Saturday, December 28, 2019

The For My Italian American Family - 1615 Words

A consistent theme portrayed throughout Humanities thus far has been the impact of certain individuals or events that have influenced the history of society to where it currently stands today. For my Italian-American family, these themes have proved to be true throughout their stories of immigrating to the United States. For both my father and mother’s sides of the family the search for freedom, opportunity and overall betterment in lifestyle caused my relatives to move to the United States during the World War ll era. As we have seen throughout the texts studied thus far this semester, the history of modern society has been shaped by a variety of factors. For the purposes of this class, the assigned catastrophe teams served as four broad†¦show more content†¦Through stories, I have been told that once Grandpa Nunzio emigrated from Italy to the United States his hardest challenge was to cope with the new language and the variety of cultures. An important realization n oted in the texts states, â€Å"The emigrants who came at different periods to occupy the territory now covered by the American Union differed from each other in many respects; their aim was not the same, and they governed themselves on different principles (p.40 Tocqueville).† While I do realize this refers to a different time period I believe that the meaning of this quote holds true in the same respect. The people who immigrated to America were all in search for opportunity and freedoms but for their own unique reasons. Many came from different cultures and backgrounds, which proved to be a challenge for most. Grandpa Nunzio settled in Jamaica, Queens NY during World War ll and made enough money to support his family the best he could and eventually afford to be able to bring my mother’s dad Rico and the rest of the family to the United States. It is in Jamaica, Queens where the two sides of my family met and developed a friendship that has lived on to this day. As per my father’s side of the family, the way in which his side immigrated to the United States differed slightly. My father’s grandpa, Grandpa Salvatore, served and diedShow MoreRelatedPersonal Narrative : Being An Italian American781 Words   |  4 Pagesme, being an Italian American means that I have come from a long line of hardworking immigrants who came to the United States to make a better life for their children while still maintaining their Italian cultural pride and heritage. From the time that I was a small child, I was taught to be proud of my Italian heritage. From the young age of four or five, I can remember sitting in the kitchen while my grandmother and great-grandmother would be cooking and they would tell me how my great-great grandparentsRead MoreThe Impact Of Immigration On The United States Of America Essay1707 Words   |  7 PagesOn April 18, 1930, a young family of eighteen boarded a ship leaving their homeland of Chiette Abruzzi, Italy. Head ed for a nation they had only heard about in the newspapers, each member of the family bore their own excitement and reservation. The history of immigration to the United States of America was seen at unprecedented numbers during the late eighteen hundreds and early twentieth century. Families from Italy, Ireland, Germany, Poland, and numerous other nations flocked to the west by theRead MoreCulture Clash Essay1064 Words   |  5 PagesItalian culture has a rich history that includes art, classic architecture, music, popular traditions and customs. Many people who visit Italy are somewhat surprised by the diversity of the dialects, cuisines, architecture, and craftsmanship. My father, Giuseppe, now deceased, was born in Sannicandro, province of Bari, Italy (Region: Puglia, - southern agricultural area near the Adriatic coast). My mother is of Italian descent and both her parents were born in Italy. I have always been proudRead MoreNostalgia In Short Story1031 Words   |  5 Pages Moving away from your native country is never an easy task. Italian immigrants that emigrated to America felt a wide range of emotional turmoil, and nostalgia for their home country. These quotes and stories all relate to me personally, and made me either feel nostalgia for my own home, or made a lasting mark on me for how much the custom at home meant to them. Some of these concepts I personally related to when I moved out of my household into the dorms, while others, made me feel their pain andRead MoreItalian Music1489 Words   |  6 Pagesmore than four and half million Italian immigrants arriving to American between the years of 1876-1924, traditions, food, literature and an immense amount of Italian culture was slowly spread nationwide. With that, Italian music was also brought across seas. Music in New York City began developing rapidly during the nineteenth century as the number of immigrants and residents steadily increased. Italian music has become popular genre with many subdivisions. Italian music has also become an influentialRead MoreMany scholars have written about the particularly intimate connection between food and family1400 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween food and family prevalent in Italian-American culture. Herbert Gans interprets this to be a legacy of the traditional Southern Italian peasant culture that the immigrant generation successfully passed down to the younger generations in America. Thus, the connection is implied to be a â€Å"transplanted† cultural trait. However, when viewed in light of the social changes in America, this bond was inevitably affected by the Italians’ experiences in America. Italian-American food culture wasRead MoreThe Word Culture Impacts Each And Every Individual Differently Essay950 Words   |  4 PagesFor me, my culture is associated with pride and joy; for others, cultural heritage can remind a person of pain and suffering. All cultural experiences vary depending on where people grew up and the amount of value placed on cultural traditions within families. Most people can easily describe their culture; many simply state, â€Å"I’m Italian and Irish.† However, being a third generation American, I’ve truly become a melting pot. I am 1/16th Scottish, 1/16th British, 1/4th Polish, 1/4th Italian and 3/8th’sRead MoreItalian Immigration And The United States1551 Words   |  7 PagesRoaldi U.S. History 19 September 2014 Italian Immigration Many Italians made the United States their home, but getting to the Land of the Free was not easy for them. Many things made the Italians move from their country, and many things brought them to the United States. They faced many hardships while in the country. They all managed to find work in different areas, and in different time periods. They also left important legacies. The things that drove Italians out of Italy and to the United StatesRead MoreDifferences Between Italian And Italian Culture1660 Words   |  7 Pagesendless events where my values clashed with someone else’s. Immigrating to this country and going to school with different nationalities helped me obviously to understand the distinctions we have culturally. It’s was difficult to adjusting and also learning about all these different cultures and I came into conclusion that each culture has their own beauty. I don’t believe that neither is a right or wrong in custom or values. I had opportunity to interview someone from my family that is Peruvian andRead MoreDiana Di Prima Essay1477 Words   |  6 PagesAlameldin Professor Wheat English 106 03-21-2011 A Cultural Criticism on Diane DiPrima’s â€Å"The Practice of Magical Evocation† As a young girl growing up in an Italian American family, DiPrima began to witness expectations that she did not like about her culture. At eight years old she experienced her first expectation as a female in her family but this was not an expectation she felt positively on. In an interview given by David Hadbawnik, DiPrima says that one day her mother was very sick and couldn’t

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Sociopathic Personality Essay - 1870 Words

