Human rights legislation Essay

The issue of implementing a widely accepted Human Rights policy has become a serious hurdle in recent years for many non Western nations like China Iran and Africa. Over the past couple of decades many nations in Asia Africa and the middle East have found themselves embroiled in human rights violation controversies and have been at the receiving end of Western based criticism for these policies. (D. Bell 1996), Some have often faced severe financial penalties and boycotts from the Western world which has effected their economic development these controversies have given birth to a new philosophical debate on Universalist stance on human rights versus the relativist stance. The debate centres on the precept of whether the western based human right theories can be implemented in culturally diverse nations at a universal level. The Universalist theory of Human Rights is predominantly derived from Western philosophy and places tremendous importance on the rights of an individual. This theory has its roots in Greek philosophy, principles of Christianity and the philosophical musings of European Enlightenment thinkers. (D. Bell 1999), The universalist approach to Human Rights propagates that certain basic human rights are inherent to safeguard the existence of every human and can be identified by using either religion nature or reason This theory holds the percept that all individuals should be granted certain rights by the very virtue of their humanity and that these rights cannot be conditioned by gender or national or ethnic origin. (Donnelly 1999) The Universalist theory also propagates that these rights exist universally across all diversities of culture race and religion and can not be subordinated to another person or an institution ( Cultural relativism on the other hand is based on the notion that there should not be the prevalence of an adherence to specific objective standards by which a person or a nation be judged. The debate between universalism and relativism was an old one but its extension to the realm of cultural relativism is comparatively new and was influenced by the work of cultural anthropologists who demonstrated that all different cultures are equally worthy and exercise their own views regarding the rights of an individual.. Theories propagating culture relativism holds the view that there is no universal meaning to a moral value and that these values are influenced by culture. The theories also establish that there are profound differences between western legal theories and cultures and those of Africa, Asia, India and Islam. (E. Charney 1999 ) Theoretically speaking, the debate between universalism and culture fluctuates on a spectrum varying from radical aspects of universalism that propagates strict adherence to certain standards and radical aspects of relativism which holds culture to be the sole source of judging the validity of a moral value. This debate first came to the limelight in the arena of world politics in 1993 during a UN Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna. It was in this conference that a delegation led by China, Syria and Iran officially challenged the universality of Human Rights. These countries put forward some essential causes for their discontentment with the prevailing practice of adopting universality to Human Rights. This included the central percept that universal theories of Human Rights were not universal at all in their scope and were based on concepts and theories of Western morality. (T. Franck 2001 pg 91), They argued further that these human rights theories should not therefore be imposed as norms on non-western societies in disregard of those societies’ historical and economic development and in disregard of their cultural differences and perceptions of what is right and wrong. Furthermore they held that such imposition of ones own understanding and cultural interpretation of human rights on another culture without understanding the values of that culture is entirely unjust and reflects an imperialist attitude. The debate between these two perspectives examines the inherent strengths and weaknesses of both stances towards human rights. However when looking at the merits and de-merits of these two approaches it is essential to stay away from a philosophical discussion of the intrinsic value of each perspective and focus on the practical translation of these two stances and how each of them are used in modern day practice. The greatest strength of universalism is that it institutes a fundamental system of rights that guarantees the protection of individual’s basic freedoms from any government policies that might seek to constrain this to propagate their own doctrines. Most of the formal legislation on human rights propagates the existence of â€Å"negative† rights which seek to limit the interference of government in the lives of individuals and guarantee that an individual has certain basic freedoms that the government cannot infringe upon. Commonly defined these include the freedom to maintain ones privacy, freedom to speak freely without ear of persecution, freedom to hold exercise religious beliefs , freedom to hold and subscribe to opinions that may be political in nature and finally the freedom to associate with anybody that the individual desires to. Any government policy which seeks to infringe on these beliefs can be deemed unconstitutional and can be revoked by law. (D. Bell 1999), Perhaps the biggest weakness of universalism is that it is rooted and stems from Western belief and practice and works best with political system that are fashioned on western models of democracy and capitalism. ( An-Na’im, 1991 pg 22) There is no disputing the fact that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is tailored and customized by western nations. It included the representation of only four African nations (An Naim 2001 pg 88). The majority of the drafts of the declaration are written in English. In fact all the legislation on Human Rights including International Bill of Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights heavily derives their content from the work of European Enlightenment philosophers namely Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. The belief that there are certain freedoms which the government cannot and shouldn’t interfere with underlies the political system of many modern western countries. It has been the underlying belief of the US Constitution and the US Bill of Rights as well as the French Constitution. Since the majority of Human rights legislation shares affinity with the believes propagated in the founding principles of many western democracies many believe that there is a close interdependency between instituting universal human right concepts and maintaining Western models of democracy. (M. Winston 2000) This has lead to the widespread Western ethnocentrism when it comes to the application of Human rights principles in countries which harbour different systems of government based on different religious beliefs

Classical Economics

Classical Economics Classical economics is one of the main theories of economics, besides Keynesian economics, although classical economics is considered the first school of thought in economics, probably only due to timing. Although others have contributed ideas and theories to the classical school of thought, Adam Smith is the person behind the Classical economics school of thought. The Classical economics theory teaches and is based on the idea that the economy can stabilize and run effectively on its own, without any type of assistance. There are three basic assumptions of Classical Economists theories. One is that all prices must be susceptible to flexibility downward just as easily as upward. This is proven not to be the case for downward prices because of factors such as laws or unions. Another assumption is what is called, â€Å"Say’s Law†. This law preaches that â€Å"supply creates its own demand†. However, this is also proven to not work effectively because in most economies today production is based on demand not the other way around. The third assumption is that the savings of every consumer should match their investment. This, we all know from experience, not to be the case. Classical economics believes the economy is a type of self- correcting mechanism and needs no assistance or intervention to function effectively. Unemployment in an economy is considered to be a temporary disequilibrium due to excess labor at the current wage rate. Also, whenever wages are high, Classical economics points out that there are always more people willing to work at that ongoing rate and this is what they name as unemployment. Furthermore, if the economy is a Classical one, wages are perfectly flexible, so this would cause the wage rate to fall. This would, in turn, rid the excess labor available and reduce the unemployment back to equilibrium levels. This is how Classical economics believes an economy is the perfect solution. It relies on the idea that employers will always act in their own best interest. But, by doing so they will also help the economy. When employees are still available at a lower price, he will have no incentive or reason to pay them more. He will then adjust the wage lower and still be promoting for the overall benefit of its society without any extra effort. The Classical economy school of thought also teaches that the commodities markets will also always be in equilibrium because of flexible prices. It believes that if the supply is high with adequate demand, the situation is temporary. Just like when producers adjust their prices lower to lure a consumer into buying it when it has not sold, the prices for the commodity, also, lower down to match the demand and supply, thus once again, bringing the situation back to an equilibrium level. Capital Markets are no exception for Classical economics. In the classical economics school of thought, no human intervention is required to lead the capital markets to equilibrium as well. Classical economics theorize if savings exceed investment, the interest rates fall and equilibrium follows. Contrary, if savings fall short of investments, the interest rates will rise and once again reach equilibrium, with help from that invisible hand. One potential problem with the classical theories is that Say’s law may not be true. This could happen because not all the income earned goes towards consumption, misinterpreting the missing potential demand which will cause a dis-equilibrium. When supply falls short of effective demand like this, several problems can arise. For example, producers reduce their production, employees are laid off, wages decrease, thus leading consumers with less income, this will have a downward spiral. Classical Economists believe that what occurred to the savings is what started the problem and is where the solution lies. They believe all that is needed is for the savings to go in as investments. This will then allow the interest rates to adjust and bring equilibrium to the economy once again. But, once again, are our savings actually invested? Sadly, mine are not. Nonetheless, Classical economists argue all these solutions could work with no government intervention. Furthermore, they argue government intervention would actually hurt an economy in the long run. In conclusion, the Classical economics school of thought hold that Say’s law proves â€Å"costs of output are always covered in the aggregate by the sale-proceeds resulting from demand†. Also, Classical economists explain how the theory of the invisible hand is far more effective than any government intervention, with no monetary policy during an economic crisis. With Classical economics, the long run is targeted for an economy’s successful growth, leaving short run losses to be tackled at a later date. Classical economists believed investments did not hurt an economy in any way but will actually help because of their fluctuating ability. There are contradictions to any theory, but most can agree on the idea that the future expectations of any economy will affect its consumers. We will inevitably use our human instincts of survival and attempt to do what we think is best for our and our loved ones’ survival regardless of what we think is the best thing to do in â€Å"the long run† for our economy’s growth and stability.

