Effects of the Social Networking Sites to the Study Habits of the 4th year High School Students Essay

CHAPTER 1 Introduction Nowadays, technology is already taking over the world. They use technology in different ways. It is a big help especially in communicating. Social networking sites are products of technology and also one way of communicating with each other. Everyone is fond of using social networking sites. They consider it as a part of our daily lives. They love sharing pictures, expressing our feelings and thoughts, and blogging about new things. Almost everyone uses Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram and many more. They enjoy using them especially teenagers. They share almost everything they do and express their unsaid thoughts, ideas and emotions. But does their addiction in using these social networking sites still benefits them? They can say that social networking sites are good inventions in terms of connecting and socializing but teenagers who are fond of using these can’t seem to get enough. Some of them or MOST of them certainly use these every now and then. It is really ironic that they still have time to share in social networking sites that they have tons of home works and quizzes instead of just spending their time in studying and doing their school works. For the 4th year students, they really need to have a good time management because they need to imply the requirements they are obligated to do in order to graduate from high school. They need to be responsible in dividing our time in many things but how come that they can still find time to use these social networking sites? Do these social networking sites already affect their study habits? The  researchers want to know if these social networking sites affect the study habits of the 4th year students and how can they maintain good study habits without being distracted. We also wanted to know if these social networking sites can help them in their way of studying. This study is conducted to know the good and bad effects of social networking sites to the students and to know how to improve and prevent it. Background of the Problem One of the obligations of the teenagers is to study. Their role is to become a hardworking student and a good child to their parents. As students, they are expected to give their best in their studies to have good grades. Their parents give every effort they can give to send their children in school with a high quality education. Nowadays, there are a lot of ways in improving the way of educating the students. Technology is one of those. Technology like internet can help to broaden the knowledge of a student and makes it easier for them to study but technology can also be a reason for the students to limit their knowledge in what they can get from here. Internet is the best and easiest contribution of technology in terms of communicating, researching and studying. All of these in just one click. Internet cannot only help the students in doing their home works and researches but also in communicating and socializing. There are a lot of websites used by the teenagers to socialize. These websites are called Social networking sites. In these sites, they can chat with their friends and share photos and thoughts with them. These sites are also used in advertising products that can be useful for the students. These sites are a good invention but they also have disadvantages to the people especially to the students. Good study habits are important in maintaining good grades in school but students tend to overuse these social networking sites which limit their time in studying. They were expected to spend more time in studying but because of these social networking sites they tend to be distracted. They spent most of their time in using their social networking sites and lessen their time in studying. As time goes by, the situations are getting worse. There may come to a point where students will just use their social networking sites instead of studying which may lead to a bigger problem like affecting their grades and way of learning. It may cause their  laziness and non compliance in their subjects. These problems may lead to the bad academic performance. Statement of the Problem The researcher primarily aimed to know how the networking sites affect the study habits of the 4th year students in Divine Light Academy. This study is purposively conducted to know the advantages and disadvantages of the social networking sites to the graduating students and their way of studying. Specifically, this study ought to answer the following questions: 1. Before, students used to concentrate with there studies but now that social networking sites are invented, how does they spend their time in terms of studying? 2. The students are fond of using the internet to accomplish their school works easily but internet also allows them to use social networking sites, Can they concentrate with their school works while using social networking sites at the same time? 3. Good study habits are maintained by the students with the sense of discipline and good time management unfortunately, they became fans of social networking sites can they still have good study habits despite of their continuous use of social networking sites? Hypothesis Null Hypothesis 1. The 4th year students of Divine Light Academy are spending so much time in using social networking sites. 2. They spend less time in studying. 3. They have poor study habits and time management. Operational Hypothesis 1. The 4th year students of Divine Light Academy spend less time in studying when they are using social networking sites 2. They are used of doing their homework and researches while using their social networking sites. 3. They can’t concentrate when they are using social networking sites while studying and they can have better study habits without these sites Conceptual Framework Fig.1 Effects of the Social Networking Sites to the Study Habit Input * How students spend their time each day in terms of Studying and Using Social networking sites? * Do they use social networking sites while doing assignments, especially when doing researches? * Can they concentrate in doing their homework without checking on their blogs or other sites? * In what way can they maintain good study habits? With the use of social networking sites or without the use of social networking sites? * What do they do first once they open a computer to do a research or homework? Process * Observing their performance in class and if they can comply to the requirements * needed in their subjects. * Asking about their study habits and their use of social networking sites. * Interviewing them about their daily routine and their way of balancing their studiesand their use of social networking sites. * Giving questionnaires to the respondents to gather data. Output * By just simply observing, the researcher will know if the student’s performance is satisfying or not. * By asking about their study habits, the researcher will know the reason why their class performance is satisfying or not. * They would feel and know that they need to * improve their study habits and avoid or lessen the distraction. * The lack of study habits can be change with * the questionnaires that are given to them. Definition of Terms 1. Academic Performance- the basis for your overall grades. 2. Blogging- is a way of sharing comments, opinions or articles in internet 3. Communicating- is to impart; to reveal or to share 4. Daily Routine- is a set of things you do in your everyday life. 5. Education- is the systematic training of moral and intellectual faculties. 6. Facebook- is a social networking site wherein you can add new friends, chat and share pictures and comments. 7. Instagram- is a social networking site wherein you can share any photo and video you want. 8. Roles- is the function or part. 9. Social networking sites- are the websites wherein you can socialize with other people. 10. Socializing- is to render socially 11. Students- the beneficiaries and the ones who absorb all the things that the teachers are teaching. 12. Study habits- is the act of acquiring knowledge or application of the mind in a usual or customary time. 13. Teenagers- youth with between 13 and 19 said of age. 14. Time Management- this is the skill to manage your time to finish the things that you wanted to accomplish. 15. Tumblr- a social networking site wherein you can blog any photo, video, quotes or even an article about any topic you want. 16. Twitter- you can share or tweet (as what term used in that site) about anything using 140 characters only. 17. Websites- the pages you used when your using internet Theoretical Framework Before, students used to concentrate with there studies but now that social networking sites are invented their time is divided in using social networking sites and studying each day. They may spend more time in using social networking sites than studying or they may do it the other way around. The students are fond of using the internet to accomplish their school works easily but internet also allows them to use social networking sites while doing their assignments and when they’re doing researches. Can they finish their school works without checking their blogs or other sites? Good study habits are maintained by the students with the sense of discipline and good time management unfortunately, they became fans of social networking sites can they still have good study habits despite of their continuous use of social networking sites? By observing and asking them about their studies and daily routine, we can know if their studies are affected by their addiction of social networking sites. We can observe if they are doing well in their class and if they can concentrate to their studies without being distracted. By just simply observing, the researcher will know if the student’s performance is satisfying or not. The researcher can interpret the data gathered to know the reason why their class performance is like that. The interpreted data will give the researcher the conclusion to the problems stated in the study.

Turning Point Essay

Mercedes Sitzler February 14th , 2013 ENG101 TuThu 11:30-12:45 Turning Point Essay Goodbye Fear, Hello New Life My friends never judged me, looked at me differently, or lost respect for me. To them, I was still the same Mercedes; I was simply just attracted to women. Being homosexual was not something I decided, or something I could control. My friends understood this and accepted me for who I was. I was not scared to tell a single one of my friends that I was gay; however, for some odd reason, I was beyond terrified of telling my parents. My parents have always been extremely supportive of me and every decision I have made in my life.Why was I so scared that would all change if I told them the truth? To tell them that their little girl was not going to walk down the aisle to meet a man in a tuxedo at the end. To tell them that my children would not be made the usual way but through insemination. To tell them that I am gay. I was still the same daughter I always was. I knew my parent s would love me no matter what; but, deep down, telling them the truth about my sexuality was the biggest fear I had in life. I was scared that the loving Mommy and Daddy I always knew I had would turn into judgmental and distant Tanya and Dean.Let us rewind back a little over a year ago when I came to realize, in myself, that I was lesbian. I had been dating this girl for maybe a month. I would see her almost every day behind my parents’ back. We would do everything any other couple would; date nights, cuddle, argue, make up, and argue some more. However, sometimes I thought to myself, â€Å"Maybe this is just a phase. † I knew that I liked her, but I questioned myself, â€Å"why? † and â€Å"how? † when I had always liked boys. One night, I decided to link up with an old ex of mine. My girlfriend and I were on a break because we had been fighting for a while.My ex and I went out to a party with a couple of friends and had a blast. The company of my ex w as great; he was an awesome guy. The emotional connection; however, was not all there. This was not because we had a harsh break up or anything, I just saw him in a completely different way. I was still questioning everything and at the end of the night, we kissed. My stomach turned and my head throbbed, I was disgusted. It was not what I wanted at all. It was not the same as kissing my girlfriend. It was not the same as holding onto my petite woman. It was not for me. This was the exact moment I realized that women were for me.I cannot control how I feel or what my heart wants, but I can control with whom I decide to share my life with. There is no doubt in the back of my mind that I will marry a woman and build an amazing life with her. About four months later I made the biggest decision of my life. It was the most nerve wrecking moment ever. I did not know what to expect, but I knew it had to be done sooner or later. It was April 21st, and I decided to come out of the closet to m y mom and dad. I have never kept such a huge secret from my parents and it was so hard for me to keep the biggest secret I had from them.I had been shopping all day with my best friend Marina for an outfit to wear the next day. It was the annual Gay Pride parade. My mom knew that I was attending; however, I had told her that I was going to support my gay friend David. I bravely walked into my house with a newly purchased button pinned right on my favorite denim vest. It said, â€Å"Come out come out wherever you are† with a cute little rainbow right underneath the words. I laughed about it, showing my mom, and she was very quick to ask me, â€Å"Are you trying to tell me something? Even though she said it with a smile on her face and laughing at the same time, my heart began beating faster than ever before. I replied, â€Å"Maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and she giggled. â€Å"Well, looks like I’m not getting grandkids from you! † It turned out that she had had a feeling for a while and already knew. My dad was standing in the kitchen and laughed about the whole situation. His response was simply, â€Å"Hey, at least we have something in common. † I was so terrified to come out to them for no reason at all. My parents love me for who I am, not for my sexuality, and they proved that to me that exact night.My parents are the best parents in the entire world. That moment completely changed the way I live my life. I used to live with secrets and sneak off to be with my girlfriend; now I live freely and do not have to hide anything. My parents have met my ex-girlfriend and loved her company. They have also met my current lover and enjoy her company even more. The best feeling in the world is feeling accepted from the two most important people in my life. To be able to have my girl over at my house for dinner, or a movie, or just to hang out is amazing.I love being able to explain to my mom why I just smiled at a text message or tell her the stori es of me and my girl. I love knowing that my dad still wants to protect me from being hurt over a female, and can sit and talk to me about my relationships with girls. I love that I am me and they accept that. One day, I will fall in love with the perfect woman and walk down the aisle to her standing there, as beautiful as ever. My mommy and daddy will be sitting right in the front row supporting me and my future wife because of the conversation we had on April 21st, 2012.