Ed Gein, Elizabeth Bathory, Jeffery Dahmer, and Jack the Ripper are all famous serial killers that unmercifully killed their victims and by no coincidence were all victims themselves of antisocial personality disorder. The essential feature of the antisocial personality disorder is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and the violation of, the rights of others. This pattern begins in childhood or early adolescence and continues into adulthood (Dual Diagnosis and the Antisocial Personality Disorder). One heart-wrenching characteristic people with this disorder have is the lack of remorse for their victims or anyone involved. The exact causes of antisocial personality disorder are still unknown, but are believed to be hereditary or from†¦show more content†¦Just as the diverse manifestations of ASP may divert attention from the underlying disorder, focusing on a single cause risks overlooking the possibility that ASP results from combinations of factors. The sociologist b lames poor living conditions found in deteriorating inner cities or rural backwaters. The psychologist regards ASP as a learned behavior that impressionable children pick up from bad parents. The psychiatrist views the disorder as hereditary and biologically mediated. The psychoanalyst sees inconsistent parenting in early childhood as having lifelong effects. This list is something of a caricature, but it underlines the fact that ASP probably has multiple causes (102). Although we lack the knowledge to name the exact causes of this disorder, we know enough to suggest factors that may contribute to the development. The hereditary-environment debate is hardly new, especially in psychiatry, but revolutionary progress in genetics today weighs one side of the equation more heavily than ever before. Genes tied to traits like novelty-seeking, aggression, and sexual orientations have been proposed, sometimes raising furious controversy. Even characteristics with obvious genetic links are often more complex than many tend to think. Genetics may set the potential, but environmental factors like diet and family upbringing may determine whether that potential is ultimately reached (103). Some scientists have speculatedShow MoreRelatedThe Development Of A Sociopathic Personality Disorder Essay1879 Words   |  8 PagesThe development of a sociopathic personality disorder is influenced by several elements. These factors largely are attributed to a person’s genetics and the environment. At large, there is not a significant amount known about what exactly makes a person a sociopath; however, there are several factors linked in our genes that can help identify what may contribute to the mental disorder. By no means is there a strict formula that we can follow that with one hundred percent certainty determines whetherRead MoreYoung People Can Develop Sociopathic Traits1690 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract Review of literature indicates that there have been, and still are sociopathic children who kill, and commit sadistic crimes in this world. Is it possible that such young people can develop sociopathic traits? This paper intends to prove so. Sociopathic children display certain archetypes that can either be taken as a warning, or something to go off of when getting the child help. Children who develop sociopathic traits at a young age can most likely be treated with the help of psychologistsRead MoreThe Role Of Psychopathy And The On Entertainment Industries And Its Effects On The Way Of An Individual Processes Information1299 Words   |  6 Pagesor strep throat would, instead its causes are mainly genetic. On the other hand, sociopaths develop psychopathic patterns later on in life. In the article â€Å"Sociopathic Behavior and Its Relationship to Psychohistory,† Allan S. Mohl explains that sociopathic behavior is often due to abusive patterns in early childhood, he remarks that sociopathic people â€Å"usually come from home environments characterized by emotional deprivation, inconsistency, and parental role models in which anti-social behaviorsRead MoreAn Investigation Of The Psychopath1417 Words   |  6 Pagesand the Psychopath in American Literature and Film Chances are you’re acquainted with a sociopathic character; you’ve probably read a book, watched a film or watched a television show that displays a character with sociopathic personality traits and have grown to enjoy following them through their story. It’s not uncommon; they’re charismatic, manipulative, powerful, and have an extremely different personality than most people. They’re charming and entertaining to watch, so it’s no wonder authorsRead MoreEveryone Is Living With Sociopaths, And Is Surrounded By Them1283 Words   |  6 Pagessurrounded by them. Sociopathy is a personality disorder affecting one s thoughts and actions towards others (Personality Disorder), but many sociopaths are hidden from the average citizen (Thomas, 52). Sociopathic behavior originates from social causes, has a large impact on society, and has no cure. People commonly use the term sociopath while knowing little about the social roots and environmental causes of this disorder. Many people struggle defining sociopathic and psychopathic behavior. AccordingRead MoreAlex Cross : A Psychological Thriller Essay1553 Words   |  7 Pagesof the crime scene and this is how he received his name Picasso. He then went after the police officers partner, Monica, and tortured her to death. Picasso became angry at the phone conversation with Cross when Cross confronted Picasso about his sociopathic behavior’s. At the end Picasso got really personal and killed Alex Cross’s wife, Maria. Picasso had originally planned to kill Alex Cross, but changed his mind at the last minute because he wanted Alex to experience a pain far worse than death,Read MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1262 Words   |  6 Pagessociopath. The first step in diagnosing someone as a sociopath is to create a standard of sociopathic behavior. Formally, sociopathy is referred to as Antisocial Personality Disorder or ASPD. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines ASPD as â€Å"A mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others(Sociopathic Traits 1) and lists seven identifying traits. It is important to understand that ASPD is aRead MoreThe Movie Girl, Interrupted Essay939 Words   |  4 Pagesborderline personality disorder. Our text defines borderline personality disorder as a dramatic-emotional personality disorder characterized by out-of-control emotions, fears of being abandoned by others, and vacillation between idealizing and despising people who are close to the person with the disorder. (Feist Rosenberg, 2015) Based on this definition I think Wynonna Ryder, the actress who played Susanna Kaysen, did a grea t job in her portrayal. Susanna exhibits all of personality disordersRead MoreArnold Friend Character Analysis853 Words   |  4 Pagesabout his every breath, step, and word. In the short story Where are you going, Where have you been? by Joyce Carol Oates, the depiction of a sociopath is apparent. Arnold’s mannerism, thoughts and tactics create the perfect portrayal of a truly sociopathic character. Arnold Friend follows Connie from the beginning of the story. When Connie finally notices his presence, he [stares] at her and then his lips widen†¦and there he [is] still watching her, revealing his true desires and aspirationsRead MoreThe Use Of Sociopathic Behavior And Its Effects On Society882 Words   |  4 Pagesunknown to you, 3% of the people you pass suffer from some sort of sociopathy. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a sociopath can be defined as a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience. The majority of sociopathic behavior begins in adolescence, normally due to a traumatic event and manifests itself into adulthood. Someone punches you and a friend, you don’t shed a tear but your friend

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Disneyland Paris Case Study Analysis free essay sample

This unique image Walt Disney portrayed and provided for the customers at Disneyland Resorts and parks have a highly controlled management systems and an ethnocentric style, to deliver the a high grade of service and product, which is part of their core competencies, for their competitive advantage. Disney’s entry strategy to France was also centred on control. Euro Disney had entered France using their organisational culture some variations to adapt to the French cultural mannerisms. Although both countries are westernised they both have very different national cultures. 4) Mead (2005) stated that when a subsidiary is located in a different country the need to coordinate the organisational aims and direction, is high, if it is centralise. This is because in different countries the likelihood of becoming disengaged with the headquarters is high. Euro Disney follows a dependent subsidiary as the management team hired to control Euro Disney under direction of Walt Disney. We will write a custom essay sample on Disneyland Paris Case Study Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The decisions made were central to Walt Disney to coordinate the hospitality and services. An example of the measures taken, were the creation of handbooks that gave strict instructions of the code of conduct and the rigorous standards. This direct mechanism system for control, provided clear expectations, and what was expected of. Furthermore training was provided to give basic knowledge and behaviours to staff while employed to Disney. Although this was appropriate for Disney USA the French may not find it as useful. Hoelick (1995) suggested that French culture is acute to the implicit nature. Consequently, French nationals may take offence to the basic structure of requirements and think the Americans believe they incompetent. Furthermore it doesnt address the practical issue that may occur, during work. Another Direct mechanism Euro Disney used was the opening of the Euro Disney Branch of Disney University, which further trained workers, via the use of indirect mechanisms. Walt Disney coordinates all theme parks to have a high level of homogeneity. Coordination was very important factor to implement. The way Disney attempted this was by focusing on Sales, attendance rates and financial performance and out put data, which indicated the use of indirect coordination Mechanisms. Euro Disney accommodated the rates of inflation as the external environment influences. Direct control mechanisms are proactive in controlling and coordinating. Egelhoff (1986) found this is a common process used by American businesses, through a study conducted. More Americans subsidiaries where found to report using quantitative data. Furthermore, Europeans where found to use direct mechanisms of coordination of which was mostly qualitative data. An example of this is having appropriate training or meetings with employees for first hand issues within the subsidiary. These mechanisms anticipate risk and reduce the likelihood of it occurring. This method is focused on an individual subsidiary’s needs consequently making it highly difficult to compare and contest with another. Euro Disney management are likely used the indirect method for ease of comparison with headquarters and other subsidises however this may have produced an inaccurate and distorted presentation of Euro Disney. Deresky (2011) stated that indirect Mechanisms do not account for economic factors of inflation, which is beyond internal control. On many occasions Euro Disney projected losses however, it is possible that the indirect method of coordinating control failed to show Euro Disneyland management may have increased it long-term stability and profitability. In a nation where direct methods are commonly used, external variables are a significant factor, especially in the case of Euro Disneyland. Furthermore to achieve the require standard of the homogenous ‘magic’ of the Disney experience, use of the more direct methods would provide control of service and intangible aspects. Mead (2005) Additionally having high coordination ensures that subsidiaries are meeting the requirements. Operations in various different countries have alternate work processes for productivity, which need to be measured and evaluated. Doing this help managers to identify what needs to be altered change of modified to reach the goal expect from the subsidiary. Walt Disney standards need high control as it tries to reflect the same experience at all parks that meet and exceed customer expectations. Their aim is create a unique and one-of-a-kind where the customer feels as though it is ‘magical’. Furthermore all Resorts and parks try to emulate this, as it is part of the customer appeal and competitive advantage. Therefore the coordination between parks needs to be high, as does the reporting accuracy.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Jane Elliot experiment free essay sample

a) Jane Elliot a teacher tell her class of 9 years old that people with blue eyes are more intelligent and better than those with brown eyes. Brown – eyed students were to sit at the back and given less break time. Very quickly the brown – eyed became depressed, angry and started to perform less well. The next day she told the class that she made a mistake and that blue – eyed were more intelligent. At the end she debriefed students. b) The effectiveness of Jane Elliotts well-known â€Å"blue-eyes/brown-eyes† exercise in reducing college students’ stereotyping and prejudice was assessed. College students were randomly assigned to either the exercise group or a comparison group. Blue-eyed and brown-eyed exercise participants were given discriminatory versus preferential treatment, respectively; a procedure purportedly designed to sensitize participants to the emotional and behavioural consequences of discrimination. Participation in the exercise was found to be associated with White students c) Ethnical issues raised by the study; children were deceived and consent was not obtained from parents. We will write a custom essay sample on Jane Elliot experiment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Study has caused psychological distress. Since children were unaware that they were in an experiment, there was no chance to withdraw Iindicating significantly more positive attitudes toward Asian American and Latino/Latina individuals, but only marginally more positive attitudes toward African American individuals ( is that right?); and reporting anger with themselves when noticing themselves engaging in prejudiced thoughts or actions, negative affect that theoretically could prove to be either helpful or detrimental in promoting long-term reduction of stereotyping and prejudice.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Metadata and Tools in American Express