Happiness Advantage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Happiness Advantage - Essay Example However, for every success, goalposts are pushed further and further, and happiness is forced to the horizon. In a recent research that has been conducted in the area of positive psychology and neuroscience, there is evidence that in circumstance that the relationship between happiness and success works backward. Through this cutting –edge- science, it is now apparent that happiness is what produces success according to Achor. Dr. Achor argues that optimism and happiness gear to achievement and performance that result in competitive edge called ‘Happiness Advantage. The authors say, waiting to be happy limits the brain’s potential to success, while by positive minds results in more motivation, resilience, creativity, productivity and efficiency increase a person’s performance. The author says that is his discovery is based on a research he carried out in 500 companies worldwide and an interview with 1600 students in Harvard School (Achor 100). There are sev en main principles from the Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor that produce happiness. These principles include Happiness Advantage, The Tetris Effects, The Zorro Circle, Social Investment, The Fulcrum and the Lever, Falling Up, and The 20-Second Rule. The author was raised in Waco, Texas, and he never anticipated leaving the city. As he applied in Harvard, he wanted to train as a volunteer firefighter. He was unexpectedly accepted in the school, and this made him feel honored and privileged. After pursuing his studies, he becomes a proctor, hired to assist undergraduates navigate through the academic success and happiness. The author explains that his life in Harvard changed the way his brain processed his experience. Many learners in Harvard saw the school as a privilege, but others did not see this as they mainly focused on competition, workload and stress (Achor 120). The students felt inundated by every small challenge instead of being motivated by the opportunities ahead

Relationship Between Performance Appraisal Systems And Nursing Staff Article

Relationship Between Performance Appraisal Systems And Nursing Staff Performance - Article Example This is advantageous to the hospital, and the patients as well because, nurses will be motivated to put their best foot forward, so that during the evaluation, they score highly, which might earn them a promotion. For the patients, they will get the best care a treatment, which will ensure that there is more influx of patients to the hospital, resulting to economic benefits to the hospitals. This paper will focus on the process of carrying out the appraisal performance on nurses, and how it is beneficial to them. The key words used to search these articles were performance appraisal and nursing management. From the results, I determined whether the articles met the aims and objectives of the research, examined each one of them carefully by pulling and synthesizing the results. I also applied the qualitative results which examined the how and why questions, and the quantitative results which examined the cause and effect. Several literature reviews give their opinions on the same. There are many sources, but not all of them fit the research. The sources that I chose for this research were from their titles and abstracts of the articles, since they gave an overview of what was in the whole article. Those that were relevant were excluded, at this point. The next step was to gain access to the full texts of the chosen articles, and the same criteria of inclusion and exclusion applied again, and final number sources were left for use (Roussel & Swansburg, 2006). The Relationship between Performanc e Appraisal Systems and Nursing Staff Performance For over three decades, organizations have considered performance appraisal systems as key organizational processes for the management and development of personnel (Giangreco et al 2010; Levy & Williams 2004; Ferris et al 2008). The aim of performance appraisal systems is to offer a comparison between the level of performance expected by any one organization and the performance achieved by an individual or group of individuals. The basis for performance of evaluation is that it helps to improve performance by providing concise feedback on how the individual or department is doing in the place of work. The popularity of the use of appraisal systems is, however, surrounded by a forceful debate on their productivity and the related costs and benefits. It is widely believed that performance appraisals are prone to bias, that they do not demonstrate high levels of accuracy, and that they are not readily accepted by users (Coates, 2004). T he argument against the use of performance appraisal systems is based on tension in the organizational climate, as well as resistance and opposition amongst employees who may find the use of performance appraisal systems derogatory or pejorative (Wright 2004). In some cases, a negative performance appraisal may even lead to a reduction in productivity (Banka & Roberson, 2002). Western business environments are different from those in the East and globalization has provided access to various business environments, which necessitates optimal expertise. Applying a performance appraisal system to a healthcare organization in which many of the employees may be unfamiliar with certain systems may again

PROJECT and investment report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

PROJECT and investment report - Essay Example This trend is majorly visible in China. In India, although there are strong government regulations against the practice of consuming wine, the young generation of the country are increasingly showing greater interest towards wine drinking. This paper presents a comparative study of the social-economic, political and financial conditions of two countries, India and China. Based on the information revealed, a particular country is chosen in which an Australian wine producing firm might invest for making international expansion. 2. Market Research Market size and potential growth Country China India Potential demand Drinking wine is one of the oldest traditions in China. This tradition can be dated as long as 5000 years back in the history of the country to. Brewing was a dominant industry in China. Wine made from food grains (such as rice) and grapes are the most favourite drinks for the people of China. This shows that the potential demand for wine in the country is quite high. Recent studies reveal that wine consumption by the population of China is showing an increasing trend over the period of last ten years. According to various researchers, consumption of wine by the Chinese would almost become double of the current figure (UPENN, 2012). Pattern of changes in the society as well as the economy has been the major thrust behind the changing trends in wine consumption in China. The market for wine in India is changing. The rise of the retail industry and the growing middle class in India acts as a catalyst to the growth of wine industry in the country. According to recent research, wine consumption in India reflects tremendous growth since the beginning of the 21st century. Wine market in India has increased by almost 30 percent between 2003 and 2010. As a result of globalization, India has been exposed to western culture. The middle class in the country is fast accepting and adapting to the western fashion. Although India does not have a heritage of drinking wine, practice of wine consumption is increasing, particularly, in social occasions. In the past, only the males in elite class used to patronize wine drinking culture. However, presently, the high income middle class is gradually becoming a loyal customer base for wine sellers. Costs Cost of the product is determined by the cost of the raw material used in the production of the good and cost of other inputs. Grapes are one of the major ingredients used in wine production. China has grape vines covering 1.25 million acres. Half of the produce is dedicated for the production of wine (G. G. Brostrom and J. Brostrom, 2008). Since there is adequate availability of grapes in China and cheap labour is also available, costs of producing wine in China is not very high. In India, the government protects the domestic wine industry against competition from foreign producers. Although cheap labour is available in abundance, other ingredients, such as grapes, are costly. This makes cost of produ cing quality wine quite high in India. Sellers often discriminate among the target customers with regard to pricing policies. While prices of certain products are lowered to attract more customers, while prices of premium brands are kept high. The premium products are generally consumed by the rich customers, who have a taste for wine developed through consuming wine over a long period of time. Degree of competitiveness China is emerging as a super market for global

Copperative Learning Strategies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Copperative Learning Strategies - Assignment Example After the time to brainstorm has elapsed each group is allowed to share the findings with each other using the round robin style. The recorder jots down the answers of the group members (Rhem, 2010). Second structure is think-pair-share structure. This structure involves three steps. The first step involves individuals thinking silently about the question that has been posed by the instructor. During the second step, individuals come together in pairs and exchange their thoughts and ideas. During the third step the pairs that were previously formed share their findings with other pairs and come up with the final conclusion (Rhem, 2010). Third structure is ThinkPad brainstorming. This structure requires that students jot down their answers on a sheet of paper individually. Once all students write down their answers they share the information with the whole team (Rhem, 2010). Rather than cooperative learning structure, other forms of structures that can be used include focused listing, group dynamics and assessment techniques. These techniques can also be used to help the students grasp the topic easily (Rhem,

Why did Qatar Win the FIFA World Cup IN 2022 Essay

Why did Qatar Win the FIFA World Cup IN 2022 - Essay Example The pinnacle of this beautiful game is the FIFA World Cup, which is held once every four years. As billions of people love this game, it is not easy for a country to win the hosting rights of a FIFA World Cup. It happens so rarely that many people only get to see the FIFA World Cup played on their home soil once during their lifetimes. To decide which country has the right to play at a world cup, all of the countries play qualifying matches against each other in the preceding three years. From this, thirty-two teams get to go and play in the greatest show on earth. Qatar has a developing interest in football because of its popularity among its youth. Football is just one of the things that Qatar is trying to use to expose itself on the world’s stage. Because of its vast wealth, the Qatari government has the objective of getting as many people as possible to learn about Qatar. This is done through festivals, scientific  conferences, and sporting festivals, of which the FIFA W orld Cup is the most prestigious. It is very clear that not just any country can win the hosting rights of the FIFA World Cup. FIFA has very strict criteria that potential host countries must abide by in order to be able to host the cup. Whenever a world cup is hosted, FIFA demands that its laws must override any local laws. This has proved to be a problem with the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The FIFA secretary general, Jerome Valcke, has recently said: â€Å"Either we do (the Cup) together or we will never manage it (Murphy, 2011). Some of these requests include the price of match tickets, penalties for counterfeit goods, and banning the sale of certain alcohol brands in the stadiums. Also, because of the magnitude of the event, the country that wins the hosting rights must provide adequate security  for all the players and fans. Hospitals, hotels, and food are some of the major logistical requirements that need to be taken care of. Because the aim of the event is to make as much money for football as possible, the host country is required to have a certain number of large stadia so that revenue from ticket sales will be high. One of the goals of FIFA is to publicize football all around would and to assist poorer countries that rarely get the chance to participate in such an event. FIFA thinks of football as a global game, and that is why it wants to take the game to new places. Every region  of the world  has already  organized  the FIFA World Cup at least once. The Middle East is the last major region yet to have hosted FIFA’s most prestigious event. Quite a few people predicted that it would be too difficult for Qatar to win the hosting rights for the FIFA World Cup compared to the rival bids of the United States of America and Australia. There were many reasons why this was thought to be so. First of all, Qatar is a hot country. FIFA has a limit on what heat is considered to be okay to play football in, and Qatar’s climate is w ell above this range (Marcus, 2010). Also, geographical area  of  Qatar is very small when compared with other large countries. In addition, the Middle East is not considered to be a safe place for tourists. Many Western governments warn their citizens who travel in the region simply because of the level of violence that is associated with the area. The latest political protests in countries such as Syria, Egypt, and Libya have shown that things can get out of hand very quickly. On the other hand, the Qatari government used this disadvantage and pleaded that the FIFA World Cup could help to unite the divided region. Also, to alleviate foreign concerns, the Qatari bid team promised to install air

