Communicating Across Cultures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Communicating Across Cultures - Essay Example Goodman (2009) defined culture as the concept of shared beliefs and values of people belonging to a specific region. People from different cultures tend to behave and react in different ways; the presence of different origins and perceptions in a single workplace or organization makes the managers learn the skills of dealing with multiculturalism. The multicultural nature of the prevailing workplaces proves to become a major hindrance in communication if the diversity is not managed in an effective manner. Upon the adoption of ineffective strategies and techniques, cultural diversity can have hazardous effects for the productivity of any business, rather than providing benefits. Effective communication is one of the most challenging aspects to achieve in the presence of multiculturalism in the workplace. Following are some of the barriers in communicating across cultures: It has been witnessed that cultures tend to have differing social hierarchies; women are considered to be subordinates to men in some regions of the world. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board (2002) stated that these kinds of cultures do not appreciate extensive interactions with the opposite gender and expect the women to maintain introvert behavior in the workplace in the presence of men. The men from such cultures also do not prefer working equally with their female coworkers and do not even favor having female managers to monitor their performance. Different cultures follow different types of gestures to convey their meaning; however the same gestures might have contrasting meanings in different regions. Erupting Mind Education (2011) stated that an OK sign signifies something good or fine in US and England, while the same gesture is taken as an insult in France. Similarly, the gesture of thumbs up signifies something good and commendable in US and numerous parts of Europe while it is considered offensive in Asian countries. Eye contact is

Discovery of gold Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discovery of gold - Essay Example Several explorers came in search of gold and the subsequent major discoveries of gold deposits contributed to the rise of the region’s economy as well as industrial growth (The History of Gold Mining). The earliest reported discovery of the yellow metal was in the year 1803, when the explorer James Purcell found some nuggets of gold by the South Platte River (The History of Gold Mining). This was followed by other discoveries such as the 1820 expedition lead by Lieutenant John. C Fremont during which members of his exploration party discovered gold in about six different places in and around present day Colorado (A General History of Colorado). However, as the California gold rush happened during this period these findings did not gain much importance; nevertheless it provided an opportunity for gold-seeking groups to pass through the rocky mountain region of Colorado. As these prospectors returned with very little findings of gold in California, they decided to explore gold along the South Platte River, Cherry Creek and Clear Creek and were successful (Gold!Gold!Gold!). One such group from Georgia lead by William Russell became the first to discover small quantities of placer gol d. These people settled down in that region and collected gold deposits from the streams between the years 1858-59. However, rich deposits of gold were found by George Jackson in the year 1859 along the Clear Creek region. With this finding he began to mine the placer gold deposited in the region near Idaho springs where the Clear creek joins the Chicago creek. In the same year another gold-seeking prospector from Georgia, John Gregory discovered a quartz vein made of gold resulting in the first discovery of consolidated or lode gold. This paved the way for the establishment of the Blackhawk-Central city mining region near the Creek. Following this find several deposits of gold were found in many locations around present day Colorado leading

Commentary for leaflet

Commentary for leaflet My elective was youth justice, within this elective I have chosen the topic of youth crime prevention. The preventative service I am communicating to service users in my leaflet is street-based youth work, this links into risk aspect of the whole family teaching.  Ã‚   The audience that my leaflet is aimed at is 13 to 17 year olds who are socially excluded and are at risk of offending and turning to crime. My audience are also difficult to reach through other services and agencies. My leaflet is advertising a preventative street based service for young people. The purpose is to draw in young people and offer them interesting and alternative interactive and challenging options so that they turn away from involvement in crime. This service is an effective way of youth workers building a rapport especially with young people who do not use centres and have not been previously reached by other means of youth prevention. Government guidance has given me insight and understanding into the links between street based youth work with crime prevention. Government guidance, Transforming Youth Work: Resourcing Excellent Youth Services (2002) has identified that youth work is a key aspect to prevention of crime. The guidance sets out that a contribution of youth service is tackling anti-social behaviour and crime. (pg4). Emphasis is placed on working with young people who may pose a risk of committing anti-social behaviour. The reason I chose this particular focus is that it is a preventative service already offered to young people in hopes of reducing crime, yet it is not as recognised and I feel that it can be an effective method where harder to reach risk groups can involved. Research was published by Joseph Rowntree foundation on the role of street-based youth work in linking socially excluded young people into education, training and work. Crimmins et al (2004) found that street based youth work had been successful in reaching and working with large numbers of the most socially excluded young people (pg 1, Crimmins 2004) The Youth Action Plan was a plan that looks at tackling youth crime. On discussion of prevention, the Youth Action plan recognises focus needs to be given to a smaller minority and to early identification.   Part of the prevention is to tackle unemployment, increasing opportunitiesin a much more targeted and individual way (Youth Action Plan, 2008, pg 1) as part of tackling youth crime, street based teams of youth workers will be in place to tackle groups of young people involved in crime and disorder (Youth Action Plan, 2008pg 7) Street based youth work, promotes development, especially social development. It is designed to be inclusive, empowering and needs led. It can be broken into three separate distinct branches these being mobile, outreach and detached youth work. My leaflet is promoting mobile and detached work. In the leaflet my focus is on activities that we provide as a service as well as opportunities that can be followed, for example, training, education, etc. This is to encourage young people to approach our mobile unit and this is where further work would be undertaken. By advertising potential benefits for young people when they work with street based youth workers, like activities, for example, DJing, sports, bowling, is ensuring that hard to reach youths are also interested. As a result of this, the content of the leaflet is an explanation of what we do, why we do it and examples of what has been provided in the past. The designs is very contemporary and is designed to attract the eye of a young person so they may find it interesting enough to pick up, this is why I have incorporated bright colours with graffiti style writing and pictures to grab attention and attract the reader to reading the leaflet. I chose a leaflet designs that folds in 3 times again as a means to attract and draw the reader in by the cover. The leaflet is also directing the reader to a group on face book and videos on YouTube. These are two known applications that young people use. This was confirmed by the young people I piloted my leaflet to. There are various literatures that relate to prevention of youth crimes and risk of turning to crime. J Margo (2008) explains three different levels of prevention in offending. The secondary level is relevant to my leaflet. The secondary level is more specific and is aimed at target groups who present risk factors. The approach looks at different stages and looks at those who have offended and those who are likely to offend. Street based youth work is a preventive scheme which targets risk groups in who are hard to reach through other agencies. Risk taking is recognised as part of our development, and to take positive and negative risk is very much part of this human development. Sharland (2006, pg 254) argues there has been evidence that presents the nature and success of the transition to adulthood are much influenced by class, culture, material and social resources. As a result of these influences those less privileged struggle harder, are more exposed to risk and more likely to take it. This is that there are structural disadvantages that lead people to take risks and lack of community resources that can be a factor that leads young people to turn to crime. These disadvantages can be related to lack of parents employment, educational qualifications, poor parenting, etc. These pre-existing factors can have an impact on young people and as a result young people with these structural disadvantages are at a risk of turning to crime.( White and Cuneen (as cited in Youth Crime and Justice) 2006 ) Issues of social exclusion of young people is relevant to why youth crime takes place, this exclusion is linked also to marginalisation and disempowerment. As a result of risk factors discussed, young people can be at the risk of being marginalised due to their parents status in the community, this being for example, and lack of employment. As a result young people may feel disempowered and as a result turn towards crime. (Youth Justice Board, 2001) To inform me on the leaflet I piloted my completed leaflet to a group of seven teenagers these included family members and friends in the age range of 13 to 17. In doing so, I collected feedback which led me to make adjustments. In the draft, It was reported that the colours used were too bright, there was too much information and not enough pictures. The final draft was piloted and positive response was seen. I have also looked to sources from the internet and other similar services to be able to guide my direction with the leaflet. A source that informed my leaflet greatly was information from a street based service that is provided by Derbyshire Youth Service. This guided my understanding of street-based youth work and explored the idea of reaching risk groups. Derbyshire Youth service, see street based youth work as having a preventative purpose but recognises young people and encourages them to get involved. The activities that are offered has given me an insight into the content of my leaflet and what activities I could offer. When examining my leaflet in retrospect I found some positive and negative points. The content in my leaflet is very basic and easy to read and understand. This is deliberate, as pointed out when piloted. It is designed this way to ensure that those reading will be able to read the whole leaflet without losing interest and it is also supposed to encourage young people to want to seek further information. However, this could also have a negative impact. The basic information could attract the youngest of my target group but may isolate the eldest, as they may prefer more depth and detail. I have also found that in retrospect the colours and background art used may overload the reader and may be off putting when trying to read the content. In designing this leaflet, there were issues that had an impact on what was included. Due to the restriction in space, all information could not be fitted in. As a result of restriction, there was not a possibility to aim the leaflet and individual from different diverse backgrounds, this is the reason I attempted to keep the leaflet neutral as possible. Within my target audience, there can various sub audiences identified, for example, class, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, disability and gender. These social groups are also significant when designing a leaflet and each group has issues that need to be addressed and affect a service however due to space constrictions, it was impossible to address these individually. In my leaflet, I was aware of these issues indirectly and kept them in mind when designing the leaflet and content. Overall, I feel that my leaflet will reach my target audience and will attract them to involvement with street based youth workers.