Financial Reporting - International Accounting Standards Essay

Financial Reporting - International Accounting Standards - Essay Example The essay "Financial Reporting - International Accounting Standards" analyses the challenges faced in establishing International Financial Reporting Standard, the characteristics of the Framework and International Financial Reporting Standard for small and medium entities. Challenges A financial reporting system should focus on the needs of all capital providers and not just for a class of people. International Accounting Standards Board was set up with the sole mission to develop, in the public interest, a single set of high quality, understandable and international financing reporting standards for general purpose financial statement. International Accounting Standards Board had it fair share of challenges to accomplish its mission. Let us analyse the challenges faced by International Accounting Standards Board below: National Financial Environment: Every country follows a certain set of accounting standards based on its local financial environment. Therefore developing an accounting standard which suits individual country specific needs is a very challenging task. International Convergence: The difference between the national accounting standards and International Financial Reporting Standard is minimal and it lies mostly because of the differential treatment of specific transactions. Hence the issue of international convergence comes in which tries to state whether the gap between the national standard and international accounting standard can be bridged and converged and adopted by countries. Government rules and regulations: Country specific rules and regulations have a bearing on the way the financial information is produced. Let us take for example, a country have the minimum tax rates and with lots of other perks to the companies. In this case a company incorporated in this country because of favorable tax regime will not try to malign its financial reports. Similarly, tax heavens (Tax Heaven) such as Mauritius, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, etc. attract more investment from companies to save tax. Many countries have double taxation because of weak tax reforms but some countries have robust taxation policies which are transparent. International Financial Reporting Standard therefore needs to factor in such issues. Social and Cultural issues: Islamic countries follow Islamic financing, which are very much different from the other national standards. Therefore, International Financial Reporting Standard, whose role is to portray the correct picture of the financial stature of the company, may find hard to make a strong foot hold in such countries. Islam financing, does not allow companies to earn high profits due to which these companies try and manipulate the accounts accordingly (Mohammed Ibrahim). International Financial Reporting Standard being an initiative of the western countries may not be acceptable in this Islam driven countries. Update the International Standards on Regular Intervals: The national accounting standards are always updated to factor in and control various lags in the standards on a time to time basis. International Accounting Standards Board similarly also have to deliver on the same lines. The challenge here is that it is very complex and they have to do it on a global scale. Therefore this requires time, respective field experts and funds. Every time they update a standard based on practical issues, they need to convey it to the countries and they in turn

Strategic Management report on Prezzo which includes a strategic Essay

Strategic Management report on Prezzo which includes a strategic analysis and strategy formulation - Essay Example In 2011, the company’s chief executive was awarded the restaurateur of the year in the Caterer and Hotel Keeper Awards (Harden 2012). The restaurant has positioned itself as an eatery venue for a contemporary menu with an Italian cuisine touch. Vis a vis, its menu mainly includes pizzas, salads, pasta and grilled dishes. The restaurant expanded its service portfolio in 2013 by introducing Cleaver, additional venues that specifically offered American fare including chicken, ribs and burgers (Restaurant Portal, 2014). Currently, Prezza has a total of 3290 employees with revenue of  £ 179.19 million and an EPS growth rate of 10.07 % (Hardens, 2013). Prezzo is also a member of the sustainable restaurant association (SRA), therefore, highly committed to protecting and conserving the environment. External strategic analysis of Prezzo restaurant was conducted to evaluate the impact of the external environmental factors on the performance and growth of the restaurant in the UK market. Changes and trends of the UK restaurant industry were assessed using the Pestle strategic analysis tool. The government of UK highly regulates the food industry to manage the prevalence of lifestyle and food related chronic disease such as obesity. The government therefore interacts with Prezzo operations through health regulation, such as the policy on GM labelling for products containing genetically modified food, Good and Services tax on food prices and the issuance of licenses (Euro Monitor, 2014). However, Prezzo has managed to forge close relationships with governing authority through a mutual relationship, hence minimum interference with its operations There has been steady growth of the UK’s food industry for the last six years. According to a report by the Guardian (2014), the UK’s restaurant industry was experiencing a resurgence after the 2008 economic recessions. The market has been characterised by a rise in consumer expenditure and a forecast of UK

The Swimming Pool Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Swimming Pool - Assignment Example This discussion stresses that the management seems to be under trouble due to the change of staff, the situation could only be changed if the new employees and managers receive specific training on how Cedar resort is operated. Otherwise, new staff will arrive with fresh ideas and ways of management (DeCenzo, David and Stephen 49). It appears that cedar has managers   who were familiar   with the preferences   of the   trusted   customers, the new staff came   with new ways   of running the   resort that did not work for the members, they opted to leave.This paper discusses that the managers ought to have come up with a way of training the new staff in a manner that would suit the previous standards of the resort, by so doing, the quality of the services would not have deteriorated as it now. Human resource professional are supposed to make decisions that they can be accountable in case of any setbacks. Human Resource managers and other decision makers of the manageme nt who take part in the process of making decisions have in the past years progressively been alleged â€Å"personally liable† in the federal and state employment laws. In most cases, it is due to a decision that they made in the wrong manner.  The case studies   on the swimming pool and   cedar demonstrates   Ã‚  personal liability for general managers who take part in human resource decision making, and what these managers can do to reduce their experience to personal liability.  

Critically evalute the legacy of the Chicago School of Criminology Essay

Critically evalute the legacy of the Chicago School of Criminology - Essay Example Before the dominant theories in Criminology emerged, the leading theories were classical criminology and positivist theories of crime. The emergence of classical school of criminology can be traced in the early 18th century lead by philosopher Jeremy Bentham who focused on criminal justice and penology. He opined that crime results from a product of human nature and since humans posses free will, they have therefore the ability to control their own actions (Carrabine, Iganski, Lee, Plummer, and South, 2004). Bentham suggested that a criminal justice system is more reasonable as compared to the classic barbaric system of capital punishment. According to him, there should be more focus on the enforcement of the law and the legal processes instead on the different causes of crime (Bentham, 1789). For Beccaria (1764), in his famous book On Crimes and Punishments , crimes do not exist by reason of bad individuals but from bad laws. He suggested new perspective based on justice. This became major foundation of the modern criminal justice system. As asserted by the early positivist theorists, free will is out of the question in studying crime. These theorists used empirical research methods by which they theorized that the causes of crimes are biological, psychological and environmental factors (Carrabine et al, 2004). This is different from the classical approach which has its sight on legal issues and crime prevention. According to the positivist criminologists, as shared by Cesare Lombroso, the causes and effects of criminal behavior can be directly observed. Lombroso opposed that crimes are due to human free will as criminal behavior can be inherited; that there are people who are â€Å"criminal type† of persons; that criminals are physiologically different if compared to the non-criminals; that these criminals have observable physical

Managing People and Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managing People and Organizations - Essay Example He / she help in curriculum development in conjunction with other colleagues, department and curriculum coordinators. He/she conduct research; develop new courses, topics, teaching materials and resources. Apart from the teaching job, teacher will be assigned other duties related to the job. These duties can be assigned to him/her by the school principal or department head. The duties may include representing the college during education or career conventions. He/she is expected to comply with Glenelg School of Abu Dhabi code of ethic as well as those specified by the association of teachers at the national level. The candidate should behave professionally at all times. The desired candidate will be liaising students and administration. He or she should interact and work well with colleagues, parents, students and school management. He/she should respect and treat all students as equal. The teacher should inform the parents of the students’ records .All important parents communications are recorded and submitted to the office. In the course of his duties the teacher is expected to use official language only. A job specification refers to skills, knowledge, abilities, education and experience required in order to perform a certain job. Job specification is derived from job analysis. It describes qualities of the candidate to be hired for a specific job (Jean Phillips, 2009). A teacher should have a minimum of a university degree and should be well versed with management, ethics and behavioral theories and concepts. Since the teacher will be dealing with different kinds of people in school, knowledge of management theories will help him/her in motivating student, building relationships with colleagues as well as time and cost management. Knowledge of behavioral theories will help him/her to understand the behavior of students, colleagues and parents. Ethic theories will guide his/her conduct. Apart from the teaching knowledge