American express plays a major role in helping merchants to buy and sell their goods and services. It provides advanced payment services to its client’s travel and expense management solutions for all sizes of businesses.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Metadata and Tools in American Express specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More American express processes millions of transactions due to the high number of members around the world. It also assists small enterprise owners in purchasing and controlling their finances. American express also operates one of the largest travel networks for consumers and businesses. Metadata is organized information that describes, explains and locates data, and even makes data retrieval easier (Smiraglia, 2005). The data could be information about a company’s physical data, technical and business processes. One of the importances of metadata is to ensure consistency in definit ions. Metadata constitutes data that helps in differentiating terms such as a client, and a customer. Meta data also helps in ensuring the clarity of relationships. Meta data is essential in ensuring consistency when identifying the relationships between entities stored in a database. Meta data also ensures the clarity of data lineage. Metadata maintains the storage of information in the correct formats, location and steward. It is important for a large company such as American express to have a reliable system of data storage. With its large number of users, it is important that the company implements a data storage system that will help in effective data storage, retrieval and manipulation. With slightly over 104 million active card users, 63,500 employees and assets worth $153 dollars, the company needs to have an effective and efficient data storage system. American express has embraced the use of advanced technology, whereby, consumers pay for products online, a process that en hances speed and convenience. Develop a high-level plan that describes the steps you would use to create enterprise-level metadata The first step that will be taken to ensure easier creation of metadata is to gather enough information before beginning the project. It is important to consider getting reliable data storage resources that can accommodate all data, which is likely to multiply and consume large disk space.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is also important to understand the data with regard to aspects of its intended purpose, its validity, resources used to create it, what it represents and how it will be presented (Smiraglia, 2005). The second step in creating the metadata is to review other examples of metadata that have been successful. This is conducted by examining how well other companies store their data and utilize the metadata system. This factor helps in determining the most appropriate strategy for the company (Smiraglia, 2005). The next step will involve selecting the most appropriate and easily available resources. The resources to be used should have a user friendly interface to enhance easy usability of the system. This will be important in reducing the time taken to enter values in their respective fields. It will be advisable to first use data resources that are easily available while entering the data, so as to enhance accuracy. The final step after entering the data is to parse the records. The parsing process reviews all the values and structures of the record with an aim of ensuring accuracy. This is done by identifying all existing errors in the metadata. It is important to run the parsing process over and over again until no errors are identified. Develop examples of metadata specific to the context of your chosen organization that would demonstrate how the metadata stack would be useful within context of a particul ar implementation The implementation of metadata will play a major role in the data storage and management of American express. American express needs to store huge amounts of data related to the clients’ details as well as all other transactions. All the information about the registered consumers and clients is stored in the company’s database. When a new client signs up to be a card holder, he or she provides all his or her basic information, which is then stored in the database. All the transaction information that is carried out using the active cards is stored in the company’s database. This data requires to be organized in a consistent way. If the metadata is implemented, it will help in differentiating between terminologies which are close to having the same meaning. The metadata will also play the role of identifying the relationships between the data stored in the database. This will identify the relationship between entities entered using different wor ds, but that have the same meaning. If the metadata is implemented at American express, it will allow room for manipulating the data while making changes, deleting the data or correctly formatting the data (Caplan, 2003).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Metadata and Tools in American Express specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another benefit that the American express will have from the implementation of metadata and proper information management is that it will have additional and quicker time to advertise new products in the market. Additionally, there will be smooth product data integration in case of changes in the company because data all data will be presented together (Caplan, 2003). Additionally, the company will have a clear view of its performance; hence, it will be able to easily monitor changes in the market. Analyze the role of ETL tools in the overall master data management project Master data managem ent is the process of creating and managing data. Here, the organization must have a master copy that is referred to as the master data (Loshin, 2010). The master data mostly comprises of information about clients, employees and products. The importance of master data management is because it offers one copy of data that is accurate and clearly defined. In the absence of a master data, there is a possibility of having other copies of data that are not consistent with each other (Gordon, 2003). To ensure the privacy of data stored, the organization should hire reliable personnel to handle it. Some of the tools required for the implementation of master data management include ETL tools, data quality tools, data profiling tools, database, web server, messaging server, test management server and the work flow tool (Loshin, 2010). The ETL tool is used in the data integration section of the master data management implementation to alternate, standardize and transfer data to the master dat a management hub. Most of the master data management vendors have the ETL tool integrated into the application while others have the ETL tool presented as a separate application (Gordon, 2003). Outline factors that would play a role in the selection of appropriate tools that would contribute to the success of a master data management project within the context of your chosen organization As stated before, there are various tools that are integrated in the creation of master data management projects. Different master data management vendors utilize different types of tools. There are a number of factors that organizations are required to consider while making a choice on the master data management integration tool to use.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the factors companies need to consider includes the factors that will be affected by the implementation of that tool. In the case of American express, ETL is the best choice of integration tool because all the data is loaded in to one hub where it can only be accessed by authorized personnel. This is important in ensuring data security and privacy (Gordon, 2003). Another factor that companies should consider in choosing a master data management integration tool is the size of the company. The integration tools preferred for small companies may differ from those chosen for large companies. Large multinational companies such as American express will go for the high standing MDM vendors in the market since they have a wider experience in handling data management challenges (Loshin, 2010). Companies should also consider their background and past experiences so as to determine their performance in the market. For smaller sized companies, the choice of the vendor may depend on thei r suitability. Higher standing MDM vendors are likely to charge higher prices as compared to the lower vendors in the market. It is important for the company to assess the vendor’s prices in the market to determine whether they can afford the services (Dubov, 2007). Larger multinational organizations such as American express are not likely to consider the prices in the market, as they focus more on the quality of the services being provided (Loshin, 2010). Another factor that should be considered is the probability of change in the management of the company. The management determines how data is managed, and how the attributes are added. In the case of change in management, the tools to be used should have the ability to store the history of data (Dubov, 2007). The final factor that should be considered when choosing the MDM vendor is the availability of a data backup system. A large multinational company such as American express must have a reliable data backup. References C aplan, P. (2003). Metadata Fundamentals: For All Librarians: Chicago: American Library Association. Dubov, L. (2007). Master Data Management and Customer Data Integration for a Global Enterprise: New York: Morgan Kaufmann. Gordon, K. (2003). Principles of Data Management: Facilitating Information Sharing: London: The Chartered Institute. Loshin, D. (2010). Master Data Management. Massachusetts: Morgan Kaufmann. Smiraglia, P. (2005). Metadata: A Cataloger’s Primer. London: Routledge. This essay on Metadata and Tools in American Express was written and submitted by user Sara L. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Free Essays on Critical Thinking And Decision Making

To Be or Not To Be (A Novice’s Examination of The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Decision Making) â€Å"To be, or not to be: that is the question:† (William Shakespeare, Hamlet) Not unlike Hamlet, we face difficult decisions everyday. I spent eight years as a police officer and my decisions affected many people and permanently changed their lives and their futures. Each decision required the use of the critical thinking process to make the right decisions and to uncover the truth. Each decision was an end to a case, an investigation, a radio call or process and critical thinking was the means to the end. Critical Thinking There are many different views and definitions of critical thinking. In my research I discovered the following two definitions of critical thinking by experts in the field. "Critical thinking is the use of those cognitive skills or strategies that increase the probability of a desirable outcome. It is used to describe thinking that is purposeful, reasoned and goal directed - the kind of thinking involved in solving problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions when the thinker is using skills that are thoughtful and effective for the particular context and type of thinking task. Critical thinking also involves evaluating the thinking process - the reasoning that went into the conclusion we've arrived at the kinds of factors considered in making a decision. Critical thinking is sometimes called directed thinking because it focuses on a desired outcome." Halpern (1996). "Broadly speaking, critical thinking is concerned with reason, intellectual honesty, and open-mindedness, as opposed too emotionalism, intellectual laziness, and closed-mindedness. Thus, critical thinking involves: following evidence where it leads; considering all possibilities; relying on reason rather than emotion; being precise; considering a variety of possible viewpoints and explanations... Free Essays on Critical Thinking And Decision Making Free Essays on Critical Thinking And Decision Making To Be or Not To Be (A Novice’s Examination of The Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Decision Making) â€Å"To be, or not to be: that is the question:† (William Shakespeare, Hamlet) Not unlike Hamlet, we face difficult decisions everyday. I spent eight years as a police officer and my decisions affected many people and permanently changed their lives and their futures. Each decision required the use of the critical thinking process to make the right decisions and to uncover the truth. Each decision was an end to a case, an investigation, a radio call or process and critical thinking was the means to the end. Critical Thinking There are many different views and definitions of critical thinking. In my research I discovered the following two definitions of critical thinking by experts in the field. "Critical thinking is the use of those cognitive skills or strategies that increase the probability of a desirable outcome. It is used to describe thinking that is purposeful, reasoned and goal directed - the kind of thinking involved in solving problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions when the thinker is using skills that are thoughtful and effective for the particular context and type of thinking task. Critical thinking also involves evaluating the thinking process - the reasoning that went into the conclusion we've arrived at the kinds of factors considered in making a decision. Critical thinking is sometimes called directed thinking because it focuses on a desired outcome." Halpern (1996). "Broadly speaking, critical thinking is concerned with reason, intellectual honesty, and open-mindedness, as opposed too emotionalism, intellectual laziness, and closed-mindedness. Thus, critical thinking involves: following evidence where it leads; considering all possibilities; relying on reason rather than emotion; being precise; considering a variety of possible viewpoints and explanations...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