In Search of King Arthur :: Internet Literature Essays

In Search of King Arthur Ever since I was a little girl, I was fascinated by stories of courageous knights and virtuous ladies, who populate the covers and pages of books and screens of the movie theaters. Their splendid attire, glamour of the courts and impeccable manners attracted and conquered the imagination of the little girl. Robin Hood was one of my favorite characters, however there was one hero, who troubled my imagination most of all. I have heard and read numerous stories of a magnificent, just and most generous king of all, King Arthur. Legends and myths surrounding the adventures of this character preoccupied my thoughts and pulled me into reading marathons. Today, several years later, I am continuing to indulge my interests. Luckily there is so much material available on the Internet on the subject of King Arthur's and his knights' adventures that I don't have any trouble locating the material interesting to me. Moreover, I have found the following Internet sites most useful in studying the top ic of King Arthur's adventures: Britannia.com (http://www.britannia.com/history/h12.html), The History and Historicisation of Arthur (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~tomgreen/arthur.htm) and Legends (http://legends.dm.net/kingarthur/index.html.). Britannia.com is a very well-structured website. The home page of this Internet site is organized in a manner that allows a viewer to locate necessary information speedily and with ease. However, besides being well structured, the site contains all the essential information related to King Arthur and other main characters of the legend such as Merlin, Guinevere. Information on Geoffrey of Monmounth, the author of the History of the Kings of Britain, is also available. A viewer only needs to click on Arthur, the King (http://www.britannia.com/history/arthur/kaking.html) in order to find numerous hypotheses of King Arthur's birth and origin as well as general theories of his existence: "Arthur, it seems, is claimed as the king of nearly every Celtic Kingdom know" (Arthur, the King, p.1). Here King Arthur is claimed to be a Breton king, a Dumnonian king, a Cumbrian king, an Elmet king, a Scottish king, a Powysian king, among others. Many historians such as Geoffrey Ashe, Graham Philips and Martin Keatman identify Arthur with various noble houses that occupied territories of Great Britain and Scotland. Furthermore, Britannia.com contains links to such material as Timeline of Arthurian History (http://www.britannia.com/history/timearth.html). These pages contain a detailed timeline, starting from 63 A.D., with Joseph of Arimathea's coming to Glastonbury, bringing with him the Holy Grail, and ending in 1090 A.

Season Descriptive Essay

Are the birds peacefully hiring, or are the waves violently crashing into shore? Can you smell the salty air? Can you feel the icy breeze striking your face? Your job is to construct an essay about a day during your favorite season in thorough, specific detail. You need to write in a manner that will appeal to your readers. Show significance and meaning of your favorite season throughout your writing piece by providing a vision for your readers, using sentences that show rather than tell, and using details that evoke all of the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell).Try to make an exciting introduction that will hook your reader, and remember that you must end your writing piece appropriately. Point of view: you must write in the FIRST PERSON. Example: The word â€Å"dog† can be interpreted in a variety of different imaginations. Your reader might be thinking of a two-pound, chocolate-brown Chihuahua. Another reader might be imagining a 140-pound, black-and-white-speck led Great Dane. Notice the more precise adjectives? The precise breeds are used as descriptive nouns. In addition to detailed adjectives and nouns, you should also have detailed verbs.Think of the difference between having these two dogs â€Å"interacting† and â€Å"barking playfully† with each other. Requirements: Describe your day during your favorite season in 3-5 paragraphs. Make sure each paragraph is clear and organized. (Include introductory sentence, body, conclusion sentence. ) Write a focused, descriptive essay using precise, unique and vivid detail (be sure to consider all senses). Carefully consider what point you are trying to make about the season and make sure all details are clear to the reader. Title the essay with a unique title that captures the essence of the essay. Ex: A Scorching Summer Day; Blooming into Spring) Face- Focus Correction Areas: As a reminder, Face are items you will be graded on. However, you should still be paying close attention t o items such as spelling and grammar. Type these in the upper right hand corner across from your heading. Your Face for this assignment are: Paragraph Structure 120 (Topic sentence, detailed evidence, conclusion) Figurative Language /30 (At least one of each: simile, metaphor, personification) Imagery (At least two of each: touch, asset, smell, sound, sight) Helpful Tips: Provide purpose for your day during your favorite season writing piece.

Retailer Companies Essay

Amazon Amazon is an online retailer however there have been talks and news articles of the company planning to open a warehouse store in New York City. However being an online only retailer means the company can meet any customer target and offer shopping to anyone. This removes travel time, travel costs and parking costs which appeal to more customers. This can also appeal to younger shoppers aged 16+ who are unable to drive and must pay out a large charge in travel fare. There is also a larger reach in the consumer area and they now have the ability to reach a worldwide target. Also being an online only business they can give specific and limited discounting to their products. New Look New look is a multiple store that usually located in an in town area. Being located in town has many advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages to being an in town store is the easy access by both public and personal transport. However a disadvantage to this is the large travel costs both paying for tickets on trains or busses but also petrol and parking costs. A second advantage in the allotted sale space can be increased and the store can have a larger floor space. However due to this the store costs more to rent and run meaning there are only a small amount of discounts the store is able to give. Pandora Pandora is a multinational company using a multiple store which is usually located in out of town areas. Because of the area where they are placed they have a long travel time making the easiest travel option the car however you can travel to them on public transport but many involve changes and larger fares. However due to the travel costs the areas slightly reduce store costs and also allow free parking. This means that although travel time and cost is high it holds more appeal due to the lower prices and free parking. Best One Newsagents Best One Newsagents is a franchised business that is based in local  locations. The areas that these stores are in are specifically placed in accordance to the surrounding area. They will be in an area where there are many houses surrounding them so that customers have east when going to the store. Due to the fact of them being a local store they are smaller than others and are able to sell items at cheaper prices. This appeals to the customers so that they can get bits they need without going to supermarkets and paying a higher price. eBay eBay is an online only auction site where people are able to sell unwanted items securely. This means they can sell items that people are looking for E.G a new iPad Air would usually be sold at retail price for  £399 but on eBay a new but used one could be sold at up to a 90% discount and that could be a set price or they could use the auction and consumers could bid to see who will be the one to purchase the item. As this is a selling site you will need to receive the money and many use PayPal as it is a secure way to pay the money however you can just pay cash if you are collecting the item.

