use titles such as sir or Madam instead of taking names. In India business cards are exchanged after initial greetings. 2.2 Australian Culture Australia is a multicultural society. A recent census showed that approximately 68% of Australian population were Christians, 1.5% were Muslim and 2% Buddhists (Penney 2007). Religion is not taken very seriously by the Australian people. The number of people attending church in Australia is falling day by day. Australia is hierarchical society in certain aspects; example Australian men earn 10% more than women. Though men and women are considered equal in Australian society, most of the upper level positions in corporate, academic and public sector are occupied by men. Australians favour equality than recognised hierarchy. Australians see hierarchy as a disruption to positive and productive social relations. In Australian workplaces there are bosses and sub-ordinates; bosses must earn the respect of their employees. People at workplaces are called by their names rather than being greeted as sir or madam. Workplaces in Australia are free of language and behaviours that would degrade any individual. Here are some of the Australian business ethics: Australians communicate in a straightforward manner and sometimes use very colourful language. They do not need long-standing relationship before doing business. Punctuality is very important for Australians while doing business. They prefer to arrive a few minutes earlier than to keep someone waiting for you. Appointments are important and easy to schedule. Australians are generally relaxed people. Australians use facts and figures in business presentations as theres no place for feelings and emotions in Australias business atmosphere. Australians do not need lengthy discussions to do business, negotiations often proceed quickly. Australians do not like high pressure techniques in business deals. Top level management decisions are made after consulting others and hence this makes the decision making process slow. People doing business are usually expected to dress up formally. Australians do exchange their business cards after initial greetings, but not exchanging a business card is not considered insulting. 2.3 Role of digital communication in cross cultural issues of Australia and India In todays world the internet, websites, video conferencing and emails have become an important part of our lives. Internet is an important resource from where all sorts of information can be gathered. But use of internet varies from one country to the other. The difference in use of the internet across various countries is called digital divide. Technology, economy, politics and culture contribute to this digital divide. Nath et al 2004 have studied the relationship between the cultural dimensions proposed by Hofstede and the Internet diffusion rate of nations. According to them cultures that avoid uncertainty and risks are resistant to the use of internet, and societies with high masculine culture tend to have lower internet diffusion rate. In such societies the culture does not favour internet use. This study showed that diffusion rate in India was Information on cross cultural differences of India and Australia is very important in doing business across these two countries. The Cultural value set given below shows the differences between Indian and Australian culture. INDIA AUSTRALIA Individualism Collectivism Long term Orientation Short Time Orientation Single Group Mixed Group Event Oriented Time Oriented Internet is a useful resource of gaining such information. Kayan et al. 2006 have said that information technologies facilitate cross cultural collaboration but this may be restricted by different styles of IT use in different cultures. Access to digital communication is not only beneficial to large businesses but can also help small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) to grow and participate in global markets of developed as well as developing countries. Patricia et al. 2007 conducted a study to investigate and evaluate the business environment in India, and identify factors that how small and medium sized businesses can participate in international marketplace. Several factors were identified in this study; one of major factors identified was that internationalization of SMEs in India can be achieved by increased utilization of information technology and better use of online resources. Hornby et al. 2002 conducted a study to understand export barriers of Australia and UKs SMEs (small and medium entrepreneurs). This study also addressed the effect of E-commerce on SMEs, how internet can help to break down export barriers and focus on cultural differences depending on firms export market. Results of this study showed that Australian businesses using internet, perceived lower export barriers. But SMEs in Australia did not give consideration to overcome cross cultural issues and need for foreign representation as they used market extension approach for their websites. Merryfield, 2003 conducted a study to understand the role of online technologies while teaching social studies and global education to students. Study was conducted on 92 American teachers and 22 Cultural consultants who interacted with students in graduate programs. Mode of interaction was online discussions. Results of the study showed that online technologies were the perfect tools for teaching social studies and global education to students due the availability of various resources on the internet. 3.0 Conclusion The role of digital communication varies from one culture to the other. Above studies show that some businesses use technology to have better understanding of cross cultural issues whereas some use it simply as an essential part of business. On the basis of above literature it can be concluded that access to digital communication promotes cross cultural collaboration but it depends on the purpose of its use. 4.0 Annotated references Armstrong, A Francis, D.R, n.d, Personal Ethics in a Corporate World, Journal of Business Systems, Governance and Ethics, vol 3, No.1, pp. 27-33 (Online Google). This article has discussed about relationship between personal morality and ethical corporate behaviour. They also talked about intellectual competence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EIQ), confounding issues such as the stability of moral intelligence. Grihault, N 2003, Culture Smart India, Kuperard, Great Britain. In this book Grihault has discussed about Indian land, people, values and attitudes, religion, communication and business briefing such as business attitudes, business culture, business communication, meeting and negotiations. Hornby, G, Goulding, P Poon, S 2002, Percptions of Export Barriers and Cultural Issues: The SME E-commerce Experience, Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 213-226 (Online Google Scholar). This article is about small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). This study discussed use of E-commerce in international market. This is a comparison of Australia and UK in regards of E-commerce. They highlight some of cultural issues during the process of marketing internationally across different cultures. India a country study, viewed on 29th April, 2010. http://www.country-data.com/frd/cs/intoc.html