Understanding Behaviours and Attitudes Towards Social Networking

The fast development of social networking that has been detected over the last 2-3 years is indicative of its entry into straight life and it’s mixed with our daily lives. In addition to this, there has also been significant media coverage of the development of social networking, its rapid positive results and worries around the approach. For the purpose of this research report I have intentionally put light on the social and communications facets of social networking sites. The SNS also have some drawbacks associated, such as confusion over privacy settings, probable contact with people one doesn’t know and the unintentional penalties of publicly posting delicate individual material. The purpose of this report is therefore to provide evidence-based insights into the social networking phenomenon which can be used to inform current understanding of usage and societal impacts in the UK, and to help identify some of the current and potential future issues around people’s use of social networking sites. Like other communications tools, social networking sites have certain rules, conventions and practices which users have to navigate to make them understood and avoid difficulties. These range from the etiquette of commenting on other peoples profiles to understanding who one should and shouldn’t add as a ‘friend’. Conceptual Framework Engaging with Social Networking Sites The Social networking sites also preferred to as SNS in the document offer people new and diverse ways to communicate via the internet, from PC or mobile phone. According to Dwyer et al (2007), a social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or their activities. Today, there are more than 650 social network sites in the world (Stern, 2006), but no one knows exactly the number. Examples include MySpace, Facebook and Bebo. Creator of SNS authorized people to normally create their own online page, construct and show to online contacts called ‘friend’. According to Boyd (2004), reasons for connecting with friends in social network can be varied and doesn’t unavoidably mean friendship in the daily dialect sense. Users can communicate to other user with the help of their profile they have created. Social networking sites are built for users to interact for different purposes like business, general chatting, meeting with friends and colleagues, etc. SNS offer a gloriously direct tool for what Goffman(1972) calls â€Å"impression management†: the profile page. Just as your choice of clothing and hairstyle signals how you think of yourself (and want others to think of you), so does your choice of profile photo. Many users choose to display the most flattering photographs of themselves that they can. It is also helpful in politics, dating, with the interest of getting numerous advantages with the people they meet. Anecdotal evidence suggests that social interaction with political content of interest is important for young adults (e. g. , Steller, 2008). A study by Conners (2005) reported that Democratic Senate candidates were more likely than Republicans to use Meetup, blogs and other interactive online tools in 2004. (ssrn. om)Recently, the use of network sites has increased overtime with the improvement in technology and the use of mobile phone to surf the web and statistics have shown that 90% of people on the internet at one point in time or the other are visiting SNS (Boyd and Ellison, 2007). Attitudes and behaviours towards social networking sites Users of Social networkers fall into different groups Social networkers are different in approaches to SNS and in their behaviour while usin g them. The site users come under five distinct groups. These are as follows: * Leading Socialisers – (a minority) people who are using sites intentionally to encounter new folks, flirt and to be entertained. * Attention Seekers – (some) are those people who need attention and comments from others online, normally by posting photos and edit their profiles. * Followers – (many) are those people who joined SNS to follow what their peers are doing. * Faithful – (many) people who normally use SNS to renew old friendships, sometimes from school or university. Functional – (a minority) those person who wants to be single while using SNS for a specific purpose. * Focussed – (Mostly business users – Recently added user group) Some users of the sites will create the profile to research the market’s response in a specific geography for the predictions of their business in their geography. Also, as this is an easier way to reach a wider and global consumer base, many corporate houses globally a re using these social sites to advertise or endorse their products and promotions. Non-users comes under into different groups Non-users come under three groups; these are the group those who don’t use the SNS: * Concerned about safety – those people who are concerned about safety online, in specific creation personal details accessible online. According to Smith (2007), seven per cent of American sample said they had been contacted ‘by a stranger who made them feel scared or uncomfortable’. * Technically inexperienced – those people who don’t have knowledge for using internet and computer. Intellectual rejecters – people don’t have interest in SNS and think that it’s a waste of time. How people use social networking sites Profile Creation People normally create their profiles on the basis of their knowledge. User Profiles are normally set questioned as per the site, so it is very optional and depends upon the person what he needs to publish on the site. Normally Users enjoy editing their profiles, watch ing video, playing online games, posting photos. Users generally enjoy from the process of creating a social network, creating a list of friends and using friend’s list to browse profiles. Users share individual material with a wide range of ‘friends’. Communicating with their friends is the most famous social networking activity, but most of adults use their profile to communicate with people they do not know. A few users also mention negative aspects of social networking, and these included anger at others using sites for self-importance, parties organised online getting out of hand, and online bullying. Privacy and safety Privacy and safety issues on social networking sites did not emerge as ‘top of mind’ for most users. Information exchange activities operationalized as the activities of interaction among members of a community that acts as a source of information for other members to deepen and expand friendship (Gruen et al. , 2006. 2007). At most of the time Users of the SNS leaves privacy settings as default ‘open’. Generally those who are new, they give out sensitive personal information, photographs and other content about themselves. Sites define some subset of a profile (such as the user’s name and affiliation) visible by default for searching and identification. Most sites also allow users to relax or strengthen their definition of public information. Privacy expectations in social networks are based on relationships. Typical social networks support friends and networks with privileged access. (Felt, Adrienne, and Evans, David. (2008). Research Strategy I will do a qualitative research to examine in depth people’s attitudes to online social networking, their behaviours while using social networking ites, and the reasons why they use these sites. This will contain an analysis of the research based on several distinct user and non-user segments. Also, I will research on the positive aspects of social network in relation to marketing and research and use of SNS for global business empowerment. This qualitative research will find the use of and attitudes towards social networking sites (both for users and non-users) falling into several distinct segments. Although qualitative in nature, these segments provide an interesting insight into how people currently use and view social networking sites. They also help to highlight that site users are not a uniform group in terms of use, attitudes or behaviour. It will also explain the importance of the segments for users and non-users on different bases. User segments will be organised on the basis of how users will behave when using social networking sites and the non-user segments will be focused why they will stop using the basis of non-users’ reasons for not using the sites.

Factors affecting Talent Planning Essay

There are many different factors that affect an organisations approach to attracting talent and are both internal and external factors. Some examples of internal factors are the size of a business. A larger business would find it much easier to source this could be because they are more well-known to the public and they would also be more financially able to advertise a post to get a larger range of applicants. Recruitment policies also have an effect ie recruiting from internal sources and external sources can affect the recruitment process. Generally recruitment through internal sources is preferred because own employees know the organisation and can fit well into the culture. The Image of the company has influence on the recruitment process. Good image of the company earned by the actions of management helps attract potential candidates. Managerial actions like good public relations can help earn image. Image of the job also has an affect such as better salaries and good working conditions are considered the characteristics of good image of a job. Also, promotion and personal development policies of an organisation also attract potential candidates. Some examples of external factors are Demographic factors; employees have a big influence on the recruitment process. Demographic factors include, age, sex, literacy, economic status etc. Labour market conditions have an affect ie supply and demand of labour is a huge importance in affecting recruitment process. If the demand is for more than one particular skill recruitment will be relatively easier. Unemployment situation has an effect. When the employment rate in an area is high, the recruitment process tends to be simpler. The number of applications is higher which makes it easier to attract the best qualified applicants. With a low rate of unemployment, recruiting process tends to become more difficult. Labour laws that cover working conditions, compensation, retirement benefits. This report identifies and assess factors that affect an organisations approach to both attracting talent and recruitment and selection. It also identifies and explains benefits of attracting and retaining a diverse workforce, describes methods of recruitment and methods of selection. Factors that affect an organisations approach to attracting talent For an  organisation to attract talent successfully, as part of the talent planning policy it needs to identify and assess what factors affect its approach to attracting talent. For example: 1. Economic Environment – An organisation needs to consider what money is available to spend and this will depend on the current climate at the time. This in turn, will have an effect on how and where the company advertises externally, in addition to the salary and benefits offered. 2. Laws – There are laws that affect the way an organisation attracts talent. For example; the Equality Act 2010 protects again discrimination and affects how the organisation words adverts, application forms, job description, person specifications and questions asked during interviews. Wording must not be discriminative and this can be done by ensuring it does not contain personal prejudice, is not being objective, unfair or showing less favourable treatment for an unlawful reason e.g. Age, gender or disability. 3. Branding – A company with a good reputation, is more likely to successfully attract the right talent to its organisation. To do this, an organisation relies heavily on being perceived as being known as a good employer and needs to take a proactive approach by offering career development, in addition to remuneration and rewards. 4. Culture – The culture of the organisation can be part of what keeps employees engaged and makes the organisation differ positively from competitors. For example, an organisation may be friendly or collaborative – something that new talent†¦