Atom Definition and Examples

Atom Definition and Examples An atom is the defining structure of an element, which cannot be broken by any chemical means. A typical atom consists of a nucleus of positively-charged  protons and electrically neutral  neutrons with negatively-charged  electrons orbiting this nucleus. However, an atom can consist of a single proton (i.e., the protium isotope of hydrogen) as a nucleus. The number of protons defines the identity of an atom or its element. Atom Size, Mass, and Charge The size of an atom depends on how many protons and neutrons it has, as well as whether or not it has electrons. A typical atom size is around 100 picometers or about one ten-billionth of a meter. Most of the volume is empty space, with regions where electrons may be found. Small atoms tend to be spherically symmetrical, but this is not always true of larger atoms. Contrary to most diagrams of atoms, electrons do not always orbit the nucleus in circles. Atoms can range in mass from 1.67 x 10-27 kg (for hydrogen) to 4.52 x 10-25 kg for superheavy radioactive nuclei. The mass is almost entirely due to protons and neutrons, as electrons contribute negligible mass to an atom. An atom that has an equal number of protons and electron has no net electrical charge. An imbalance in the numbers of protons and electrons forms an atomic ion. So, atoms may be neutral, positive, or negative. Discovery The concept that matter might be made of small units has been around since ancient Greece and India. In fact, the word atom was coined in Ancient Greece. However, the existence of atoms was not proven until John Daltons experiments in the early 1800s. In the 20th century, it became possible to see individual atoms using scanning tunneling microscopy. While its believed electrons formed in the very early stages of the Big Bang formation of the universe, atomic nuclei did not form until perhaps 3 minutes after the explosion. At present, the most common type of atom in the universe is hydrogen, although over time, increasing amounts of helium and oxygen will exist, likely overtaking hydrogen in abundance. Antimatter and Exotic Atoms Most of the matter encountered in the universe is made from atoms with positive protons, neutral neutrons, and negative electrons. However, there exists an antimatter particle for electrons and protons with opposite electrical charges. Positrons are positive electrons, while antiprotons are negative protons. Theoretically, antimatter atoms might exist or be made. The antimatter equivalent to a hydrogen atom (antihydrogen) was produced at CERN in Geneva in 1996. If a regular atom and an anti-atom were to encounter each other, they would annihilate each other, while releasing considerable energy. Exotic atoms are also possible, in which a proton, neutron, or electron is replaced by another particle. For example, an electron could be replaced with a muon to form a muoinic atom. These types of atoms have not been observed in nature, yet may be produced in a laboratory. Atom Examples hydrogencarbon-14zinccesiumtritiumCl- (a substance can be an atom and an isotope or ion at the same time) Examples of substances that are not atoms include water (H2O), table salt (NaCl), and ozone (O3). Basically, any material with a composition that includes more than one element symbol or that has a subscript following an element symbol is a molecule or compound and not an atom.

Opaque and Articulate Design Essay Example

Opaque and Articulate Design Essay Example Opaque and Articulate Design Essay Opaque and Articulate Design Essay Looking at another field of study, industries also affect the society’s sustainability. In a study by Dewick and associates, they analyzed the environmental impacts of the production of yogurt throughout the years. As they have found out, environmental impacts are largely generated from the industrial production of yogurt where waste products and air pollution are included. Nevertheless, no technological advancement has ultimately solved this problem since the process of yogurt production is still the same as the first time it was employed. The authors recommended that new technology should be used to further reduce the environmental impact that yogurt production can cause. The authors believed that for a technological change to happen, it should be accompanied by a social change. It is by accomplishing this dual change that sustainable production can be achieved and thus, resulting to a sustainable community. Products of different industries always have environmental impacts no matter how minute they are. Nevertheless, it is better to assess the negative effects in processing such products. A useful method of obtaining the information needed is the use of environmental life cycle assessment or LCA. In this technique, the authorities try to examine the effects of the product from its birth to its waste disposal after the consumer has used the product well. This can be useful in assessing the sustainability of a community. Nevertheless, the LCA is not perfectly appropriate in evaluating the impact that a product may cause to the environment. Self-Assessment Throughout the paper, sustainability has been discussed in detail and its factors in different fields and industries have been tackled. Long journals have been summarized briefly and coherently yet; it would not be enough to just read the paper but journals that were cited as well. A variety of perspectives was employed to explain sustainability and how it will be attained. However, no specific agencies responsible for the implementation of the sustainability design projects were mentioned. It is remarkable that sustainability can have a broad scope of implementation, from the field of arts to industrial science. Academic journals were used in the paper to better communicate the need to initiate sustainable design projects. Nevertheless, it would have been better if the paper have based its arguments on more references rather than the journals listed alone. Sustainability is one way of showing the world that the health of nature matters to us. Sustainable design projects should be initiated and developed to decrease the negative environmental impacts that man’s creations and existence bring. It does not mean that everyone should find a reliable design project to fund such as those discussed; however, everyone is encouraged to formulate little ways to increase society’s sustainability. One does not need to be part of expensive research laboratories to be of help to humanity and the environment. BIBLIOGRAPHY Borgmann, Albert. â€Å"Opaque and Articulate Design†. International Journal of Technology and Design Education 11 (2001): 5-11. Cogdell, Christina. â€Å"Products or Bodies? Streamline Design and Eugenics as Applied Biology†. Design 19, no. 1 (2003): 36-53.

Abstinence Education And Sexual Education

of adolescent children receive some form of sex education before graduating high school. Sexual education units of classes are taught in two ways; comprehensively and abstinence-only. Comprehensive sexual education covers abstinence as an option, but teaches a generally wider array of sexual health options, like contraceptives and ways to avoid sexually transmitted infections. Abstinence-only education, however, teaches students that engaging in sexual activity prior to marriage is morally wrong, and†¦ Having abstinence only education as a form of sexual health education can lead women to be have problems in the future. As in the article â€Å"We need to raise awareness about female fertility before it is too late†, there is a nurse who mentions the importance for young people to be taught the biology of reproduction as a part of a sexual health education class (Denton 32). She states that there are women around their late thirties and early forties who are having a hard time conceiving (Denton 32)†¦ many good reasons to teach abstinence, there is, of course, a great deal of controversy in the communities throughout the U.S., as there would be with any kind of statement that shows a personal opinion. . For example, â€Å"Abstinence-only education isn’t ‘education’. By design, it’s a program that leaves young women and men in the dark and misinformed† (Getting to Responsible Sexual Health Education). This quote, coming from K. Sajuta, states that abstinence-only education should not be taught. In several†¦ all American teenage students. For years the education system in America has either taught an Abstinence only curriculum or not had any form of sexual education. Until the outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus in the 1980’s the exclusively abstinence education curriculum was considered sufficient, then many professionals had to consider another scholastic approach in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases spreading. An extensive sexual education curriculum has been considered to be the best†¦ Sex Education School systems in the United states have been implementing sexual education into classrooms. Arguments are abundant when dealing with such fragile situations and there are many advantages and disadvantages of sexual education being taught in the public schools. It seems that most parents are either strongly for or against sex education classes, but there are a few parents that are on both sides. In fact, there are more parents that support sex education classes. However, there are†¦ Despite that image, sex education should be taken seriously. What is taught to young people early on about sex, impacts their lives as adults. Abstinence only sex education teaches students to wait until marriage for sex, often leaving out details about STDs and pregnancy. Comprehensive sex education gives students medically accurate and evidence based information about sex, providing them with the knowledge they need to have safe sex and healthy lives. Despite comprehensive education being the most informative†¦ Sexual Education in Schools Sex education in schools is important, but most students that are in a sexual education class have a distorted view of sexuality. They also do not have a good understanding of the word contraception and how to have safe-sex practices. Abstinence-only programs in public schools have become popular because of a law that gives millions of dollars to schools that will teach this program. This program has a great intention of persuading their youth to wait until marriage before†¦ there is no way this would pass for sex education outside of the silver screen, right? Actually, sometimes it does, and that comes with major consequences. Abstinence-only sex education has been taught in United States public schools for decades. This has been the state-preferred form of sexual education in many states, though proven to be ineffective in preventing or lowering the rates of teen pregnancies and STI transmission. Sex positive education, or education that teaches proper methods of protection†¦ Abstinence-based sex education isn’t a practical approach to sex education because it doesn’t give students the necessary resources they need to prevent the consequences of engaging in any type of sexual activity. Teenagers need the proper facts about contraception and birth control to be able to take the appropriate precautions for when they decide to become sexually active. With abstinence-based programs there is no decrease in the amount of sexual activity that students are engaging in and where†¦ The majority of born again Christians also support abstinence only programs because they tend to have different perspectives about sexuality than the rest of America. Eighty-one percent of Christian Americans voted to have abstinence only education while only thirty-one percent of other Americans voted for abstinence only education. The Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) program has mostly funded organizations that have strong religious faith. A Silver Ring program has even been placed†¦