A Significant Event in My Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

A Significant Event in My Life - Essay Example Towards the end of the year, we received an assignment which was meant to be important for our final grade. I decided that I would complete this work on time and put in all my strength to complete it in the best possible manner. I planned on how I would complete the work but things did not work according to my planning. I fell ill for a week which made matters worse. I could not complete my assignment on time and I did not understand what explanation I would provide to my teacher. On the day of submission, I reached school and I was very confused about how I was supposed to handle this situation. I eventually decided to copy my classmate’s assignment and submit it. I wrote the assignment and when the teacher asked for it, I submitted the work. The teacher analyzed our assignments and she found out that I had cheated. This led to the creation of a very dreadful situation for me. The teacher insulted me in class and I was very embarrassed. She sent my complaint to the principal and my parents were called for a meeting. I was scolded by the principal as well as my parents and a warning letter was issued to me. I realized my mistake and I decided that I would never indulge in such an act again. This incident left a strong impact on me. I deeply regretted my mistake and I understood that I committed a wrong act. I promised myself that I would never commit such a mistake again. I also made up my mind that I would always be regular in my studies and complete my work on time. I decided to organize myself and learn proper time management skills. I learned my lesson and I realized that a person should never opt for the wrong means.  

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Management and leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Management and leadership - Essay Example It is a well-known and understood fact that it takes the display of very fine management skills in order to be a good leader. Generally, good leaders are first good managers. Body One of the most fundamental differences between managers and leaders is their way of motivating the subordinates or followers. While the managers usually are risk averse in their approaches, leaders tend to take risks. Some traits that differentiate a manager from a leader are; managers prefer routine over change whereas leaders prefer the other way round; the vision of managers is short-term generally whereas leaders tend to have a long-term vision, leaders visualize things in a broad perspective whereas managers work upon details to make the plans of the leader practicable; finally, as the terms suggest, managers tend to manage whereas the work of a leader is to leader, though it takes sound management skills to be able to lead. The foundation on which leadership stands is the commitment and obedience of the followers. A leader cannot do without the help, support, and compliance of the followers. It takes management to get the followers in the position where they are ready to accept the leader as an individual with power and authority over them. Leadership without management is like trying to lead a herd of wild buffaloes. No matter how hard a leader tries, the wild buffaloes would get scattered and the man would not be able to lead them to their destination. Management essentially tames the workforce so that they get in the mood to listen to the leader and give him/her the due respect he/she deserves for being in the position of a leader. Management is about inculcating the sense of work ethics, respect for the principles of work, and a willingness to abide by them in the workplace in the workforce. These factors prepare a worker mentally and psychologically to be submissive to the leader for the matters related to work. In turn, the level of obedience of the subordinates is raised and this has a very healthy effect on the relationship between the leader and the subordinates. When managed rightly, workers know that they have to listen to the leader to be able to work toward attaining the goal as a group while keeping their personal egos aside. In this way, management essentially set the stage for a leader to perform on. Without that stage, the leader might be called as a leader but he/she might not be truly recognized as a leader, and without the recognition of a leader as such, leadership cannot be thought to be effective. The duties and responsibilities of a manager and a leader are to a large extent similar. While not every manager is a leader, every leader has to be a manager also. Although the individual with the utmost powers and the decision making authority in an organization is usually one or a small group of people who are recognized as leaders, yet down the line, every manager is a leader for the people working under him/her. For example, letâ€⠄¢s take the example of the manager of kitchen in an organization. While the manager of kitchen has to follow the menu set by the leader and use only the ingredients made available to him/her by the leader, the manager of kitchen necessarily serves as a leader for the cooks, the chefs, the purchasers, the kitchen cleaners, and other workers working in the kitchen. Management in this example means providing the workers with the resources and help they require to achieve the tasks assigned to them individually and collectively, supervising them so as to make sure they are actually working and not wasting time in gossip and other activities, making sure that the kitchen is cleaned regularly and that

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Management, where is best place to work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management, where is best place to work - Essay Example In regards to high ethical standards, DuPont has been awarded for their focus on integrity and honesty in all business dealings, both with their internal stakeholders and the external client. Many employees in today’s business environment have been exposed to companies that consistently provide false earning statements, use deceptive marketing practices, and further maintain an organizational culture which allows for leadership dishonesty. This type of unethical environment usually has a trickle-down effect on lower level employees when they are coerced, by situation, to engage in similar habits. Thus, in relation to job satisfaction and the security which comes from knowing that an employee works for a company that will not fold due to unethical business practices, DuPont is a leader in providing this highly-focused attitude toward fair and just business dealings. DuPont, due to its multi-billion-dollar capabilities, is able to afford some of the most sophisticated operational software which dramatically eases the workload for many of its employees. Software such as SAP and other enterprise resource planning applications are used in this company to minimize production failures, regulate inventory, streamline purchasing, and enhance quality assurance practices (which leads to faster product turnaround). In a business climate which demands much of their employees in similar industries in relation to workload and responsibilities, having such sophisticated software would make the job environment more enjoyable by minimizing stress and the necessity to work overtime due to the availability of poor or outdated electronic resources; which are often found in smaller or less-profitable companies. Finally, DuPont pays its employees well, offering some of the most competitive salaries to its work force in this industry. For production workers, most of these workers are paid above and beyond what is paid at companies like GM (which often exceed $25/hour),