Linguistics structure and meaning in literary discourse Essay

Linguistics structure and meaning in literary discourse - Essay Example Complicating action and resolution, recognized as 'narrative clauses' by the Labov, are simple past main clauses and their order sums up the order of events in the narrative. The temporal sequence of the original semantic interpretation will be the ultimate result of an alteration in the order of complicating action and resolution. In the novel A Tale of Two Cities, the 'narrative clauses' of complicating action and resolution in the form of simple past main clauses whose order sums up the order of events are at work from the very opening of the narrative. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishnessit was the season of Light, it was the season of Darknesswe had everything before us, we had nothing before us" (Dickens, 3) The order of the various events in the narrative is the result of the order of the 'narrative clauses'. To comprehend these narrative strategies closely, complicating action is concerned with the narrative question 'Then what happened' and resolution with 'What finally happened' Similarly, the narrative function of the former has been that it is the main narrative category which provides the 'what happened' element of the story and the latter summarises the final focal episode of a story. More significantly, the linguistic form of complicating action is "temporally ordered narrative clauses with a verb in the simple past or present" where as that of resolution is "expressed as the last of the narrative clauses that began the complicating action." (A Sociolinguistic Model of Narrative) The linguistic forms of complicating action as well as resolution in the novel are evidently reflected in the sentence constructions of the narrative. According to Labov, the narrative embodies several events which are temporarily and rationally previous to the narrative itself. Therefore, Labov realised the significance of sequence which denotes the chronological ordering in narrative discourse. To relate the literary issues with the linguistic aspects, "the structural organisation of the narrative is governed primarily by principles of chronological sequence." (Klapproth, 96) In the narrative strategy of the novel by Dickens, this structural organisation of the narrative assisted by the principles of chronological sequence is apparent. In the novel A Tale of the Two Cities one finds the best illustration of this structural organisation of the narrative through the principles of temporal sequence. The novel, arranged in three books, illustrates the impact of the principles of temporal sequence on the structural organisation of the narrative. The arrangement of the major events in the novel in three main sections indicates the significance of temporal seque

International Relations paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International Relations paper - Essay Example The geopolitics is significant in modern international affairs, as it keeps the countries engaged in forming and maintaining strategic relationships with each other and makes even a single country dominate the whole world on the basis of power. The geopolitical influence that is exercised by the United States across different regions of the world remains unchallenged by any country in the world. Being the most powerful and hegemonic country in the world, it has its say in the political and economic landscape of almost every country. Understandably, United States has not achieved this dominance coincidently; rather this happens to be a fruit of continued endeavours of the country to expand its economic, political and military power across the globe. This paper evaluates and elaborates the extent of US geopolitical influence and strategic dominance over the geographically significant regions such as the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. The geopolitical objectives of the United States mainly encompass its conventional policies to conserve a significant share of world oil, to ensure a secure supply of energy resources, to dominate its existing and potential competitors, and most importantly to protect the existence of the state of Israel from any regional threats. Most of the US influence across the world signifies the same interests. Whether it is the critical state of regional stability in the Middle East, the pipeline politics in Central Asian Caucasus region, or its strategic influence in the Southeast Asia, the United States tends to play a significant role in shaping the regional and political landscape across the world. As Bromley (2005, p226) clearly illuminates that, "the routeing of pipelines, the policing of shipping lanes and the management of regional influences all depend heavily on US geopolitical commitments." Re-mapping of the Middle East The geopolitical influence in the Middle East allows United States not only to control regional politics, but also renders the oil dependent Western World as subordinate to US imperial objectives. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the re-mapping of Middle East has remained as one of the very important strategic objectives of the United States Perthes (2004, p85) assets that, "the U.S. administration has embraced the cause of bringing a "new order" to what it calls the Greater Middle East". The post attack invasion of Iraq and the subsequent plans to curtail Iran's nuclear expansion, happen to be a part of this goal. All the US strategies employed in the Middle East's expansion as well as democratisation rests on the objective of fostering a secure region for the state of Israel. Curtailing any threats posed to the existence of Israel by any country in the Middle East and preserving US dominance happen to be on the top of the American strategic targets in the region (Cantori, p102, 200 5) Zanoyan (2003, p108) illuminates that the pre-eminent strategic objective of US presence in Iraq happens to be of the transformation of its regime into a government that is friendly to US plans in the region. In this way, US envisages not only to curtail the roots of terrorism but also to protect Israel from any potential radical Islamic threat. A regime change in Iraq also supports the US objective of strengthening Israel while culminating the ascending Palestinian

Trying To Sell An IPod Essay Example for Free

Trying To Sell An IPod Essay Have you ever ridden a bus or the train feeling bored without no one to talk to and wishing that you were listening to something good? Have you ever got on a car or other public transport vehicle or went to a public place where the music that is playing is somewhat not your preference and you wished that you could somehow change the station? Have you ever heard your favorite music playing and wished that you could turn the dial up so that you could enjoy it more? Well wish no more because with an iPod you can do all these things and so much more.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With todays busy and noisy world, every person tries to find a place where they can find peace to be able to concentrate and do what they have to do. This can be hard, which is why a lot of people choose to â€Å"lose† themselves in the world of music with their music players. Also, music most definitely kills boredom. There are a lot of times where you find yourself waiting in line without no one to talk to or waiting for someone to arrive and you find yourself standing there looking like an idiot without nothing to do. Other times you find yourself staring at those people with their own music players who looks like they are enjoying what they are hearing and it makes you want to listen to what they are listening to.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Digital music players are such popular devices right now because they make music and other files manageable and portable. You can see almost every teenager and young adults bobbing their heads with the beat of their music from their players. Adults also use this to play music, store files, and do other things like podcasting. â€Å"Podcasting are digital media files, such as audio or video, which are produced in a series† (Bertucci â€Å"What is Podcasting?†). Aside from listening to music, students can also find that an iPod has many other uses. An iPod can be used as a course content dissemination tool, recording tool, support tool, or a file storage and transfer (â€Å"Duke University iPod First Year Experience Final Evaluation Report†).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   So you think that you do not need an iPod? Let me tell you why you should change your mind. There are a lot of digital music players out in the market today; however, they are all basically the same because they are all capable of playing music in different formats. So why iPod in particular? The first thing that a consumer looks for is quality. With an iPod, there is no need to worry because its producer, which is Apple, is a very trusted brand when it comes to technology (Evans â€Å"Apple Most Trusted US Brand†). The iPod series are very simple yet show a class of its own that not many companies can not produce. You can find whatever kind of player you need because every player that Apple produces fits every individuals needs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Apple offers the iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod classic, and iPod touch. For those with limited budget and could settle for a memory that can hold only about 240 songs, an iPod shuffle is the best choice. The 1GB shuffle only costs $49 while the newer model with 2GB is at $69 (â€Å"iPod shuffle†). It comes in a variety of colors and with its size, no one will have any problem carrying it around. The iPod classic is probably the best choice among all the iPod products. At $249, it boasts of 160GB storage capability and a sleek design (â€Å"iPod classic†). This is enough to store all your favorite music or albums, as well as photos and podcasts, and other files that you need to carry around. An iPod is something for both the average consumer and the techies. It is simple to use and files can be stored with just a few steps yet it offers so much more to those who would like to take advantage of its full services. If money is not an issue for you and you are always on the go, then an iPhone may be the best to offer. It doubles as an iPod and a cellphone so that there is no need to carry two devices at one time. Having an iPhone lessens the probability that you might lose the other or both because you have too many things in your hand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Imagine life without music. This will be what your life would be like without an iPod. It can become sad, boring, and quiet. Without it, you will be able to hear every other noise there is in the world, which will make it hard to concentrate. Another great thing about an iPod is that it can be a social tool. It can become something to talk about between friends or colleagues. It can be added to the long list of topics that guys can use to talk about with the girls they like. For girls, it can be something to do while trying to ignore a guy you do not want to talk to.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many people argue that the iPod has become too commercial and the individuality is lost all together. However, people should realize and keep in mind that this is bound to happen because of its success. Other music players do not do well on the market simply because they can not beat the iPods features and looks. With its affordable price and unbeatable features, why would you settle for anything less? Everyone owning an iPod does not matter because what it does for you is more important. Works Cited Bertucci, Brian. â€Å"What is Podcasting?† About.com. 14 April 2008.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://podcasting.about.com/od/basics101/a/whatis.htm â€Å"Duke University iPod First Year Experience Final Evaluation Report.† June 2005. 14 April   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008 cit.duke.edu/pdf/reports/ipod_initiative_04_05.pdf Evans, Jonny. â€Å"Apple Most Trusted US Brand.† Macworld. 17 May 2007. 14 April 2008   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSSnewsID=18062 â€Å"iPod classic.†Ã‚   Apple. 14 April 2008 http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic/ â€Å"iPod shuffle.† Apple. 14 April 2008 http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/