The Moral Instinct by Pinker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Moral Instinct by Pinker - Essay Example Moral judgments of certain actions and things have created conflict of views from different people across the world (Pinker 1-2). When it comes to decision-making, some people make judgments by rationalizing but they have no concrete explanation about the decision made. Other people use reasoning to explain why they have come up come up with certain decisions. According to Pinker (3-5), a group of neuroscientists has explained how different parts of a human brain assist them in reasoning and rationalization when making some decisions. By analogy, people possess universal moral senses that guide them to differentiate between right and wrong things. People show morality through the universal moral grammar they display when analyzing human actions even if the structure is different. However, the research conducted globally showed that moral judgments cannot be universal and the language used to express the opinions is not universal. People usually demonstrate varieties of molar experiences, these experiences revolve around five themes, and it depends on the environment they live. Additionally, the five spheres of morality can make the moral sense to be a global factor but it can be different at the same in different communities depending on their culture. Reassignment of activities to different spheres can attract different opinions from different people depending on their cultural backgrounds. Pinker states (5-7) that when the research considers fairness in the moral sense, it emerges that most people do good things to other in return for a repayment but few people are naturally generous. Several people are selfish and that why the go to extents of amoralizing so things for their selfish gains and if such a norm continues it will demote morality to a figment. To avoid degrading morality, people should be able to differentiate right things from the

Stock Rate of Return Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stock Rate of Return - Essay Example In other words, SRR = Capital gain + Dividend yield. It is actually the benefits reaped by an investor relative to the cost of the initial investment. On the other hand, Return On Common Equity (ROCE) relates to the net income before dividend payments on preference shares etc. It is the rate of return on investment for the company's common shareholders. A firm’s ROCE reveals the profit it generates with the invested money of shareholders. The ROCE is also useful for comparing the profitability of a company to that of other firms. The Stock Rate of Returns and the Return On Common Equity are related to each other in the following ways. (i) Can determine (ROCE) by subtracting preferred dividends from net income and subtracting preferred equity from shareholders' equity, given: ROCE = Net Income - Preferred Dividends / Common Equity, where as the other (Capital gain + Dividend yield) gave the (SRR). (ii) Return on stocks may also be calculated by dividing net income by average sh areholders' equity. (iii) Investors may also calculate the change in ROE for a period, first by using shareholders' equity at the start of the period as the denominator and then using shareholders' equity at the end of the period as the denominator.... irical evidence reported by Penman suggests that, in the 1980-1997 period, median ROCE for NYSE and AMEX firms were on average much lower than Rates of Return on the S&P500. Putting aside the periods from 1990 to 1992 when value's heavily weighted sector declined owing to the S&L crisis, the 51% premium of growth shares is historically low at present versus the 56% average since 1980. Excluding data from the "tech bubble" period when growth P/Es were in excess of two times value multiples; it is still left with a historical average premium of 48%, close to the current value. Recessions tend to begin at the start of the decade, e.g., 1980, 1990, and 2000/01. They last for 18 to 24 months before giving way to a strong recovery that lasts for about two years until the Federal Reserve starts to raise interest rates in order to dampen inflation fears. Usually, mid-cycle and mid-decade, the economy cools and the rate of growth is cut in half as was the case in 1984/85 and 1994/95. If histo ry repeats itself in 2005, the economy will move at a slower pace owing to higher interest rates and energy prices. (1)What is an accounting analysis (2)How does one assess the quality of a firm's accounting and trade on the basis of an accounting analysis (3)What evidence is there of empirical returns to accounting analysis in the context of IPOs Accounting analysis describes the extent to which the use of different accounting methods affects reported results like financial statements of a business. Different financial statements including Trading, Profit and Loss Accounts, Income and expenditure Accounts, Balance sheets etc are recorded with entries for valuation. Thus the accounting analysis could be other wise termed as the financial statement analysis. Accounting analysis

Compare and contracts between USA $ Saudi Arabia Essay

Compare and contracts between USA $ Saudi Arabia - Essay Example All differences aside, The United States of American and Saudi Arabia are both a geographic location that contains people. People are no different and need the same things in order to survive. The United States of America is home to many different seasons and has many different weather issues. The weather in the United States of America is made of hot days that reach one hundred and twenty degrees and cold days that are forty degrees below zero. The rapid changes of weather create seasons. The seasons produce rain, snow, wind and drought. These weather conditions make for a soil that is rich in produce and livestock. These pleasant but sometimes harsh weather conditions are quite different then weather in Saudi Arabia. Weather in Saudi Arabia is unlike the United States. In Saudi Arabia the temperatures get above one hundred and forty degrees at times. The harsh temperatures make for an unpleasant environment (LonelyPlanet2011). Most of the area is made of sand and large sand dunes. The heat makes it hard for produce to grow and water is not as abundant as the United States. There are sand storms that are comparable to a tornado in the United States. These sand storms are deadly and powerful. Saudi Arabia has seasons like the United States but not winter conditions. While the average temperature of the United States in the winter is twenty below zero, the temperature in Saudi Arabia would typically be seventy five degrees. The weather of the United States and Saudi Arabia shows many differences. Religious views are a huge topic of discussion when comparing and contrasting the United States and Saudi Arabia. In order to discuss the two religious views it is important to explore the history of the two nations. The United States of America was originally inhabited by Native American Indians. An explorer by the name of Christopher Columbus arrived in The United States and took over. He and the rest of his European explorers had a Catholic/Christian religious backgr ound. This religious background mainstreamed Christianity into The United States. Although Christianity is popular in the United States it is not the only religion. The freedom of The United States allows for the freedom to accept any religion. Many are Christian, Muslim and even Atheist. Some accept no religion. The ability to practice any religion without fear makes the United States a desirable location for immigrants. Saudi Arabia is completely different in the sense of religion. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace to Islam (MidEastWeb2003). Saudi Arabia, before becoming captivated by the Islam religion was mainly pagan. Those who were pagan likely converted to Christianity or Judaism. After the birth and teachings of Mohammed, about ninety percent of the Saudi Arabian population converted to Islam. The Islam religion is highly looked upon in Saudi Arabia. The popularity of the Muslim religion creates a barrier and the denial of other religions like Christianity and Judaism. Religion in the United States and Saudi Arabia has been the cause of many disputes in the past. To this day and since the beginning of history there has been war because of the religious differences. Religion and cultural differences is one of the number one factors for disputes between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Many influences like geographic location and religion play a role in the differences of the two cultures. The culture of the United States is very diverse. The United States culture consist of many different cultures put together. There are

Marketing Strategy Degree Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Strategy Degree - Essay Example Coca-cola, Kellogg's, McDonald's, Kodak, Marlboro, IBM, American Express, Sony, Mercedes-Benz and Nescafe are generally in the world's top ten brand in the market , and they have reached and retained in such position mainly because of the efforts of marketing and advertising departments ( Stanley, 2003). So exactly what is an advertisement or what can we understand by the term advertisement. Their have been different views regarding the concept of advertisement. According to John Burnett, "Advertisement is a non-personal communication of marketing related information to a target audience, usually paid by the advertiser and delivered through mass media in order to reach specific objective of sponsor". However according to the critic of advertising, Judith Williamson (1978, p.57) states that it's "the most ubiquitous form in which we encounter commercial photography" which means advertising is the 'official art' of the advanced industrial nation of the west. It occupies the newspapers and is covered all over with urban environment, it is highly systematize organization involving many artist, writer and film directors, and consist of a large amount of output of the mass media. Advertisements promote and affect the idea and value which are crucial to a particular economy system. Thus a good advertisement is that, which we should not lose interest in their ideological functions, which is connected to their economic functions (Dyer, 1995 p.2). Another definition by (Longman, 1971) 'Advertising attempts to inform and persuade a large number of people with a single communication'. Therefore in its simple sense the word 'advertising' means capturing the attention to something or telling or advising somebody of something. (Dyer, 1995 p.2). Thus advertising can be seen as a medium for communicating or

Designing, implementing, and analyzing an alternative assessment Essay

Designing, implementing, and analyzing an alternative assessment - Essay Example Students' can contribute and share their learning experience in discussion board and homework submitting where individual attention is least possible. But, students differ from one to another in terms of their qualities and skills. Moreover, a single method of evaluation is no longer found successful and hence the need for alternative assessment was seriously felt. The need is further compounded in the present circumstances of varied subjects and multi-cultural class rooms. Many developments have been taken place in this regard to find an alternative assessment methodology that can overcome the discrepancies of traditional system. As a result, a new method was evolved, which became popular by virtue of its superiorities over other methods. This new method is known as Journal Based Method. This paper examines the methodology of journal based method in the context of secondary students. The paper tries to illustrate journal based assessment methodology for mathematics secondary 4 expre ss stream students on their understanding on speed-time graph after being taught by their teacher on the topic - Graphs and Graphs Applied to Kinematics. The scheme of journal based assessment methodology revolves around the preparation and submission of a journal in which students proves their understanding and mastery over a specific subject. ... Journal based methodology can be applied across all disciplines including mathematics. At this juncture, it is worthwhile to know what a journal is in the context of students' formative assessment. Journals are a written record of what students do in their classes and what they learn. Mr. Alvin White, a mathematics teacher of Harvey Mudd College opines out of his teaching experience that "A journal is a personal record of occurrences, experiences and reflections kept on a regular basis. In my mathematics classes students keep a journal of their mathematical experiences inside and outside of class. The purpose of journals is not to assign a grade for each entry but to help students find their own voices and to be reflective about the subject. Allowing more informal tentative writing into the classroom encourages students to think for themselves as opposed to only knowing second hand what others have thought before them" (White). In common, journal based assessment has become the most popular among teachers and students. In the words of Shavelson J.Richard, Stanford University, "student assessment according to this methodology involves two stages, namely at individual level and class room level. At the individual level, journals are considered a source of evidence bearing on student's performance over a course of instruction and at the class room level; journals are a source of evidence of opportunities students had to learn science" (Shavelson, 2001,9). In the context of mathematics, journal based assessment has much importance as seen in the various studies so far undertaken in various countries of the world. The science of mathematics is the most elegant among all other