Friday, November 15, 2019

Positivism Interpretivism And Pragmatism Psychology Essay

Positivism Interpretivism And Pragmatism Psychology Essay Hussey Hussey say that methodology makes reference to the whole approach considered, as well as to the theoretical basis from which the researcher comes, and that method is the various ways by which data is collected and analysed. In this chapter, the reseacher has presented a brief review of the different research philosophies; positivism, interpretivism, and realism (Fisher, 2007), the philosophy that has adopted for the current research, the different research approaches; qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method and the approach adopted for the research. The other parts consist of the different types of research design; exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, and the research design adopted, the qualitative and quantitative phases consisting of sampling, data collection and data analysis, questionnaire design, validity and reliability, data analysis. The last part consists of the ethical issues and a conclusion. 3.2 Research philosophy As mentioned in the introduction, there are three main types of research philosophies, namely, positivism, interpretivism, and pragmatism (realism). 3.2.1 Positivism The term positivism was found by Comte in the nineteenth century and he related it to the force of science and of systematic thinking to understand and control the world (Fisher, 2007). The aim of positivism is to produce general rules to forecast behavior with a minimum margin of uncertainty. However, there are problems with this philosophy, one of which is that it can only predict average behavior of individuals in a group and not the behavior of each individual (Fisher, 2007). Nonetheless, research based on a positivist philosophy tends to be based on deductive theorising, where a number of propositions are generated for testing, with empirical verification then sought (Babbie, 2005). Considerable data are often required as a positivist study would favour the use of quantitative methods to analyse large-scale phenomena (Travers, 2001). Inherent in this overall approach to research is the view that it is possible to measure social behaviour independent of context and that social ph enomena are things that can be viewed objectively (Hughes Sharrock, 1997). Interpretivism This philosophy is on the other extreme of that of positivism. Researchers who adopt this philosophy consider reality as socially constructed, that is, their meaning of reality is affected by their values and their way to see the world; other peoples meaning; the compromises and agreements that come out of the negotiations between the first two (Fisher, 2007). Interpretive research has been classified as gnostic because it does not agree to the fact that there is the existence of a systematic analysis of any particular subject; instead, it gives importance to multiplicity, relativity and complexity (Fisher, 2007). It is an attempt to understand the processes by which we gain knowledge and so it has affinity with the original gnostic search for ones true self. A characteristic of interpretive research is that one cannot understand how others may make sense of things unless one has a deep knowledge of ones personal values and thinking processes, which in research terms the knowledge is known as reflexivity (Fisher, 2007). Realism Realist research is an approach that resembles to a large extent that of positivism but takes into consideration, and comes to terms with, the subjective nature of research and the paramount function of values in it (Fisher, 2007). Realism still aims to be scientific but makes fewer claims to knowledge that perfectly mirrors the objects of study. Researchers with this stance recognise that things such as strategy and job satisfaction cannot be measured and studied in the same way as can chemical and physical processes. However, they do believe that a worthwhile attempt can be made to fix these subjects and treat them as if they are independent variables. 3.2.2 Research philosophy adopted The correct choice and understanding of philosophical orientation is of extreme importance to allow the selection of the most convenient methodology to facilitate the gathering of the relevant data (Remenyi et al, 1998; Blaxter et al, 2004), especially as poor understanding of philosophical issues can seriously lower the quality of the research (Easterby-Smith, 2006). Having studied the different philosophical approaches and considered the nature of the current research, the researcher has decided an overall view of a students attitude and perception was necessary so as to get a better understanding of students views. This type of research required the participation of a large population sample, which in turn created large amounts of numerical and statistical data and information, which needed to be quantifiably analysed. When all these factors were taken into account, realism was the most appropriate philosophical approach to answer the research questions and meet the objectives of the current research. 3.3 Research approach 3.3.1 Quantitative approach Quantitative methods are most often associated with the positivist epistemology, and they consist of counting and measurement of events and statistical analysis of a body of numerical data (Mc Laren, 2012). An important feature of the quantitative method is the collection of numerical data (Jack Clarke, 1998) which can ultimately be subjected to statistical procedures (Carter 2000a). 3.3.2 Qualitative approach Qualitative research consists of the study of events in their natural settings, with a view to making sense of, or interpreting, events of how people interpret (Mc Laren, 2012). Normally, in the empirical type of approach the responsibility is on researchers to direct and control methods to attain objectivity, thus making sure that their findings are valid as their intentions and emotions would not be seen as a barrier with data collection and analysis (Mc Laren, 2012). Mixed method approach Mixed methods embrace a method and philosophy that combines the insights provided by qualitative and quantitative methods into a workable solution. Mixed methods research makes full use of the positive parts of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies by combining approaches in a single research study to enhance the scope of understanding (Johnson, Onwuegbuzie, and Turner 2007). 3.3.2 Research approach adopted As mentioned by Bryman (2007), a combination of qualitative and quantitative results would lead to a better understanding of the data and help in a better way to answer to the research objectives. As the education sector research field keeps on changing, so too does its methods and therefore the researcher has used the mixed method approach for the current research. 3.4 Research design 3.4.1 There are three main types of research design, namely, exploratory, descriptive and causal. Exploratory design This design places a lot of emphasis on gaining ideas and insights. An exploratory study intends to explore what is happening; to seek new insights; to ask questions and to assess the phenomena in a new light (Robson, 2002, p59). It is important mainly when there is very little information known about the phenomenon. In a type of mixed-method design, the qualitative data are gathered first and a quantitative phase follows. The purpose of this kind of study is typically to use the initial, qualitative phase with a few individuals to identify themes, ideas, perspectives, and beliefs that can then be used to design the larger-scale, quantitative part of the study. Often, this kind of design is used to develop a survey. By using a qualitative component in the beginning, researchers are able to use the language and emphasis on different topics of the subjects in the wording of items for the survey. Doing so increases the validity of the scores that result because they will be well matched with how the subjects, rather than the researchers, think about, conceptualize, and respond to the phenomenon being studied. Explanatory design Explanatory study aims to find out the causal relationships between variables (Saunders et al., 2007). In an explanatory design, which may be the most common type, quantitative data are collected first and, depending on the results, qualitative data are gathered second to elucidate, elaborate on, or explain the quantitative findings. Typically, the main thrust of the study is quantitative, and the qualitative results are secondary. For example, this kind of design could be used to study classroom assessment and grading. A large sample of teachers could be surveyed to determine the extent to which they use different factors in classroom assessment and grading; this would provide a general overview of the teachers practices. In a second phase, teachers could be selected who represent extremely high or low scores on the factors in the survey. These teachers could then be interviewed using a qualitative method to determine why they used certain practices. Thus, the qualitative phase woul d be used to augment the statistical data and thus explain the practices. Descriptive design Descriptive study seeks to provide a clear picture about the phenomenon as it already occurs (Hedrick et al., 1993). Research using a descriptive design simply provides a summary of an existing phenomenon by using numbers to characterize individuals or a group where it assesses the nature of existing conditions (McMillan Schumacher, 1997). The purpose of most descriptive research is limited to characterizing something as it is. 3.4.2 Research design adopted Since a mixed method approach has been used for this research, a mixture of both exploratory and explanatory designs was used. 3.5 Qualitative phase Data to answer some questions was collected by using a qualitative approach. This allowed the researcher to get the opinion of Lower VI students about what they thought of private tuitions at S.C level (Appendix 2). 3.5.1 Sampling For this part of the study, a reasonable and useful sample of four schools was chosen as mentioned by Mcmillan and Schumacher (1997) who made the argument that a good sample was one where the participants were readily accessible. The four schools were chosen with one in each educational zone, where 10 students were selected to ensure adequate information (Marshall, 1998). Due to the fact that I have used focus groups to collect data, 10 students were a reasonable sample per school. 3.5.2 Data collection Focus groups For the qualitative part of the study, data was collected from Lower VI students of the four selected schools by focus group interviews. The focus groups for the students had been chosen since they took less time and more information was collected from different participants at the same time (Daymon Holloway, 2002). Another advantage of focus groups was that the information obtained from the participants was of good quality since the individuals in the group got ideas from others (McMillan Schumacher, 1997). The interview of each focus group was at least one hour and thirty minutes. A tape recorder was used to collect data which was later transcribed. 3.5.3 Data analysis The data which had been recorded in a tape was transcribed and analysed. 3.6 Quantitative phase The information collected from the qualitative interviews in Phase 1 was used in the development of a comprehensive and valid questionnaire for quantifying the views of students on private tuitions. The items derived from the qualitative interview transcripts was administered to a large sample of students, including boys and girls and factor analyzed to uncover the internal structure of the views of the students on private tuitions. 