Technological advances in criminal identification procedures Essay

Technological advances in criminal identification procedures - Essay Example DNA analysis is more specific, as each set of nucleic acid in each person is unique. In addition, as DNA from one person's body cell is identical in each cell in the body of that person, a cell sample can be obtained from any part of that person's body. Thus, persons can be identified by referring to a DNA database which compares and matches a person's genetic information other person's DNA profile found in that database (Gans and Urbas, 2002). DNA analysis still provides limited amounts of information about a person's characteristics though it is believed that in the near future, researches may come up with a better method of DNA analysis (National Institute of Justice 2000, pp. 18-19; van Oorschot et al. 2001). At present, the use of DNA analysis in the judicial system involves comparison of DNA from two origins, for example comparing DNA that came from the location of the crime and that from a criminal (Gans and Urbas, 2002). Biometrics is the identification method that identifies persons based on their behavior and psychological profile. Often, this method is preferred than others because a person must be present at the identification point at the instance of verification and it eliminates the need for the memorization of passwords and PIN numbers. Biometric profiles increases the level of security by restricting access to that particular person only and can be potentially used in the protection of certain valuables such as ATM cards, cell phones, PCs etc. It has many uses such as for criminology and forensics, but it may have several civilian uses as well in the near future (Ross et al, n.d.). Aside from not having to memorize keywords or PIN, biometric identification is very accurate and secure, can be done easily and quickly and no documents or paraphernalia is needed to use it ("Biometric identification - advantages", n.d.). Intra-agency databases for DNA Intra-agency databases for DNA are actually a collection of DNA records that can be easily accessed by different law enforcement agencies. This will speed up the identification of criminals and solving cases. Law enforcement and other government agencies have been left behind by other sectors in having efficient database systems. This is due to their dependency on public funds, which is often insufficient and/or hastily planned. This lack of a proper criminal identification system slows down or hinders the judicial process. Criminals are aware of this lack of identification system and thus put them at and advantage over the authorities (Schroeder et al, n.d.). FingerprintAn Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) analyses, compares and then matches an individual's set of fingerprints against a fingerprint database. This system has various uses including criminal, civilian, electoral, academic purposes etc ("Automated Fingerprint Identification System", 2006). It is recommended that fingerprint matching be done in two stages namely: "pattern- type combination search" and "minutiae matching".

Final Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Final - Assignment Example Consumers who purchase these foods often have tight schedules that cannot allow them to be preparing food at any time. People also prefer buying frozen food due to health concerns. Some are keen to avoid being obese and thus prefer frozen foods due to their low cholesterol content. Television sets purchase is influenced by economic factors. Economic factors mainly centers on a person’s financial status. The wealthy are able to buy bigger and more advanced television than the common people. The choice of buying a television depends on the money one has available at his or her disposal (Armstrong, 2009). For a company to build and manage a brand strategy they must make decisions on the way to add value to their products. This is by use of distinct style, and design, good style makes the product to be attractive to the customers. This can decrease production cost and enhance the reputation of the product thus beating of competition. Nestle USA products have distinct designs and styles which make them stand out from the rest. With the name, they have built in the market they do not spend much on advertisements because people already know them. Choice of packaging is also an important decision to be made by the management. Good packaging means the products becomes more attractive to the customer hence promoting sales. The Nestle USA products have some of the best packaging methods for their products. This ensures their product continues to attract the required attention and the same time maintain their mark of quality. (Armstrong, 2009). Market segmentation is the division of a market in terms of its demographics geographical boundaries and political nature. This creates distinct submarkets with distinct needs and interests. Through segmentation, it is possible for one to get a target market from a division whose interest fit with ones products. The five characteristics of a substantial market segment are measurability, accessibility,

Burned by Ellen Hopkins Essay Example for Free

Burned by Ellen Hopkins Essay Ellen Hopkins wrote this novel about a girl who grew up in a Mormon household, and is beginning to think that this is not a lifestyle she wants for herself. With an abusive father, lazy and passive mother, and constant conflicts with the Mormon teachings and beliefs, she refuses to give in to that way of life. She refuses to ever become property to a husband who she is taught to â€Å"obey† or a baby producing machine. With her new resilience and want for a normal life, it angers her father. He sends her to live with his estranged sister for the summer, but what he doesn’t realize is that he’s giving her freedom and a chance to live. She learns to love and that life as she knew it was never a life meant for her. Hopkins’ book shows the life of a Mormon girl; Pattyn Scarlet Von Stratten. Pattyn is tired of the Mormon lifestyle and rebels against her family and the rules of her home and church. Her father spends most of the time drunk and angry and her mother has a whole household to take care of. After Pattyn gets in a fight and breaks a window, her family has had enough of her rebelling so they send her to live with her Aunt, out in the middle of nowhere, for the summer, so she can no longer get in trouble. It turns out that she has fun on her stay with her aunt, she learns how to drive and ride a horse, and meets the love of her life. She fell in love with Ethan, the son of her aunt’s friend. He is not Mormon and her father would kill the both of them if they were together. After returning home things start to go bad again. She mouths off to her father and gets beaten. She takes the rap for something her sister does, and gets beaten to save her sister. She also learns that she will have Ethan’s baby. Like all of Hopkins novels, Burned also has a tragic ending. Ethan and Pattyn get in a car wreck and she wakes up in the hospital to learn that she lost Ethan and her baby. In the end she says that God could not be love because love was a corpse, because she lost the love of her life, and the only thing remnant of him. The book leaves you with the vision of Pattyn sitting above a busy highway, about to take you own life.