Marketing - Safety Provision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing - Safety Provision - Essay Example In an argument by Tuck (2005) safety business environments contain the best business ventures and successful businesses. With a safe operational environment, entrepreneurs have the confidence to venture in businesses and investors have the courage since they are assured of safety. Safety in the neighborhood or a business environment falls under the category of quasi-public goods. Safety is a natural occurring good which are essential in the environment. It has unlimited demand since it is intangible and the supply depends on a body and can be influenced. However, its demand rate can rise if the neighborhood is a constant den of any form of safety breaching factor. With increasing demand, it can be easily raised to suit all consumers. Apart from government action, market provisions also promote safety measures. However, neighborhoods with safety promotion tools from market provision are usually exposed to any form of loss (Besley, 2006). This paper will look at safety as both a collec tive good and also a quasi-public good. Additionally, it will differentiate safety from governments and safety from market provision. ... Population as a factor affects the supply of demand in terms of productivity and size. A high productivity population usually demands high safety initiatives and vice versa. A large population also needs more safety attention than a population with a small size of occupants. In the demand of safety there is non-rivalry till to a point of the above situations (Tuck, 2008). It is usually important for any person to investigate safety provision bodies. The two major stakeholders in the provision of safety are the government and the market itself. However, the government’s participation is the most significant. With all its arms in legality and operation levies, the government significance is easily to detect in a business environment (Argyle, 2001). To determine if the government is providing safety business operations, one has to look on taxes rates and legal requirements for operating a business. In a safe business environment controlled by the environment, the body should regu late taxation depending on the size of the business. If this is detected in a market, it is proof that the government is involved in the provision of safety. Another government initiative for provision of safety is the fact that everyone should be given the needed emergency attention regardless their position and financial stability (Mueller, 2003). Safety emergency services for every individual can only be provided by the government. This characterizes an environment with safety provision by the government. From the above scenarios the scope of the government’s involvement in provision of safety is confirmed. The above scenarios also help people to determine the body responsible for provision of safety in their neighborhood. With the government

A two year old child in extended family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A two year old child in extended family - Essay Example Observations of my case study family led me to understand that the meaning of family is an idea that is enacted through a core, stable group of people that is extended through a fluctuating series of others who come in and out of the home. Henry (1996, p. 32) writes that parents can meet the needs of children through mechanisms of secure attachment, but interactions with others through additional secure attachments can actually enhance childhood attachments with parents. Part of the socialization of a child is to create interactions with a variety of people and to help them engage the world (Edgar 1995, p. 5). As much as the intention of observing is to be on the outside of the family, I found that in my experience the intentions of a toddler will override the intentions of the observer and include them in the family process. The study of the family is the study of origins. Studying different families means studying their diverse cultures to see how differences have an influence, if any, on how children develop (Shimoni and Baxter 2008, p. 47). The family that I visited was Muslim and the structure of the family was nuclear with a mother, father, and extended family consisting of the paternal grandmother and grandfather with whom the parents and the child lived. The mother was focused on the activities of the child with the father being unable to be as focused on the development of the child as he was preoccupied with work for most of the time I observed. (Edgar 1995, p. 5).  ... The study of the family is the study of origins. Studying different families means studying their diverse cultures to see how differences have an influence, if any, on how children develop (Shimoni and Baxter 2008, p. 47). The family that I visited was Muslim and the structure of the family was nuclear with a mother, father, and extended family consisting of the paternal grandmother and grandfather with whom the parents and the child lived. The mother was focused on the activities of the child with the father being unable to be as focused on the development of the child as he was preoccupied with work for most of the time I observed. The motherhood ideology has mothers at the centre of reproduction and early childhood interaction (Reiger 1995, p. 48). The grandparents were very involved in the experiences of the child with an almost equal participation. Shimoni and Baxter (2008, p. 48) discuss a study by Wearing who determined that the ideology of motherhood still held that there is a â€Å"legitimate men’s social power and maintain women’s primary responsibility for child-rearing†. The study also determined that women feel that a ‘good’ mother was always available for her children and being a woman and being a good mother were an intermeshed identity. In studying my case study family I found that this framework of motherhood held true. Observing and Interacting One of the problems with observing is maintaining a barrier between the observer and the observed. During the course of my observations I became close with the family as the mother confided in me some of her concerns and the child interacted with me during the course of the observations. Beckett (1988, p. 140) discusses the nature of the

Home Depot case study for Strategic management for mba class

Home Depot for Strategic management for mba class - Case Study Example Switching costs were low in this industry and this situation assisted consumers to change their retailers easily. In addition, the industry faced threat of substitutes because many products had close substitutes available. In 2006, buyers’ bargaining power was high as they had different market options and good understanding of various brand choices. In contrast, supplier power was low as majority of the retail players received suppliers from a large number of distinct vendors. Need of high initial capital investment eliminated the threat of new entrants to some extent at that time. The home improvement industry underwent tremendous changes over the next six years. Degree of rivalry got intensified because the price factor became paramount. As compared to 2006, threat of substitutes became higher in 2011 mainly because of the innovation and development of improved substitute products. By 2011, the industry adapted to a competitive pricing strategy and this situation added furth er value to buyer bargaining power. Naturally, suppliers were also forced to provide material to retailers at minimum cost; hence, supplier power further declined in 2011. Similarly, threat of new entrants also reduced to a considerable extent because new entrants found it difficult to confront with huge players like Wal-Mart. 2. While analyzing the market environment of the Home Depot for the year 2006, brand awareness seems to be the most competitive strength of the company. The Home Depot was the world’s largest home improvement retailer during that time, and this dominance boosted its brand awareness. Increased utilization of rapid deployment centers also added to the strength of the company as this strategy contributed to the efficient supply chain operations. In addition, the organization’s simple and distinct business model has entirely changed the way consumers shop home improvement

The Enlightenment Era Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Enlightenment Era - Essay Example This era condemned going with old, traditional ways of thinking only so that rational and carefully thought-of theories are formulated that are in time with the current events, of 18th century thereof. (E. Cassirer et al., 2007). Philosophy is a complete organism or system that is concerned with the human character and the world that exists. What this interaction basically is and how the human mind or the person itself interacts with the world he lives in. Philosophy is a question. It provokes mankind to answer questions and theories, and subjects a human to how life is lived and how is he living it, or how he is treating other people etc. This philosophy does not have some physical form, rather mostly through the expression in words. (Thomas, 2005) Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy. This is related to things like what reality is and what existence is defined as. And how do both of these function together. The enlightenment Era gave birth to this idea. Sometimes, this era is also known as the "age of criticism" and rightly said so because all formerly beliefs were questioned so that science and logic could follow through. Kant studied metaphysics closely and his knowledge of the functioning of society was based on metaphysics. He said that society has to retreat from what effect objects bring to the mind. He said that the new philosophy should be how the mind affects everything around it and those same objects. (Hunt, 2004). As far as the eighteenth century philosophers are concerned, they did some great work to bring this era to light. Some of these include Kant in Germany, the Encyclopedists in France, David Hume (1711-76) in Scotland and d'Holbach (1723-89). These philosophers became famous for their own different ideologies and concepts related to philosophy. There are many other popular and renowned names also that are worth mentioning like Plato, Ren Descartes, Aristotle etc. (Hunt, 2004). There have been many different philosophical ideas including rationalism, empiricism, the Encyclopedists, the analytic and synthetic, logic and also determinism. Philosophy is dependent on all of these. Other ideas that floated through this century are science, religion, morality, truth, reason, faith, belief, class, power, rationality etc. And all philosophers have written or shown their works through the expression of one of these or the other. The major philosophers of this age were Kant and Voltaire. Victor Hugo Voltaire is a huge name in the world of philosophy when we talk about the eighteenth century. Apart from Voltaire, Kant and John Locke have been great thinkers too. Locke defined empiricism and his works greatly relate to this field of philosophy. (Hunt, 2004). John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are some other names in the Enlightenment Era who have been said to create great works as thinkers in this period. The most famous of these works being "noble savage" and endorsement of the idea of free trade principle. The patron of these works was Rousseau. Because of this afore-mentioned work, relations pertaining to political and economic criteria were greatly affected. Many views changed and the association promoted this free trade concept. However, Roman Catholic views and theories were then