A Case Study in Applying Theories to Practice

A Case Study in Applying Theories to Practice Introduction The aim of this assignment is to show how a Social Worker would apply a Behavioural Method as an understanding and intervention on the case study supplied. I will do this by explaining what Behavioural Social Work is, how it is used in practice, how it meets the needs of the service user and identify personal challenges along the way. I will try to challenge my own views and ideals on the service user, and how these can be challenged for Anti-Oppressive Practice. The History of Behavioural Social Work Most of what makes us truly human, most of what makes us individuals rather than clones, most of what gives us a discernible personality made up of characteristic patterns of behaviour, emotion and cognition is the result of learning (Sheldon and McDonald, 2008). The Behavioural Perspective focuses on the individual and the relationship between stimuli in an environment and how it determines behaviour through learning (Westen, 2001). This is also how Behavioural Social Work is executed, by focusing on behaviour that is observable and changeable. Like other forms of social work methods it has been adopted from other disciplines, and in particular Psychology, but has been adapted to achieve measured outcomes and effective practice for Social Work (Watson and West, 2006). There are four main Theories that are relevant and used in Behavioural Social Work; The first behavioural theory is Respondent Conditioning, first introduced by Ivan Pavlov, who used experiments on dogs to discover how to condition a response after the presence of a certain stimuli has been removed. The second major behavioural theorist is B.F Skinner and his Operant Conditioning, he observed that the behaviour of organisms can be controlled by environmental consequences that either increase (reinforce) or decrease (punish) the likelihood of the behaviour occurring (Westen, 2001). He claimed that the outcome of behaviour was voluntary and goal directed, and always controlled by the consequences the behaviour would lead to. The next behavioural theory identified is Social Learning Theory, which extends behavioural ideas and claims that most learning is gained by copying others around them, rather than them being reinforced as skinner claimed. That behaviour is shaped by observing others and interpreting it (Payne, 1997). The fourth behavioural theory is Cognitive Learning Theory and was introduced by Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck in the 1960s, this is a theory that focuses on the way people perceive, process and retrieve information (Westen, 2001). A perception of the environment from previous experience. It was during the 1980s that Social Work adopted behavioural theory as a method of working with service users, part of the reason for this was the ability of the theory to achieve realistic outcomes (Watson and West, 2006). The learning theory used in social work is a combination between all four theories listed above; Respondent Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, The Social Learning Theory and Cognitive Learning. These are used to enable the social worker to observe behaviour and therefore intervene appropriately (Watson and West, 2006). The importance of behavioural social work is that the behaviour is learned and can therefore be unlearned. Cognitive learning theory focuses on this specifically and its engagement with cognitive processes which produce thoughts and feelings (Sheldon, 1995). Behavioural social work allows the service user to modify and change their behaviour through a process of reinforcement, both positive and negative, to produce a likeliness of a wanted behaviou r occurring (Watson and West, 2006). There have been criticisms of this form of social work as it involves deciding what normal behaviour is. This may lead to discriminatory and oppressive practice, as a perception of normal behaviour can come from a range of sources, such as, personal and professional values (Trevithick, 2000). Another criticism is that the social worker may be seen as having significant power in deciding a future for the service user, which may in turn lead to further problems. To overcome these criticisms for an affective and constructive service for users, social workers have to be aware of empowering skills to help the service user help themselves. Informed consent and active participation is also a significant part of behavioural social work (Watson and West, 2006). How is Behavioural Social Work Used in Practice? Some of the reasons a behavioural method was chosen for intervention is because it mainly targets problem solving, and anger management, which are some of the problems faced by the family in the case study. The first stage of Behavioural Social Work is the process of Assessment. This will begin by identifying the service users problem(s) (Howe, 1998). It not only identifies the problem behaviour, but how it manifested to begin with, and what can be done to change it. The first stage of assessment and intervention is to establish the behaviour to work with (Watson and West, 2006). Within the case study, the problem is the behaviour of Jake who is increasingly violent and aggressive towards his parents and siblings. To establish the intensity and occurrence of his aggression it should be recorded and written down. This will provide clarity and understanding of the nature of the violence, which person(s) are present when he does it and what are the consequences of his behaviour (Watson and West, 2006) The problem behaviour has to be described in terms that are observable and measureable (Howe, 1998). To ensure an accurate documentation of behaviour, partnership should be used with the parents and social worker for empowerment (Watson and West, 2006). A contact either written or verbal can be useful in establishing aims and goals for sessions, and an overall aim for behaviour (Howe, 1998). Operant conditioning is one of the main theories used in Behavioural Social Work; this is put into practice by the ABC Assessment, which uses the identification of Antecedents, Behaviour and Consequences to help shape wanted behaviour (Hudson and Macdonald, 1998 cited in Watson and West, 2006). The Antecedent what precedes the behaviour, The Behaviour in this case aggression and violence, and the Consequence What happens immediately after the violence i.e Is the behaviour being reinforced? Once all the assessment has been carried out and all the information gathered, the social worker and the service user (parents) must work together to plan a method of intervention which promotes a wanted behaviour, this will be a baseline for intervention (Watson and West, 2006) The next stage in the process of behavioural intervention is the implementation of the plan to change the unwanted behaviour. For this method to be effective it needs partnership of both parents and the social worker to establish roles, tasks and responsibilities (Howe, 1998). The main task for all involved is to develop appropriate strategies to implement within a certain time frame (Watson and West, 2006), which will enable the social worker to evaluate the process and respond by either changing the strategies or the method implemented. In the case study Jakes behaviour deteriorated after the new baby was born, so the strategies that could be implemented would involve activities and more contact with his mother, and the rest of the family. Consequences of his bad behaviour should be consistent and happen immediately after an event (Watson and West, 2006). The main aim of Behavioural Intervention and Operant Conditioning is to focus on positive reinforcement rather than punishment, this is to positively change behaviour and motivate Jake to complete goals (Watson and West, 2006). How Does Behavioural Intervention Meet the Needs of the Service User? Behavioural Social Work is effective in meeting the needs of the service user as it is specific, simple and structured. It works in partnership with the parents and gives them an understanding into why their son behaves the way he does, and that Jakes behaviour is the problem and not Jake. Behavioural intervention is also cost effective and doesnt rely on financial help, therefore can be used immediately to help and support Jakes parents, as well as Jakes behaviour. One of the reasons why this method is widely used is because it is time limited; this allows the social worker to assess if the method is effective and if it is not it can be easily altered or changed. This method is specifically relevant to the case study as Jakes behaviour is the problem, which has been learned through time. A positive to this is that it can be unlearned with the help of his parents. To avoid oppressive practice this has to be a method that includes Jake, both his parents and the Social Worker. This will ensure empowerment to Jakes parents; a less likelihood of powerlessness over Jakes behaviour and a more effective outcome. Some of the negatives of this method if intervention is that it does not tackle the underlying problems to Jakes violence, but by using skills, values and knowledge the social worker can talk and support Jake to discover other underlying issues. Challenges working with this service user Some of the challenges I would face being a social worker for this case is helping Linda and Michael become more involved in changing Jakes behaviour. There is a new baby in the home and one other sibling besides Jake, and getting time to respond to Jakes behaviour may be difficult. There is also no other social support outside the home and Linda is very stressed and at the end of her tether with Jake, so getting time to spend with Jake alone may also be complicated. Another problem is that Michael is already threatening about having Jake removed from the home as his behaviour is so bad, so Michaels patience to assess and implement a behavioural intervention may be limited. To resolve these challenges I would have to use skills such as empathy and active listening, as well as appropriate questioning to gain a full awareness of the situation. The next step would be to involve both parents in trying to understand that Jakes behaviour is a result of learning and can therefore be unlearn ed in time, to show both parents that I am there to help and support both them and Jake for the sake of the family. Some personal challenges I would face as the social worker is trying to understand what it must be like to have three children under the age of ten, and being at a crisis point with one of them. To be so stressed that your husband is threatening to put one of your children into care because of his behaviour towards the rest of the family. I cant help but feel how could anyone, through choice, want to put their child into care. Can things get that terrible that some parents cannot see any way out rather than this? I couldnt help but think that Michael is saying this because he is Jakes step father and not biological father, but then, I do not have children and therefore have never had a child with behavioural difficulties. But I do understand what stress can do to a person, and how it can seem like there is no way out. I must challenge these stereotypical views on Michael and realise he has raised Jake from six years old, and probably knows a lot more about Jakes behaviour and the fam ily dynamic than I do, as a Social Worker. Conclusion A behavioural method for Social Work was chosen for this case study. It enables the social worker and the service user to work in partnership which is fundamental for a behavioural method to succeed. It includes a step by step process with defined roles and responsibilities to alter behaviour. Operant Conditioning is mainly used as its emphasis is reinforcing positive behaviour, but with punishment which should be consistent and applied immediately. Behavioural Intervention provides the Social Worker with a method which can be implemented swiftly, but can also be evaluated after time for its effectiveness. This provides the social worker with the knowledge to alter a method or implement and new one. Values such as anti-oppressive practice and empowerment are vital to implement this method as they provide the service user with choice, roles and responsibilities. By challenging stereotypical views, a social worker can make informed decisions and support the service user effectively. Ov er all a behavioural intervention is used to alter behaviour, as it is the behaviour that is the problem, not the person. References: Howe, D. (1998) An Introduction to Social Work Theory. Ashgate Publishing. Chapter 9 Hudson, B. and Macdonald, G. (1986) Behavioural Social Work: An Introduction. London: Macmillan cited in Watson, D. and West, J. (2006) Social Work Process and Practice. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Payne, M. (1997) Modern Social Work Theory: A Critical Introduction. London: Palgrave Macmillan Sheldon, B. (1995) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Research, Practice and Philosophy. London: Routledge Sheldon, B. and Macdonald, G. (2008) A Textbook of Social Work. London: Routledge. Chapter 7 Trevithick, P. (2000) Social Work Skills a Practice Handbook. Buckingham: Open University Press. Watson, D. and West, J. (2006) Social Work Process and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan Westen, D. (2001) Psychology: Brain, Behaviour and Culture. Boston: John Wiley and Sons.

Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie :: Glass Menagerie essays

Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Glass Menagerie uses an extensive pattern of symbolism that describes the characters of Tom,Amanda,Laura and Jim. Glass,light,color and music constitute the substance of the dominant symbols and motifs,serving to reveal deeper aspects of characters and underlying themes of the play.Tennessee Williams wrote the play so that each character had a special symbol which resembled their personality.But he didn't only give the characters of the play a a resembling symbol;he also mentions the apartment blocks to be hivelike conglomerations of cellular living-units resembling a beenstock.The way he describes their location also has a lot of symbolism in its roots because he describes them to be flowering   as warty growths in overcrowded urban centers.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tennessee Williams used many symbolic aspects to describe Laura and the world she lives in.In the play,Laura represents the very fragile,shy and emotionally crippled girl.In her mind she lives in a world of glass animals and doesn't have a connection to the real world.The managerie of glass also represents the fragile relationships among all the characters.The glass unicorn is most obviously a symbol of Laura-- delicate,sadly different,an anomaly in the modern world.The glass motif recurs throughout the whole play in many other forms.When Laura dropped out of college she constantly visited the zoo,a glass house of tropical flowers that are as vulnerable as she is.During Laura's and Jim's brief romantic encounter,Laura is gaining more confidence about herself.It seems as if she is starting to escape her world of illusions.When they started dancing together,Jim accidently knocked the little glass horse over. Laura,who usually worships her glass collection more than anything else,replied to his excuse;"He's lost his horn.It doesn't matter.Maybe it's a blessing in disguise." and   "I'll just imagine he had an operation.The horn was removed to make him feel less--freakish!Now he will feel more at home with the other horses,the ones who don't have horns....".These two quotes give an impression that Laura is finally escaping her illusive world.She thinks that she might have a chance to survive the real world.What she doesn't know is that she is about to be wounded by the news of Jim's engagement.After Jim tells her the news,she gives him the unicorn as a souvenir and retreats into her land of the glass menagerie never to come out again.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   In the play,Tom is the adventure seeking man trying to escape the prison Amanda is keeping him trapped in.To escape the real world,Tom constantly goes to the movies.The movies make him think about all the adventures he missing.It his little land of dreams.He is jealous of his father who left his family and achieved what Tom always wanted,

Jane Austens View of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice Essay -- Austen

Jane Austen's View of Marriage in Pride and Prejudice "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want if a wife" This comment is humorous and satirical, but holds an underlying truth.   The fact that Jane Austen opens the novel with such a comment on marriage evidences the importance of the theme in the book.   Indeed the novel is all about marriage in society.   Austen lived in a time when marriage was the only way out for some women, or they would be forced to become a governess and lose their independence.   The way that this opening sentence is out provides another theme, satire.   Austen sees the following marriages that she writes on as amusing but they are still frowned upon, such as the marriage of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas.   Austen sees this marriage as beneficial for both partners.   He can potter around the garden and suck up to Lady Catherine deBourgh, while Charlotte spends her time alone reading. The first marriage to be examined is that of Mr and Mrs Bennet.   This is not a marriage of love, but of vulgarity and shallow natures of both parties. Mr Bennet is of a higher class than Mrs Bennet, who is "a woman of mean understanding" contrasting Mr Bennet's "quick parts".   They have been married 23 years and at once, the Bennets realise that they have absolutely nothing in common, so they withdraw from each other.   Mr Bennet spends all day in his study retreated from Mrs Bennet and her gossip. "With a book he was regardless of time" "Mrs Bennet spends her day with tittle-tattle and idle conversation.   She is vulgar in her behaviour; the only aim for her is to get her daughters married off to someone with lots of money." Austen shows us ... ...g from the couple's opening resentment of each other - Elizabeth herself describes the "malice of Mr Darcy".   His all turns around, and we know that Darcy is the most suitable husband for Elizabeth. He is generous and intelligent, and Elizabeth is "convinced that she could have been happy with him" when she almost loses him.   In fact of course they are, and we don't need a sequel to be told that! Works Cited Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Ed. Donald Gray. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996. Fritzer, Penelope Joan. Jane Austen and Eighteenth-Century Courtesy Books. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1997. Monaghan, David. Jane Austen Structure and Social Vision. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1980. Rubinstein, E., ed. Twentieth Century Interpretations of Pride and Prejudice. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1969.

Gideon Vs. Wainwright Essay -- essays research papers

United States Supreme Court cases are argued and decided on Constitutional grounds. All arguments and decisions are based on interpretations of the original Constitution and, more often, on Constitutional amendments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  GIDEON v. WAINWRIGHT   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In June 1961, Clarence Gideon was arrested and charged with breaking and entering in Bay Harbor. He was tried in a Florida Circuit Court in August 1961. Gideon stated in Court that he was unable to afford a lawyer and asked the Judge to appoint one for him. The Judge said he was sorry but he could not do that, because the laws of Florida called for appointment of counsel only when a defendant was charged with a capital offense [where the death penalty might be imposed]. When the Florida courts denied his claim, he went to the Supreme Court. In his prison he submitted a petition, handwritten in pencil, arguing that Florida had ignored a rule laid down by the Supreme Court: â€Å" that all citizens tried for a felony crime should have aid of counsel.† Oral arguments were heard on January 15,1962 and the decision was announced on March 18, 1963.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, Gideon was wrong. The rule applied by the Supreme Court at that time was in fact exactly the opposite. The Constitution, it had held, did not guarantee free counsel to all felony defendants that are unable to retain their own. Since1942, when Betts v. Brady was decided by a divided Court, the problem of defend...

Germans children Essay

The children of the Jewish Holocaust during the Nazi era were placed under very unjust, cruel, and exacting circumstances. Education, a basic right of children in developed nations of that era, was denied to Jews in areas of Europe where Hitler’s rule and influence were adopted. During the time of transition during which the exclusion of Jewish children from schools was being implemented, non-Jewish children were formally taught that their Jewish counterparts were inferior. In order to do this, Jewish youth were used to demonstrate the appearance of inferiority by placing them in front of the class and pointing out their characteristic phenotypes as being undesirable. Occurrences like this placed severe limitations on the ability of Jews to learn in these schools, as they were constantly mistreated, neglected, and abused because of their race. Growing restrictions were also placed upon these children’s accessibility to the resources within the schools, until finally they were prevented altogether from attending schools, which were open now only to Germans children (FCIT). Fred Spiegel describes his first weeks of school (shul) in Dinslaken, Germany, where he had to attend a Jewish shul, as the German schools were no longer open to Jewish children (Spiegel 27, 29). The alternative Jewish schools were understaffed and unsupported by the state. Spiegel himself recalls his school’s having only one teacher (29). Later, Arnold Blum recalls an even more frightening occurrence in which his school was being burned before his very eyes (Blum, 20). He immortalizes this event in his memoir â€Å"Kristallnacht† (20). More than just restricting these Jewish children’s ability to attend state schools, they were being stripped of their right to any education at all in the burning of their Jewish school. The parks were also an area in which Jewish children felt the abuse of Nazism. German children, who were armed with the idea that Jews were inferior, played in the parks and discriminated against the Jews they found there. The Jewish children were called names, spat upon, and otherwise abused by non-Jewish children. Spiegel also describes his time spent in the park behind his house in Dinslaken. The last time he remembers going there, he was cursed and called a â€Å"Dirty Jew† by the other children (Spiegel, 28). His grandfather too was cursed by his friends. Kristallnacht, which occurred on November 9-10, 1938, ushered in the destruction of all that was Jewish. Beyond the burning of schools came the burning and destruction of Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues (Blum, 20). Fred Spiegel recalls the night he was forced to leave his home and the abuses even he as a child faced. He was already emotionally crippled by the sight of his community being gutted by fires. He further recalls being cursed and spit upon by the non-Jews as he and his family were being forced from their homes. Some Jews were evicted to concentration camps and ghettos. Others were turned out of the country altogether. Spiegel writes about the events he witnessed upon entering his home, which had been destroyed, for the last time as a child: â€Å"My mother, sister, and my Aunt Klara were standing on the balcony crying. My grandfather had been arrested and taken away by two policemen. [†¦] Soon the two policemen returned. We were told we could not stay in our apartment and had to go with them. On the way out we passed by the downstairs apartment that was empty because the Abosch-family, a Jewish family who had rented it from my mother, had been expelled to Poland a few weeks earlier. Their apartment too was totally destroyed† (Spiegel, 30). Children were also abused through the mandate that they live in the ghettos. Because the ghettos were sequestered from the rest of the German civilization and restrictions were placed on items that could be brought into the area, children often suffered hunger. Many of them were reduced to smuggling food into the ghettos in order to aid in the support of their families. While these were very risky actions, some Jewish children were left even more vulnerable as their parents were killed or taken away to concentration camps. These orphaned children were left alone in the ghettos to make a living under doubly cruel circumstances.