This web site is providing information on India such as roots of Indian religion, language, ethnicity, society and culture, hierarchy, cast and class, telecommunication, foreign relations and business ethics in India. ITIM international, viewed on 29th April, 2010. http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_australia.shtml This website provide information about cultural dimensions such as power distance index (PDI), individualism (IDV), masculinity (MAS), uncertainty avoidance index (UAI) and long-term orientation (LTO). Kayan, S, Fussell, S.R Setlock, D.L, 2006, Cultural differences in the use of instant messaging in Asia and North America vol. 6, pp. 525-528 (online Google). This article is all about different styles of Information Technology use in different cultures. They have been conducted on the use of Instant Messaging in North America and Asia. This study reflects the difference between Western individualistic, low-context cultures and Eastern collectivistic, high-context cultures. In this study they found multi-party chat, audio-video chat emotions were very famous in Asia than in North America. Merryfield, M. 2003, Like a veil: Cross-cultural experiential learning online, Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, vol. 3, pp. 146-171 (Online Google Scholar). This article discussed about places for cross-cultural online interaction, substantive content, cross-cultural engagement, exploration of and risk-taking with sensitive topics, controversial issues and conflicting perspectives, issues of special interests. Nath, R Murthy, N.R.V 2004, A Study of the Relationship Between Internet Diffusion and Culture, Relationship Internet Diffusion and Culture Journal of International Technology and Information Management, vol. 13, no.2, pp. 123-132 (Online Google Scholar). This article discussed about the adaptation and use of technology innovations. They also talked about digital divide. This paper examines the relationship between the cultural dimensions proposed by Hofsted and the Internet adoption rate of nations. Patrica, R.T, Rajshekhar Javalgi, G 2007, Internationalization of SMEs in India: Fostering Enterpreneurship by Leveraging Information Technology, International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. 2, issue. 2, pp.166-180 (Online Emerald). This study is based on small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in India. This study is to investigate and evaluate the business environment. How India is developing in international market? It is planned that the key method for development of entrepreneurship is through the utilization of technology. Penney, B 2003, Culture Smart Australia, Kuperard, Great Britain. This book is all about Australian people, values and attitudes, Australian English-speaking strine, use of communication methods and business briefing such as the Australian way of business, women in management, work ethics, egalitarianism in the work place, business and socializing. The Webs leading resource for International Business Etiquette and Manners, viewed on 29th April, 2010. http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/india.htm This website is a leading resource for International business etiquette and manners. This website is providing every countries business ethics such as Appearance, Behavior, Communications, and Resources and also you can get Geert Hofstede Analysis. Tiffen, R Gittins, R 2004, How Australia Compares, Ligare Pty Ltd, Australia. This book is a handy reference that compares Australia with other countries such as Education, Inequality and social welfare, International relations, Telecommunications and computing, religion, values and attitudes. West, A.B, Murphy, T.F, 2007, Gday Boss! Australian Culture and Workplace, Tribus Lingua, Australia. This book is all about Australian culture. Such as heart of culture, characteristics, level of cultures, generalise vs. stereotyping, Australian values contrasts, beliefs and behaviours, equality vs. recognised hierarchy, informal vs. formal, connected vs. distant, work vs. leisure, individualism vs. collectivism and dealing with conflicts. Yousuf R M, Fauzi A R M, How S H, Rasool A G, Rehana K 2007, Singapore Medical Journal, Awareness, knowledge and attitude towards informed consent among doctors in two different cultures in Asia: a cross-sectional comparative Study in Malaysia and Kashmir, India, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 559-565 (Online Google). This is a Medical journal and in this study they discussed about some cultural issues. This study is about doctors attitude and acknowledges the patients autonomy. This is all about modern medical ethics across culture. They also talked about the cultural and religious views of the local population.

u.s. grant Essay -- essays research papers

Ulysses Hiram Grant was born April 27, 1822, in a two room frame house at Point Pleasant, Ohio. His father, Jesse Root Grant, was foreman in a tannery and a farmer. His mother, Hannah Simpson Grant, was a hard working frontier woman. When Ulysses was a year old, the family moved to Georgetown. There his father bought a farm, built a house, and set up his own tannery. Jesse and Hannah had five more children there, two boys and three girls. Grant love horses and learned to manage them at an early age. When he was seven or eight he could drive a team and began hauling all the wood used in the house and shops. From that point on until he reached seventeen, Grant did all the work done with horses; such as breaking up the land, furrowing, plowing corn, bringing in the crops when harvested, and hauling wood. Three months each winter when work was minimized Grant went to a one room schoolhouse, and that's how he was educated until he went to West Point at age seventeen. When Grant turned seventeen, his father got him an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The congressman who made the appointment did not know Grants' full name, so he left out Hiram and added Simpson. Simpson, was Grants', mothers' maiden name. Grant did not care for military life and never expected to stay in the army. He was good in mathematics and hoped sometime to teach. He was, however, the best horseman at the academy. He was Quiet, shy, and he made few friends. When he was commissioned, Ulysses was ordered to Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri. While stationed there he met Julia Dent, daughter of a slave owning Southern family . Within three months he proposed to her and was accepted. Since he had only his pay as lieutenant, the wedding was postponed. Grant was in almost every battle of the Mexican War. He fought on foot, observing many different commanders and how they lead their troops. This experience, he said, was of great value to him, because he became acquainted with nearly all the officers of the regular army. Some of them including the great soldier Robert E. Lee were to be on the Confederate side in the Civil War. Grant came back from Mexico a captain. He at once married Julia and took her to his new station, Sackett's Harbor, New York. During the Mexican War. This is where Grant formed the habit of drinking. At Sackett's Harbor he joined a t... ...ed in 1884 and left Grant penniless and humiliated. Ward was sent to the state penitentiary. To earn money, Grant turned to writing. Samuel L. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was then a subscription book publisher. He offered Grant a high royalty for his memoirs, and in 1885 Grant began to dictate them. A pain in his throat was finally diagnosed as cancer, but Grant went on, writing with a pen, to provide for his wife after he was gone. In the summer of 1885 Mrs. Grant took her husband to the Adirondacks near Saratoga. There he finished his `Personal Memoirs' about a week before he died on July 23. Written frankly, the work ranks high among military biographies. It was so popular that Mrs. Grant received nearly $450,000 from its sale. A granite tomb to Grant's memory was built on Riverside Drive in New York City, in 1959 it became a national memorial. Grant's life was like a roller coaster, in the beginning he started low and was regarded as a failure. He worked his way to the top, became the most honored general in the U.S., and was elected President of the United States. Then suddenly his life went downhill, his firm crashed, he developed cancer and died bankrupt. u.s. grant Essay -- essays research papers Ulysses Hiram Grant was born April 27, 1822, in a two room frame house at Point Pleasant, Ohio. His father, Jesse Root Grant, was foreman in a tannery and a farmer. His mother, Hannah Simpson Grant, was a hard working frontier woman. When Ulysses was a year old, the family moved to Georgetown. There his father bought a farm, built a house, and set up his own tannery. Jesse and Hannah had five more children there, two boys and three girls. Grant love horses and learned to manage them at an early age. When he was seven or eight he could drive a team and began hauling all the wood used in the house and shops. From that point on until he reached seventeen, Grant did all the work done with horses; such as breaking up the land, furrowing, plowing corn, bringing in the crops when harvested, and hauling wood. Three months each winter when work was minimized Grant went to a one room schoolhouse, and that's how he was educated until he went to West Point at age seventeen. When Grant turned seventeen, his father got him an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. The congressman who made the appointment did not know Grants' full name, so he left out Hiram and added Simpson. Simpson, was Grants', mothers' maiden name. Grant did not care for military life and never expected to stay in the army. He was good in mathematics and hoped sometime to teach. He was, however, the best horseman at the academy. He was Quiet, shy, and he made few friends. When he was commissioned, Ulysses was ordered to Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri. While stationed there he met Julia Dent, daughter of a slave owning Southern family . Within three months he proposed to her and was accepted. Since he had only his pay as lieutenant, the wedding was postponed. Grant was in almost every battle of the Mexican War. He fought on foot, observing many different commanders and how they lead their troops. This experience, he said, was of great value to him, because he became acquainted with nearly all the officers of the regular army. Some of them including the great soldier Robert E. Lee were to be on the Confederate side in the Civil War. Grant came back from Mexico a captain. He at once married Julia and took her to his new station, Sackett's Harbor, New York. During the Mexican War. This is where Grant formed the habit of drinking. At Sackett's Harbor he joined a t... ...ed in 1884 and left Grant penniless and humiliated. Ward was sent to the state penitentiary. To earn money, Grant turned to writing. Samuel L. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was then a subscription book publisher. He offered Grant a high royalty for his memoirs, and in 1885 Grant began to dictate them. A pain in his throat was finally diagnosed as cancer, but Grant went on, writing with a pen, to provide for his wife after he was gone. In the summer of 1885 Mrs. Grant took her husband to the Adirondacks near Saratoga. There he finished his `Personal Memoirs' about a week before he died on July 23. Written frankly, the work ranks high among military biographies. It was so popular that Mrs. Grant received nearly $450,000 from its sale. A granite tomb to Grant's memory was built on Riverside Drive in New York City, in 1959 it became a national memorial. Grant's life was like a roller coaster, in the beginning he started low and was regarded as a failure. He worked his way to the top, became the most honored general in the U.S., and was elected President of the United States. Then suddenly his life went downhill, his firm crashed, he developed cancer and died bankrupt.

Who is the Dominant Partner between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? Essay

The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is very strange. In the relationship, throughout the play, both take turns to assume the role of being the dominant partner. What is unusual about this is the fact that at this period in time, the man typically was the one controlling the relationship, but in this case, for a lot of the time it is in fact Lady Macbeth that is the dominant force in their relationship. In Act 1, Scene 5 we can see that Lady Macbeth is very ambitious for Macbeth. I believe that the reason she is so eager for the prophecies about Macbeth to come true, is because she knows that if Macbeth becomes a more important figure in society, so will she. Lady Macbeth declares, â€Å"Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what thou art promised.† This tells us that she is very optimistic and confident of the prophecy coming true, and Macbeth succeeding Duncan as king. Although this statement shows that she is confident of Macbeth becoming King, she then goes onto show some signs of uncertainty over Macbeth’s kind and gentle nature, by confessing, â€Å"Yet do I fear thy nature†. This tells us that she is concerned that Macbeth lacks the evil ruthless streak that is needed for him to kill Duncan and succeed him as king. In order to enhance any evil and ruthlessness that Macbeth does possess, Lady Macbeth tries to make Macbeth feel that he deserves to be king more than Duncan by using flattery. She says to Macbeth â€Å"Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both†, which through sarcasm suggests that he is above these titles, and thoroughly deserves to be king. In this scene we can clearly see that Lady Macbeth is t... ...d helped each other in their time of need. Before they became king and queen they worked together as a team, this is shown by the way that Macbeth calls Lady Macbeth his â€Å"dearest partner of greatness,† however this is not the case after they gain the crown, as they both work as individuals. This may be a contributing factor to the deterioration of their relationship. Although parts of this play go against the way men and women behaved during relationships at the time, the final outcome is in keeping with the traditions of the time. This moral of this play is that women cannot handle a role of powerfulness and dominance, with Lady Macbeth yielding to the effects of her powerfulness, and eventually becoming insane, whereas men prosper with power and dominance, with Macbeth now stronger and more powerful than ever before.