3.6.1 Sampling In this study, a mixture of purposeful and convenient sampling was used (McMillan Schumacher, 1997). In order to determine the sample size, confidence interval approach was used which is based on the building up of confidence intervals around the sample means by making use of the standard error formula (Malhotra Dash, 2007). By making use of the formula for determining the sample size for a population of 13902 students having taken part at the S.C examinations 2012, the researcher got a value of 384. As a result, a total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to students of Lower VI, both from State and P.S.S.A colleges in all regions of Mauritius. The questionnaires were distributed equally among boys and girls to avoid bias in the collection of data. 3.6.2 Data collection A letter was sent to each school to explain the purpose of the study and for permission to distribute the questionnaires to Lower VI students (Appendix 1). The questionnaire was handed personally to the selected students, the aims of the survey were explained and the filled questionnaires were collected after 2 days. 3.6.3 Questionnaire design Most of the time, questionnaires contain two types of questions open ended or closed (Sinnott, 2008). With open-ended questions the researcher gives the opportunity to the respondent as to how they write their answer making way to a more in-depth answer. However they are more difficult to classify into groups to facilitate analysis. A closed question will restrain the answer that may be given and usually asks the respondent to choose among a variety of possibilities given by the researcher. However, closed questions help the respondent to complete the questionnaire quickly and they also help the researcher to classify the information and analyse the data with great ease (Sekaran, 1992; McNeil et al, 2005). For this research, a survey questionnaire was designed for the collection of data which contains multiple options of Likert scaling from 0 to 4 for the variety of choice for the respondent (Appendix 3). The questionnaire consisted of six sections, with section A consisting of two questions on general information about private tuitions (number of hours students took private tuitions per week, number of subjects in which the students took private tuitions), section B consisting of nineteen questions on positive impacts of private tuitions at S.C level from the students point of view, section C consisting of ten questions on the negative impacts of private tuitions at S.C level from the students point of view, section D consisting of nine questions on the extent to which private tuitions at S.C level are replacing mainstream schooling from students point of view,section E consisting of two questions with respect to improvement of academic performance from the students point of view and the last section consisting of six questions concerning the demographic profile of the student. 3.6.4 Data analysis The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The answer for each question provided by the student was fed into SPSS version 20. The gender of students, type of school, the region in which the student lives, the attempt at S.C examination 2012, the socioeconomic status of the student, the number of hours during which the student took private tuitions per week, the highest educational attainment of the students parents were analysed by making use of pie charts and bar charts. For the sections B, C and D, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was done in order to group the answers obtained for the different questions into some main factors, with the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test being performed to verify whether EFA could be done. The different factors were found out by making use of the eigenvalue in SPSS version 20 which was set at a value of greater than 1. The factor loading of each variable forming part of each factor was also calculated by making use of the rotated matrix table in SPSS version 20. Some questions which were in the different sections had to be deleted due to cross loading, low loading factor, or theoritically the grouping of the question with others did not make sense. Secondly, hypotheses and sub-hypotheses were made for each research objective and each sub hypothesis was subjected to chi square testing where a crosstab was generated and the value of à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡2 and the p value were analysed, together with the phi value to see the degree of association, if ever. Objective 1: To find out the positive impacts of private tuitions on the overall development of the student at S.C level. H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions and the overall development of the student at S.C level. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions and the overall development of the student at S.C level. In order to test for the above hypothesis, the following sub-hypotheses were tested for the different factors found by EFA. Sub-hypotheses Factor 1: Economic/career benefits H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and economic/career benefits for the student in the future. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and economic/career benefits for the student in the future. Factor 2: Better academic performance and more efforts H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and better academic performance/more efforts. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and better academic performance/more efforts. Factor 3: Increased level of socialisation with friends Ho: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and increased level of socialisation of the student. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and increased level of socialisation of the student. Factor 4: Better quality of teaching in private tuitions H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and better quality of teaching. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and better quality of teaching. Objective 2: To find out the negative impacts of private tuitions on the overall development of the student at S.C level. H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions and the overall development of the student at S.C level. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions and the overall development of the student at S.C level. In order to test for the above hypothesis, the following sub-hypotheses were tested. Sub-hypotheses Factor 1: Negative psychological affecting students concerning private tuitions H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and the negative psychological factors affecting the student concerning private tuitions. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and the negative psychological factors affecting the student concerning private tuitions. Factor 2: Deterioration of health of the student who takes private tuitions H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and deterioration of the health of the student. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and deterioration of the health of the student. Factor 3: Lack of family and leisure time faced by student who takes private tuitions H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and lack of family and leisure time by the student. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and lack of family and leisure time by the student. Objective 3: To find out to what extent private tuitions are replacing mainstream schooling. Factor 1: Higher level of importance of private tuitions as compared to mainstream schooling H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and their level of importance from the students point of view H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and their level of importance from the students point of view Factor 2: More care and attention from private tutors than teachers at school H0: There is no relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and students getting more care and attention from private tutors. H1: There is a relationship between private tuitions at S.C level and students getting more care and attention from private tutors Finally, a multi regression analysis was carried out to investigate the whether there was a linear relationship between academic performance at S.C level, measured by the grade point average (G.P.A), and socioeconomic status of parents, intensity of private tuitions per week, region in which the student lived, and highest educational attainment of parents. The grade point average is calculated by dividing the aggregate that the student obtained at S.C examinations 2012 by six since the aggregate is calculated for the 6 best grades. The grade point average has a range of 1.00 to 9.00. The lower the grade point average, the better is the academic performance of the student. 3.6.5 Validity and reliability In this research, a mixed method approach was adopted which was an efficient way to collect data for specific variables of interest (Collis and Hussey, 2003). The survey questionnaire was developed to get data from students of Lower VI. Contact addresses and numbers were given in covering letter if participants encountered any problem (Appendix 1). It was assured that data would be confidential that can reduce the subject bias. Since the questionnaire was designed in a survey format, it did not face any observer error or bias. Furthermore, items of the survey instrument reliability were measured by the internal consistency method (Hussey and Hussey, 1997). This study applied Cronbachs coefficient alpha to measure the internal reliability of survey, where a value of greater than 0.6 showed fair to very good reliability. Validity of the research was concerned with the extent of research findings which represented what was really happening (Collis and Hussey 2003). In order to avoid low validity, a pilot study was conducted before full scale data collection. Through the pilot study language or any other misconceptions was removed. The validity of each question into the main factors done by EFA was checked by the factor loading in the rotated component matrix, where a factor of greater than 0.5 showed that the question was valid. 3.7 Ethical issues Ethical issues are very important to take into consideration when carrying out a survey. According to Neuman (1995), the researcher must protect human rights, control them and make sure that peoples interests are well respected. In this research, all ethical requirements were followed throughout all parts of the research. Before collecting data, permission was sought to the relevant institutions. The survey questionnaire along with supervisors letter was provided during personal visits. The participants were asked to participate on a voluntary basis and given the opportunity to withdraw from participation if they felt to do so. Participants were informed that when they have answered and returned the questionnaire, it was assumed that they agreed to participate in this study. All participants were given the assurance that the answers provided will be kept anonimous and strictly confidential. 3.8 Conclusion The chapter starts with an examination of the research process including the philosophical approaches of positivism and phenomenology leading to a debate on the nature of the current research resulting in a mixed method being decided on. Data for this study was collected from students of Lower VI through a survey questionnaire after the qualitative phase which consisted of focus groups interviews. Upon completion of the study, the data was given a code which was fed on to the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 for Windows. Lastly, the ethical issues involved in this study were also presented.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Many Faces Of Evil :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Evil has many faces. One of these includes racism and the injustices which many people have had to face. The following are some of the injustices which have occured and been documented.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Between the years of 1923 and 1947 many chinese were sent to canada to work in order to support themselves and their families in china. Men from China and Hong Kong went to Canada while leaving behind wives and children. Many jobs were open to the chinese but most, if not all, were low paying dangerous jobs. Such as working on the railway. The chinese were often used for cheap labor. This continued on for many years. The injustices toward the chinese were fading. Douglas Jung had become the first Chinese MP, and the British Columbia China town had become more and more populated. This was the end of the exclusion act.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Auschwitz was one of many concentration camps in the 1930's and 40's. Many famillies men, women and children would gather all their belongings and set off to this new place of work. Only to find a prison. A place surrounded by barbed wire and electrical fences. A place where prisoners had no rights, and would never come out alive. This concentration camp alone had millions of victims. Then came a man by the name of Rudolph Verba. A strong man who knew his destiny was not to be murdered in such a camp. Then on the seventh of April, 1944 Rudolph and two other men set out to make their plan of escape work. With help from people inside the camp and a well thought out plan Rudolph was able to escape. He went up the river towards the Slovakian Mountains until he came upon a woman who would help him. As an unsaid rule in these days people would not exchange names or very much information. This way no one could name any names if they were to be interogated. Rudolph helped many people in the Auschwitz camp, although many were already murdered and some were too weak to live even after being released from the concentration camp.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In both of the documentaries which we viewed, the themes were very much alike. Both were about the injustices and slavery which had been set upon so many people. Another injustice was that of the Jewish people.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