Strategy for lisntening and speaking Term Paper

Strategy for lisntening and speaking - Term Paper Example Regardless of the problems with speaking, role playing engages all the students to interact using the new language and to build better conversational skills. Role playing is known to raise learners’ interest in the subject matter (Poorman, 2002) and assist in helping students to understand the concepts that have been taught associated with the foreign language. The role of the teacher in building interest in the role play cannot be understated, and the theory indicates that the educator should be asking a series of questions to help students to loosen their barriers and to set the theme of the role play exercises (Valimareanu, 2010). New language learners often find embarrassment and personal dishonour when they believe that their peers or others in the social environment have misunderstood their second language or failed to comprehend what was being discussed. Through role play, the educator can reinforce that such misunderstandings are normal and serve as a moderator to help with the comprehension process whilst also offering strategies to help better construct conversational skills. ... The strategy for the educator is to first identify the specific objectives to enhance listening development (Richards, 2008). Known as the metacognitive sequence, there is a step known as First Listen in which students are engaged with the instructor who is reading a text in a new language. Students follow along in their own texts where they will circle keywords or specific phrases that they have predicted accurately and are instructed to write down new information that they have heard, but are unfamiliar with (Richards, 2008, p.13). This helps students not only listen more effectively, but understand their own expertise or inability to comprehend as a part of metacognitive thinking. After identifying the strengths and weaknesses related to listening skills, the teacher then promotes a total in-class discussion to look through their failure to comprehend or to confirm their accuracy. This also builds a better self-confidence over the long term. References Lorch, R.F., Lorch, E.P., & Klusewitz, M.A. (1993). College students’ conditional knowledge about reading. Journal of Educational Psychology, 85, 239-251. Poorman, P.B. (2002). Biography and role-playing: Fostering empathy in abnormal psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 29(1), 32-36. Richards, J.C. (2008). Teaching listening and speaking: From theory to practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Valimareanu, E. (2010). Speaking strategies: Developing communicative skills in English. Dynamics of Specialised Languages. Common European Framework of Reference for Foreign Languages: Communication Proficiencies in Teaching and Learning Specialised Languages, 98-113. Retrieved from

Investment Strategies Order Number Essay Example for Free

Investment Strategies Order Number Essay There are many methods an investor can use to determine if a stock is a good buy or not. Three indicators often used to assess the risk of a security are beta, alpha and the Sharpe ratio. One of the most popular measures of risk associated with a security is its beta. Beta is a measure of a stock’s volatility in relation to the market as a whole. The market is given a beta of 1. 0 and individual stocks are ranked according to how much they deviate from the market’s beta. Stocks with a beta of less than 1. 0 are considered less volatile than the market and, therefore, pose less risk. Stocks that have betas higher than 1. 0 are considered more volatile than the market and, therefore, pose more risk. All things being equal, an investor would expect to see higher returns on a stock with a beta higher than the market than one with a beta lower than the market. (1) Beta is also a key component for the capital asset pricing model (CAPM). The original CAPM defined risk in terms of volatility, as measured by a stock’s beta coefficient. The formula is: Kc = Rf + beta Km – Rf) where Kc is the risk-adjusted discount rate (also known as the cost of capital) Rf is the rate of a â€Å"risk free† investment, i. e. ten-year treasury bill Km is the return rate of a market benchmark, such as the SP 500 Kc is the expected rate of return you would require before you would be interested in a particular stock at a particular price. The CAPM expresses the amount of risk a particular stock has and gives an investor an idea of the expected returns he should expect given a certain level of risk. The more risky a stock is the higher the level of returns an investor would expect for that particular stock. (2) A stock’s alpha is a mathematical estimate of the amount of return expected from a stock’s inherent values, such as the rate of growth of in earnings per share, management strengths or other factors, as opposed to general market conditions. Stocks with an alpha greater than 1. 0 can be expected to outperform the market regardless of what happens to the market as a whole. (3) The Sharpe ratio helps investors determine the best possible proportion of securities to use in a portfolio that can also include cash. The formula for the Sharpe ratio is: S(x) = (Rx – Rf) / StdDev(x) where x is some investment Rx is the average annual rate of return of x Rf is the best possible rate of return of a â€Å"risk free† security (i. e. cash) StdDev is the standard deviation of Rx The Sharpe ratio is a direct measure of reward-to-risk. In other words, the Sharpe ratio is used to characterize how well the return of an asset compensates the investor for the risk taken. (4) Although beta, alpha and the Sharpe ratio are useful for an investor to gauge the risk of a security or portfolio of securities there are also other methods an investor can use to determine whether a security is a good investment or not. The two most common methods used to determine the investment potential of a security are fundamental analysis and technical analysis. Fundamental analysis is the process of looking at a business from its financial statements. This type of analysis typically looks at various ratios of the business to determine its financial health. The goal of fundamental analysis is determine the current worth of a stock and how the market values the stock. (5) Probably the most two important factors looked at in fundamental analysis are a company’s earnings and revenue growth. Investors like to see earnings and revenue increasing by at least 25% for each of the last three quarters and year-to-date. Return on equity (ROE) is also a major fundamental factor. ROE reveals how much profit a company earned in comparison to the total amount of shareholder equity found on the balance sheet. (6) The higher a company’s ROE compared to its industry the better. Investors typically look for an ROE of at least 17%. Technical analysis is a method of evaluating stocks by relying on the assumption that market data, such as charts of price, volume and open interest can help predict future market trends. (7) Investors using technical analysis typically look for trends in chart data and use a variety of technical indicators, such as moving averages, Bollinger bands, fast and slow stochastics, MACD, and RSI to determine the right buy point for a stock. More sophisticated investors use a combination of fundamental analysis and technical analysis to determine whether a stock is a good buy or not. They use fundamental analysis to make sure a company is healthy from a financial standpoint and is a leader in its industry. Once determining a stock is healthy from a fundamental standpoint, these investors will use technical analysis to determine the correct buy point for a stock. A stock’s chart will show the investor how the stock is actually performing in the market and whether it is rising out of a good base or is overbought based on how far its current price is from its 50 day moving average. If a stock’s price is 30% or more above its 50 day moving average, the risk that it will fall into a correction is greater. References: (1) http://www. investopedia. com/articles/stocks/04/113004. asp Beta: Know the Risk (2) http://www. moneychimp. com/articles/valuation/capm. htm CAPM Calculator (3) http://www. allbusiness. com/glossaries/alpha/4943389-1. html Business Definition for Alpha (4) http://www. moneychimp. com/articles/risk/sharpe_ratio. htm The Sharpe Ratio (5) http://stocks. about. com/od/evaluatingstocks/a/Fundanatools1. htm Tools of Fundamental Analysis (6) http://beginnersinvest. about. com/cs/investinglessons/l/blreturnequity. htm Return on Equity (ROE) (7) http://www. investorwords. com/4925/technical_analysis. html Technical Analysis