Food Insecurity in the United States

Food Insecurity in the United States Food Insecurity In The United States Julie Hurley Introduction This paper will introduce the topic of food insecurity and hunger in the United States. According to the definition approved by the 1996 World Food Summit, â€Å"food security exists when†¦all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life†.(Simon, 2012, p. 4-5) Food insecurity therefore, is the inability to acquire adequate food intake for all household members as the result of insufficient resources. Food Insecurity is also the official term used to describe the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) measurement for all the possible variations that a family or house might experience while getting insufficient to sufficient food. The USDA measures the degree to which good food is available and how nutritious that food actually is. So while some members of a family might be getting food most of the time, some of the time some members are getting no food, others are getting food that is not very good and sometimes no one is eating at all. All these variations are taken into account and measured. Food insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all of the time and food insecurity may also reflect the trade-offs a household needs to make between paying the bills and purchasing nutritionally adequate food. (NYC Food Insecurity, 2014) Not surprisingly, low-income families are more likely to experience food insecurity than middle or higher income families. There are four dimensions to food security: availability, accessibility, utilization and stability. So food insecurity occurs when there is: a lack of food (no availability); a lack of resources (no access to food); an improper use (no proper utilization of food); or changes in availability, accessibility or utilization (no stability with regards to food). (Simon, 2012, p. 5-8) The United States produces more food than it could ever use for domestic consumption. Yet despite the ability to produce all this food, food insecurity is still a problem in the United States. American hunger is the result of economic poverty, when some people literally do not have enough funds to purchase food. But levels of income and poverty do not fully predict food insecurity. This suggests that other things (such as the ability to budget resources), are important in determining whether or not someone will be food insecure. (Gowda, Hadley, Aiello, 2012, p. 1586) In 2008, 17 million US households were considered to be food insecure.(Gowda et al., 2012, p. 1579) In 2010, household food insecurity in the US was at its highest level since measurements began in 1995.(Fram et al., 2011, p. 1114) Also in 2010, over one-fifth of U.S. children lived in food-insecure homes. The problem was considered serious enough at the time that President Barack Obama publicly pledged to end child hun ger by 2015.(Fram et al., 2011, p. 1114) Today, food insecurity is combated by both government programs and aid from the private sector. And while both types of aid have increased in this century, hunger relief by the government has outpaced that provided by the private sector.(Gowda et al., 2012, p. 1583) However, this was not always the case, and for many people throughout American history people were essentially on their own. History The prospect of food insecurity is a constant part of the human condition and in the United States has been a concern for as long as people have been living in North America. The European colonists who first settled in North America faced the prospect of severe hunger much of the time. Transplanting crops brought from Europe and trying to grow native crops was difficult. In the early days of the first colonies, many settlers watched their crops fail and ultimately died of starvation or the effects of starvation. But many other settlers were saved from starvation through the generosity of Native Americans. Over time the colonists adapted and they either copied, continued or created farming methods that were successful. In the process of doing this, they discovered that the land in North America was very fertile.(Eisinger, 1998, p. 32-34) They were so successful that despite the rugged environment and violence, hunger in North America was already becoming less severe than the level of hunger found throughout Western Europe. Improved food security had the effect that despite the dangers of life in the colonies, by 1776 American colonists enjoyed a higher life expectancy than their European cousins. The average life expectancy in North America at that time was 51 years; in Great Britain 37 years; in France only 26 years.(Eisinger, 1998, p. 44) A big factor in the food security experienced by North Americans though was that in addition to good fertile land, there was also a low population level. There was also no shortage of jobs. With low unemployment levels and plenty of work, any able-bodied person was prevented from suffering from the effects associated with unemployment, such as low income and the resulting inability to access food.(Fogel, 2004, p. 14-15) But conditions changed by the early 19th century when good land (or at least access to good land) became more scarce, usually available only to those who already had with wealth. It had also become harder to make a living from public land or by owning and operating a small farm. Poor economic conditions forced many small farmers off their land, making them homeless. With a growing population of homeless people, America’s first homeless shelters (which also provided food), were set up, called Poorhouses.(The Poorhouse, 2012) In some areas city officials would also â€Å"hand out† emergency cash to the starving to buy food, but this did not stop the overall rise in poverty or hunger. By 1850 living conditions had fallen so low that in America that life expectancy had dropped to 43 years. It is thought that by 1865, as many as 1 in 5 Americans could have been suffering from food insecurity.(Fogel, 2004, p. 36) After the Civil War, the industrial revolution began to change this situation to some degree. Factory jobs provided more access to income for workers and by the 1870’s there was less hunger and homelessness in the U.S. Of course most of these jobs were low wage and workers suffered in terrible conditions, but there were more jobs to choose from (and therefore less unemployment) so that at least people could earn enough money to eat. Though these â€Å"sweat shops† with their bad working conditions were the engine driving the â€Å"Gilded Age† the overall result was that they improved economy. This in turn created even more (and better) jobs being created outside of the factories as consumers had more money to spend. One side effect however, was that life for the poorest of the poor actually got worse. Many wealthy Americans opposed the idea of government intervening to help the hungry, thinking this would only create masses of lazy unemployed people. They also th ought that it would somehow sabotage the growth of the free market. Laissez Faire capitalism was thought to be the appropriate response to the starving poor. But at the same time, the private sector began to provide help to the poor by creating America’s first soup kitchens.(DePastino, 2005, p. 22) In the early 20th century there was a revolution in farming with the creation of the first methods of mechanized agriculture.(Janick, 2014) Ironically, although this lead to an increase in rural unemployment it also created a surplus of food which helped lower food prices in the United States. As a result, during and after the first World War (1914-1918), the United States sent about 20 million tons of food to a war ravaged Europe. And since World War I the United States has continued to be a world leader for relieving hunger.(Vernon, 2007, p. 242) In the 1920’s America’s economy was booming, but the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed reversed much of the progress that the United States had made in reducing domestic hunger. But as a result of the Great Depression, the issue of American hunger became a major issue for the government. In time both the government and the private sector responded to the needs of the American people. More private soup kitchens and bread lines were opened and the â€Å"New Deal† program of government relief was launched. Some government programs like the Works Progress Administration (or WPA) tried to reduce unemployment by providing much needed jobs. Other programs tried to reduce poverty by raising wages. Another government program, the Federal Surplus Relief Corporation tried to provide poor people with food and bought surplus food from farmers. By the 1940’s the New Deal programs had improved the economy and seemed to have reduced most of the hunger in the United States. Until the late 1960s, many Americans considered hunger in their nation to be a solved problem.(Poppendieck, 1999, p. 11) So much so that some states even ended the practice of distributing federal food surpluses for free. Instead they provided an early form of food stamps but there was a price charged and since many could not pay for them, more people began to suffer from severe hunger again.(Poppendieck, 1999, p. 10) As American society rediscovered hunger, more private charity groups opened soup kitchens and the first modern food bank was created in 1967.(Poppendieck, 1999, p. 112) The so-called â€Å"Hunger Lobby† was also launched to petition politicians to improve welfare for the hungry. By 1967 senate hearings were held on hunger and in 1969 President Nixon called on Congress to end hunger in the U.S. once and for all.(Melnick, 1994, p. 311) In the 1970s, U.S. federal hunger relief grew substantially with food stamps distributed free of charge. Though these efforts again helped combat food insecurity, eventually the federal government again reduced welfare spending.(Dando, 2012, 177–178) The private sector again responded with grass roots relief agencies, essentially in the form of bigger and better food banks.(Dowler, 2012, p. 1) Food Insecurity Interventions America’s heritage of food insecurity provides an interesting look at the cycle within which food insecurity rises and falls. By now the relationship between economics and food insecurity seems pretty well documented: as the economy gets worse, poverty increases and with more people experiencing poverty, more experience food insecurity. Sadly, government policy, again operating in cycles, provides some initial, emergency, short term assistance but then eventually seems to blame the victims for their own deprivations and ends assistance. To be realistic about ending hunger in America, we must acknowledge that no matter how good the economy might ever get, there should always be interventions already in place to prevent food insecurity in the first place and to provide food to the hungry in preparation for the next big economic downturn. As a nurse viewing food insecurity as a public health issue, there are three types of interventions in the field of healthcare: primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Primary preventions try to protect healthy people from developing a problem to begin with. Secondary preventions happen after an illness has already been diagnosed, with the goals being to halt or slow the progress of the illness. Tertiary preventions try to help an ill patient cope with the long term issues associated with an already exiting, full blown condition that cannot be reversed.(Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, 2006) Primary Interventions: Creating Food Security/Measuring American food insecurity Community food security is created through several avenues like nutrition education, public health, sustainable agriculture and anti-hunger activism. And as a modern public health issue, a primary intervention used to try and prevent food insecurity from occurring, is to track it using reliable and precise methods of measurements. With accurate statistics, policy makers and organizations can address problems before they get worse. The only way to really do this is to get statistics about what demographic is accessing food programs, and the circumstances which caused them to have to do this. The USDA is the government agency which has been tasked with tracking and fighting food insecurity and in 1994, the USDA organized a conference to try and figure out the best way to track food insecurity. The conference identified the appropriate basis for a nationwide measure and agreed that the best way to take such a measure was with nationwide surveys.(History Background, 2014) This conferenc e resulted in the creation of the U.S. Food Security Measurement Project (USFSMP), and current food security statistics are based on the survey measure the USFSMP developed. In 1995, the U.S. Census Bureau first carried out a field test of the first food security survey called the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement. The Food Security Supplement was repeated again from 1996 to 2001 and has been continued annually ever since. Taking the data from these surveys and using the highly sophisticated statistical techniques, USFSMP created â€Å"an accurate scale that measures the severity of deprivation in basic food needs as experienced by U.S. households.†(History Background, 2014) So a major component of primary intervention is already in place by tracking and measuring food insecurity. But the second half of this prevention-oriented approach for community food security is to take those statistics and addresses a diverse range of issues such as: â€Å"food availability and affordability; direct food marketing; diet-related health problems; participation in and access to Federal nutrition assistance programs; ecologically sustainable agricultural production; farmland preservation; economic viability of rural communities; economic opportunity and job security; community development and social cohesion.†(Food Security In The US, 2014) According to the USDA themselves, primary intervention should also support the development of long term strategies: â€Å"To improve access of low-income households to healthful nutritious food supplies. To increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs. To promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues.† (Food Security In The US, 2014) Some of these issues can be addressed directly by the USDA but some can only be address in conjunction with or solely by other government agencies and policy makers. For example, the USDA has no say in influencing â€Å"economic opportunity and job security† but at least it can provide other agencies that do, with feedback as to how their policies may or may not be working. It seems unrealistic to think that the USDA alone can end food insecurity and clearly the magnitude of the problem – and the power it would take to prevent it – is beyond the scope of the USDA as it currently exists. But at least this primary intervention is in place and can be used in the future to continue trying to prevent hunger from happening and, until preventing it completely, to act as an alarm for strengthening secondary interventions. Secondary Interventions While primary interventions for food insecurity involve the policy and decision making that affects poverty in America, the interventions that most of us associate with food insecurity are those involving tangible hunger relief that provides food to the hungry. Modern secondary interventions include the following: Food pantries. The most common food aid establishments in the U.S., food pantries collect food from donors and give out actual parcels of food to those in need. Although used by anyone, they are designed to help families have enough food for a few meals which will be eaten at home. The food closet. The food closet has the same purpose as a food pantry, but is not big enough to be in a building of its own. The food closet will be a closet or room in something like a church and is often found in more remote communities. Soup kitchens. Soup kitchens are also called food kitchens and meal centers, all of which provide hot cooked meals for the hungry. These meals are prepared and eaten in the soup kitchen building (not at home). Soup kitchens are the second most common food aid establishment in the U.S. The food bank. The food bank is the third most common food aid establishment. in the U.S. Most food banks usually warehouse food and distribute it to other agencies like food pantries, instead of giving it directly to the hungry. They get their supply of foods from large farms, manufacturers, supermarkets and the federal government. Food rescue organizations also warehouse food and distribute it to other agencies but they operate on a smaller scale than food banks and get their food from different sources – restaurants, smaller shops and small farms. The network of these organizations that provide food assistance is sometimes referred to as the Emergency Food Assistance System (EFAS).(Riches, 1986, p. 15-20)