Nursing Research Criteria Qualitative Study Paper

Nursing Criteria Qualitative Study - Research Paper Example According to the authors, hand hygiene is paramount in controlling the cross infection and its associated ill effects such as development of antibiotic resistance and high morbidity rate. In a qualitative research, the authors demonstrate using focus group discussion (FGDs) and data collected from 530- bedded rural teaching hospital in India (Joshi et al., 2012). The literature review was done using current sources that revealed three major strategies have been recommended insofar to minimize healthcare infections which include: campaigns to generate awareness of significance of hand hygiene, to increase commitment in the course of improving adherence in hand hygiene and testing the implementation of the hand hygiene (Joshi et al., 2012). Further study was done if identify if the strategies are in practice. Interestingly, a retrospective research was done to using old sources to determine the practice of hand hygiene in the old times and if the prevalence of the cross infection was consistent with adherence. One of the old source that was used in retrospect in the literature review is that of Pittet that examined on the adherence and its effect which established that the cross infection due to poor hand hygiene was very high hence need of coming with modality of redressing the threat (Joshi et al., 2012). Additionally, the author did a very thoughtful evaluation was done on the literature review that indicated where the strength existed and the weakness of the review.

Torture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Torture - Essay Example But after a while we start to wonder what security can possibly mean, when so much of what people have struggled to secure in this country—the Constitution, basic human rights, and the rule of law—seems to be going out the window. Convention Against Torture (http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html) Article 3 1. No State Party shall expel, return ("refouler") or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture. 2. For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the State concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights. Article 4 1. Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under its criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture. 2. Each State Party shall make these offences punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature. Christopher Hitchens (http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/08/hitchens200808?currentPage=2) Torture advocates hide behind the argument that an open discussion about specific American interrogation techniques will aid the enemy. Yet, convicted Al Qaeda members and innocent captives who were released to their host nations have already debriefed the world through hundreds of interviews, movies and documentaries on exactly what methods they were subjected to and how they endured. Our own missteps have created a cadre of highly experienced lecturers for Al Qaeda’s own virtual  sere  school for terrorists. Which returns us to my starting point, about the distinction between training  for something and training to resist it. One used to be told—and surely with truth—that the lethal fanatics of al-Qaeda were schooled to lie, and instructed to claim that they had been tortured and maltreated whether they had been tortured and maltreated or not. Did we notice what a frontier we had crossed when we admitted and even proclaimed that their stories might in fact be true? I had only a very slight encounter on that frontier, but I still wish that my experience were the only way in which the words â€Å"waterboard† and â€Å"American† could be mentioned in the same (gasping and sobbing) breath. Michael Levin (http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/torture.html) There are situations in which torture is not merely permissible but morally mandatory. Moreover, these situations are moving from the realm of imagination to fact. Suppose a terrorist has hidden an atomic bomb on Manhattan Island which will detonate at noon on July 4 unless ... here follow the usual demands for money and release of his friends from jail. Suppose, further, that he is caught at 10 a.m on the fateful day, but preferring death to failure, won't disclose where the bomb is. What do we do? If we follow due process, wait for his lawyer, arraign him, millions of people will die. If the only way to save those lives is to subject the terrorist to the most excruciating possible pain, what grounds can there be for not doing so? I suggest there are none. In any case, I ask

Nursing Research Criteria Qualitative Study Paper

Nursing Criteria Qualitative Study - Research Paper Example According to the authors, hand hygiene is paramount in controlling the cross infection and its associated ill effects such as development of antibiotic resistance and high morbidity rate. In a qualitative research, the authors demonstrate using focus group discussion (FGDs) and data collected from 530- bedded rural teaching hospital in India (Joshi et al., 2012). The literature review was done using current sources that revealed three major strategies have been recommended insofar to minimize healthcare infections which include: campaigns to generate awareness of significance of hand hygiene, to increase commitment in the course of improving adherence in hand hygiene and testing the implementation of the hand hygiene (Joshi et al., 2012). Further study was done if identify if the strategies are in practice. Interestingly, a retrospective research was done to using old sources to determine the practice of hand hygiene in the old times and if the prevalence of the cross infection was consistent with adherence. One of the old source that was used in retrospect in the literature review is that of Pittet that examined on the adherence and its effect which established that the cross infection due to poor hand hygiene was very high hence need of coming with modality of redressing the threat (Joshi et al., 2012). Additionally, the author did a very thoughtful evaluation was done on the literature review that indicated where the strength existed and the weakness of the review.

The !Kung Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert Essay Example for Free

The !Kung Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert Essay The !Kung Bushmen of Botswana inhabit the semi-arid northwest region of the Kalahari Desert. Their average annual rainfall is poor, only six to nine inches a year. Field work for this article written by Richard B. Lee, was done in the Dobe area, which is a line of eight permanent waterholes. The Dobe area has a population of 466 Bushmen. This includes 379 permanent residents living in independent camps or associated with Bantu cattle posts, as well as 87 seasonal visitors. The Bushmen living in independent camps lack firearms, livestock, and agriculture. The !Kung are entirely dependent upon hunting and gathering for subsistence. Although Dobe-area !Kung have had some contact with outsiders since the 1880s, the majority of them continue to hunt and gather because there is no viable alternatives locally available to them. During the dry season (May-October) the entire population is clustered around the water wells. There are camps around each well, which is an open aggregate of cooperating persons which changes in size and composition from day to day. The members move out each day to hunt and gather, and return in the evening to pool the collected foods in such a way that every person present receives an equitable share. Vegetable foods comprise from 60 to 80 percent of the total diet by weight, and collecting involves two or three days of work per woman per week. The major contribution of the male bushmen to their diet is the hunting of medium and large game. Although mens and womens work input is roughly equivalent in terms of man/day of effort, the women provide two to three times as much food by weight as the men. For the greater part of the year, food is plentiful and easily collected. Although during the end of the dry season people have to hike farther for food, the food still remains constant. The most important food is the mongongo nut. This nut accounts for 50 percent of the vegetable diet by weight. Although tens of thousands of pounds of these nuts are eaten every year, thousands more are left on the ground to rot. Also, a diet based on mongongo nut is more beneficial health-wise as cereal crops such as maize or rice. In addition to the mongongo, the Bushmen have available eighty-four other species of fruits, berries, and melons, and another thirty species of roots and bulbs. There are 54 species of animals classified as edible by the Bushmen, but only 17 species were hunted on a regular basis. All of the !Kungs food supply can be obtained in a six-mile radius of camp, and usually takes a full day to travel the twelve mile round-trip. The !Kung Bushmen of the Dobe area live a long productive, and seemingly satisfying lives. Longevity compares favorably to any industrialized society. The old people are fed and cared for by their children and grandchildren. The old people are also actively involved indecision making and ritual curing. Young people are not expected to provide food regularly until they are married. Girls usually marry between the ages of fifteen and twenty, and boys about five years later. It is not unusual to find healthy, active teenagers visiting from camp to camp while their older relatives provide food for them. The people in the age group of twenty to sixty support the nonproductive and old. These productive members work about two and a half days a week, about twelve to nineteen hours a week to get food. A woman gathers enough food in one day to feed her family for three days, and spends the rest of the time relaxing and enjoying her leisure time. The men hunt for a week and then do nothing for two or three weeks and spend their leisure time visiting and dancing. In a camp with five or more hunters, two or three are actively hunting while others are inactive. The amount and the type of food the !Kung hunt and gather is sufficient enough calorie-wise to supply all the nutrients required for good health.