Incarcerated Parents and Their Children Essay -- Children of Incarcerat

The challenges of children who grow up with parents whom were incarcerated at some point in their childhood can have a major effect on their life. The incarceration of parents can at times begin to affect the child even at birth. Now with prison nurseries the impregnated mother can keep her baby during her time in jail. With the loss of their parent the child can begin to develop behavioral problems with being obedient, temper tantrums, and the loss of simple social skills. Never learning to live in a society they are deprived of a normal social life. â€Å"The enormous increase incarceration led to a parallel, but far less documented, increase in the proportion of children who grew up with a parent incarcerated during their childhood† (Johnson 2007). This means the consequences of the children of the incarcerated parents receive no attention from the media, or academic research. The academic research done in this paper is to strengthen the research already wor ked by many other people. The impact of the parent’s incarceration on these children can at times be both positive and negative. The incarceration of a parent can be the upshot to the change of child’s everyday life, behavioral problems, and depriving them a normal social life. There have been many questions raised if the nurseries programs were fair but â€Å"the number of women incarcerated in state prisons in the United States (US) has dramatically increased in the past 20 years, and 70% of these women are the mothers of minor children, as of the last Bureau of Justice estimates† (Mumola, 2000). â€Å"Allowing women to parent their children within correctional facilities in the US may be â€Å"one of the most controversial debates surrounding the imprisonment of women† (Bel... ...e, May 2009. Web. . Mumola, Christopher J. 2000. Incarcerated Parents and Their Children. Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report, NCJ 182335. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics Phillips, Susan D., Alaattin Erkanli, Gordon P. Keeler, E. Jane Costello, and Adrian Angold. 2006. â€Å"Disentangling the Risks: Parent Criminal Justice Involvement and Children’s Exposure to Family Risks.† Criminology and Public Policy 5(4). Sroufe LA, Egeland B, Carlson EA, Collins WA. The development of the person: The Minnesota study of risk and adaptation from birth to adulthood. New York: The Guilford Press; 2005. Tolan, Patrick H., Deborah Gorman-Smith, and Rolf Leober. "Developmental Timing of Onsets of Disruptive." Journal of Child and Family Studies 9.2 (2000): 203-20. Print.

Application of Epidemiology Concepts Essay

Introduction Epidemiology is defined as â€Å"the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related stated or events in specific populations and the application of this study to control of health problems† (Gordis 2003). Over the past year Cohort 7 has grown to appreciate the value of the epidemiology and the  practical application of this knowledge. As current and future leaders in healthcare systems, it is important to not only to understand the concepts learnt in epidemiology, but to use these concepts in the drafting of policy, the designing of programs and in making contributions to national, regional and international healthcare systems. The three epidemiological concepts to be discussed are; estimating risk, study design and ethical & professional issues in epidemiology. The basics of each concept and its importance shall be outlined followed by a discussion of the perceived benefits to policy makers and populations at large and the application of each concept individua lly. For the purpose of this discourse, I have selected the chronic non-communicable disease, type 2 diabetes to illustrate the applications of the listed concepts through the eyes of a policy maker and programme designer. This paper shall be closed with a summary of the application of the concepts and a conclusion. Concept I: Estimating Risk Risk has been defined as â€Å"the probability of an event occurring† (BMJ). In our current course of study, epidemiology, risk is often used to express the likely-hood that a particular outcome will happen after a particular exposure. It is important to understand risk and exposure in the capacity of policy maker. Chronic-Non-Communicable-Disease (CNCDs) is a growing concern nationally, regionally and internationally. In Trinidad & Tobago the prevalence of diabetes is estimated to be as high as 1 in 5 of all adults (Ministry of Health 2010). Diabetes is the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult blindness in Trinidad & Tobago. The measurements of risk are; absolute risk or incident rate, relative risk, attributable risk and odds ratio. According to Gordis 2003, absolute risk is the incidence of the disease in the population, i.e. the number of new cases of the disease in a specified population over a given time. The incidence of diabetes in Trinidad & Tobago has been estimated as 1,000 cases per year (John Hopkins 2012). This information about the absolute risk of diabetes has an important implication in public health policy formation. It tells the policy designer in the Ministry of Health that there would be an estimated 1,000 new cases of type 2 diabetes per year and so the current out-patient clinics for diabetics would need to be expanded. With that number of new  cases per year there will be a greater demand placed on the Ministry of Health’s Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP) and more funding will have to be allocated to deal with diabetes. Since absolute risk gives no consideration to risk factors or exposure, it is necessary for the policy designers and planners to look at the other measurements of risk to formulate appropriate plans to reduce spending associated with the morbidity and mortality of this CNCD. This benefits the country as it improves the well-being of the human resource. Relative risk is defined as the probability of exposed persons developing disease compared to non-exposed persons developing disease (Gordis 2003) while attributable risk is the amount of a disease incidence that can be attributed to a given exposure. The odds ratio or relative odds can simply be defined as a measure of association between an exposure and an outcome. It represents the odds that an outcome will occur given a particular exposure, compared to the odds of the outcome occurring in the absence of that exposure. Knowledge of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes is valuable in looking at the relative risk, attributable risk and relative odds of type 2 diabetes. A risk factor is a variable associated with an increased risk of disease (Burt 2001). The risk factors for type 2 diabetes are; family history of diabetes, increasing age, ethnic background, inactivity, metabolic syndrome, being overweight and history of gestational diabetes in women (Joseph 2010). In designing policies and programs to combat type 2 diabetes, there would be an attempt to target members of the population with these risk factors. It would be prudent to provide funding to institutions which are conducting studies to clarify relative risk, attributable risk and relative odds in diabetes as these studies