Amusement Parks - Something for Everyone :: Expository Essays

Amusement Parks - Something for Everyone People of all ages, shapes, sizes, financial statuses, and interests pour, in vast numbers each year into such amusement parks as Disney World and Six Flags. Why the fascination with these places, even to the point of repetitive visits? Each individual has his own reason, but there are a few common to all. Here in a make-believe world can be found something for everyone. On stepping from a sometimes harsh, ugly world through the gates of a "magic kingdom," one can do for a short while anything he desires. Vicarious living, with all the thrills and dangers of adventure in faraway places or daring escapades unavailable in everyday life, is here for the price of a ticket. There are wild rides: twisting, dipping, now fast, then slow, breath-taking, almost dangerous. For a few minutes one can live on the edge of danger, but always with the knowledge that safety is only inches and seconds away. Tamer rides are available for the children of all ages who prefer their thrills in more sedate doses. There are beautiful, clean, and true-to-life (better than life?) amusements here also; here everything is pretty, always works, and ends before boredom sets in. There are rides that take one through other countries, fantasy worlds, even into a mildly threatening outer space, and always with the surety of a safe return! Threatening animals become friends, and are totally predictable, clean, and nicer than the real thing. One can even return to the past, seeing of course only nostalgic beauty in the "good old days," and handily passing over any unpleasant memories. The future can be attained in seconds, showing the wonders in store for one as a result of the marvelous technilogical advances of mankind. Of lesser importance, but still a valid reason for amusement park popularity, is the availability of food of many different types. Cuisine of exotic foreign countries is presented in a fairly reasonable form for a decent price. Where else could be tasted a bean-paste sweet typical of Japan, a delicate, flaky Napoleon of France, or a foaming cold beer served in a bier haus of Germany?

Romanticisms Sublime Style in Rip Van Winkle, Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Romanticism's Sublime Style in Rip Van Winkle, Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Billy Budd      Ã‚  Ã‚   "Sublime refers to an aesthetic value in which the primary factor is the presence or suggestion of transcendent vastness or greatness, as of power, heroism, extent in space or time"(Internet Encyclopedia).   This essay will explore different levels of Romanticism's sublime style in Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Herman Melville's Billy Budd. The essay will particularly focus on how the writers incorporate the spiritual and the terror aspects of the sublime into their work. American romanticism requires the wilds of nature to be the setting for the sublime. It is in this setting that the protagonist senses a conflict of good and evil. Even though the beautiful surroundings would suggests a pure serenity, the shadows in the beautiful setting reminds one that there is a dark side to nature. In each story there is an antagonist lurking about requiring the protagonist to choose his thinking - and ultimately his destiny. The antagonist in Billy Budd is Claggart, in The Legend of Sleepy Hallow, Brom Bones, and in Rip Van Winkle it could be a toss up between his nagging wife or the "company of odd-looking personages" he meets in the mountains. Essentially it is Longinus, a first century philosopher, who is first credited with introducing the idea of the sublime into the arts (Weiskel 8). Longinus suggests five sources of sublimity in literature: "(1) the ability to conceive great thoughts, (2) intense emotion, (3) powerful figures of speech, (4) the choice of noble words, and (5) harmonious composition of sentences" (Kennedy, vol. 12). Each of Longinus? foundational sources for sublimity suggests an... ...n Boulton 40).    Works Cited Boulton, J. T. Burke?s Enquiry Into The Sublime And The Beautiful. New York: Columbia University, 1958. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 1997. University of Tennessee at Martin. 4 April 2001. http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/s/sublime.htm. Kennedy, George. "Longinus." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1985. Vol. 12:399. Melville, Herman. "Billy Budd." Ed. Paul Lauther. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. New York: Houghton 1998. 2512-2570. Washington, Irving. "The Legend of Sleep Hallow." Ed. Paul Lauther. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. New York: Houghton 1998. 1354-1373. -------- "Rip Van Winkle." Ed. Paul Lauther. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. New York: Houghton 1998. 1342-1354. Weiskel, Thomas. Romantic Sublime. Baltimore: John Hopkins University, 1976.   

The Case Against a Higher Minimum Wage

The Case Against a Higher Minimum Wage raising the minimum wage hurts the poor. It takes away jobs, keeps people on welfare, and encourages high-school students to drop out. Policy makers should be clear on the consequence of higher minimum wages. Jobs and the Minimum Wage Economists have studied the job-destroying features of a higher minimum wage. It is important to recognize that the jobs lost are mainly entry-level jobs. By destroying entry-level jobs, a higher minimum wage harms the lifetime earnings prospects of low-skilled workers. Side Effects of Raising the Minimum Wage It has been well documented that the minimum wage destroys jobs, particularly the jobs of low-skilled, young workers. However, there are other equally pernicious side effects of higher minimum wages. Higher minimum wages make it more difficult for people to leave welfare and induce high-school students to drop out. Dr. Peter Brandon of the Institute for Research on Poverty studied how raising the minimum wage affect the transition from welfare to work. [7] He found that raising it keeps welfare mothers on welfare longer. Mothers on welfare in states that raised their minimum wage remained on welfare 44 percent longer than mothers on welfare in states where it was not raised. [8]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reason for this result is that raising the minimum wage induces some people to enter the labor market who would not apply if not for the higher level. With a larger labor market, employers choose higher-skilled applicants. Thus, raising the minimum wage hurts low-skilled workers in two ways. First, there are fewer jobs available. Second, with a larger pool of applicants, competition is stiffer. Low-skilled workers have a more difficult time getting those job skills that are crucial to economic well-being. Another side effect of raising the minimum wage is that it increases the number of high-school students who drop out. [9] Some of these students do not find employment. Another group of students are part of those applicants that compete jobs away from welfare recipients. Dropping out of school is very destructive. High school drop-outs have a very difficult time improving their well-being. The Elusive Benefits of a Higher Minimum Wage The proponents of a higher minimum wage argue that it is vitally important to raise it in order to improve the lives of poor workers. However, the raise will have only a limited impact on poor working families. [10] A single parent with two children living in California would gain only 26 cents from a 90 cent increase in the minimum wage. To put this gain in perspective, each minimum wage worker who earns $4. 25 an hour brings home $3. 92 for each hour worked once payroll taxes are deducted. The employer costs of a minimum wage worker is $4. 8 an hour when the employers share of the payroll tax is included. [11] If workers could take home the amount of money it costs the employer to hire workers, they could have 62 cents more per hour. Clearly, the California parent would be better off if the tax wedge were reduced, rather than increasing the minimum wage. Conclusion we need a system that maximizes opportunities for economic well-being of low-skilled workers. Raising the minimum wage is a wrong-headed solution that will deprive young, poor Americans of an opportunity to improve their economic situation.

The Importance of Extracurricular Activities Camry

â€Å"The Importance of Extracurricular Activities† Academics are an important part of every student's high school years. This is because academics play a big role in college acceptance. Students are encouraged by teachers and/or parents everyday to study. Every parent want their child to attend college but only want to pay less; that's one reason why they encourage their child to study more. However, there is one more other thing students can do other than academic relations I. E. Extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities include basketball, baseball, tennis, student government, drama, choir and there things.Besides being fun and socializing with peers, extracurricular activities can enhance their time management skills. Extracurricular activities increase your chances in getting accepted for colleges. When students are involved in activities, they learn how to work in groups. Their communication skills improve. These things cross over to real life. College admis sion committees want to see students doing more than just book work. The privilege to even play on a team comes with certain requirements. Students may have to meet and maintain a minimum grade point average to play any ports or be in any clubs.Some extracurricular activities are made to help at risk teenagers. They begin to have an increased sense of self-worth, and it increases their' health. They develop life-long relationships with their peers and learn how to lead others. These activities help you stand out from the crowd. Getting involved in too many activities can have negative effects. Students involved in too many activities usually end up having academic problems. Students should pick out their favorite activities and make sure they can handle them.They shouldn't try to do it all even though it shows their passion ND commitment to activities, which builds character. These activities that students are involved in reveals a lot more about them. To put it briefly, students wh o participate in extracurricular activities will see an improvement in their academic and life skills. They will be disciplined, gain goal-setting skills, accountability and responsibility. They will also be better prepared for college. Students may even distinguish the lessons they learned outside the classroom. Extracurricular activities will help them survive in the future workplace.

Letter To The Dean Essay

I am writing to express my interest in the Master of Arts in Physical Education with Single Subject Teaching Credential at Azusa Pacific University. I am aware it provides the best education and environment for both graduate and post-graduate students. I currently hold my Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication from the University of Wyoming (WYO). While attending WYO, I lettered in the schools football program and physical education played an integral role in keeping my body prepared for the physicality of the sport. I believe that your university is one of the best schools since it offers a combined masters and credential program. I developed an interest in physical education when I began coaching football for at risk youth at the Cathedral Home for Children, my junior and senior years at (WYO). Since I graduated I have been working as a substitute teacher and football coach at the high school level for two years. These work experiences have taught me patience, perseverance, and interpersonal skills. I have dealt with students/athletes from various backgrounds; therefore, making me more flexible when it comes to my coaching/teaching methods. I also became more creative in coming up with ways to inspire my students/athletes and help them reach their long-term goals. The personal qualities and the skills that I have acquired will surely aid me in fulfilling your requirements and hopefully increase the chance of securing a place in your institution. If ever I am chosen as a graduate student in your school, I will continue to work hard to reach my long-term goals in life. These goals include career advancement, improvement on teaching/coaching strategies, and contribution to the at risk youth in the community. I will work hard to achieve these goals not just for my sake but for the sake of my student/athletes and the community. I want to use what I’ve learned to improve my current condition and give back. Given my education and experience, I am confident that I am an excellent fit for the APU Physical Education program. I know that in your university I will be able to achieve my goals and enrich my knowledge to improve further skills.