Steinbecks of Mice and Men and the Pearl Essay Example for Free

Steinbecks of Mice and Men and the Pearl Essay Although John Steinbeck is recognized for the themes of his novels, including the struggles of the working class and social injustice, he is also known for his excellent use of the literary elements. In two of his novels, Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, Steinbeck uses different types of tone, diction, and syntax to enhance meaning and strengthen the impact of his message. In Of Mice and Men Steinbeck presents an innocent tone through his character, Lennie, to create meaning in the piece. The tone is brought out through Lennie’s close following of George, which the reader sees when, â€Å"he pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes the way George’s hat was,† (page 4 OMM). This gives the reader the idea the Lennie looks up to George as a role model, as a son would to his father. This child-like perception of Lennie is present throughout the whole of the story and pulls out a strong emotional factor that gives the piece meaning at the close. Steinbeck uses a different tone, one of realization, to enforce meaning in The Pearl. When Kino’s, â€Å"brain cleared from its red concentration and he knew the sound the keening, moaning, rising hysterical cry from the little cave in the side of the stone mountain, the cry of death,† (page 114 TP). The shift in his thought process shows the reader that Kino’s actions were in protection of the pearl, and not his family. This is one of many scenes in the book that signify the engulfing of Kino’s mind in greed. The neglecting of his family gives the reader a sense of disapproval toward Kino and deepens the meaning in the value of the moral that greed is evil. Steinbeck uses different diction in each of these stories, but it serves a common purpose of helping the reader understand the different characters’ backgrounds and experiences, which increases the meaning of each story. The characters in Of Mice and Men use the unique vernacular of American migrant workers in the 1930s. George uses words like â€Å"ain’t† and â€Å"y’all† and Lennie speaks often about living, â€Å"offa the fatta the lan’,† (page 57 OMM). These examples of informal diction give the reader the idea that Lennie and George are uneducated and poor. This colloquial diction not only enriches the meaning of the story, but also brings the characters to life. In The Pearl, Steinbeck uses calm and simple diction to better portray the depth of the characters’ feelings and moods. For example, through his words, Kino shows that the pearl has become more than just a solution to his problems; it â€Å"has become [his] soul . . . If [he] give[s] it up, [he] shall lose [his] soul, (page 87 TP) John Steinbeck uses syntax to engage the reader and set the mood of each scene in both books. By doing this, the meaning in each scene is deepened. However, the syntax used in The Pearl is different from that used in Of Mice and Men. In The Pearl, Steinbeck uses listings to portray each scene thoroughly. At one point, he describes the evils of one night, when â€Å"the coyotes cried and laughed in the brush, and the owls screeched and hissed over their heads. And once some large animal lumbered away, crackling the undergrowth as it went,† (page 91 TP). This gives the rest of the scene a sense of depth in its meaning due to the fact that the reader knows all that is happening and feels the tension in the atmosphere. Steinbeck’s description of the Salinas River at the beginning of Of Mice and Men consists of one long sentence that picks up on all aspects of the scene. â€Å"On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees—willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool,† (page 1 OMM). Through this elongated sentence structure, Steinbeck better portrays the joyfulness and tranquility of the river, which pulls the reader into the scene and creates more meaning in the actions that take place. In both Of Mice and Men and The Pearl, John Steinbeck puts his own twist on tone, diction, and syntax, which gives each novel’s message more importance and meaning. But the meaning itself is always up to the reader to â€Å"take [†¦] from [the novel], and read his own life into it,† (Prologue TP).