would help in the understanding of the etiology of type 2 diabete s. Concept II: Study Design There are four basic study designs; cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, cohort studies and randomized clinical trials. As stated previously, it would be prudent to fund institutions conducting studies to clarify relative risk, attributable risk and relative odds in type 2 diabetes as such studies would aid in the understanding of the etiology of type 2 diabetes. In clarifying the etiology of type 2 diabetes in a given  population better strategies for management and prevention of the diseases can be adopted. In the capacity of policy and programme designer, it is useful to have an understanding of study design so that the proposals for studies which can produce the greatest data on etiology in the shortest time-span can be selected for funding. In cross-sectional studies both the exposure and disease outcome are determined simultaneously for each subject (Gordis 2003). The prevalence of the disease can be determined with this type of study; hence the study can also be ca lled a prevalence study. The prevalence of diabetes in Trinidad & Tobago is one in every five adults (Ministry of Health 2010). Cross-sectional studies are useful to policy writers and programme designers as it provides a ‘snap shot’ of how many individuals within the population have the disease. However the association with the risk factors does not prove temporal relationship. For the justification of policy and programmes, etiological relationships must be established. These etiological relationships can be justified through case-control and cohort studies. Case-control studies are useful in examining the possible relation of an exposure to a certain disease. At the beginning of the study individuals with the disease (cases) and individual without the disease (controls) are identified. The exposure of both of these groups is then compared. So in the case of type 2 diabetes, persons with type 2 diabetes can be identified (cases) then separated into two groups on the basis or exposure to a given risk factor. Persons without type 2 diabetes (controls) can also be identified than separated on the basis of exposure to the same risk factor. Then the two groups of exposed individuals can be compared. By identifying cases & controls and looking at exposure, the relative risk, attributable risk and odds ratio can be calculated. Case-control studies are invaluable in finding the etiology of disease. In cohort studies the researchers select a group of individuals from a given population. These individuals are then categorized as either exposed or non-exposed. Cohort studies can either be prospective or retrospective. In prospective cohort studies the exposed and non-exposed individuals are followed forward in time and the development of disease is noted. In retrospective cohort studies the end result, i.e. disease or no disease is noted at the starting point. The researcher can then trace the individuals backwards through time to determine their exposure or non-exposure.  Prospective cohort studies are expensive and time consuming as they may take many years to be completed. In the case of diabetes, it may take many years for exposure to lead to disease. Retrospective cohort studies may be better for proving causal relations in diabetes, but records may not be easily available. The high prevalence of diabetes is a good justification for conducting a cohort study. Once again relative risk, attributable risk and odds ratio can be calculated. A randomized clinical trial is an experiment in which the effectiveness of a mode of treatment is evaluated. Cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies are all observational studies. However, in randomized clinical trials, the effectiveness of treatment modalities are measured. Usually individuals for the study are assessed for eligibility before hand and subsequently randomly placed into one or an alternative treatment group. The merits of preventive strategies can best be illustrated by means of randomized clinical trial. Considerable work has been done in ascertaining the risk factors of type 2 diabetes. After review of the literature I have concluded that there is the need for more experimental studies for better management of type 2 diabetes. As a policy writer and programme designer it is critical to ensure th at approvals are granted for ethically sound randomized clinical trials. It is important to note that a good knowledge of study design is essential to a policy makers/ programme designers. The type of study to approve for funding will undoubtedly be based on maximum benefit to the population, cost effectiveness and ethical considerations. Concept III: Ethical & Professional Issues in Epidemiology The ultimate objective of epidemiology, according to Gordis, is â€Å"to improve human health†. Ethical consideration must be high on the agenda in public health since epidemiological findings are socially relevant, often publically funded and the research is conducted on human subjects. As discussed previously, there are two broad types of studies in epidemiology; the observational studies which include the cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies and the experimental study or randomized clinical trial. As a policy writer and programme designer, I am obligated to ensure that investigators and researchers obtain informed consent from their subjects, where possible, and that there is privacy and confidentiality. There is a  need for research on type 2 diabetes to be conducted in Trinidad & Tobago and the wider region so that there is relevant and timely data for the implementation and improvement of policies for reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with typ e 2 diabetes. There have been many studies which contribute to the body of knowledge compiled by the International Diabetes Federation. While there is merit in conducting observational studies, I believe that there must be more experimental studies aimed at improving the prevention and management of diabetes. In the design and execution of experimental studies, the rights of the individuals and the welfare of society must be balanced. Careful oversight of experimental research can protect individual confidentiality while ensuring that there is no conflict with the welfare of society. Even though there is the objective of improving human health, there is debate on how much of the findings should be made available to the subjects in both observational and experimental studies. While I believe that the findings of research should be held in the public domain, it is important not to create undue panic or hope of a ‘miracle cure’ when publishing results. Summary Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related stated or events in specific populations and the application of this study to control of health problems. Consequently the objective of epidemiology is to improve human health (Gordis 2003). The three epidemiological concepts discussed were, estimating risk, study design and ethical & professional issues in epidemiology using the disease type 2 diabetes for illustration. It is important for a policy writer/ programme designer to understand risk and the measurement