Krokodil: Signing Your Own Death Essay

Krokodil is a drug that is mostly sold in Russia. According to unofficial estimates, Russia is the country with the highest amount of heroin addicts; approximately two million. However, not everyone can afford this drug. Krokodil is a drug more powerful and more destructive than heroin and it is also a lot cheaper. Whereas heroin may cost $150 US and up per use, Krokodil can be obtained for $6-$8 US per injection. So what is Krokodil? It is home made and pretty much anyone can cook it. This drug is pretty much codeine turned into desomorphine by a relatively easy process of cooking. Codeine is narcotic found at any pharmacy. The problem with the desomorphine is that it has to be made by professionals in a special facility or laboratory to be perfectly pure. So these random citizens trying to perform this at home are going to use home products to turn the codeine into desomorphine, which is the cause of why the results after consuming this drug is so destructive. People use gasoline as a solvent, red phosphorus; which we find on average matches, iodine and hydrochloric acid, which is a highly corrosive substance, found naturally in gastric acid, it also balances the pH level of acidity which is why it is used in swimming pool treatment solutions, making it easy to purchase at specialized supermarkets. What does this drug do to you? The corrosive acids will eventually turn the skin greenish with a rough texture, which is why this drug is called Krokodil. The skin around the injection site is the first to gain this appearance and becomes an easy target for gangrene. The skin literally becomes rotten and, in time, it ends up sloughing off, exposing the bone. Victor Ivanov, the head of Russia’s Drug Control Agency, estimates that five percent of drug users in Russia are consuming Krokodil and other equally dangerous home made drugs. Heroin alone kills around 300 thousand people in Russia every year, but Krokodil brings a much faster death. Some of its consumers only inject it when they have no money to buy heroin; however, as soon as they manage to get the money they will stop using the Krokodil. In poorer regions of Russia, though, people are becoming 24/7 Krokodil addicts, which gives them no longer than a year to live, from the moment they first inject this drug. What’s bad about this is that there are actually websites showing how to cook this drug and it’s a growing hidden epidemic. After seeing pictures of what people look like after some doses of Krokodil, I wonder how someone would ever do this to themselves. Having said this, why do people still get themselves into this? What could be so terrible about their lives that they pick the path to self destruction in such a sordid, painful way? krokodil is 3 times more powerful and 10 times cheaper than heroin, and has become an epidemic in Russia. Krokodil has almost the same effects as heroin except heroin does not eat up your skin like krokodil does heroin is not that harmful as krokodil. Kokodril is consumed mainly injecting yourself the substance in your blood stream that’s the cause why it reacts destructively with your body. Many people call kokodril the drug that eats junkies. Many scientists say that this drug is one of the most dangerous drugs in the world. One good thing is that this drug is mainly used only in Russia but not in the united states. Overall if you take krokodil you basically sign your own death.

Cross Cultural Psychology Essay

Cross cultural psychology is a sub-discipline within the wide psychology discipline that is concerned with the cultural factors that affects the behavior of human beings. Cross cultural psychology looks at the behavior of humans and its relationship with the mental processes. The behaviors are studies in the context of the cultural conditions taking into consideration the variations in the cultural influences. Since the early 1970s when the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology was founded, the field of study has continuously grown. Numerous researches have been carried out since then as the number of scholars in the field increase. Most of the research in this field has concentrated on how behaviors of individuals vary depending on their cultural background. The research has been prompted by the large variation on individual behaviors around the world with people from the same culture exhibiting a characteristic behavior (Berry, et al, 1992). Cross cultural psychology is quite different from other fields of psychology. Almost all other fields of psychology looks at the how the behaviors of the individual are influenced by their parent, their peers and generally people around them. However, they do not take into consideration the powerful effect of culture on the behaviors of people. While looking at the behaviors of different people, cross cultural psychology takes into account this powerful influence of culture. Some of the most important topics covered in the cross cultural psychology include child rearing, personality and language development (Ho & Wo, 2001). Culture and cross culture psychology Cross cultural psychology is closely related to culture psychology. Cultural psychology is a branch of psychology that is based on the assumption that the culture and mind of an individual cannot be separated. It looks at how the cultures and social practices in a certain society influence the psyche of individuals. It is therefore mainly concerned with the impacts of the traditions and cultures of the society on the mind of individuals resulting into unity of humankind (Shore, 1996). However, the two branches of psychology are very distinct though they are closely related. This is because the cross cultural psychology is mainly used in psychology as a measure of how the psychological processes in individuals are universal in a certain cultural setting rather than testing the influence of the culture and traditions on the psychological processes. Therefore, cross cultural psychology will seek to explain why stages of human development may be universal when different cultures are considered while cultural psychology focus on the influence of culture and traditions on the cognitive development of individuals (Heine, et al, 2002). In the past few years, there has been some collision between cultural and cross cultural psychologists. This has been as a result of recent studies that indicate the differences in attentions, cognition, perception and self when Americans and Asians are considered. The cultural psychologists have been criticized as a result of these research and accused of cultural stereotyping. They have responded to these accusations blaming the criticism on the increased emphasis of psychologists on cross cultural studies. The cultural psychologists have defended their finding since their research is based on ethnographic and tangible evidence while the cross cultural findings are based on laboratory findings (Masuda & Nisbett, 2001). Critical thinking in Cross Culture Psychology Cross cultural psychology research has indicated that people from Western Europe and North American culture think more critically when compared to people from Asia. Individuals from Asian cultures have been found to be faced with difficulties in the development of informed opinion or argument. They have limited ability to judge an argument or arrive to conclusions by integrating the information available and reject or accept the argument. Cross cultural psychology research has played an important role in the explanation of these variations in individuals from different cultures (Shiraev & Levy, 2006). Cultures have different ideal qualities that are considered desirable which are the main sources of variation in the level of critical thinking. For example, obedience and religious standards are considered the ideal qualities in the Asia societies. On the other hand, independence of thought and the ability to develop one owns opinions on different issues are considered to be undesirable in the society. Cross culture psychologists have suggested this to be one of the reasons why the Asians have difficulties in critical thinking (Shiraev & Levy, 2006). Methodologies in cross culture research Despite cross cultural psychology playing an important role in the explanation of the cultural aspects that affects the behaviors of individuals; it has experienced several methodology and theoretical challenges. This has been as a result of misunderstanding of the relationship between the cultural issues in the society and psychology. This misunderstanding has obscured the relationship between psychology and biological and cultural aspects of the individual. Other challenges are related measurements and definitions of cultural aspects that effect individuals and errors on data analysis and interpretation (Ratner, 2003). There is no doubt that methodology is an important aspect of cross cultural psychology. Cross cultural psychology is mainly based on positivistic methodologies. On the other hand, cultural psychology mainly focuses on humanistic methodologies which are based on the classical hermeneutic psychology. Positivistic methodologies have resulted in research on the relationship between culture and psychology being in line with basic principles of analysis. However, measurement and analysis based on positivistic methodologies principles in many cases obscure the cultural and traditions features and origin of behaviors and psychological aspects of an individual (Ratner, 2003). Cross cultural psychologists are for the argument that if the conclusions drawn from the research has to be accurate and reliable, the methodologies used which includes the materials used as well as the conditions should have the ability to stimulate the social environment of the people. However, many researchers in this field of psychology in many cases use artificial materials in spite of the caution. The reason why psychologists use these materials is because of the ease at which they can be controlled or calibrated. However, if positivist methodologies have to be effective, the measurement and analysis of the data stimuli must be as simple as possible, easy to manipulate, not vague and quantifiable. This is because it is possible to obtain more straightforward and quantitative responses. It has been found that artificial test materials and conditions though unfamiliar fit better when compared to natural circumstances and are thus preferred by many cross cultural psychologists (Ratner, 2003). Conclusion Cross cultural psychology is an important branch of psychology. It seeks to explain the relationship between the culture and traditions of the people and the behaviors of the individuals. This field of psychology has received a lot of attention in the last three decades due to criticisms against cultural psychology. Reference Berry, J. W. , Poortinga, Y. H. , Segall, M. H. , & Dasen, P. R. (1992). Cross-cultural psychology: Research and applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Heine, S. J. , Lehman, D. R. , Peng, K. , & Greenholtz, J. (2002). â€Å"What’s wrong with cross-cultural comparisons of subjective Likert scales: The reference-group problem. † Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, pp 903-918. Ho, D. Y. F. , & Wu, M. (2001). â€Å"Introduction to cross-cultural psychology. † In L. L. Adler & U. P. Gielen (Eds. ), Cross-cultural topics in psychology, pp. 3-13. Westport, CT: Praeger. Masuda, T. , & Nisbett, R. A. (2001). â€Å"Attending holistically versus analytically: Comparing the context sensitivity of Japanese and Americans. † Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(5), 922–934. Ratner, C. (2003)†Theoretical and Methodological Problems in Cross-Cultural Psychology. † Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior 33, pp. 67-94. Shiraev, E. & Levy, D. (2006). Cross- Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications, ISBN: 0205474322; Allyn & Bacon Shore, B. (1996). Culture in mind: Cognition, culture and the problem of meaning. New York: Oxford University Press