Local Safeguarding Children Board Social Work Essay

Local Safeguarding Children Board Social Work Essay Physical abuse: This is any form of harm caused to the body, which may include one or more episodes of aggressive behavior, usually resulting in physical injury with possible damage to internal organs, sense organs, the central nervous system etc. Sexual abuse: This is when a sexual act is carried out without the consent or understanding of the service user involved. This can include sexual penetration of any part of the body, touching inappropriate parts of the body without informed agreement, sexual exploitation and/or threats regarding sexual activity. Emotional / psychological abuse: service users being bullied, controlled, intimidated or taken advantage of . Service users needs being ignored, reports of shouting, screaming, swearing, scared of raised voices, distressed, being teased, being humiliated, un respected, not being given choice, opinion,    dignity, privacy, being undermined. Financial abuse: This can be the case when a third party is controlling or spending a service users money. Not being made aware of their own finances, family controlling service users money and not making it available for the service user to use, control of their finances being taken away even if able to deal with them, sudden changes in the service users will, personal belongs going missing, unusual spending patterns, others moving into the service users property. | Institutional abuse: This can occur in a care home, nursing home, acute hospital or in-patient setting and can be any of the following For example, being made to do things not of the service users own free will, i.e. under duress, being forced into acts they are not compliant with (or being forced into behaviour they are not happy with) such as set meal times, set bedtimes, freedom restricted. Self neglect: This is when a service user neglects their own basic needs, such as personal care not eating/drinking, not taking medication, neglecting personal hygiene, neglecting appearance. Neglect by others: This can occur when a third party neglects a service user, whether intentionally or via oversight. Neglect can involve not catering for the service users basic needs such as nutritional needs, healthcare/hygiene needs, leaving a service user without adequate finances, neglecting medication needs. Identify the signs and/or symptoms associated with each type of abuse The indicators or warning signs of abuse can be clues that something is happening in the life of the service user that should be looked into. Some indicators are obvious signs of abuse. Other indicators are subtle, requiring careful observation. Signs/symptoms of: Physical abuse Bruises, Burns, Cuts or scars, marks left by a restraint, imprint injuries (eg., marks shaped like fingers, thumbs, hands, belts or sticks), missing teeth, bald spot in hair (from pulled hair) , eye injuries, broken bones ,sprains, abrasions or scrapes, sudden onset of psychosomatic complaints, sudden difficulty walking or sitting. Sexual abuse unusual sexual behaviour, blood or marks on underclothes, recurrent genital/urinary infections, loss of confidence, lack of interest in appearance, sleeping problems, feeling depressed, frequent complaints of abdominal pain. Emotional/Psychological abuse changes in the way affection is shown, sudden onset of nightmares, changes in sleep patterns, difficulty sleeping, sudden regression to childlike behaviors (i.e., bed-wetting, thumb-sucking), cruelty to animals, sudden fear of a person or place, depression, withdrawal, or mood swings any unexplained change in behaviour. Financial abuse unpaid bills, no money for food, clothing, or medication, unexplained withdrawal of money from someones bank account, family member or representative refuses to spend money on the adults behalf, possessions disappear, family member or another person forces an adult to sign over Power of Attorney against their own  will. Institutional abuse Inability to make choices or decisions, not being offered an advocate when needed, no awareness of own rights, agitation if routine broken, not person centred, care plans not available to service user, strict times for routines which MUST be adhered to, carer/company using policy and procedure as a reason for not doing something for the service user without making an effort to find another way to do it, lack of personal clothing or possessions, denial of visitors or phone calls, lack of privacy, lack of adequate procedures (e.g. for medication, financial management, controlling relationships between staff and service users, poor professional practice, high number of complaints, accidents or incidents. These are all signs that may be shown when institutional abuse is occurring. Self neglect Signs shown when self-neglect is happening to a service user are poor personal hygiene, no food in the cupboards or fridge, rapid weight loss Neglect by others When services users are being neglected by others signs that this is happening may be, they become ill, hungry, cold, dirty, injured, deprived of their rights and rapid weight loss may become evident. Describe the factors that may contribute to a service user being more vulnerable to abuse Vulnerable people may be more susceptible to abuse when carers have made changes to their lives that they are not comfortable with, when there is no family to support them, when they have more than one carer supporting them, when they do not know how/where to make a complaint, when they need more care than they are currently receiving, when their carers become dependent on alcohol or drugs, when living in housing which has no adaptations, are socially isolated or are not aware of their rights. 2. Know how to respond to suspected or alleged abuse Explain the actions to take if there are suspicions that an service user is being abused I would firstly observe the service user and if I became suspicious that he/she was being abused I would ask if they are okay. I would next inform my line manager of my concerns and discreetly document my concerns, but I would not ask the service user leading questions. Explain the actions to take if an service user alleges that they are being abused If a service user alleges that they are being abused I would need to stay calm, Listen very carefully, ensure that he/she is not in any immediate danger, call for emergency services if urgent medical / police help is required and be aware that medical and forensic evidence might be needed, encourage the person not to wash or bathe in a major incident of abuse as this could disturb medical/forensic evidence. I would next tell the person that they did the right thing in telling me, express concern and sympathy about what has happened, reassure that the information will be taken seriously and give information about what will happen next, let the service user know that they will be kept involved at every stage; that they will be told the outcome and who will do this. Give the service user contact details of somebody that is in a position to help further so that they can report any further issues or ask any questions that may arise. Next I would explain that I must tell my Line Manager, t hen inform my Line Manager of the situation immediately and explain what I have been told along with my concerns. Identify ways to ensure that evidence of abuse is preserved I would begin by making a written record of messages (e.g. answer-phone) to ensure they are not lost (including the date and time and sign them), ensure written records (notes, letters, bank statements, medication records etc.) are kept in a safe place. If this involves physical abuse I would not tidy up, wash clothes, bedding, other items, or try to clear/tidy anything up. I would try not to touch anything unless I have to for the immediate wellbeing of the service user if I have to I would then make a record of what I have done. If any sexual abuse has been committed I would discourage the service user from washing, drinking, cleaning their teeth or going to the toilet until the police are present. I would then try to ensure that no one else enters the premises (apart from medical staff or necessary people in positions of authority until the police arrive. I would contact my Line Manager to try to ensure that the alleged perpetrator does not have any contact with the service user, record any physical signs or injuries using a body map or hand drawing and write a description of any physical signs or injuries including size, shape, colour etc. I would lastly sign and date my notes and any other records I have made. 3. Understand the national and local context of safeguarding and protection from abuse Identify national policies and local systems that relate to safeguarding and protection from abuse No secrets (Department of Health2000) Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults policy, (SOVA) Care Quality commission (CQC) Mental Capacity Act Independent safeguarding authority (ISA) National occupational standards General social care commission In safe hands Local safeguarding children board Explain the roles of different agencies in safeguarding and protecting service users from abuse No secrets Provides guidance to local agencies that have a responsibility to investigate and take action when a vulnerable adult is believed to be suffering from abuse. It offers a structure and content for the development of local inter-agency policies, procedures and joint protocols which will draw on good practice nationally and locally; and encourages partnership working between all statutory, voluntary and private agencies that work with vulnerable adults. P.O.V.A List The Care Standards Act 2000 introduced a list for the protection of vulnerable adults known as the POVA list which listed care workers who were considered unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults. Section 82(1) of the Act provides that a person who provided care for vulnerable adults must refer a care worker to the Secretary of State if the provider had dismissed a care worker on the grounds of misconduct which harmed or placed at risk of harm a vulnerable adult. Every child matter Every Child Matters, the governments vision for childrens services was published in September 2003 as part of the response to the death of Victoria Climbie. It proposed reshaping childrens services to help achieve the following five key outcomes for children and young people: Be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic well-being. It focuses on supporting families and carers and prevent them reaching crisis point and prevent child abuse. Care standards act 2000 The Care Standards Act 2000 came into effect in April 2002, replacing the Residential Homes Act 1984 and the Residential Homes Amendment Act 1991. The Act set up a new system of national minimum standards for services It established a major regulatory framework for social care to ensure high standards of care and will improve protection of vulnerable people. Implementation led to the establishment of the independent National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). Quality Care Commission Established through the Care standards Act, the care quality commission aim is to promote improvements in care via its triple functions of inspection, regulation and review of all social care services. It provides a comprehensive overview of social care in England and works at a local level, at a national level, and across all sectors. Regular reviews of social care provision are published. General Social Care Council (GSCC) The Care standards Act also established the GSCC, the first ever UK-wide codes of practice for social workers and employers were launched in September 2002. It is the regulatory body for the social care workforce in England. Their codes of practice provide a clear guide for all those who work in social work, setting out the standards of practice and conduct workers and their employers should meet. They are a critical part of regulating the workforce and helping to improve levels of professionalism and public protection. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) barring scheme The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) introduced a new vetting and barring scheme for those who work with children and vulnerable adults. The scheme was launched in autumn 2008 and replaced the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) arrangements. The scheme covers health and social care services. All new job applicants who will be working with children or vulnerable adults must have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB disclosure) which gives prospective employers information about any criminal records history guiding their decision on the applicants suitability to work with children or vulnerable adults. The Independent Safeguarding Authoritys (ISA) role is to help prevent unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults. We assess those individuals working or wishing to work in regulated activity that are referred to us on the grounds that they pose a possible risk of harm to vulnerable groups. There are two principal routes by which referrals are made to the ISA. Firstly, when a person applies for ISA registration, any convictions or cautions which are considered relevant would trigger a referral. The other way a referral would be made is where an employer or an organisation, for example, a regulatory body, has concerns that a person has caused harm or poses a future risk of harm to children or vulnerable adults. In these circumstances the employer or regualtory body must make a referral to the ISA. Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) Under the Children Act 2004, each local authority is required to set up a Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). The legislation followed concern over high profile instances of child abuse, such as the Victoria Climbie case.   LSCBs are responsible for local arrangements for protecting children and young people. They provide inter-agency guidelines for child protection Where someone has concerns relating to anyone who holds a position of trust or responsibility for children or young people, these should be discussed with and reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). 3.3 Identify reports into serious failures to protect individuals from abuse I have identified two separate reports into serious failures to protect individuals from abuse (below). The first is a link to the tv documentary Panorama and the second is an article reported in the daily mail on 23 November 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011pwt6 The attached link from the BBC Panorama programme show how on the top floor of a special hospital, locked away from their families and friends, a group of men and women are subjected to a regime of physical assaults, systematic brutality, and torture by the very people supposed to be caring for them. The victims are some of the most vulnerable in society the learning disabled, the autistic, and the suicidal. In a Panorama Special, Paul Kenyon exposes the truth about a gang of carers out of control, and how the care system ignored all the warning signs. Daily Mail article printed 23/11/11 by Daniel Martin, Whitehall Correspondent Cruelty of the carers: Damning report into home help for the elderly finds neglect so appalling some wanted to die These small acts of cruelty are being enacted, possibly unthinkingly, every day Cancer victim, 76, had to struggle to kitchen to heat up a meal because it was claimed health and safety rules meant home helpers could not operate a microwave Another patient, her 90s, put to bed at 2.45pm Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2064957/Elderly-people-abused-carers-Neglect-bad-pensioners-wanted-die.html#ixzz23Xe5Hjrp Identify sources of information and advice about own role in safeguarding and protecting service users from abuse My company policies and procedures will outline my specific work role regarding safeguarding and protecting service users from abuse and the mandatory yearly safeguarding of vulnerable adults training will make me aware of the legislations dedicated to abuse, and my role in safeguarding vulnerable adults. 4. Understand ways to reduce the likelihood of abuse Explain how the likelihood of abuse may be reduced by: Working with person centred values: When taking a person centered approach the carer would be working with the service users, discussing their needs and preferences for care. This approach would enable the service user to gain trust in the carer, by having a caring person who they can talk to. The carer would then gain a deeper understanding of the service users preferences and beliefs. Thus, empowering the service user, upholding their rights and beliefs and reducing the risk for abuse. Read more:  http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_adopting_a_person_centred_approach_which_offers_choices_and_upholds_rights_can_empower_an_individual_and_help_to_reduce_the_likelihood_of_abuse#ixzz23u4FTLNw Encouraging active participation Encouraging active participation builds self esteem, therefore the service user will refuse to tolerate abuse and will be more inclined to report it. They are also around other people when actively participating, which will help to build friendships in which they can share things they may tell one of these friends if abuse should happen, which could lead to the service user obtaining help. Promoting choice and rights Service users have a right to dignity and freedom from discrimination.    They should be treated with respect and shown that their feelings are considered in the care they receive.    Service users should be empowered by being given choices and encouraged to make their own decisions, in this respect the likelihood of being abused by a carer is diminished. Explain the importance of an accessible complaints procedure for reducing the likelihood of abuse Promoting choice and rights is also addressed by having an accessible complaints procedure. This may be included in a service users welcome pack and backs up the service users rights, thus enabling the person to know who they can go to with a complaint or concern about any aspect of their treatment or care. This will give the person confidence in being able to file a complaint, who to complain to, the procedure to follow and what will happen when they have complained. 5. know how to recognize and report unsafe practices Describe unsafe practices that may affect the well-being of service users This can include a variety of practices, such as, carers not been properly/adequately trained for using equipment (eg hoists etc), carelessness, being too tired to carry out the role correctly, cutting corners due to time restrictions, inexperience, faulty equipment being used. Explain the actions to take if unsafe practices have been identified If unsafe practices are identified they need to be reported to my immediate line manager so that the person identified can be retrained or the condition remedied to prevent further damage. Describe the action to take if suspected abuse or unsafe practices have been reported but nothing has been done in response The national minimum standards (NMS) calls upon all care providers to have whistleblowing arrangements (which my organization also has), which will protect me and my job when I report my concerns. Whistle blowing is about helping people working for an organisation, to raise legitimate concerns or worries about unsafe or bad practices. If my concerns are not acted upon or I feel they have not been dealt with correctly I can pass my concerns on to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and know that they will respond appropriately. Depending on the severity of my concerns I may feel it necessary to alternatively contact my Local authority safeguarding team or the police.

Political Correctness Essay -- essays research papers

Political Correctness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The term â€Å"Political Correct† has been in the nation’s vocabulary for only a short period of time but has changed the way that we view life and communicate with one another. Political correctness, politically correct, and P.C. are terms that refer, to a social idea that is characterized by efforts to redress, mainly by the use of language, real or supposed discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, nationality, disability or any other criteria that could offended a particular group .The main goal behind political correctness is to prevent the exclusion or the offending of people based upon differences or handicaps. In an essay written by Michiko Kakutani entitled The Word Police , she examines the idea of political correctness and questions society for taking a good idea and making a mockery of it. Kakutani is quick to point out in her story that know one can argue that the moral idea’s behind being political correct are wrong but that those in potions of authority have gone completely out of control trying to rewrite the view of the world in a rigid unyielding style that forces words and phrases into the minds of ever person in America. Groups like the MLA (Modern Language Association) have taken words that have been used for centuries and have created new ones overnight that are political correct and non offensive, the problem is that society is not prepared to be political correct overnight and who is to judge w...