of risk so that there are policies and programmes that benefit the greatest proportion of the population are designed and implemented in the reduction of the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes and its associated morbidity and mortality. Studies, both observational and experimental, should be encouraged but these studies must be conducted within the confines of ethics and professionalism. Ethics and professional are integral building blocks of study design since the findings are socially relevant, public funds are often used and the research is conducted in human subjects. There must also be publishing of  the findings of these studies but researchers should neither create undue panic nor give false hope. Conclusion The three epidemiological concepts discussed for this paper were; estimating risk, study design and ethical & professional issues in epidemiology. These were discussed concepts through the eyes of a policy maker and programme designer using the disease type 2 diabetes for illustrations. Studying the distribution and determinants of health-related states is not simply a course that constitutes part of a master’s degree that a student must â€Å"pass† or â€Å"get over† but rather a guiding principle to be incorporated into decision making, so that the application of this study can truly be used to control health problems. These health problems can range in simplicity from common childhood ailments to pandemics. Therefore participants in this course of study are expected to make sterling contributions to national, regional and international healthcare systems based on understand of concepts learned in epidemiology. Bibliography 1. Burt BA. Definitions of Risk. Department of Epidemiology School of Public Health University of Michigan, 2001. 2. Center for Statistics in Medicine BMJ Statistics Notes. (Undated) Retrieved May 13, 2014. URL:http://www.csm-oxford.org.uk/index.aspx?0=1292 3. Gordis Leon. Epidemiology. 3rd edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier 2004. 4. Josepha Joseph, Johan Svartberg, Inger Njà ¸lstad, Henrik Schirmer. Incidence of and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in a general population. The Tromsà ¸ Study. Scand J of Public Health, 2010;38 (7):768-775. 5. 6. Last JM, ed. A dictionary of epidemiology. 4th edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Relationships between Indians and English at Jamestown Essay

Before the English founded Jamestown in 1607, the Pamunkey Americans who lived in the Chesapeake Bay area were aware of the other culture overseas (Kupperman, 1). The Americans had watched the establishment and eventual abandonment of the Roanoke settlement some twenty years before Jamestown and gained knowledge of English society (1). European ships frequented the bay for trade. A Pamunkey man, who the Spaniards took back to Spain and baptized as Don Luà ­s de Velasco, returned to his homeland in 1571 and further informed the Pamunkeys (1). Though the English would become dominant, the Native Americans might have been the more erudite of the two cultures to clash. Europeans sent reports home from America and told of complex native civilizations and formidable tribes (Kupperman, 1). In time, the English came to assume that Americans were â€Å"accomplished people living in highly developed societies† and to rely their crops and supplies when needed (1). If one successful population could thrive on that land, then another could surely overtake it ultimately (2). The Pamunkeys had their own sights for a newly established Jamestown (Kupperman, 1). They understood the typical European behaviors and manipulated them to exert control (1). With over thirty tribes under Pamunkey leader Powhatan’s command, the natives kept the mostly inept English apprehensive and directed the trading of goods (1). The colonists traded for and exported furs and gold to Europe (1). For the Americans, metal tools, copper ornaments, glass beads and other Europeans products benefited them greatly in exchange (1). The Pamunkeys and their allies had power over the trade westward inland, therefore expanding their influence (2). True to form, the English settlers were incompetent with coping in the New World and became dependant to the natives for support (Kupperman, 2). As the two sides learnt more of each other as they mingled, mutual relationships formed (2). The English wasn’t completely destitute, however, and recuperated under Captain John Smith’s leadership (2). The Americans and the English became relatively amicable, but after Smith left the colony, the  relations deteriorated and conflicts rebounded (2). Meanwhile, retrogression in Europe drove more desperate people to seek life elsewhere, even in a foreign land. Despite that the battle-mottled situation in Jamestown, the English colony grew stronger, invested successfully in tobacco exportation, and ceased to count on Native Americans for help (Kupperman, 2). Instead of being exploited, the balance of power shifted and became more advantageous for the English. This has been: Examination of Relationships found in Indians and English Meet on the James by Karen Kupperman, www.iath.virginia.edu/vcdh/jamestown/essays/kupperman_essay.html

“A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution” by Carol Berkin

In the book â€Å"A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution† by Carol Berkin she explains the constitution from start to finish from how it all began, to the debates inside the convention and finally the end product. Berkin takes the reader and puts him directly in the middle of the convention of 1786; throughout the book you can feel the excitement, the frustration, the tensions between delegates and the overall commitment to making a new government work for all. The time for a new government came about in times of fear, many men such as William Livingston wondered â€Å"if the republic could even survive another decade† for Henry Knox made an excellent point in declaring â€Å"Our present federal government is a name, a shadow, without power, or effect†. Meantime the relationship between the states was poor and there was an uncertainty if they would even remain united what with the debts, the economic turmoil, and the slow realization that without England they had no protection from the outside world. The question on everyone’s mind was, is there anything that can be done to save their country? 