Behavioral Management in the Developmentally Disabled

This paper will dwell on the behavioral management for the developmentally challenged individual. This paper seeks to provide a general understanding on how the on how clients with developmental disabilities are improve with regard to their conditions.Therefore, the following will be discussed: †¢ The process of Occupational Therapist in modifying behavioral development of disabled person; †¢ Techniques employed to assist the developmentally challenged individual;†¢ Way used by the Occupational Therapist to help a disabled individual write; and †¢ Identify the techniques and tools used by the Occupational Therapist in behavioral management for developmentally challenged individual. Moreover, this paper will focus in two developmental disabilities that exist today in the society. More specifically these are autism and dyslexia. Functions of Occupational Therapist There are four functions of occupational therapists.First, they are ask to put into application the kno wledge, skills and abilities they have acquired in their years of training in the academe for the benefit of enabling people to live normal lives and immerse themselves with the daily tasks (â€Å"A Definition of Occupational Therapy,† n. d. ). Second, is to assist, maintain, regain and enhance the independence of an individual who is ill, injured, disabled and psychologically impaired (â€Å"A Definition of Occupational Therapy,† n. d. ).Third, engage the relatives of the client and other people who are connected such as the caregiver (â€Å"A Definition of Occupational Therapy,† n. d. ). This can be achieved through comprehensive assessment and therapy with the goal of increasing the capacity of client to participate in daily activities (â€Å"A Definition of Occupational Therapy,† n. d. ). Lastly, to accordingly deal with the problems of the client by focusing on three things: ability to accomplish, undertakings of the client and the environment where the undertakings are performed (â€Å"A Definition of Occupational Therapy,† n.d. ). Meaning of Autism Autism, also classified as classical Autism is considered as the most prevalent condition amongst the family of Autism Spectrum Disorder or better known as ASD (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [NINDS], 2006). One can discern Autism through the following symptoms: a) â€Å"impaired social interaction,† b) â€Å"problems with verbal and nonverbal communication,† and c) â€Å"unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests† (NINDS, 2006).In addition to this, the cluster of Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD includes other conditions. These are – a) â€Å"Asperger syndrome,† b) â€Å"Rett syndrome,† c) â€Å"childhood disintegrative disorder,† and d) â€Å"pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS)† (NINDS, 2006). Statistics shows that in every 1000 children three to six will be affected by autism (NINDS, 2006) Furthermore, Men are four times more prone or at risk of acquiring such behavioral disorder like autism than women.(NINDS, 2006) Meaning of Dyslexia Dyslexia, pronounced as dis-lek-see-uh is a type of learning disorder that some of the children encounter that impairs their ability to read and spell (â€Å"Dyslexia,† n. d. ). What may seem C-A-T to normal people would appear A-C-T to dyslexic individuals. It is not a measure of whether a child is intelligent or not but is rather an impairment of the brain (â€Å"Dyslexia,† n. d. ). In fact, a number clever and gifted people are suffering from dyslexia (â€Å"Dyslexia,† n. d. ).In the United States, the condition is classified as a â€Å"specific learning disability† or as a â€Å"specific reading disability† by the related federal legal statutes that has special education in its scope (Allington, 2006) However, the main idea o f all these explanations comprises the indeterminable hardships encountered by a dyslexic individual when it comes to reading. Moreover, there is no consensus with regard to the definition of the illness that causes the stakeholders confusion that renders them not to use the term (Allington, 2006).Behavioral Management and Techniques in Autism There are three behavioral management and techniques used by the occupational Therapist in able to develop and assist their clients that are suffering from Autism. These are all aimed at a holistic approach to treating the symptoms and addressing the difficulties that come with it. The three techniques are discussed in the next section. Educational/behavioral interventions Occupational Therapists use well reliable and thorough skill-oriented exercises in able to help their client enhance their language and social capabilities.Counseling the relatives and the family of the their client is better a technique to assist the entire clan deal with t he specific obstacles and difficulties in taking care of the autistic client (NINDS, 2006). Medications Occupational therapist could as well seek for the help of a doctor. A medical doctor usually recommends an antidepressant prescription in able to deal with the symptoms of a) â€Å"anxiety,† b) â€Å"depression,† or â€Å"obsessive-compulsive disorder† (NINDS, 2006). In a sense, these Anti-psychotic medicines are helpful to lessen the burden brought about by the symptoms of behavioral disabilities (NINDS, 2006).Attacks, on the other hand, can be prevented with the administration of variety of doses anticonvulsant medicines (NINDS, 2006). Prescription of stimulant drug that is specifically given for the children suffering from the attention deficit disorder or better known as ADD is an effective technique used by the Occupational Therapists to cut down the incident impulsivity and hyperactivity (NINDS, 2006). Other therapies Controversies abound the therapies t hat are formulated to treat autistic children (NINDS, 2006).This has made the use such be attached with caution before these are adopted by the parents or guardians (NINDS, 2006). Furthermore, an insignificant number of these are backed up with thorough scientific research (NINDS, 2006). Writing for the developmentally disabled individual Therapeutic Sessions for autism With the aim of teaching the developmentally challenged person it is important to have focus and patience together with appropriate learning strategies that will help the disabled individual in writing and learning process.Likewise, it is necessary to conduct follow up sessions with the therapist and at home with the help of the parents and other relatives. Behavioral Management and Techniques in Dyslexia According to website article, a recent game was developed with the purpose of helping children and other individuals cope with the difficulty they suffer from reading (Briggs, 2001). In the study, a group of seven-y ear-old children served as the respondents of the study and this resulted to a positive outcome for the research on reading difficulties (Briggs, 2001).The game included activities that require the respondents to match certain shapes to particular sounds (Briggs, 2001). They are asked to press a space bar after a series of sequences and then they will be greeted with a smile (Briggs, 2001). This resulted in higher rates of accuracy and an increase in the speed of reading for the 24 children who are diagnosed to have dyslexia (Briggs, 2001). Conclusion The role of the occupational therapist is a four-fold task. This is aimed towards uplifting the condition of the client.It is the aim of the occupational therapist is to be able to address the needs of the client and the chance to fulfill their responsibilities. There are different ways by which the therapist could help the clients in making their lives better through these techniques. It has become a better way of making people live a fulfilling life. These are different techniques of writing such as video games. References A Definition of Occupational Therapy. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 5, 2008, from http://steinhardt. nyu. edu/ot/definitionAllington, R. (2006). â€Å"Dyslexia. † In Microsoft ® Student 2007 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation. Briggs, H. (2001). Computer game helps dyslexics. Retrieved July 05, 2008, from http://www. dyslexia-teacher. com/t113. html. Dyslexia. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 5, 2008, from http://kidshealth. org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/dyslexia. html National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke [NINDS]. (2006). Autism Fact Sheet. Retrieved July 5, 2008, from http://www. ninds. nih. gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism. htm

Parenting-week 4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Parenting-week 4 - Assignment Example While every child, with or without gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT) traits, requires and deserves support, care, respect, an any other needed information for proper development, parents in the two videos ingested and accepted the fashionable â€Å"born gay† theory; a rather unfortunate and odd, but the correct deduction, that infants still dependent on their parents virtually for everything were labeled/associated with the traits mentioned. Sorry to say, but the ultimate sexual orientation of the children are/were designed in a way from their early ages. Notwithstanding the general androgynous behavioral patterns atypical of the phenotypic sexual orientation; the dress code, an interest in dolls, princesses, girlish make-ups in young boys, the outwardly boyish stance, a penchant for tools, a square-jawed readiness for physical tussles with boys, a distaste of the delicate perfumed trappings of femininity in young girls, it is rather stunning, absurd, and more so unconventional, that parents in ‘Always My Son’ trailer would associate their child with a weird, deviant trait like gaysm before even reaching the teen ages. Even though there are numerous studies on the same, there is no enough evidence to predict a child’s sexual orientation. With regards to ‘Families Are Forever,’ it is pretty hard to imagine how a family with a firm religious grounding, Christianity for that matter, would accept the behaviors of a son or a daughter attracted to the same gender, let alone going public, more so in a church that mostly goes in the opposite direction. Sexual orientation is but an internal psycho-emotional experience, and may or may not include a behavioral manifestation. While biological elements may well explain a person’s sexual orientation, albeit in part, it is an individual’s choice to either act upon the allures of the same gender or not; private decisions that people