My Socialization Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My socialization while growing up had everything to do with my parents. In my household I didn’t have just one certain style of parenting. My mother was a permissive parent, and my father was very much an authoritative dad. This was able to happen because my father travels a lot of the time and is out of the house, therefore giving me the chance take advantage of my mom being so much of a push over. When my father was gone on business I could get away with anything such as not cleaning my room, staying up as late as I wanted, and receiving anything I wanted. If my Mom did not giving in to my requests I would just throw a simple temper tantrum and five minutes later victory would be mine. On the other hand when my dad was around everything was to be done his way. If he didn’t think I needed it, I did not get it, no matter how much complaining and whining. In my Dads mind I had to deserve everything I received, if I did something wrong couple days earl ier he would remind me about it as I was asking for a bike or what ever else it is I wanted. Don’t get me wrong my dad wasn’t a mean guy or an abusive father, I knew my limits and when every I would get dumb enough to cross that line, he was right there to put back in my place.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It isn’t hard for me to think back to my gendered socialization, strictly because me being a man was drilled into my head since the day that I was born. I was born on January 6th 1985 in a suburb of Olathe Kansas, and In Olathe high school sports are everything. I have pictures of me when I was five months old with cowboy outfits, and football uniforms. As I became old enough to walk I was thrown into every sport possible. I played football, baseball, soccer, and basketball. I had practice year round sometimes everyday, and no matter how much complaining I did I was at every practice everyday. My father wanted me to be the best at everything I did; therefore I spent many nights after practice practicing with him. When I was that young I enjoyed every second of practice with my father. Being the best was so deeply instilled in me that anytime I failed it was a catastrophe to me. For example in baseball I would probably only strike out three to four times a s eason, which is great looking back now, but when I did strike out I became irate. I would be kicked out of those three or fo... ...ang around them but they were way to boring for me. Now days I have a new group of friends, but homophily still takes place. They are my friends in my fraternity. We are all almost exactly alike, some may say too much alike and we have no diversity, but that’s the way we like it. We all like to go have a good time, and stay on the edge of breaking the law without falling over. I guess propinquity can be a role also because many of my fraternity brothers I met living in the dorms with them. I think that both homophily and propinquity plays roles in everyone’s relationships with others because when you see someone often you get to know each other whether you’re alike or not, and of course you’re going to get along with someone who has the same interest as you.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As I write this paper I realize that all of these questions I was asked to answer all go back to the way I was raised. My anger with sports likely was cause by my dad longing for me to be great. Me homophily with all of the football players was a product of my parents making me do all of the sports. All in all I had a great upbringing and I wouldn’t change one thing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Personal Qualities Essay

1. Characterization: What do you learn about the attitudes, beliefs, and personal qualities of the duke and the king from their words and actions? In what way is the characterization of the duke and the king satiric? Consider their claims about their lineage, their acting, and the faulty historical and literary allusions they make. What is Twain suggesting by having the king and the duke pull their first â€Å"con† at a religious revival? The duke and king have little sense of right and wrong, or at least choose to ignore it. they are unlearned  but fairly intelligent men who think more highly of themselves than they ought to, as is strongly hinted at by their claims to lineage, and they take pride and joy in swindling others of their money, heedless of religion or other core principles held by most people. This doesn’t change at all. ThEww characters are satiric towards society as a whole, putting money before all else. 2. Theme: What epiphany does Huck have in Ch. 23 that advances his inner conflict? What theme is Twain addressing? Buck realizes that Jim has a family as well, and can feel just like any other man. Here, twain is addressing the theme of equality. 3.  Pathos: A quality in a work or a portion thereof that makes the reader experience pity, sorrow, or tenderness is called pathos. Generally the character is pathetic, helpless, and/or an innocent victim suffering through no fault of his or her own. Identify and explain an example of pathos in Ch. 23. Twain uses pathos when he writes how Jim is homesick and misses his family, and how Jim feels guilty for beating his daughter, not knowing she was deaf. This is a sad story, used to evoke emotion from the reader, thus making the passage more enticing. Twain does this throughout the book in order to hold the attention of the reader.

Learning Portfolio Essay

During the semester, I have had to develop a unique study structure that was going to maximize the efficiency with which I utilized my study time. Before starting the course, I read the study handbook so that I could get a rough idea of what the course entailed and the nature of information I would be required to familiarize myself with. This enabled me to identify other relevant sources of information besides the books suggested in the recommended reading list. In the process of reading these materials, I took brief notes of the ideas and points that appeared noteworthy. Being in a non-English speaking country, obtaining relevant books and other resource materials was somehow challenging. I learned to utilize the internet to get books and journal articles from electronic libraries and databases. I also had to subscribe to various journals so that I could get updated news about the course since I realized that criminology is a dynamic topic and it requires one to get case studies and briefs. After the onset of the course, I had to develop effective study habits so that I could organize my time while staying on top of my work. I realized that in order to succeed, I had to make the right decisions about managing my time and resources. I had to give my studies the priority they deserve and I did not let friends or family dictate to me on what aspects of my life were more important than others. My concentration and grasping ability is at its peak during the morning hours, at quiet and cool surroundings which do not offer any distraction. I engaged in discussions and debates surrounding the course material since I know getting the perspective of my fellow students and their contributions on the points I might have missed is very important. Concerning my assignments, I always make sure I have completed them on time and I review them before every class. I also co-relate assignment content and what is in my notes to ensure that I have completed them satisfactorily. I rely on my notes for this because they are very comprehensive since I review and update them after every class; usually including paraphrasing content in my own words and including examples. These study strategies I adopted during the semester are very effective, and after cross-checking with my fellow students and a collection of study guides available in the internet, I found out that they are still very relevant. Of course, I know there will always be ways of improving them as challenges mount. For example, I found out that I had actually misunderstood some concepts and ideas I had assumed I fully understood, so I need to liaise with my professor and study group more. When I started this course, I did not have a clear understanding of what was really expected of me. I did not know if what I was doing was right or wrong, so I had to get the help of my fellow students, friends who had already graduated from the course and my professor to help me learn how to express my points and ideas. I always want to feel that I am living up to expectation, so I always seek feedback to help me identify areas I can improve on. I have formed a consistent effort to request my colleagues and supervisors so that I can refine my perspective regarding key concepts and ideas. In my attempt to be an all-rounder, I specify the kind of feedback I need from my colleagues, professors and supervisors at work. I do not just ask for a critique of the quality and quantity of effort I put in my studies or my work, but I also seek to find out other people’s perception of how effective or ineffective my interaction with other people and the system is. I also gave some of my essays to friends and colleagues to read; and used their criticism and opinions to improve on my essay writing skills. I feel that I can use the feedback I obtain regarding my study and work strategies and quality to improve by developing plans of action based on it on a regular basis. Feedback is effective only if it is involved in the review of strengths and weaknesses so that the actions taken can be specifically tailored to build on my strengths and work on my weaknesses. It is however important to note that feedback can only be genuine if the seeker also reciprocates by giving feedback to the people he or she seeks opinion from. Even though some people may not like getting feedback on their performance especially if it is negative, I try as much as possible to reciprocate by giving genuine feedback to those willing to acknowledge it so that I can receive an equal measure in return. I would be honest if I say that this course has been an eye opener for me. Through planning my time to fulfill course requirements like attending to classes and completing my assignments in time, I have learnt to be more organized not only in class but in other spheres of my life. The need for efficiency made me engage in research in an attempt to identify better, faster and more effective reading styles, and I perfected these on this course. I have attained a better reading speed and I have become better in both written and spoken English. Through research and preparation for writing my essays, I have improved on my writing skills a great deal. I have learnt several referencing styles and I could even take a chance at professional writing as of now. Criminology requires articulate presentation of ideas, facts and arguments; and this course has increased my analytical skills and the depth of my thinking. In the past, I have sort of been what social scientists would call a right brain thinker. To me, an occurrence or a phenomenon was true or false, black or white. But the course has taught me to think from different perspectives. This has been a big change for me bearing in mind that I have been quite opinioned about criminology issues; but I have learned to pay attention and get many sides to any event. Starting university has had an enormous impact on my academic, personal and work life as well. Being a student and working at the same time is a challenge for many people. I work and study; and since I realize that both are important to my life, I don’t let one take the time of the other. I do not take time off to study or skip classes to work or because I worked late; but I do take some hours off to catch up on my assignments and to engage in extracurricular activities to refresh my faculties and also to write my essay. As far as my private life is concerned, my academic engagements have made it necessary to study on most nights and weekends; but the experience has been good since I have gained the ability to see things from an academic and professional angle and reason likewise. This course has definitely induced a lot of changes in me. For starters, I have learned to be flexible to divergent thoughts and ideas, and since I have learned so much in the process, I have found out that some of the opinions I hold regarding other people and occurrences are not necessarily justified. With an increase in knowledge comes a change in heart, and the new ideas, concepts and facts I have learned have changed my opinion and attitude a great deal. Since the beginning of this course, I have continually learned that there is so much information out there for me to absorb and apply in my essays, arguments and in my professional life. Information for real has the capacity to change someone’s beliefs. The more I am challenged, the more I have become aware of the need and the virtue of being able to tolerate the values, beliefs and attitudes of other people. By virtue of the amount of literature I have had to cover, my attitude towards work has changed. Work, be it academic or professional, is no longer an obligation to me, but an opportunity to improve my vistas of knowledge and my capacity to interact with people, information and real life circumstances. In other words, the course has given me an opportunity to grow in character as a person. Through the study of moral values as they apply in criminology and psychology, I have learned that morality is a very personal issue; and that not a single person can rationally claim to have more superior values as compared to others. In as such, my attitude to people has changed a lot, and I am no longer quick to judge the actions of others without first establishing the motives behind their actions. Creative and research and essay writing has taught me the importance of respecting intellectual property. I have come across so much written material in this course; materials which have increased my knowledge base in ways I could not have imagined. It is a matter of fact that people somewhere took their time to do research, derive facts and write them down plus their relationship to and application in real life situations. It is not only responsible but also ethical therefore to respect their rights to their work by responsibly using these works. Responsible use of literary material is achieved by avoiding plagiarism. This entails proper use of resources and the application of correct referencing techniques to cite the contribution of existing literature in any produced essays or research papers. I had never done any referencing before, but the resources providing guidelines for referencing available at the university website helped me a lot in learning how to responsibly utilize literary materials without abusing intellectual property. As I pointed out earlier, I did not know what was expected of me before actually joining this course. As the course progressed, I came to realize that it is actually a very interesting course. Even though it is quite challenging in terms of difficulty in comprehending some of the concepts taught, I do not regret taking it. The course has made me understand people better and have valuable insight on the motivations people have while committing some of the activities they commit. As I said earlier, I had to work as I undertook this course. The responsibilities could have been overwhelming for most people and their families, but the experience brought me closer to my wife who supported me throughout the duration of the course and has still continued to support me. In terms of my professional experience, the course has opened up my mind and conscience. I have met a lot of interesting people and the experience has made me a better communicator, improving the relationship between me and my work colleagues. I am a very ambitious person and I want to continue growing professionally, that is why I decided to further my education in the first place. My ambition sometimes brings me at odds with my colleagues, but I have known how to effectively handle their aggressions. I hope that these skills are going to push me up the professional ladder, even though this is going to take some time considering the system of my place of work.