55 delegates gathered in hopes of answering this question with a brilliant solution of their own. The Delegates that gathered in Philadelphia were among the most respected men of their time. They ranged from lawyers to politicians, from the aged Benjamin Franklin to the young Jonathon Dayton, and you’d find that all of these men were of blue blood wealth or the few who as Berkin put were the minority that â€Å"Had risen from obscurity to wealth by virtue of some combination of talent, luck, and well-made marriages. Nobody present would ever be considered just a common man, and for some such as Thomas Jefferson, they would see these men as â€Å"Demi-gods† instead of the regular, flawed, yet brilliant men that they were. It was during this convention that the Virginia Plan was proposed by Edmund Randolph, which was the proposal to write a new constitution instead of re vising the Articles of Confederation like intended. After many debates between the larger and smaller states on being fairly represented and even more adjustments and altering towards the plan itself, the convention created the Senate which was a body of wise men that was made up of two men rom each state. This worked out to satisfaction of the smaller states and for the larger states they were given a House of Representatives that would consist of a larger body of representatives for each state in proportion to the amount of the people in that state. During the Convention there were many controversies between these men, some were focused on not wanting to upset their constituents back in their home states, and the smaller states were constantly trying to protect themselves from the influence of the larger states, while the southern states feared that a national government would upset the slave trade. However, many of the delegates shared a bigger fear throughout the convention, which was putting too much power into a central government and the fear that the senate and House of Representatives would have too much power. George Mason, an initial advocate of a strong central government withdrew his support and refused to sign the finished Constitution, claiming that the new government would â€Å"produce a monarchy, or a corrupt, tyrannical aristocracy† so for the sake of trying to find a balance, the idea of giving the chief executive the power of veto over legislation was proposed. Along with this power a check was needed, so the idea that a three quarters vote from congress could over rule a President’s veto was adopted. How to elect a President was the cause for some of the longest and grueling debates in the convention, the question of who to trust too choose the president was heavy on all their minds. The delegates knew that it couldn’t be left to the legislative power to choose and Gouverneur Morris even declared â€Å"it would be like the election of a pope by a conclave of cardinals†. To leave the choice to the people alone left the certainty that the people would be led and lied to by â€Å"a few active and designing men† as Charles Pinckney put it. Lost and befuddled on what to do, the convention turned the matter over to the Committee of Postponed Matters where after weeks of debate of their own, they came up with something that we know today as the Electoral College. The States were able to elect an amount of electors equal to the number of representatives in the house and senate. These electors were to meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for two people to represent their state. From here their votes would be delivered signed, certified and in a sealed envelope, to Congress, where the results were to be counted in front of congressmen and senators. In the event of a tie, members of the House of Representatives would select which would be the president. It was through this process that our first President, who set the precedent for all presidents to come, was elected. Even when the Constitution had been drawn up and was ready for ratification by the states, which wouldn’t happen for another year after many political battles between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the Delegates realized that though this document would suffice for now, they couldn’t escape the indefinite future, so they included in the constitution a capacity for change which was designed so that later down the road when times had changed and change was needed, it could be incorporated into the constitution as amendments. In closing, Carol Berkin did an excellent job of portraying the struggles and concerns that went on in that Philadelphia Independence Hall, the framers fought through frustration, pressure, and with each other. They knew what had to be done, and though some did not remain throughout the convention, we owe our law of the land to the determination of these 55 men.

Sociology Investigation

The Sociological Investigation ~ These notes are taken and adapted from Macionis, John J. (2012). Sociology (14th Edition). Boston: Pearson Education Inc. There are two basic requirements for sociological investigation:Know how to apply the sociological perspective or paradigms or what C. Wright Mills termed as the â€Å"sociological imagination. †Be curious and ready to ask questions about the world around you. There are three ways to do Sociology. These three ways are considered as research orientations:A. Positivist Sociology Positivist sociology studies society by systematically observing social behaviour.Also known as scientific sociology.It includes introducing terms like independent variable, dependent variables, correlation, spurious correlation, control, replication, measurement, cause and effect, as well as operationalizing a variable1.Positivist sociology requires that researcher carefully operationalize variables and ensuring that measurement is both reliable and valid.It observes how variables are related and tries to establish cause-and-effect relationships. It sees an objective reality â€Å"out there. †Favours quantitative data (e. g. data in numbers; data from surveys).Positivist sociology is well-suited to research in a laboratory.It demands that researchers be objective2 and suspend their personal values and biases as they conduct research.There are at least FOUR limitations to scientific / positivist sociology.Positivist sociology is loosely linked to the structural-functional appr oach / paradigm / perspective.B. Critical Sociology Critical sociology uses research to bring about social change. It asks moral and political questions.It focuses on inequality.Specifying exactly what is to be measured before assigning a value to a variable (Macionis: 2012, p. 50).Personal neutrality in conducting research (Macionis: 2012, p. 50)It rejects the principle of objectivity, claiming that ALL researches are political. Critical sociology corresponds to the social-conflict approach / paradigm / perspective.C. Interpretive Sociology Interpretive sociology focuses on the meanings that people attach to their behaviour. It sees reality as constructed by people in the course of their everyday lives.It favours qualitative data (e. g. data acquired through interviews).It is well-suited to research in a natural setting.Interpretive sociology is related to the symbolic-interaction approach / paradigm / perspective. Gender and Research Gender3, involving both researcher and subjects , can affect research in five ways:Androcentricity (literally, â€Å"focus on the male†)OvergeneralisingGender blindnessDouble standardsInterference Research EthicsResearchers must consider and do the following things when conducting research:Protect the privacy of subjects / respondents.Obtain the informed consent of subjects / respondents.Indicate all sources of funding.Submit research to an institutional review board to ensure it does NOT violate ethical standards.There are global dimensions to research ethics.Before beginning research in another country, an investigator must become familiar enough with that society to understand what people there are likely to regard as a violation of privacy or a source of personal danger.Research and the Hawthorne Effect Researchers need to be aware that subjects’ or respondents’ behaviour may change simply because they are getting special attention, as one classic experiment revealed. Refer to Elton Mayo’s investig ation into worker productivity in a factory in Hawthorne, near Chicago. 