Criminological Praxis And Tearoom Trade Media Essay

Criminological Praxis And Tearoom Trade Media Essay Laud Humphreys study of the tearoom trade has proved to be an extremely controversial piece of research, so controversial in fact that many called for his PhD to be revoked. Humphreys used covert observation in order to study impersonal sexual encounters between men in public restrooms, this is an extremely controversial subject, and was even more so at the time when the research was undertaken; furthermore, covert research is often heavily criticised for being unethical, leading to additional controversy. Covert research is where researchers go undercover to obtain their information. To lessen the potential for reactive effects and to gain entry to otherwise inaccessible settings, some researchers have adopted the role of a covert participant. By doing so they keep their research secret and do their best to act like other participants in a social setting or group. (Bachman and Schutt, 2007:267) This essay will explore whether the controversy surrounding the tearoom trade is a result of the subject matter studied, or the methodological approach used. The research undertaken by Humphreys will be discussed in some detail, describing what the research consisted of, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology. Consideration will also be given to the use of covert research in general, assessing the pros and cons of the method, as well as covert research conducted by other researchers. Laud Humphreys conducted his research in the 1960s and his book Tearoom Trade: A study of homosexual encounters in public places was published in 1970, with a second edition published in 1975. Humphreys carried out his research in order to determine who the men were, who were willing to risk arrest in order to indulge in impersonal sex in public places, as well as to uncover the dynamics of the encounters between the men involved, and discover what this could tell us about human behaviour. The main finding of his research was that the majority of individuals engaging in homosexual activities within the tearoom led the rest of their lives at heterosexuals. Humphreys used covert methods in order to enter in to the tearoom. A tearoom is a public toilet where men meet for sex with other men. (Banyard and Flanagan, 2005:27) Humphreys (1970, pp page 2-3) suggests that the reason public restrooms are so ideal for impersonal sex is because they can provide both a public and private setting. Public restrooms are easily accessible, yet they provide little public visibility. Due to this Humphreys focused his study on restrooms within public parks, as they were often frequented by men seeking instant sex due to their easy access and limited use by general members of the public. In order to be accepted by the participants of the tearoom trade, Humphreys, assumed the role of tearoom watchqueen by serving as a lookout with the responsibility to warn of approaching strangers in exchange for the right to observe the homosexual activity. (Kimmel, 1988:22) By acting as the watchqueen, Humphreys was able to freely observe what was occurring in the tearooms without suspicion from the genuine participants. This use of deception has been heavily criticised by many, as deception within research is seen as highly unethical. Many social scientists feel that it is unethical for a researcher to conceal his identity to gain inside information. Others feel disguised observation is ethical as long as the welfare of the subjects is protected. (Fitzgerald and Cox, 2002:133) Although he did use deception, Humphreys did go to some lengths to protect his participants, which will be discussed later. Furthermore if he were to have entered the tearooms, and announced his role as a researcher, the likelihood is that all sexual activity would have been terminated and the men who frequented the tearooms would have left, either for fear of being discovered as a person who seeks impersonal sex, the fear or criminal conviction, or for the sheer fact of not wishing to be observed by a researcher. Even if the participants remained, it is likely that they would have altered their behaviour, as they knew they were being observed. If Humphreys had informed the tearoom goers of his research, the results which he obtained would probably not have been as valid, as the results he obtained by using covert methods. Another issue that arises from the use of covert methods and deception is that of informed consent. Covert participant observation is clearly a violation of the principle of informed consent. (Bulmer, 1982:218) Covert methods rely on the research subject being unaware of the research taking place; it can therefore be argued that by studying people without their prior knowledge is a breach of human rights. People should clearly have the right to decide whether or not to participate in any research, and their decision should be based on full understanding of what the research consists of, and how any personal information or data obtained will be used. Every code of ethics designed to guide research involving human subjects gives primacy to the requirement of fully informed voluntary consent on the part of the individual concerned. (Gregory, 2003:35) Humphreys research clearly violates this need for informed consent; however, it again can be argued that his research findings could not have been obtained by any other means. It is also important to note, that at the time the research was conducted, there were no professional guidelines making informed consent a research requirement. By observing the participants covertly it can be argued that Humphreys was also invading their right to privacy, however, as they were conducting private acts, in a public domain, is this criticism justifiable? Any male is free to enter the mens restroom, and observe the goings on, it was only by recording his observations that Humphreys can be criticised for invading privacy. As well as observing the homosexual acts conducted in the tearooms, Humphreys engaged in verbal relationships with twelve men he encountered during his research, he named these the intensive dozen. Humphreys revealed his true identity to these twelve men, informing them of his true reason for attending the tearooms. This enabled him to conduct in-depth interviews. With the help of some meals together and a number of drinks, all agreed to cooperate in subsequent interviewing sessions. (Humphreys, 1970:36) It can easily be argued that the intensive dozen, were the only participants in Humphreys study who gave full informed consent. Interestingly, especially to those who criticise Humphreys use of deception, Laud himself states that, Apart from the systematic observations themselves, these conversations constitute the richest source of data in the study. (Humphreys, 1970:37) This brings in to debate whether the covert methods used were really called for, as Humphreys obtained valuable information from the intensive dozen, by revealing to them his true identity and purpose. However, it could be argued, that without his use of deception, and the fact that he often frequented the tearooms, that the twelve men would not be willing to cooperate. If a total stranger had approached these men, would they be willing to confess all about their homosexual exploits? Social deviants inside restrooms and elsewhere develop careful defences against outsiders, including special gestures and extreme caution with strangers. (Warwick, 1982:39) Was it because they had become acquaintances with Humphreys already that they were willing to tell all? Unfortunately it is impossible to be able to answer these questions. In order to gain even more information about the men who participated in the tearoom trade, Humphreys made notes about the physical appearance of the men he observed as well as noting the licence plates of their vehicles. By posing as a market researcher Humphreys was able to obtain the registration details for the vehicles in question from a friendly policeman; again this procedure is ethically questionable as Humphreys once again used deception to gain private information about people. Upon receiving the names and addresses of the participants, he visited their homes and made observations and notes about the physical appearance of the house, as well as the location. Humphreys then took advantage of his role as a research associate for a local research centre. He was asked by the centre to produce a questionnaire for a social health survey, for men in the local community. Humphreys saw this as an opportunity to include the tearoom participants in the survey, selecting 50 participant s to be surveyed along with 50 other members of the community. Approximately a year after his attendance at the tearooms, he sufficiently altered his appearance, so that the tearoom participants would be unable to recognise him as the voyeuristic watchqueen, and proceeded to enter their homes, under the premise of a social worker, in order to conduct the social health survey. This again raises ethical issues, as Humphreys is once again using deception to enter in to the private domain of the men he is researching, and because of this deception he was able to gain private information under false pretences. It may also be argued that Humphreys was putting his participants in harms way, as the issue of impersonal homosexual encounters is a sensitive one. As many of the men he surveyed led heterosexual lives, with wives and families, he was putting them in real danger of being exposed, which may of led to their personal lifes being destroyed. However, regardless of how the information was obtained, Humphreys ensured he took every measure to prevent the information being used by anybody else, and to protect the anonymity and confidentiality of the participants. The British Sociological Association state that, The anonymity and privacy of those who participate in the research process should be respected. Personal information concerning research participants should be kept confidentialWhere possible, threats to the confidentiality and anonymity of research data should be anticipated by researchers. The identities and research records of those participating in research should be