Financial accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Financial accounting - Essay Example Marks and Spencer’s well established business attracts a great deal of consumer base irrespective of demography. The primary business of the company comprises of selling general merchandise which mainly consists of womenswear. menswear and an expanding kids wear. The company, through its resilient and effective marketing tactics, has able to capture market share of around 11.0% by value and 11.2% by volume. Another source from where the company earns a great deal of its revenue is through selling food items. Marks and Spencer is the leading provider when it comes to selling fine quality food. The company sells everything from fresh meals to canned food items, highly acclaimed and praised range of wines to other groceries products. The company has improved its shelf availability and has adopted the strategy of renewing its food range. The proactive approach has resulted in an increase of 1.8% in sales revenue from food business. The financial year 2010 proved to be another prog ressive year for Marks and Spencer. During the current year, Marks and Spencer’s revenue increased by 5.2% during the current year to an impressive ?9.5 billion which has caused the operating profit to increase by 9.8%. The company, following its growth strategy, aspires transform its operation into multi channel business. The company has taken major steps in investing its direct sales business which enhanced the revenue by 27% during the current financial year. In addition, the company is actively following its strategy of refurbishing its stores and giving them a new and improved look. The refurbishment has resulted in an increased storage space and has created a fashionable shopping environment. The following table compares the financial results of Marks and Spencer, for the financial year 2010 with that of the year 2009. As quite evident from the above comparison, the financial outlook of the company has improved. The increase in group revenue primarily pertains to the in crease in like-for-like sales as well as the addition of new stores and outlets, both in and outside of England. Since Marks and Spencer do a significant number of its sales overseas, the company’s revenue is majorly increased due to the fluctuation in exchange rate. Although the recent credit crisis and global economic meltdown proved to be a hurdle, but the impact was offset by prudent risk management and apt allocation of capital investment. The gross profit to sales ratio for the year ended December 31, 2010 was 8.93% which has decreased by 0.67% during the current year. Despite the decrease in gross profit to sales ratio, the net profit of the company has increased by ?16.2 million. The increase in net profit is due to the fact that during the current year the company did not spend any exceptional cost which it incurred during the prior year on strategic restructure. In addition, the company took strong measures to control its finance cost during the current year and cur tailed it by ?52.3 million. An analysis of balance sheet of Marks and Spencer highlights the fact that during the current year the company’s non-current liabilities, in terms of borrowings from banks and other financial institutions, was comparatively less than the previous year. The fact that Marks and Spencer curtailed its borrowings highlight the fact that the company is focusing on gearing is business through raising capital by issuance of share capital, rather than acquiring capital from financers. The earnings per share (EPS) of

Disobedience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Disobedience - Essay Example It was during this time that the Western Tradition Law was formed and begun to develop. Sometimes, citizens felt that some laws are unjust hence result to resisting them. Most often, the resistance is non-violent and the citizens seek to disobey certain laws, commands of the government as well as new rules introduced by those occupying power intended to benefit themselves at the expense of the citizens. It is a respectful disagreement for the sake of what is fair and true. Edward Joseph Snowden is an American Computer specialist. He is a former agent of the Central Intelligence Agency as well as a former contractor of National Security Agency. Edward decided to leak some classified documents to the media outlets, these documents contained some information of global surveillance. The surveillance systems collected and analysed information on foreigners and Americans. Snowden did this because he felt that it was interfering with the privacy of the citizens. His action received varied o pinions besides tagged a patriot, traitor, whistle-blower as well as a spy. Thomas More was born at a time when school emphasized the value of authority, hierarchy, and social disciplines. He grew up with the belief that law went hand in hand with morality and morality corresponded with religion (Watson 8-10). According to More, morality was superior compared to law and that creation of laws had to base on the moral ethics. However, More believed in obedience of law and authority. According to him, law was uniform and there would be social disorder the leaders used their moral beliefs to rule. He calmed that it was a moral duty for individuals to obey the law. One of the famous quotes from him was that â€Å"I will give the devil the benefit of law, for my own safety.† (Watson 8-10) More served under King Henry VIII, he considered his way of ruling to be unjust and not wise. As much as he was not happy with the ways of the king, he still served the king and followed some

Emerging Adulthood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Emerging Adulthood - Essay Example At this time, young people are mostly pursuing education, completing their academic studies and/or determining their adulthood destiny. They engage in a moment of deciding who they are and what they want out of school, work and love (Munsey, 2006). Their minds, in a confused progressive continuum, are unstable. For example, they are mostly torn between pursuing further education or settling and living with friends, romantic partner and working (Munsey, 2006). Separated from parent care and academic routines, young adults try to define their social niche in a particular society. The in-between feeling is marked by the stance where young adults claim that they are taking responsibility for themselves yet, from within, they do not feel completely like adults (Arnett, 2010; Munsey, 2006). While their minds are filled with constant optimism, expected adulthood outcomes are diverse. There is quite a wide array of differences between this period and adolescence and adulthood. Adolescents, to start with, are continuously under the care of parents and school mentors. As so, they virtually get everything that they required at their disposal. At the ages above 12 and 19, children are thus unable to differentiate between the achievements and motives of their parents and other adults from theirs (adolescents’). They thus engage in utopian optimism thinking that everything is possible. On the contrary, emerging adults have a taste of adulthood and thus engage in experimentation of adult experiences. In academics, despite following traits of say a predefined role model, young adults undergo differentiation process where their choice of say a course of study is governed by their abilities manifestation. They specifically tend to negate from their parents’ choices upon realization of who they are and what they want to be later in life. Needless to say, young adults exhibit cognitive development by realizing cultural trends, societal

A Report on Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Report on Politics - Essay Example Body (The speech) There are different connotations that are in the word motivation. You cannot expect that Things are going to occur for you just by chance. In fact, the world we live in requires some initiative. The more problems we get, the more complacent we become (Jouzel.et al,.1987). There is no way that this is a good thing. First of all, we inherited a good-to-do world from our parents. It is our obligation to make sure that the world we live behind is better than what we found. All of us have an inner belief. We are very convinced of a cause that is far greater than ourselves. God withstanding, the world expects wonders out of us. It is difficult already to live in the present world, but imagine how it will be in years to come. Yes, our forefathers inherited a world in which life was not as hard. But it is in our capacity to make sure that at least our children will understand the dynamics of this world. We undoubtedly belong to the same class. Every one of us is expected to depart this world at some point. It is therefore fundamental that we make sure that the world we leave behind is better than we found it. Looking at things from a critical perspective, the world as we know it is slowly disappearing. The politics of the day are about segregation more than anything. Africa has become the stage for ethnic conflicts. There, people turn against each other without the benefit of food, basic shelter and freedom as we know it. Additionally, the Middle East has become the epitome of hatred for anything American. The Chinese are gaining more power by the day. And just by their numbers, they threaten taking over the world. Undoubtedly, these are grave matters to those that care but exquisitely, the most threatening thing to the existence of man as God intended him is the effect that carbon has had on our environment (Delmas, Ascencio & Legrand, 1980). Have you stopped to ask yourself what your effect on the world is? Have you asked what your children will thi nk of you once they realize that you had the chance to stop their world from disappearing? (Lorius et al, 1985). Do you sleep at night with your conscience clear knowing that the car you drive or the cows you rear might be the precedence to a holocaust, the disappearance of the human being himself? Is it prudent for you to walk around minding your own things whereas the world is slowly disappearing? What is your government doing? You know, when I was young, we did not mind much about what we were doing. The world was not under a fine toothcomb as it is today. The data was simply not as in abundance as it is today. We did not have much to worry about in the most simplistic way that you may fathom. Are we justified now to assume that we do not have the power to influence our very existence? Do we have the right to carry on as f nothing major is happening? Did God design this? These are strong sentiments, but rather than just simple tag along, we must choose to act. We must see what is in front of our eyes. We must realize that our existence was not by chance but rather a design that was made by the most high. What is our problem? There are hybrid vehicles. Must we continue using the fuel that we do simply because these cost a whole lot than our normal cars? I will not say that the human race ought to take more action simply because my saying it will insinuate that they do not have the p

Public Opinion and Media Coverage of Labor Unions Article

Public Opinion and Media Coverage of Labor Unions - Article Example Print media, therefore, have the ability to shape new opinion and to influence and stabilize existing public opinions because of their reach to masses. Therefore, it should be mentioned that if media would portray the positive image of labor unions (an interest group) then the public would have positive perceptions, sympathetic attitudes, opinion, and moral support. In contrast, if media would indulge in the negative portrayal of unionism in the corporate sector (either unintentional or intentional) then the probability of negative public opinion when ould increase (excluding union members as they are least affected). Nevertheless, Schmidt’s actual argument is about the involvement ent of media in faulty coverage of labor unions, which then result in the creation of negative attitudes and opinions about unionism among masses. For instance, the independents and non-members followed by Republicans are ones who actually form negative opinions about unions, which is largely based on information provided incredible news the papers such as Times and others etc. The claim was valid as it had been statistically proved in the light of results that indicated the positive relationship between negative media coverage and unsympathetic public opinions. After analyzing the findings of Schmidt (1993), Meister (n.d), Puette (1992) and Chermak (1995), I would like to highlight that print media mostly focus on coverage of union corruption and violent strikes in a dramatic manner so that the news becomes spicy and entices more readers. In addition, it has been a proven fact (the reference to research by menti oned authors) that the journalists (during 1970 – 1995) have remained nonchalant to peaceful and uneventful dispute resolution. Indeed, a rational analyzer should condemn the past attitude of journalists because it led to a portrayal of the ly negative side (and biased) of labor unionism in a highly exaggerated manner. Hence, the public also viewed unions as more â€Å"socially unresponsive, elitist, nondemocratic and ridden by crime†. Meister (n.d) have called that news is presented, just to attract masses, then away as if there has been an inevitable tussle and war between unions and employers / firm owners. In fact, I would argue that it resembles yellow journalism because of exaggeration and dramatics involved.