Research and the Sciences Essay

There has long been an ongoing argument: Is social science scientific? Which approach is better in conducting natural sciences and social sciences? It is believed that ‘hypothetico-deductive’ approach may be applicable to the natural sciences while it does not relate well to the social sciences. By analyzing research from different levels, this essay presents a judgment that social sciences are sciences. First of all, the concept of research and science are given. Secondly, by accepting that social sciences are different from natural sciences, the features that identify social sciences from natural sciences are summarized. There are many choices of approaches to conduct research. In the level of philosophy, research approaches could go to inductive approach and deductive approach. Qualitative research and quantitative research distinguish each other methodologically. In this essay, the different approaches are compared and contrasted after a concise interpretation of the se concepts. And finally, the question better approach to research in natural sciences and social sciences is considered. Research is defined by Join and Keith as seeking through methodical process to add one’s knowledge and, hopefully to others by the discovery of nontrivial and insight (Join and Keith, 1996). Williams defined science as the ensemble of knowledge and practices that best reflect and operationalize a critical attitude to the discovery of the world at that moment in time (Williams, 2000 p.26). Basically, sciences can be divided into social sciences and natural sciences. Social sciences study human being and their behavior, while natural sciences study physical world. The presupposition that natural science is the benchmark of research, in some degree, accounts for why most people associate the word ‘research’ with activities that are substantially removed from daily life and which usually take place in a laboratory. And accordingly arises the doubt whether social science is science. A good deal of overlap and unavoidable duplication will be encountered if any attempt is made to review social sciences and natural sciences  systematically (McErlean, 2000). Yet there are still some typical features in which social sciences are different from nature sciences. Historically and perhaps intuitively, the â€Å"natural† and the â€Å"social† sciences have been identified by distinct subject matters: Natural science is a branch of science which deals with the physical world (Pearsall, 1999 P.950), while social science is the scientific study of human society and social relationships (Pearsall, 1999 p.1362). Invariability of observations is different in two kinds of sciences. The difference lies probably in the number of relevant factors that must be taken into account for explaining or predicting events in the real world(McErlean, 2000). It is agreed that verification is not easy to come by in the social sciences, while it is the chief business in the natural sciences. Measurability of phenomena, whereas physics is clearly ahead of all other disciplines. Natural sciences have got constancy of numerical relationship which social sciences has not got. The social sciences deal so close to a man’s own everyday experience that they do not accord the respect as natural sciences. The field of natural sciences needs higher standards of admission and requirements than the social sciences. On this score, the natural sciences are better than the social sciences (McErlean, 2000). Since social sciences differ from natural sciences in many ways, should different approaches be chosen when conducing social science research and natural sciences? This is another baffling question. Now we will turn to the discussion of deduction and induction. Philosophically the approaches are focused on the consideration of induction and deduction, as well as the relationship between approaches and sciences. Deduction entails the development of a conceptual and theoretical structure prior to its testing through empirical research methods. (Carson et al, 2001 p.11). Induction is the action or process of inducing something (Pearsall, 1999). It is learning by reflecting upon particular past experiences and through the formulation of abstract concepts, theories and generalizations that explain past and predict future experience (Gill and Johnson, 2002). Induction and deduction approaches are different in many aspects. They are best used in different stages of Learning Cycle. When learning takes place, the difference between deductive and inductive approach is that one starts  with theory which tested through observation while the other starts with observation and tries to create theory (Gill and Johnson, 2002). Localization of Induction differs from that of deduction (Carson et al, 2001 P12). Induction might prevent the researcher benefiting from existing theory, while deduction might prevent the development of new and useful theory. In contrast to the deductive tradition, theory is the outcome of induction (Carson et al, 2001 P12). The time needed for induction is often prolonged than deduction B Deductive research is normally possible to predict accurately the time schedules, it is quicker to complete, though the time must be devoted to set up the study prior to data collection and analysis. Deduction and induction carry unequal risk. The deductive approach can be a lower-risk strategy, albeit there are risks like the non-return of questionnaires. With induction it is quite possible that no useful data patterns and theory will not emerge. The effect of deduction or induction is relevant to the ability of researcher. The way one thinks about the development of knowledge affects, unwittingly, the way he goes about doing research (Saunders et al, 2000). So it is more appropriate to adopt the inductive approach if the researcher is particularly interested in understanding why something is happening rather than describe what is happening, Inductive designs begin with specific observations and build toward general patterns. This is different to the hypothetical-deductive approach of experimental designs that require the specification of main variables and the statement of specific research hypotheses before data collection begins (Pattern, 1987). Saunders et al (2000) has shown the main differences between deductive and inductive approaches as can be seen in diagram 1. The blending of Induction and Deduction are preferable in conducting a research. In deductive argument, conclusion follows logically from the premises, while inductive argument, in which the premises support the conclusion but do not guarantee it (Rosenberg, 2000). It seems that deductive is more impressive than inductive. Not only because it is more highly structured and more appropriate for people who are inexperienced in research matters but also because it is the basis of much knowledge that  they do have of the subject (Walley, 2002), But the two approaches are not mutually exclusive. They are â€Å"better† at doing different things. So the balance of both approaches in the same research project is preferable. Not only is it perfectly possible to combine approaches with the same piece of research, but also in human being’s experience it is often advantageous to do so (Saunders et al, 2000). For example: Sadie decided to conduct a research project on violence at work and its effects on the stress levels of staff. She considered the different ways she would approach the work were she to adopt, the deductive approach and the inductive approach. If she decided to adopt a deductive approach, She should standardize the stress responses of the staff. On the other hand, if she decided to adopt an inductive approach she may have decided to interview some staffs who had been subjected to violence at work. She may have been interested in their feelings about the events that they had experienced, how they coped with the problems they experienced and their views about the possible causes of the violence (Saunders et al, 2000). In order to gain more comprehensive results, it is better to combine both approaches. Diagram 1 Emphasizes of Deduction and Induction Deduction emphasizesInduction emphasizes Scientific principlesGaining an understanding of the meanings humans attach to events From theory to dataFrom observation to theory The collection of quantitative dataThe collection of qualitative data The application of controls to ensure validity of dataResearcher is part of the research process Ensure clarity of definitionLess need generalize Highly structured approachMore flexible structure to permit changes of research emphasis Researcher independence of what is being researchedDependent researcher Select samples of sufficient size Saunders et al (2000 p.91) Researcher may use a variety of methodology to conduct research. It is said that the concept of induction often is applied to qualitative research (Strauss and Corbin, 1998 p.136) while deduction is applied to quantitative research. Qualitative research is so called because its emphasis lies in producing data which is rich in insight, understanding, explanation and depth of information, but which cannot be justified statistically (Crouch, 1985). Qualitative research usually produces descriptions, explanations and reasons (Strauss and Corbin, 1998). It seeks to answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ type questions (Walley, 1995). The strengths of qualitative research derive from its inductive approach, its focus on specific situations or people, and its emphasis on words rather than numbers (Maxwell, 1996). It may involve statistics but it is not based on statistical significance. It is characterized by the use of group discussions, personal interviews, projective techniques and non-probability sampling (Walley, 1995) .The usefulness of qualitative research depends very much on the skills of the researcher (Gill and Johnson, 2002). Qualitative methods are particularly oriented toward exploration, discovery, and inductive logic. Walley (2002) cited Proctor (1997) as Quantitative research that primarily research concerned with eliciting information which has statistical significance. Its focus is on quantification of phenomena sampling and large scales postal questionnaires. The quantitative data identify areas of focus whist the qualitative data give substance to those areas of focus. Whereas qualitative data can put flesh on the bones of quantitative results, brining the results to life through in-depth case elaborations (Patton, 1987). The patterns displayed in quantitative research can be enriched with the addition of qualitative information (Gill and Johnson, 2002). The  qualitative should direct the quantitative feedback into the qualitative in a circular (Strauss and Corbin, 1998). Thus, recent developments in the evaluation profession have led to multiple methods including combinations of qualitative and quantitative data. Some evaluation questions are determined deductively while others are left sufficiently open to permit inductive analyses based on direct observations. Indeed, there is often a flow from inductive approaches to find out what the important questions and variables are, to deductive hypotheses-testing aimed at confirming exploratory findings, then back again to inductive analysis to look for rival hypotheses and unanticipated or unmeasured factors (Patton, 1987). Sayre believed that: qualitative methods are chosed because of its emphasis on progresses and meanings while quantitative methods are utilized because they substantiate. Actually both methodologies are combined to provide a comprehensive approach to problem solving (Sayre, 2001). The relation between qualitative research and quantitative research are clearly showed below in the diagram 2. Diagram 2 qualitative research and quantitative research Qualitative researchQuantitative research Type of questions ProbingNon-probing Sample sizeSmallLarge Information per respondentMuchVaries AdministrationRequires interviewer with special skillsFewer special skills required Type of analysisSubjective, interpretativeStatistical Hardware requiredTape recorders, projection devices, discussion guides replicationDifficultEasy Researcher training necessaryPsychology, sociology, social psychology, consumer behaviour, marketing, marketing research Statistics, decision models. decision-support systems, computer programming, marketing, marketing research Type of researchexploratoryDescriptive or causal Proctor (2000) In conclusion, the differences between social sciences and natural sciences have been discussed, and the approaches and methods used in conducting both sciences have been compared and contrasted. Social sciences and natural sciences are fundamentally different in many ways, yet social sciences are, beyond all doubt, scientific too. From the view of philosophy, there are inductive research and deductive research. The deductive approach is probably more impressive. Methodologically quantitative research differs from qualitative research. Each approach has its unique advantages and disadvantages. It would be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that one research approach is â€Å"better† than another. Actually they are better in different situations, depending on where the research emphasis lies. It is encouraged to think in a more flexible way about the research approaches and methods adopted. Yet the best policy in conducting research is to blend approaches. So, it is clear that social sciences are sciences likewise as natural sciences. Adopted appropriately, the methodological approach of natural science can be used to study the social world (Williams, 2000). One approach cannot therefore be considered to be better than another in conducting  research in both natural sciences and social sciences. So it is high time to stop arguing about whether social sciences are science or not. Alternatively, to consider which approach is preferable or how to blend them together is what deserves thinking when a research is conducted. Reference Bancroft, G and O’sullivan, G.(1993)Quantitative Methods For Accounting and Business Studies .3rded.Berkshire:McGRAW-HILL Book Company Europe. Carson, D.; Gilmore, A.; Perry, C.; Gronhang, K(2001)Qualitative Marketing Research. London: Sage publications. Gill, J. and Johnson, P.(2002)Research methods for managers .3rd.ed.London:Sage Publications Ltd Greenfield, T.(2002).Research Methods For Postgraduates. 2nded. London: Arnold. Sharp, J. A. and Howard, K (1996). The Management of a Student Research Project 2nd.ed Aldershot:Gower Publishing Limited. Maxwell, J.A. (1996)Qualitative Research Design-an interactive approach. London: Sage Publications Mcerlean, J.(2000).Philosophy of Science-From Foundations to Contemporary Issues. London: Routledge. Papineau, D.eds.(1996).The Philosophy of Science Oxford: Oxford University Press. Patton, M .Q (1987). How To Use Qualitative Methods In Evaluation. London: Sage Publications Pearsall, J. eds.(1999).Oxford dictionary. Oxford :Oxford university press. Proctor, T. (2000)Essentials of Marketing Research.2nd.ed.London:Financial Times prentice Hall Robson, S. and Foster, A. (1989) Qualitative Research in Action London: Great Britain. Rosenberg, A.(2000).Philosophy of Science:Acontemporary Introduction.London:Routledge. Saunders, M; Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2000). Research Methods for Business Students. 2nd.ed Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Sayre, S. (2001) Qualitative methods for Marketplace Research. London: Sage publications. Strauss, A and Corbin, J. (1998) Basics of Qualitative Research. London: Sage Publications, Inc. Walley, K. (1995) Qualitative Research-Discussion Paper. Newport: Harper Adams Agricultural College. Walley, K. (2002) Research Methods For The Agrifood Industry. Newport: Harper Adams University College. Williams, M. (2000).Science and social science-An introduction. London: Routledge.