African American Studies Notes Essay

1. Discuss the four basic thrusts of the student movement which led to the founding of Black Studies * The Civil Rights Movement (1960) * Break down the barriers of legal separation in public accommodations * Achieve equality and justice for Blacks * Organize Blacks into a self-conscious social force capable of defining, defending and advancing their interests * SNCC emerged as a vanguard group in the CR struggle. * Mobilized, organized and politicized thousands of Black students * Politicized many White students and their leaders through recruiting and training them and bringing them to the South to work in the struggle * The Free Speech Movement (UC Berkeley, 1964) * White student protest against the rigid, restrictive and unresponsive character of the university * Demand for civil rights on campus. * The Anti-Vietnam War Movement (1965) * General student protest against the Vietnam war and university complicity in it through its cooperation with the government in recruitment and research and development programs * Launched by new leftists, especially the Students for a Democratic Society * SNCC, Us, the Congress of Racial Equality participated * Based on opposition to: * The threat the draft posed to Blacks and other males of color not covered by student deferment and especially vulnerable in the South * The government’s war against Third World liberation movements and peoples in general and Vietnam in particular * Fighting an unjust war for a nation depriving Blacks of basic and human rights * The Black Power Movement (1965) * Led to direct establishment of Black Studies * The Watts Revolt in Los Angeles. * Ushered in a new dialog about relations of power in society and the university, the pervasive character of racism, and the need for struggle to overturn the establish order and create a more just society * Stressed the importance of self-determination, need for power, relevant education, cultural grounding, studying and recovering African culture * Organizations stressed the need for the university and society to recognize the diverse cultures of the U. S. * Called on students to engage in struggle in the classrooms, on campus in general and in society to improve life of African people and society itself 2. Discuss the emergence of Black Studies at SFSU * It began in 1966 * Led by black students * It was the rising tide of the black power movement and reflected its sense of social mission and urgency * Black students at SFSC and other campuses responded to the national activism of the Black Power Movement and the Watts Revolt. * 1966 changed their name to Black Student Union (BSU) to indicate a new identity and direction. * Black students developed a black arts an culture series * BSU demanded a legitimate Black Studies Department funded by the college and controlled by black people brought stiff resistance * BSU also demanded special admissions programs for a given number of black studies but it was also resisted. 3. Identify the major groups involved and the contribution of Dr. Nathan Hare * In 1968, Dr. Hare, an author and former professor, was appointed to be coordinator of Black Studies * He was given the task to formulate an autonomous Black Studies Department * He was fired from Howard University for his activism in support of students and the struggle of â€Å"relevant education† * He continued to stress on â€Å"relevant education† when he came to SFSU * By April 1968, Hare had completed his proposal and a program for special admission for Black students * The board of trustees continually delayed implementation of the program and it is this which led to the student’s strike * The university was shut down. * Eventually the students won the strike, which ended march 1969 * San Francisco State (SFSU) became the first institution of education to establish a Black Studies program and department. * GROUPS INVOLVED: Black Power Movement, Civil Rights Movement, Free Speech Movement, Anti-Vietnam War Movement 4. What were the early academic and political concerns of the advocates of Black Studies * Academic 1) concerned with traditional white studies. White studies was seen as inadequate and a distortion of the lives and culture of African people. White studies posed whites as the exemplary model for everyone, was seen as Eurocentric. 2) White studies was also seen as resistant to change which was necessary for relevant education. Black Studies argued for the need to teach Black Studies from a black frame of mind. This later became known as Afrocentric perspective. * Political 1) concerned with the low number of blacks on campus, which was seen as racist exclusion to maintain a white monopoly. So it was demanded that special admission and recruitment efforts were made to solve this problem. 2) Concerned with the treatment of racism. Sought out to make blacks respected and politically involved on campus. 3) Concerned with social problems of the black community and how black students and black studies could address and solve them. 5. What were the early objectives of Black Studies * To teach the Black experience in all its variedness and with special attention to history, culture, and current issues. * Black Studies assemble and create a body of knowledge that contributed to intellectual and political emancipation. (Developing an intellectual and dependent mind and using that knowledge in the interest of Black and human freedom). * Create intellectuals who were dedicated to community service and stressed the importance for Black intellectuals who were conscious, capable, and committed to Black liberation and a higher level of human life. * To nurture, maintain, and continue expansion of an equally beneficial relationship between the campus and the community. Dr. Nathan Hare â€Å" We must bring community to the campus and the campus to the community†. * To establish and confirm its position in the academy as a discipline essential to the educational project and to any real conception of a quality education. (Both an academic and political challenge). Chapter Two Study Questions 4. Discuss the emergence of the Afrocentric initiative and Molefi Asante’s founding role in it. * Emerging in the late 70s and finding its theoretical foundation in a work by Molefi Asante titled Afrocentricity: The Theory of Social Change and published in 1980 * Asante introduced Afrocentricity as the indispensable perspective of the Black Studies project and initiated a wide-ranging discourse which had both academic and social implications and consequences * Asante energized Black Studies discourse and gave a fresh and added thrust to the pursuit of new research directions in Black Studies with his insistence on African location or centeredness, African agency, and an African frame of reference in research and methodology and intellectual production * He became a much sought after lecturer and commentator * He defines Afrocentrism as a term used to negate and miscast Afrocentricity by its opponents 5. What does multiculturalism and pluralism have in common? * Multiculturalism can be defined as thought and practice organized around respect for human diversity * Expression in four basic ways: * Mutual respect for each people and culture as a unique and equally valuable way of being human in the world * Mutual respect for each people’s right and responsibility to speak their own special cultural truth and make their own unique contribution to society and the world * Mutual commitment to the constant search for common ground in the midst of our diversity * Mutual commitment to an ethics of sharing in order to build the world we all want and deserve to live in * Pluralism * Based on exceptional values as determined by the host of society Chapter Four Studying Questions 1. What arguments does Van Sertima make to prove African presence in Olmec civilization? * Unearthed evidence like more Olmec heads, especially one at tres zapotes showing Ethiopian type braids; more clay sculptures of African types which reflect the coloration and texture of African hair; reaffirmation of skeletal evidence; new evidence from ancient maps; new comparisons of African and south African pyramids; and further discussion on dating of the voyages. 2. What are some basic misconceptions about the holocaust of enslavement? Discuss its impact. * The enslavement was not a â€Å"trade† but instead the whole process by which captives were obtained on African soil was through warfare, trickery, banditry and kidnapping. * Europeans blame Arabs and Africans for participation in the process of enslavement, however they were always the ones benefitting from it. Basically, what looked like an Arab-controlled â€Å"trade† was in fact a European dominated â€Å"trade† with Europeans using Arabs as middlemen. * Although some Africans enslaved others, it was a part of their culture and they were able to be civil with the rest of society. * Impact: depopulation through mass murder, societal disruption/destruction, forced transfer of populations, caused loss of youth and skilled personnel, thus affected scientific, technological and cultural progress of africs. Economic destruction. 3. What was the basis for enslavement and some of its basic aspects? * Based on brutality, cultural genocide, and machinery of control. * Brutality: physical, psychological, sexual * Cultural genocide: destruction of political identities and ethnic units, families, cultural leaders, the outlawing of African languages. * Machinery of control: involved five mechanisms of control- laws, coercive bodies, the church, politically divisive strategies, plantation punishments * 4. List and discuss the major forms of resistance to enslavement * Day-to-day resistance: daily refusal and challenge with which Africans confronted the enslavement system. Included sabotage, breaking tools, destroying crops etc. * Abolitionism (underground railroad). * Emigrationism: the push to emigrate back to Africa or go elsewhere where Africans could be free. * Armed resistance: revolts, ship mutinies, etc. * Cultural resistance: used culture to inspire and maintain one’s humanity through dances, moral narratives, music etc. 5. What were some of the basic reasons for the failure of reconstruction? * White terrorist societies intensified. Ex: ku klux klan * Congress did not give blacks the support they needed and they were essentially reintegrated back into the southern economy under semi-enslaved conditions as sharecroppers. * â€Å"Black codes† (segregation and discrimination) and they didn’t receive land, forcing them back to the plantation. * Supreme court’s benefit through rulings favorable to the south * The Hayes-Tilden compromise in 1877- president hayes granted south federal troop withdrawal, leaving blacks to fend for themselves in racist society 6. What were some of the reasons for the great migration? * To escape the racist south * Wanted to escape crop failures, natural disasters like floods in the south * Growth of industry in the north, labor demands due to WWI * No more immigration from Europe, therefore no more unskilled laborers and domestic servants * The north promised blacks greater opportunities- recruited them 7. What were some of the major organizations founded to struggle against injustice in the early 1900s? Discuss the black womens club movement. * Rose out of African cultural traditions which stressed responsibility to family and community which led to free black women and men establishing numerous mutual aid societies during enslavement * Founded first national conference of the colored women of America which established the national association of colored women * Also the Niagra movement, the NAACP and the urban league 8. Identify the major groups and leaders of the 60s * Booker T. Washington: â€Å"major black leader of his time† * W. E. B. DuBois: white activist-scholar * Marcus Garvey: pan-africanist dedicated to building a nation-state in Africa * Ida B. Wells-Barnett: journalist, organizer, lecturer and teacher 9. What are some major challenges and achievements of the 70s, 80s and 90s? * 70s: 1. Challenges- began with recovery from the massive suppression on the black movement by COINTELRO (counterintelligence program launched by the FBI by director J. Edgar Hoover) 2. Hoover tried to stifle any form of a black revolution 3. Affirmative action- â€Å"reverse discrimination† 4. Achievements- blacks penetration and victories in electoral politics 5. Sought to build national independent power structures 6. Resurgence of pan-africanism * *80s: 1. Challenges- continuing crisis of US society, rise of the vulgar and â€Å"respectable† right, continuing struggle to rebuild a black mass movement and appropriate alliances and coalitions in order to defend black gains, win new ones and minimize losses 2. Problem of alliance and coalition 3. Achievements- heightened level of electoral political activity among blacks 4. First black governor (Virginia) * 90s: 1. Challenges- increasing negative attitude of the Supreme Court to racial injustice and affirmative action, continuation of hate crimes, veto and later passage of 1991 civil rights act, increase in poverty 2. Achievements- election of Bill Clinton and 39 blacks on congress and one black senator 10. Discuss the million persons marches. What were their similar concerns and their effect on the black community? * **Million man march/ day of absence- voiced concern about increasing racism, deteriorating social conditions, etc.and the impact on the world * -Day of absence: women organized communities to stay away from business/ school and to register people to vote and empower the community as a whole * -Created a sense of possibility and promise; after there were increases in membership in organizations, adoption rates, mentoring programs and social activism * Million woman march- needed to energize the lives and struggles of black women *. Million youth march- same thing, but with youths (not a huge turnout) * –All of these marches were a statement for self-consciousness as black men, women, and youth and the responsibility to community and struggle which this implies and requires 11. What are some major challenges of the beginning 21st century? * 2000 presidential election and voter suppression (gore and bush), tragedy and aftermath of hurricane Katrina, HIV/AIDS epidemic, continuing police abuse, deteriorating socio-economic conditions.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Sample Graduate School Recommendation by a Professor