American Involvment in World War I Essay

This investigation assesses American involvement in World War I before military intervention, and how this led to military intervention. In order to assess these causes, one must examine America’s involvement in the war before combat, the events that launched America’s military intervention in the war, American sentiments about the war before military intervention, and Woodrow Wilson’s actions before the war. Two sources used in the essay, America’s Great War: World War One and the American Experience by Robert H.  Ziegler and Woodrow Wilson’s speech to congress on April 2nd, 1917 are evaluated for their origins, values, purposes and limitations. The investigation does not asses the pre-war situations of any countries but the United States, and does not asses American military involvement during the First World War Summary Of Evidence Prior to 1917, America was already deeply involved in the First World War, though they did not have troops fighting in the trenches overseas. First, American involvement in the war was purely as a producer and creditor to the Allied Powers. The war, while catastrophic for the countries involved in its atrophied trench battles, provided America with an astronomical boost to its economy, from 2 billion dollars in exported materials in 1913 to nearly 6 billion dollars in exports in 1916. This economic boom was mainly brought on by Britain’s dependency on American foodstuffs and manufactured goods.. The economic ties between America and Britain tightened with public subscription loans. By 1917, Britain had borrowed 2. 7 billion dollars from American creditors. Historian Paul Koistinen wrote â€Å"Without American supplies, Britain could not continue the war; without American financing of almost 10$ million a day †¦ Britain would exhaust its reserves of gold and securities by March 1917. Its dependence was total. Cutting back procurement . . . would produce disaster in England† Originally, America did nothing but reap the reward of â€Å"neutrality†. When Americas turned their eyes to the stage of war in Europe, they were truly terrified. One Chicago newspaper joked â€Å"A hearty vote of thanks to Columbus for having discovered America†. This sentiment was echoed by many American citizens, who showed pride in President Woodrow Wilson’s decision to declare America a neutral state in the war. Americans thoughts on the war lied in their bloodlines, as a majority of Americans were descendants from either Allied or Central Powers nations. Most Americans, early in the war at least, didn’t understand the war or why it was being fought, and were glad that America wasn’t involved. However, these robust Anti-Involvement sentiments began to fade after May 7 1915, the day of the Lusitania crisis. German U-Boats torpedoed and sunk a passenger liner in British waters, killing nearly 1,200 civilians, including 128 American citizens. The murder of these innocents set off the first widespread pro war feelings in Americans. This outrage was justified, but was also heightened by yellow journalism that demonized Germans as barbarians and deranged killers. President Woodrow Wilson, taking note of this event and the outrage it caused, warned the Germans that any further violation of American rights would result in â€Å"Strict Accountability† for these actions. This, as well as the bloody war dragging on in Europe, brought up the question of military preparedness in the United States. By 1916, pro-preparedness sentiment was widespread, as 135,000 supporters of expanding the military marched on New York City’s 5th Avenue, for 12 hours. In Chicago, 130,000 telephone operators moved in the shape of an American flag, goose-stepping down State Street. In the election of 1916, Woodrow Wilson ran against Charles E. Hughes, who was backed by Theodore Roosevelt, former president and staunch Allied Powers supporter, as well as an advocate for military preparedness. Woodrow Wilson won the election by only about 600,000 popular votes. However, these sentiments were met with an equally strong anti-militarism force, saying that in a chaotic world, America must be a beacon and resist entrance into war, and resist building an enormous military. Strong anti-militaristic sentiments began to fade when British intelligence officers intercepted a telegram sent from Foreign Secretary of the German Empire Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador of Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt. This infamous proposal, known as the Zimmermann note, proposed that Mexico wage war against the United States. Throughout America’s neutrality in World War 1, President Wilson had acted as a mediator, but with tension building to a terminal level and with the Zimmermann note, Wilson was forced to ask congress to bolster America’s military forces on April 2nd 1917. Later in the same year, America sent its first military forces oversees Evaluation Of Sources Robert H Zieger: America’s Great War: World War One and the American Experience Origins- (2000) Zieger is a respected labor historian Purpose- Provides an in-depth look at American involvement in the war. Value- The economic statistics and quotations from various primary and secondary sources allow the reader to evaluate the validity of the claims Zieger makes. Limitations- does not provide any new opinions or claims Woodrow Wilson, April 2nd 1917 to congress to persuade congress to bring the United States Origin- German hostile actions towards the United States Purpose- Persuade congress to declare war on Germany and the Central Powers Value- clearly outlined Wilson’s reason’s for entering war Limitations- doesn’t explain the underlying causes of military intervention or pressure from big business to declare war for entry  Analysis America’s involvement in World War One began with producing vital weapons and foodstuffs for the Allied Powers, as well as economically supporting the Allied nation’s governments. Throughout the war, the German Empire repeatedly acted belligerently towards the neutral United States, sinking passenger lines, killing Amer ican civilians. Tension with Germany also rose after the proposal to Mexico asking the Mexican army to wage war on the United States. These belligerent German acts, however, would not have held as much effect as they did if American political opinions had not been shifted by the German actions, the economic pressure of close ties to the Allied nations, or social pressure brought along by shifting political attitudes. These all contributed to tensions growing regarding American military involvement I World War One President Woodrow Wilson was a stalwart proponent of American neutrality in the First World War for the almost all of the war, but the American political climate at the time forced his hand.. He was able to win this election because most voters at the time had pro-neutrality sentiments. However, Wilson took into account his slim margin of victory, and the Republican’s yearning for a prepared military. These yearnings were brought on mainly by the Lusitania sinking. A major proponent for intervention, the previously mentioned Theodore Roosevelt, denounced these acts of the German Empire as acts of piracy. Roosevelt’s popularity made these statements extremely well heard. This shift in public opinion helped force President Wilson’s hand. America’s involvement in World War One before it entry in combat was extremely vital, producing millions of dollars’ worth of material for Britain and France, as well as financing the war through small loans. This dependency was built by J. P Morgan, who traded nearly 3 billion dollars’ worth of goods with the allied powers. By 1917, America had invested 2. 7 billion dollars in Britain alone. Historian Paul Koistinen’s quote regarding British dependency on American trade shows how deeply entrenched America was with the war’s affairs pre involvement. These statistics show that the allied powers were completely dependent on American economic support American corporations had an immense amount of wealth in the war, and if they Allied powers lost the war, all of their investments would be worth nothing, because the countries that had been responsible for repaying these debts would no longer exist. The war was taking a detrimental toll on the populations of the warring nations, and the war was almost completely atrophied. It was only a matter of time before one side lost, and it was essential to American business that it was the Allied Powers. Had the allied powers lost to the central powers, American financers would have lost 2. 7 billion dollars as a whole, 2. 7 billion dollars that were needed to give to American business, 2. 7 billion dollars that banks needed to stay in business. Throughout pre-involvement America, as early as the dawn of the war, so called â€Å"hyphenated Americans†, had opinions on what side of the war to support, dependent on their country of origin. German-Americans, the largest ethnic group at the time , supported what they thought of as their motherland, Germany, therefore supported the Central Powers. The second largest ethnic group, Irish-Americans, saw Great Britain as an oppressor, therefore were also supporters of the central powers. However, most Americans at the time were still pro-neutrality. A Chicago newspaper, expressing thanks to Columbus, wrote an article on the blessing of the Atlantic Ocean. This was a popular sentiment at the time, and many Americans were proud of Wilson’s decision to be neutral. After the sinking of American ocean liner Lusitania the support of neutrality began to fade. Before the Lusitania disaster, however, 92 ships had been sunken by aggressive German action. None of these attacks had gained as much publicity, partially due to the fact that the previous sinking’s hadn’t been as destructive. But this was also due to the fact that the Lusitania sinking was grabbed onto by yellow journalists. â€Å"The blood of these murdered victims cries for vengeance. If that cry is unheard, the people of the United States will always bear upon them the stigma of the greatest humiliation ever put upon a nation. Writes a reporter from the Toronto Telegram. President Wilson demanded that German U-Boats stop sinking civilian liners, and if they continued to do so, they would be met with military retaliation. This didn’t stop Germans from sinking boats, and Wilson’s failure to take action against them infuriated Americans. Observing the protests in American cities at the time, one can judge that huge masses of people were strongly in favo r of interventionism. Conclusion The process of the American military joining the Allied Powers seemed inevitable from the start of the war, but still took hostile action and over reaction to spark military involvement. America’s pre-war economic ties to Europe and America’s reliance on trade with these nations during the war made America’s involvement with these nations too deep to let them lose the war, therefore forcing combat. Woodrow Wilson’s strong stance on neutrality couldn’t stand up to the enormous pressure he faced from the people of the United States.