3 The personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being female or male (Macionis: 2012, p. 50).The term Hawthorne Effect is defined as a change in a subject’s behaviour caused simply by the awareness that s/he is being studied. Methods: Strategies for Doing Sociological ResearchThere are the basic FOUR methods:A. Experiment This research method allows researchers to study cause-and-effect relationships between two or more variables in a controlled setting.Researchers conduct an experiment to test a hypothesis, a statement of a possible relationship between two (or more variables).This research method collects mostly quantitative data.Example of an experiment: Philip Zimbardo’s â€Å"Stanford County Prison. †o Advantages Provides the greatest opportunity to specify cause-and-effect relationships. Replication of research is relatively / quite easy. Limitations Labo ratory settings have an artificial quality to it. Unless the lab environment is carefully controlled, results may be biased too.B. Survey and/or Interview This research method uses questionnaires or interviews to gather subjects’ / respondents’ responses to a series of questions.Surveys usually yield or produce descriptive findings, painting a picture of people’s views on some issues.This research method collects mostly qualitative data.Example of a survey: Lois Benjamin’s research on the effects of racism on African American men and women.She chose to interview subjects / respondents rather than distribute a questionnaire. o Advantages Sampling, using questionnaires, allows researchers to conduct surveys of large populations or a large number of people. Interviews provide in-depth responses. o Limitations Questionnaires must be carefully prepared so that the questions and instructions are clear and not confusing. Questionnaires may yield low response / r eturn rate from the target respondents. Interviews are expensive and time-consuming.C. Participant observation Through participant observation, researchers join with people in a social setting for an extended period of time.Researchers also play two roles, as a participant (overt role) and as an observer (covert role).This method allows researchers an â€Å"inside look† at a social setting.This research method is also called fieldwork.Since researchers are not attempting to test a specific hypothesis, their research is exploratory and descriptive.This participant observation research method collects qualitative data.Example of participant observation: William Foote Whyte’s â€Å"Street Corner Society. o Advantages It allows for the study of â€Å"natural† behaviour. Usually inexpensive. o Limitations Time-consuming. Replication of research is difficult. Researcher must balance role of participant and observer.D. Existing or Secondary sources Researchers analyse existing sources, data which had been collected by others.This research method is also called library research or archive research.By using existing or secondary sources, especially the widely available data by government agencies, researchers can save time and money.Existing sources are the basis of historical research. Example of using existing sources:E. Digby Baltzell’s award-winning study â€Å"Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia. † How could it be, Baltzell wondered, during a chance visit to Bowdein College in Maine, USA, that this small college had graduated more famous people in a single year than his own, much bigger University of Pennsylvania had graduated in its entire history? o Advantages Saves time, money and effort of data collection. Makes historical research possible. o Limitations Researcher has no control over possible biases in data. Data may only partially fit current research needs.

Workplace Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Workplace Learning - Essay Example The conscious development of the formal and informal learning fronts in work place sites has culminated from the management decisiveness on the aspects of competitiveness and as well product and market strategies. "The development has come from the frameworks within which decisions are taken regarding the factors of how work is organized within an organisational and also how people are managed." (Coombs, P.H. 1985) Various scholars as well as other researchers have concurred that the integration of various economic and commercial factors has had a significant bearing on the establishment of the broad parameters in which opportunities and obstacles to the effectual existence of work place learning obtain. Research outcomes have led to positions that expansive rather that restrictive environment are perceived to be pro-learning at work as well as the convergence of personal and organisational development. Researches into various workplace domain dynamics have culminated in the establishment of a theoretical framework that seeks to explain and contextualise the dynamics around which the manner in which new entrants into a career acquire knowledge and skills that empower them tackle the challenges posed by their career compositions. The dimension of workplace newcomers has been relished with valuable contributions from Lave and Wenger who developed the interlinked tenets of legitimate peripheral participation as well as communities of practice to explain how workplace newcomers (the valid peripheral partakers) develop to full participant status in a defined community of practice. Watkins, K. E. (2001) concur that the newcomers are perceived to embrace learning as a collective relational process which entails the cooperation of the novices with the more experienced personnel. "In our perspective , the acquisition of knowledge is not merely situated in practice like it were some independently definable prices that just occurred to be situated somewhere; the acquisition of knowledge in an integral part of generative social practice in the lived-in world". (Lave and Wenger 1991) Lave and Wenger view the situated learning theory as an essential thrust for those areas tied to social practice as well as that in has contributions to attempts at surmounting what has been called by theorists (Engerstrom 1991) as "The encapsulation of school of learning". Much interest that has been culminated from the forerunning frameworks and ideas on apprenticeship and education has been directed to the non-formal or structured environs. The interest has lead many scholars to invest into researches of workplace learning. Expansive Learning has is enunciated in Engestrom's model of expansive learning. The thrust of the theoretical framework is aimed at fostering significant changes at organisational levels of entities." the object of expansive learning is knowledge impartation process in which the learners are involved." According to the scholars, expansive learning activities generate culturally new trends of activity. Further, expansive learning at work particularly generates new forms of work activity" (Fuller and Unwin 2008, p 129) Basing on the frame work of the expansive learning