Poverty is a State of Mind Essay

The mighty Great Britain is not what it used to be. Its glory days are long gone and the financial recession of 2008 struck Britain bad. There’s a gap between the wealthy and the poor, like there’s always been. And it has grown greatly over the years. It is especially visible in the division of the northern and southern parts of England. The southern parts of England have London as its centre, and are doing more than well, but the northern parts of England are suffering. They are unable to sustain themselves. Their employment has risen, and people are facing tougher and bigger challenges. But perhaps those challenges are not only a material challenge, but also an emotional challenge, as Bernard Hare argues in his radio essay â€Å"Poverty is a State of Mind† from the BBC network, 2012. But is his argument correct, when he says that poverty is mostly in your mind? In this essay I am going to analyse the radio essay † Poverty is a State of Mind† by Bern ard Hare. Part of my essay will focus on Hare’s use of his own experience, the way he uses contrasts and his use of pathos, logos and ethos. Bernard Hare is a social worker and writer. He was born in the town of Leeds in North England in 1958. He was the son of a coal miner and a shop worker. He was born into poverty because his family did not have a lot of money. But Hare never saw that, he argues that even though he grew up poor in Leeds, he had love, security and a good social environment. Because of that, he never felt he was alone nor did he feel poor in spirit, which Hare believes is how the poorest people, who have basically nothing, are feeling today. Things changed though, when the strike of the coal miners began. And everything good about Leeds that he had known shattered to pieces. When they protested against Margret Thatcher’s liberalization, Hare got caught in the middle, which led him to doing drugs and starting drinking. But later in his life when he came across some young kids who were doing exactly the same thing, he decided to suck it up and help the community, and starting writing to promote his cause. â€Å"Absolute poverty was back with a vengeance.†1 Here he points out that poverty can become an evil circle, where money is spent but not for the better. â€Å"You’ll never have any money if you drink and smoke [†¦] I was becoming aware that there might be a self-inflicted element to some people’s poverty†2 Here he comments on the fact, that he believes that the only way to escape poverty, is to do something about it yourself. But to do  so there needs to be an even playing field, where society does not favour the richer people. â€Å"Education is one way out of poverty, but the road is only worth taking when combined with social justice,†3 Since poverty and finding his place in society was a big part of Hare’s life, it is obvious that he uses parts of his life as examples, to get his message out. He uses examples from his life experience, so that he can come across as more reliable, when he argues his message. He makes it easier to persuade the reader – this is the rhetorical technique ethos. This comes across when he argues that people, who are born poor, find it hard to find their place in society â€Å"I had escaped poverty [†¦] A year later I was plunged right back into poverty again.†4 Hare uses a lot of contrasts in his essay, to show the difference between poverty in the olden days that he experienced as a child, and the poverty nowadays – here he uses the kids as an example. The poverty in his childhood was to him much happier than the poverty today. People cared for each other and looked out for each other, they trusted each other even though they had nothing and might gain more from stealing from amongst each other. They were happy neighbours in Leeds in the 60s. Today the poor feed themselves with drugs and misery – poverty is a fact in Britain. Today’s poor are a contrast to the 60’s poor – today they are all alone, back then they stood together. Hare underlines his message when he uses this contrast. The message; that even though his father was poor and beaten physically, he was rich and happy socially and mentally, whereas today the poor are both poor inside and out. When he underlines his messages with examples from his own life experiences, he gets a stronger appeal, which makes him seem like a more honest and trustworthy person. Hare also uses the rhetorical technique pathos by the use of adjectives, in this case to make the reader take a certain side. â€Å"Margret Thatcher was out to destroy the miners’ union†5 Here it is obvious that Margaret Thatcher is the bad guy who wants to destroy all the miners, and therefor he wants the reader to feel sorry for them. The central problem with Hareâ₠¬â„¢s essay and his statements, that poverty is only a state of mind, is that it is psychological. Poverty is big part of humanity, and being physically poor means that your possibilities are restricted. Those people who are stuck in poverty and can’t get out, it becomes difficult to reflect on the riches such as love and care. His point is good, when he claims that if you feel  and think you are rich, then you are, but he forgets that despite his family was very poor, they were not unemployed. To conclude it all – the 21st century seemed to be a lovely change, democracy was on its way forward and there was growth in the middleclass. But when the financial crisis boomed in 2008, those unprepared paid a great price. Poverty became reality – especially in the north where unemployment shattered over the people. The parliament from south did not have a solution, and if nothing is done to change that rise in poverty, both the physical but also mental poverty, perhaps Great Britain will lose its greatness.