Implications of Day Care in Young Children Essay

Within this assignment I will be discussing the implications of day care for young children and giving both the positive and the negative aspects of this. A study was done in the united states by Kagen (1978), the study was done on children whose mothers worked, in which case the children were put into day care centres compared to home –reared children. Kagen found little difference between the children placed in day care centres and those raised at home either in the amount of protest or seeking closeness to their mothers when upset. From the findings it appears that it doesn’t matter if a child is in day-care or raised at home or the amount of hours spent with its mothers, there is a special bond between mother and child. Bee (1974) Concluded that there are no negative effects when a child is cared for in a day care centre, provided these are run by trained professionals and only a small number of children. However, Bee (1997) also suggests â€Å"The crucial issue is the discrepancy between the level of stimulation that the child would receive at home and the quality of day care. When the day care setting for the child provides more enrichment than the child would normally receive at home, we see some beneficial cognitive effects. When day care is less stimulating than the child’s home care would have been, it has negative effects.† Psychologists disagree about the developmental effects of day care on young children. Some agree with Bowlby’s prediction that long to medium term separation from the mother could have far-reaching consequences. Others claim that, provided day care is high quality day care has no adverse effects on intellectual development and does not disrupt the child’s attachments. Some psychologists believe that it might even make a positive contribution to the child’s development. The type and quality of care can influence many aspects of development—including memory, language development, school readiness, math and reading achievement, the nature of relationships with parents and teachers, social skills, work habits, and behavioural adjustments Below I have tried to outline the positive and negative aspects of day care: – Positives * When children attend nursery or playschool it’s clear that peer relationships take on increasing importance but peer relationship importance  is important before this . Early as 6 months old babies smile and are more vocal to other infants. * Intellectual stimulation * Helps develop some social skills- building relationship with peers and other trusted adults other than those within the family. * Psychologists have shown there is no affect on the mother-child attachment * Children receive Adequate and nutritious meals Negatives * Putting a child into day care can cause the child stress ( i.e upset from being away from its mother)as can any situation in which the mother isn’t with the child. * If a day care doesn’t have the correct form of attachment for adults and the children as mentioned above ( conclusion raised by Barbara Tizard) this will not have as greater benefits as a quality day care that has this attachment and familiarity etc. * Some research in the US argue that day care can cause the child to grow up to be aggressive and disruptive once they reach school age (research taken from -NICHD national child care study)

Bioavailability And Bioequivalence Studies

Bioavailability And Bioequivalence Studies Each year so many drugs loss their patent protection and opens the door for the generic alternatives. In this way Bioavailability and Bioequivalence studies becomes most important. Bioavailability is defined as â€Å"The rate and extent to which the active moiety is absorbed from a drug product and becomes available at the site of action.† Bioavailability can be generally documented by a systematic exposure profile obtained by measuring drug and/metabolite concentration in the systemic circulation over a particular time period. Scope of Bioavailability studies: Development of new formulations of the already existing drugs. Determination of effect of excipients, patient related factors and possible drug To ensure the of quality of a drug product during the early stages of marketing in order to determine the influence of manufacturing factors, storage and stability factors on drug absorption. The systemic exposure profile of drug or metabolite obtained by measuring concentratio n in the systemic circulation over a particular time period during clinical trials in the early stages of drug development can serve as a benchmark for subsequent bioequivalence studies. Bioequivalence is a relative term which shows the absence of a significant difference in the rate and extent to which the active ingredient becomes available at the site of drug action when two or more identical dosage forms administered at the same molar dose under similar conditions. Bioequivalence mainly focus release of drug substances from its dosage forms and subsequent absorption into the systemic circulation i.e. test dose plasma concentration-time will be identical with reference dose plasma concentration-time without showing any significant statistical differences ,then test dosage form will consider as therapeutically equivalent to the reference dosage form . Scope of Bioequivalence studies: To establish relativity between different formulations used during the development of a new produc t. The therapeutic equivalence of a generic product and the reference product can be demonstrated. Development of a modified release form of a product which has already approved as an immediate release formulation. Development of alternative salt form for pharmaceutically equivalent drugs. Bioequivalence studies are designed to establish equivalence between the test and reference products. If test and reference products are found to be bioequivalent,by this one can expect that the test product will also be therapeutically effective. Bioanalytical method validation includes all of the procedures that demonstrate that a particular method used for quantitative measurement of analytes in a given biological matrix, such as blood, plasma, serum or urine is reliable and reproducible for the intended use. Bioanalytical method validation parameters: Accuracy Precision Selectivity Sensitivity Reproducibility Stability Validation documentation is done, by using specific laboratory investigatio ns ,which ensures that the performance characteristics of the method is suitable for the intended analytical use. The analytical method is applicable only when the validation parameters are in acceptable range. Types of validation: A. Full Validation Developing and implementing a bioanalytical method for the first time. Full validation is required for a new drug entity. If metabolites are added to an existing assay for quantification full validation is required. B. Partial Validation:

Policy brief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Policy brief - Essay Example There is an acute shortage of nursing faculty across all the states in the US as Fox (2013) reports "Shortage of professors is curbing the capacity of nursing schools to crank out graduates with advanced degrees†. More baccalaureate degree-holder nurses are required from the view point of achieving higher enrollees for doctoral programs as well. IOM say that almost half the nursing workforce is likely to retire in couple of years. The proportion of ageing population over age 65 is steadily going up creating further strain on quality care. Reforms in healthcare system will bring millions of people under healthcare system requiring more nurses to provide needed healthcare in hospitals. It is important to note that the US Army, Air force, and Navy need nurses with baccalaureate degree. Even the Veterans Health Administration too needs nurses with a baccalaureate degree for further advancement in the job. According to Lavis et al. (2009), it is important to know whether increasing the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020 is an important issue for policy makers in the process to enhance healthcare for people. This issue is highly relevant in the sense that baccalaureate degree-holder nurses by 2020 in the US is important for several reasons that include changing demographics where in proportion of aged above 65 is steadily increasing due to rising age at birth in the US and secondly the goal is to enhance quality care for its citizens. Baccalaureate degree nurses (BSN) play an important role in preventive care. Being trained in public community health and management the BSN nurses are more suited for several functions that include manager, patient educator, public health, discharge coordinator. Obama administration lays a special emphasis on preventive measures and Public Health Departments are provided increased funding support from the administration. The BSN-prepared public health nurses are most suited for

Analyzing the American Revolution and the French Revolution Essay

Analyzing the American Revolution and the French Revolution - Essay Example At face value, it might not appear as if the American Revolution in the French Revolution shares much in common. However, as a function of analyzing the commonalities and dissimilarities that these two historical occurrences share, the focus of this brief analysis will be to highlight the core commonalities that prompted both the American and French populations to actively resist the level of control that it been placed upon them by the authorities at that time; the British Empire and the French monarchy respectively. Through such an understanding and interpretation,  it is the hope of this author that the reader will gain a more informed level of appreciation for the causal factors that ultimately precipitated the rise of modern democracy within the Western world. Firstly, it must be understood that both the American Revolution and the French Revolution were partially predicated upon the economic hardships that both of these stakeholders were experiencing. In the case of the American colonies, the seven years war/French Indian war had created an economic hardship that the British Empire sought to escape from (Sherman, 2001). The most logical means through which the British Empire could pay off the massive amount of debt that it had accrued during this conflict was to raise taxes upon the colonies that it administered (Brunkhorst, nd). Naturally, unaccustomed to additional duties, tariffs, and taxes, the American population became frustrated with the hardship that living a frontier life, in addition to being expected to pay for the King’s most recent war, was too much; lending these individuals to rise up against the British overlords in the hopes that the economic situation and the overall quality/liberty that an individual could have w ithin the 13 colonies could be maximized.