Sample Graduate School Recommendation by a Professor The success of your graduate school application relies on the quality of the recommendation letters professors write on your behalf. What goes into a helpful recommendation letter? Check out the sample letter of recommendation written by a professor. What makes it work? An Effective Recommendation Letter for Graduate School   Explains how the professor knows the student. The professor speaks to the student’s abilities in several contexts rather than just in class.Is detailed.Supports statements with specific examples.Compares a student to her peers and the letter explains exactly what makes the student stand out.Describes a students capacities in specific ways rather than simply noting that she is an excellent student prepared for grad school. Below is the body of an effective recommendation letter, written by a professor. To: Graduate Admissions Committee It is my pleasure to write on behalf of Jane Student, who is applying to the Ph.D. program in Research Psychology at Major University. I have interacted with Jane in several contexts: as a student, as a teaching assistant, and as a thesis mentee. I first met Jane in 2008, when she enrolled in my introductory Psychology class. Jane immediately stood out from the crowd, even as a first-semester freshman. Just a few months out of high school, Jane demonstrated characteristics commonly held by the best college students. She was attentive in class, prepared, submitted well-written and thoughtful assignments, and participated in meaningful ways, such as by debating other students. Throughout, Jane modeled critical thinking skills. Needless to say, Jane earned one of five A’s awarded in that class of 75 students. Since her first semester in college Jane has enrolled in six of my classes. She demonstrated similar competencies, and her skills grew with each semester. Most striking is her ability to tackle challenging material with enthusiasm and endurance. I teach a required course in Statistics that, as rumor has it, most students dread. Students’ fears of statistics are legendary across institutions, but Jane wasn†™t fazed. As usual, she was prepared for class, completed all assignments, and attended help sessions conducted by my teaching assistant. My teaching assistant reported that Jane seemed to learn concepts quickly, learning how to solve problems well before the other students. When placed in group work sessions, Jane easily adopted a leadership role, helping her peers learn how to solve problems on their own. It was these competencies that led me to offer Jane a position as a teaching assistant for my statistics class. As a teaching assistant, Jane strengthened many of the skills I have articulated. In this position, Jane held review sessions and offered out-of-class assistance to students. She also lectured in class several times during the semester. Her first lecture was a bit shaky. She clearly knew the concepts but had difficulty keeping pace with PowerPoint slides. When she abandoned the slides and worked off the blackboard, she improved. She was able to answer students questions and the two that she couldn’t answer, she admitted to and said she’d get back to them. As a first lecture, she was very good. Most important to a career in academics, is that she improved in subsequent lectures. Leadership, humility, the ability to see areas in need of improvement, and the willingness to do the work needed to improve – these are all characteristics we value in academia. Most important to a career in academics is research competence. As I have explained, Jane has an excellent grasp of statistics and other skills critical to a successful career in research, such as tenacity and excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills. As mentor of her senior thesis, I witnessed Jane in her first independent research efforts. Similar to other students, Jane struggled with finding an appropriate topic. Unlike other students, she conducted mini literature reviews on potential topics and discussed her ideas with a sophistication that is unusual for undergraduates. After methodical study, she chose a topic that fits her academic goals. Jane’s project examined [X]. Her project earned a department award, university award, and was presented as a paper at a regional psychology association. In closing, I believe that Jane student has the capacity to excel at X and in a career as a research psychologist. She is one of a small handful of student that I have encountered in my 16 years teaching undergraduates that has this ability. Please do not hesitate to contact me with further questions. Why This Letter Is Effective It is written by a professor who has extensive experience with the applicant.The professor describes several aspects of the students competence.It describes how the student has grown and developed her skills. What does this mean for you as a potential applicant to grad school? Work to foster close, multidimensional relationships with faculty. Develop good relationships with several faculty because one professor often cannot comment on all of your strengths. Good graduate school letters of recommendation are built over time. Take that time to get to know professors and for them to get to know you.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Original purpose Essays

Original purpose Essays Original purpose Essay Original purpose Essay In this article, the author highlights some of the major problems facing humanity today. Poverty according to him is among the very top followed by the struggle for human rights, the guarantee against arbitrary arrest and mutilation and murder. The author talks about the fact that politicians generally end up cutting expenditures which affect the poor because they have no regard for these people and have no concern for the hunger and the suffering they have to go through. The article also touches upon Marxism and reveals the authors Marxist upbringing. He is very vocal about the causes that need to be focused upon such as providing work for the jobless, raising the standard of the homeless, preventing the poisoning of the atmosphere and the degradation of the environment and to overall improve the circumstances people live in. He also talks about his opposition organizations and institutions taking on official positions on critical public issues. His reason for this opposition is that it imperils the organization or institution and impedes pursuit of its original purpose. Moreover, if members of the institution or organization have different opinion from the official positions it reduces their ability to promote the exercise of professional activities. This is all the more true for educational institutions since involvement in external issues becomes a threat to academic freedom. While the general opinion is that because educational institutions are repositories of wisdom, they should speak out in times of crisis and on issues which are important to the public. However, history does not support this conclusion. At the onset of the Nazi regime, German universities chose to speak out but the position that they took on wasnt what was expected of them. Overall, the author is opposed to all forms of political activities by universities and professional organizations. He is also of the opinion that educational institutions should be entitled to act on behalf of academic freedom whenever and wherever it is threatened as long as such action does not hamper its ability to function. The article also talks about modern approaches for economic analysis. According to the author there is sometimes no real need to come up with complicated economic models to explain old concepts merely for added realism. He believes that a well designed model ahs the ability to work effectively as long is the model is based on the trade-ff between accuracy of representation of reality and usability in analysis. If and when a new model is proposed, it should lead to oversimplification rather than end up being a painstaking attempt to complicate an already available model. The author has two key conclusions related to this aspect. First, increased realism is not necessarily a virtue. If it complicates an already existing model it is actually a moral sin. Second, a particular model can neither be judged good or bad in the abstract sense. A models effectiveness can only be judged at the time of analysis. A model may be suited for the analysis of one issue but may be ill-suited for another. Another important point highlighted in this article is the value of pure economic research. While additions to the state of knowledge is always valuable and should contribute to the improvement of the state of social welfare, research in its truest form is always useful because it helps reduce the degree of ignorance. In fact, it is sometimes the purest of research which ultimately makes the greatest contribution to social welfare. However, caution should be exercised when engaging in abstract research before hastening to apply its results to complex issues. Overall, this is an extremely interesting article and presents a different outlook to several issues such as economic research, modern economic models, the role of professional organizations and educational institutions with respect to critical public issues as well as the need to address some of the major problems facing humanity today. Bibliography 1. Baumol, William J. (1993) From the book Eminent Economists: Their Life Philosophies By Michael Szenberg. Published by Cambridge University Press

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Business Skills For Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Business Skills For Success - Essay Example Effective time management and planning can be key components in achieving success at work as well as having a proper work-life balance. Good listening skills are very crucial in communicating with others and can play a key role in achieving success in life. There are some factors that lead to poor listening and these barriers can be overcome to ensure that one listens effectively. Today, stress is one of the key problems faced by people in the workplace, but it can be tackled or eliminated if a person organizes himself and keeps a balanced work life. Problems are a cause of concern for some and an opportunity for others. But what matters is how these problems are resolved. Cultural Diversity has its positives and negatives but the positives outweigh the negatives, hence it is important to value cultural diversity in the workplace as it can prove to be a catalyst for improved organization performance. Gender sensitivity means to recognize the different roles played by the men and wome n of an organization and recognizing each group’s contributions and addressing issues differently in order to strive for equality in the workplace. In short, managers are given a position of authority based on their role while a leader gains it through his approach. Entrepreneurship has a deeper meaning than just starting up a business. Entrepreneurship is something from which the society and the overall economy benefits. In short business etiquette’s play a vital role in defining a person’s overall personality and good manners in the work place can take a person a long way in achieving a successful career. a. What is business ethics? Business ethics are a set of rules or professional ethics which are used to examine ethical and moral behaviours that arise in a business environment. Good business ethics are considered important and should be adopted by all organizations. Some business which are only interested in making money try to bend the rules and do not fol low proper code of business ethics and do their business in a way in which it earns them bad reputation. Making money is not considered wrong but the way in which company makes money is important and it is important for businesses to maintain proper ethics so that they have a favourable corporate image in the eyes of the industry and the customer base. Business ethics involves all types of dealings and transactions which take place in the business world; this also includes one-to-one dealing with your customers. Following business ethics means that not only the company makes profits but it also keeps in mind the well-being of the population at large as well as maintaining high quality standards which gained the company the so many customers. For example some businesses ignore the customer service side of things and are only interested in making money. These firms can be successful in the short-run but there is a minimal chance that they will succeed in the long run. Hence it is impo rtant to provide help and assistance to your customers. Sources: CityLocal. (n.d.). The Importance Of Business Ethics. Retrieved August 4, 2011, from Article Click: http://www.articleclick.com/Article/The-Importance-Of-Business-Ethics/999950 Johnson, K. W., & Abramov, I. Y. (2004). Business Ethics: A MANUAL FOR MANAGINF A RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE IN EMERGING MARKET ECONOMIES. United States of America: U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration. wiseGEEK. (n.d.). What is Business Ethics? Retrieved August 4, 2011, from wiseGEEK: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-business-ethics.htm b. Time Management at Work Time management is one of the most important skills which an employee should possess in order to maintain