Memo Audience Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Memo Audience Analysis - Essay Example They have the responsibility of steering the business in China to profitability. This group of individuals are quite aware that consumption trends do vary according to the population. However, it may not be clear to them how the market situation for soft drinks in China is. The presentation will endeavour to provide meaningful insight into the market situation in China and the factors that influences consumption among the Chinese. Another consideration to be made is that executives understand in general that there are business regulations in China but may not know them precisely. Doing business in China especially for a foreign company attracts regulations that are variant from the regulations from a company from the country. Therefore, the executives should be made aware of the production regulations, tax obligations and other business policies that applies to an international company doing business in China. The primary audience, which comprises of the business executives, are obliged to get the information and then pass it over to the junior staff and other colleagues not represented during the presentation. Their education background and experience provides a good platform for effective use of the information passed over to them. Their perception towards the information is contributed by the view that they will need to thoroughly understand the market since they already know that every market has its own dynamics. The executives will definitely respond positively towards the information because it is in their interest to go out into China and use the knowledge that they have acquired. Their expectation is that they will be able to get as much information as possible that will help them to get all the questions that they have answered. Their prior experience solidifies their confidence and strengthens their capacity to sit back and read the presentation for more insight. However, it is apparent that based on their experiences there are

My understanding of fine art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My understanding of fine art - Essay Example Various implications can be discerned from this definition including, the fact that inherent creativity of the artist and their technical expertise is instrumental in creating visual art. The second key aspect that can be derived from this definition is that, the resultant artistic work is visually appealing to viewers and further stirs up their imagination, as they attempt to view the art form from the creator’s perspective or place themselves in the portrayed environment. It is also apparent from the definition that, visual art invokes the target audience’s cognitive thought, as people attempt to logically interpret it. Most importantly, as suggested in the definition, visual art conjures deeper spiritual meaning that is often unique to every observer. Every time we look at a photograph, we employ a wide array of intricate readings, ranging from visual and imaginative observations to intellectual views. These elements, coupled with the acknowledged creativity and technical proficiency of the photographer, irrefutably qualify a photograph as a visual art form. It is also imperative to take note of the fact that, the complexity of photograph reading is accentuated by the fact that observers bear varying assumptions and expectations of both the image and the subject of photograph. These distinctive aspects of photographs clearly support Clarke’s (181) assertion that, a photographer wields the ability to convey a more intense yet intangible message through an image, than the actual photographed subject. The author also emphasizes that such intricacy of photographs, as visual art forms, is made possible by a meld of the photographer’s technical expertise, light sensitivity, and a unique creative spirit. It is apparent that a photographic image, as a fine art form, is not only complex, but also fascinating and vast, with a broad range of unique attributes. Key among these features is the beauty or visual appeal of the photograph (Cotton 49). Even

Forced ranking and motivation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Forced ranking and motivation - Case Study Example It is usually done by use of periodical interviews conducted by managers or filling out questionnaires by supervisors and/or fellow subordinates. The results are afterwards analyzed and assessed (Spector, 2008). It is paramount to understand what forced ranking is with regard to performance appraisal before an individual gives an own opinion on whether it succeeds in motivation employees or not. Forced ranking is a contentious management tool that is used as an intervention of performance of organization’s employees. It is uses what statisticians refer to as a normal distribution curve to rank the employees from the highest performing to the poor performers in a given period of time. This is done after a series of periodical assessments of results using person-to-person comparisons. The premise behind this management tool is that in order for an organization to achieve its goals, they must categorize their best and worst performers. At this point, the management is left with e mployees at both extremes (Scullen, Bergey & Aiman-Smith, 2005). The next phase entails nurturing the best and rehabilitating or discarding the poor performers. In my opinion, forced ranking does not serve to improve results for any organization and does not motivate employees. To start with, whenever forced ranking results are completed, the majority of the employees fall at the mediocre level of the curve. Therefore, they feel comfortable that their jobs are still secure. This would lead to constant workers input that only saves them from being ranked as the poorest in an organization. In addition, the forced ranking does not portray the real picture of quality in any employee’s effort. When we consider motivation, forced ranking may sabotage the performance of highly rated employees. This is because, in any given appraisal activity, the method produces a normal curve irrespective of the performances staged by the employees (Pinder, 2008). In this case, an employee may have performed to the expected levels and capacity. These employees would expect to be recognized as having worked within their capacity thus providing exceptionally good results. However, they would still be ranked as a poor performer simply because some other employees have slightly better performances. According to the expectancy theory, the anticipation of the employee would affect his or her motivation towards work if the forced ranking places this kind of an employee at the poor performers’ level. The result would be a discouraged employee whose expectations of a reward do not come to be (Schultz & Nembhard, 2006). The obvious reaction after such an appraisal would lead to the employees comparing their respective performances. The poorly ranked employees would feel that the appraisal results were unfair whenever the perception of equal performances is imminent. According to the equity theory, the negative perception to unfairness would affect the employee’s complianc e to perform to their capacity. Furthermore, some employees who are ranked higher would compare their rewards to others of similar positions (Spector, 2008). If such employees think that they have been under-rewarded, they may end up underperforming in the subsequent years. Therefore, this method of appraisal does not motivate employees. As mentioned above, the premise of the equity theory is based on the perception of

Academic Pressures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Academic Pressures - Essay Example Stress could begin at very early childhood years and continues into later years depending upon the life’s situations. Psychologists as well as academic professionals have identified that many students undergo immense stress even during schooling, which intensifies as the challenges increase with academic advancement. More often, teenagers and/or adolescents in high school and early college years are most prone to academic pressures because of the rapid shift in their curricula, studying atmosphere, competition as well as biological changes in the growth process. Academic pressures begin with stress caused by parental expectations, peer pressure, competition, strict timelines, difficult curricula etc. These factors are meant to induce learning, inculcate discipline and help students achieve their academic curricula within set timelines. On the other hand, all these or each of these stressors significantly impact students’ memory and thinking ability. As Hales stated, â⠂¬Ëœbecause of stress’s impact on memory, students with advanced skills may perform worse under exam pressure than their less skilled peers’ (63). In general, academic pressures tend to crush the inherent abilities of teenage students.

Principles of Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Principles of Marketing - Essay Example ace’ component of the marketing mix this paper will discuss what distribution strategies are used in the industry, with an analysis of how much information is given during the adverts. Lastly this paper will discuss whether or not the adverts tell us anything about distribution and if the product utilizes a push or pull strategy. According to National Geographic (2010) the annual expenditures on cosmetics globally is approximately U.S. $18 billion annually. According to a study conducted by the UK based cosmetic store ‘Superdrug’ it is the case that 70% of women in the UK do not leave the house without makeup (Oneindia.com, 2010). Given the size of this industry and the demand for product there is little question that there are a number of different players have carved out a niche in the mascara industry. While the history of mascara may go back over a century, in the modern context some of the largest players in this market are L’Oreal, Revlon and Maybelline. Moreover, there are a number of smaller independent cosmetics makers that create niche products in the market such as Mary Kay. As it is the case there are different firms with different strategies it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what strategy is employed for each individual company. With aggressive strategies In terms of the promotion mix, advertising plays a very important role with the utilization of most media outlets such as television and radio adverts, billboards, in-store displays, direct marketing campaigns, web-content and even product placement. According to Peachey (2002) Revlon spent  £5m to play a pivotal part in the storyline of the American soap opera, ‘All My Children’ which frequently references the Mascara product offerings of the company. In the example of Mary Kay the company utilizes an aggressive ‘personal selling’ strategy so that an element of expert advice can be provided to help educate consumers of what product offerings can best meet the needs of the

Leadership and Management in Healthcare Research Paper

Leadership and Management in Healthcare - Research Paper Example Multidisciplinary approach is certainly beneficial but it is relatively complex and poses advance level challenges to leadership and management in delivering the goods for which it is formulated. Thereby, managing a healthcare organization in a multidiscipline and multicultural environment would demand a superior level of leadership and management characteristics that can meet the expectations of an increasingly aware society. Thesis This research paper will investigate various traits and characteristics that are considered indispensible to achieve organizational effectiveness and efficiency in a multidiscipline and multicultural healthcare organization. The paper will discuss leadership and management issues, approaches, traits and solutions from the perspective of a healthcare administrator to manage health and human services. The research will initially present some leadership and management issues that a healthcare administration may face. The paper will also discuss different ap proaches to settle these issues in healthcare management and personal traits in terms of leadership and management to analyze various approaches for respective pros and cons. The paper will then draw conclusions that can be useful for leadership and management of a multicultural and multidiscipline healthcare organization. Literature Review Demographic changes are a known phenomenon and diversity stems from it. The healthcare administrators have to be vigilant on ever increasing number of non-native healthcare professionals in their organizations because if diversity is a necessity the maintenance of healthcare tradition and enhancing the facility is an ultimate objective for healthcare administrators. Baxter (2000, p. 9) states this fact as, â€Å"The primary selling point of... The paper â€Å"Leadership and Management in Healthcare† analyses the issues that can be useful for leadership and management of a multicultural and multidiscipline healthcare organization. The healthcare administrators have to be vigilant on ever increasing number of non-native healthcare professionals in their organizations because if diversity is a necessity the maintenance of healthcare tradition and enhancing the facility is an ultimate objective for healthcare administrators. The diversity of healthcare force is almost inevitable and administrators are required to manage these professional with assorted background knowledge and understanding of the local requirements and standards in healthcare organizations. Areas of concern for administrators in a multicultural environment range from social approaches to financial concerns of this diversified workforce. This increases the burden of management and administrators have to be more compassionate because a satisfied workforc e is the primary requirement for an efficient and effective healthcare organization. The administrator has to keep in mind the workforce concerns and demands. Administrator in a multicultural health organization provides essential interfacing between the healthcare professionals and the community. The issues that stems from the interaction of culturally diverse workforce and communities constitute a major area where the role of leadership and management can make a difference in the delivery of healthcare services.