kept confidential Appropriate measures should be taken to store research data in a secure manner. (British Sociological Association, 2002) The survey data and all other research materials which were obtained by Humphreys, were secured in a safety deposit box, in a different city to where the research was conducted, and upon finishing with the data, it was destroyed. This is good ethical practice, despite the way the information was gathered. As the information was so sensitive, and could have been used for blackmailing purposes or to bring about criminal convictions, it was vital that Humphreys treated the information in such an appropriate way. So far, it is evident that one of the major controversies surrounding Humphreys research was his repeated use of deception. Warwick (1982:46) suggests that, Humphreys research provides a unique case study of deception. The concatenation of misrepresentation and disguises in this effort must surely hold the world record for field research. (Warwick,1982:46) Warwick then continues with a list of shortcomings regarding the research Humphreys conducted. Included in the list are the facts that Humphreys misrepresented his identity while serving as a watchqueen in public restrooms, the fact that he deceived the police in order to obtain personal information about the tearoom participants, and the fact he altered his appearance and conducted the surveys in disguise. When all the uses of deception are put so bluntly into a list, it is clear to see why there is such controversy surrounding the methodology used by Humphreys. But is this criticism unique to Humphreys work, or can it be applied to all covert research? Many people strongly object to the use of covert research, this essay will now explore why this is so. Roger Homan (1991, pp page 109-113) lists thirteen separate objections to the use of covert research. He argues that covert methods flout the principle of informed consent, help erode personal liberty, betray trust, pollute the research environment, are bad for the reputation of social research, discriminate against the defenceless and powerless, may damage the behaviour or interest of subjects, may become habitual in the everyday life of the person doing the research, are seldom necessary, have the effect of confining the scope of the research and finally he suggests that the researcher suffers excessive strain in maintaining the cover. With so many objections to covert research is it any wonder that Humphreys has been so heavily criticised for his work? All these objections and criticisms of covert methods, begs the question, why do some researchers employ covert methods? Many researchers do so, as they feel that they would be unable to infiltrate and obtain information from certain groups or settings, if covert methods were not used. For example, Calvey (2000) who went undercover for six months to research club bouncers and nightlife, states that, In terms of taking a covert role, some argue that such a stance is ethically indefensible. However, given my concern with authenticity and the lived experience of this dangerous work, it would have been nearly impossible to gain access any other way. (Calvey, 2000:46) What Calvey is saying here, is that he felt that the only way to gain accurate, valuable information from his research was to adopt a covert approach; he felt that by honestly approaching bouncers as a researcher he would be unable to obtain information on their culture and way of life. Like Humphreys, Calvey has been heavily criticised for his work, due to his use of deception and the fact he was putting both himself and the people he was researching at risk. However, not all covert research has come under such heavy fire when it comes to criticism; an example of such research would be that conducted by Howard Becker on dance hall musicians and becoming a marijuana user. Becker also used deception, and often recorded conversations without informed consent, yet his work has not been criticised as relentlessly as Humphreys work has. It would appear, that although covert methods are widely criticised as unethical practice, the subject matter being studied is capable of stoking the fire, and influencing peoples judgement even further, helping to produce heavier criticisms and distain for both the research and the researcher alike. At the time when Humphreys conducted his research, homosexuals did not have the same freedom to explore and enjoy their sexuality that they do today; the gay liberation movement was only just beginning to emerge. At the time, homosexual sex was characterised as criminal sodomy and very little research had been conducted on the gay subculture in general, never mind research pertaining to sexual acts between members of the same sex. It is interesting to think that, if Humphreys conducted his research in todays modern times whether he would have received the same criticism that he did when his book was published in 1970. It is clear that, through his use of covert methods, and controversial subject matter, Humphreys has come under fire, and his research has been heavily criticised. But was his research justified and did the outcome of his research benefit those involved and society as a whole? Although his use of covert methods are controversial and may be considered unethical, Humphreys probably would not have been able to uncover the information which he did without using such methods, therefore, in these circumstances, the use of such methods are justified. There are serious ethical and legal issues in the use of covert research but the use of covert methods may be justified in certain circumstances. (British Sociological Association, 2002) Humphreys also went to incredible lengths to protect the information he obtained, which can only be seen as a strong asset to his research. Also, it was due to the research undertaken by Humphreys, and other such research conducted at a similar time, that many of the current ethical codes and guidelines pertaining to research exist today. These guidelines have enabled recent research to be much more ethically sound, and therefore not be so heavily criticised. Therefore, Humphreys work has helped in the advancement and evolution of social research. It is also interesting to consider whether the research conducted by Humphreys should have received such criticism considering that these ethical codes did not exist at the time. In relation to the impact his research has had on both the homosexual community and society as a whole, Humphreys managed to disprove many of the myths surrounding the tearoom trade. Many believed that the tearoom trade put young people at risk of sexual assault, yet Humphreys managed to show that the only sexual activity occurring in public restrooms was between consenting adults, and that no advances were made to disinterested parties. He also managed to show that the men engaging in the tearoom trade were not merely criminals or transients, but that the majority were upstanding members of the community, many of which were employed and had families, and a considerable amount were members, or had been members of the armed forces. This can only been seen as shedding a positive light on the then, underground homosexual subculture. As West (1970) states, [there can only be] benefit in the long term from the information the author has been able to obtain about a little understood but important facet of deviant behaviour. (West, 1970: viii) In conclusion it can be argued that the controversy surrounding Humphreys research is down to a combination of his methodological approach, and his chosen subject matter. His work drew attention to a little known deviant activity, which many people may have been disgusted by, and his findings are somewhat graphically depicted in his book Tearoom Trade. This controversial subject matter coupled with his ethically flawed methodology is what has led his research to become so infamously controversial within the field of social research. Warwick (1982), one of Humphreys main critics acknowledges that some of the controversies surrounding the research come from the research topic, yet he defends Humphreys decision to research into the tearoom trade, and only finds fault with the research methods that he used. Undoubtedly public reaction to Tearoom Trade will be strongly affected by the subject matter and the way in which the findings are presented. Many readers, finding the whole topic revolting, will channel their distaste against the author and sociology in generalEven so I would strongly defend Humphreys right to study this topic, however controversial it may beSocial scientists have not only a right but an obligation to study controversial and politically sensitive subjects, including homosexuality, even if this brings down the wrath of the public and government officials. But this obligation does not carry with it the right to deceive, exploit, or manipulate people (Warwick, 1982:54-55) However in defence of his methodology, it is important to consider that there were no formal guidelines and ethical codes relating to social research at the time Humphreys conducted his study of the tearoom trade. Also, many of the criticisms relating to the possible harm to participants are what ifs. Is it justifiable to criticise a piece of research on the fact that harm may come to the participant? Humphreys went to incredible lengths to ensure harm would not come to his participants, and that their identities would not be disclosed. In relation to his use of covert methods, deception and lack of informed consent, it is difficult to see how else he would have been able to conduct the research and still achieve the same results. Furthermore, deception is not restricted to covert methods, as can be seen in the example of Milgrams Study of Obedience, where informed consent was obtained, yet deception was still used. It is my opinion that although Humphreys research is ethically flawed, the reason it has become so controversial is not solely down to the methodology, the controversial subject matter has served as an accelerant in fuelling the controversy surrounding the research. Word Count: 3277

Essay on Images of Africans in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness

Images of Africans in Things Fall Apart and Heart of Darkness In my reading of Things Fall Apart, it has better informed me of a culture that I did not know of before, and by reading it helped correct some broad misconceptions that I previously held of the people and their cultures of Africa. Reading the novel also gave me another perspective on the effects of imperialism/colonialism by the Europeans on the Africans. I believe Achebe has succeeded in enabling the West an opportunity to have them "listen to the weak" (Achebe interview), but whether or not Western society decides to listen will come down to the individual within the society--if they do choose to listen to the call of the "weak." In this essay I will share realizations that I gained by reading Achebe's novel, and how I came to view the people of the Igbo and Africa and not so different as I had thought before. The distinct writing style that Achebe used to narrate his novel led me, as the reader, to feel as if I were a fellow tribesman of the Igbo people. This differing perspective, rather than being an outsider looking in on the people, led me to see that the Igbos are a people with strong beliefs, culture, and identity. An example of their identity is the description of one of their dwellings, more specifically of Okonkwo's compound; it is described as a "large compound enclosed by a thick wall of red earth" and we read further on about the barn for Okonkwo's yams and the shed for his goats (1429). The Igbo people are obviously agrarian, and led me to the question, how different are they from us? My answer is, there are not a lot of differenes. Based upon my experience--my father was raised on a farm--I see stark similarities between us and them... ...people of Umuofia could not have forecasted, with the exception of the oracle, that they would have fallen due to the white man and his religion, but I believe we can derive a couple of reasons why they fell and apply it to our own society. In conclusion, I really enjoyed Achebe's novel and liked the contrast between it and Conrad's work of Heart of Darkness. I believe there are times that, in order to see the extremes of something, you must contrast it to its opposite extreme. As a former moderate of beliefs on colonialism and those who proselytize their religion onto others, I realize now the dire impact those acts can have on a naive or vulnerable culture, and I now disagree with those practices. Finally, I heed the "call of the weak" for I hear the quiet but powerful voice that says, "We are a people too..." and I know the truth of the message!

Sandi Vs The Voice Of Temptation :: essays research papers

You may not recognise me at first. But trust me, you know me well. I'm the voice that makes you crave those "Light and Tangy" potato chips, and the mocha cream puff - the one with inch-thick cream and smooth lemon vanilla custard, sandwiched between light choux pastry with mocha flavoured icing on top, drizzled with chocolate. Do you know who I am now?I'm the reason you smoke 20 cigarettes every day - you try to give up, but we both know you always cave in and smoke all the more. We both know you'll never give up. You like it too much. In fact, you need one right now, don't you? Go on: have one. You know it's no risk, even sensible Logic tells you that people get killed just crossing the road. "We've all gotta die sometime" - right? And, don't worry about that cream puff - you can walk the dogs later to work the calories off. Ok, so we both know Procrastination will come along and you'll put it off until tomorrow - but don't worry about that now. You need a cigarette and one more is not going to kill you (not right now anyway). Why not enjoy the moment? Got ya! See: it works every time!Remember the other day when you "chose" not to go to school because, after all, you weren't going to miss anything important, were you? That was me. Ha! There you were, snuggled in your fluffy doona, sleepy, and warm. As you woke, you sensed the dark clouds outside dimming the room, and you heard the rain splattering on the roof and lashing at the windows, and it was such a good idea to stay there wasn't it? Yes, you certainly thought so at the time. You missed the start of a new topic at school, but hey, you'll catch up. Of course the first thing you'll have to do is finish catching up on the theory you missed from before ... but you can do it ... later. Things always work out - just go with the flow - hey, I wouldn't want you to worry now, would I? Trust me!Trust you? Now that you've revealed your true colours I realise what a fool I've been. I've listened to you all along, going against what I truly knew was good for me, all the time unaware of your power over me.

Is College for Everyone? Essay

Is college for everyone? I am sure this is a question that many future, current, and even graduated college students have asked themselves at one time or another. In her blog posted in 2007 on AssociatedContent. com â€Å"Is College for Everyone†, writer, Pharinet, uses her experience, logic, emotion and reasoning as a college professor to identify the issues and answer the question, â€Å"is college for everyone? † Pharinet says that education is important and that every person has the right to an education, but that it still may not be right for every person to attend college. Pharinet describes to her readers how over the years and reasons why going to college have changed over time. She states, â€Å"often the desire for learning is not what drives students to attend college†(635). Pharinet’s main purpose of this blog is to use her experience in the college field to express her views to the future college students and maybe even their parents that going college may not be the path for everyone, and that sometimes people do not need a college education to be successful in life. Pharinet uses the statistic that approximately 50% of students who begin college never graduate(635). Not every person is ready for the â€Å"freedom† or â€Å"responsibility† that comes with going to college. Courses, homework, projects, and exams are not the only things college students are faced with. Pharinet also explains the finical aspect of attending college and says â€Å"while the cost of college can be offset by grants, scholarships and work-study programs, too many students find themselves in desperate financial situations by the end of their first semester†(635). Pharinet presents a great point when she says, â€Å"If college is for everyone, why do we rely on SAT scores and high school transcripts? †(635). That in itself should make a person question if going to college is really the right place for him or her. If a person has struggled through school up until this or her high school graduation and could not handle the course load assignments and the basic functions of grade school such as reading, writing and math, then maybe college is not the right place for him or her. If a person is not capable of doing this while in grade school and living with his or her parents, who make sure their grades are where they are suppose to be and paying the bills, what makes them think the are ready for them â€Å"freedom† or â€Å"reasonability† college has to offer. In Pharinet’s argument of â€Å"is college for everyone† she express her emotion by saying â€Å"Once upon a time, college was a place you went when you wished to learn†(636). This is followed by â€Å"Now, college is the place you go when you want to get a good job, or appease your parents, or because you are finding yourself†(636). Pharinet is right when she says this. There are so many students who enroll in college today with absolutely no idea of what they want to be or where they want their lives to go for reasons that really have no importance. Just because â€Å"C’s get degrees†(636) does not mean that it is ok to go to college and barely get by and waste everyone’s time involved. There are many successful and happy people in this world today that did not choose the path of a higher education and go to college that would not change a thing about their lives today. To make the decision whether or not to go to college is in the eye of the beholder and only that person whose future will be affected by this decision can truly make his or her own choices in life. Phairnet points out that to keep the world we live in running, we need people who are willing to admit that â€Å"College does not benefit everyone†(636). and to be willing to perform the jobs that do not call for a college education such as factory workers, semi drivers, mail carries etc. At the end of the day, people need to take a look at the big picture and, â€Å"Embrace the reality that college is not for everyone†(636).

Is there enough evidence to prove why Celts settled down in Hambledon hill? Essay

Today, Hambledon Hill is one of Dorset’s most impressive and distinctive landmarks. Now, it is home to a few grazing cows, but in the past it has been the home of many people. Some of the most well-known inhabitants of the hill in the past were the Celts of Dorset’s Durotrige tribe, during the Iron Age. There are many reasons why these people choose to settle on Hambledon, and this essay aims to examine why Hambledon was chosen. Before deciding why the Celts chose Hambledon as the location for a settlement, we need to look at who they are, and therefore what they would need from a settlement. As the Celts did not often record things in writing, the evidence that modern historians have is derived from two sources. The first of these are writings by their invaders, the Romans, and the second is archaeological evidence. The people that this essay is studying lived on the hill from circa 750BC to the Roman occupation of 43AD. They were the first farmers, growing their own crops, and rearing their own animals, so therefore flat and fertile land would be an essential requirement of a fort. Archaeological artefacts such as ploughs and other farming machinery found across Europe show that the Celts were farmers, and gives a helpful insight into the crops grown, and methods of farming. The Celts kept many animals such as cattle and sheep for produce such as wool, leather, milk and meat, and horses were certainly kept for transport and working in agriculture. The Celts also grew forms of barley, wheat and rye. Another essential aspect of the fort would be defence. An invading Roman Soldier described the Celts in Dorset as ‘a sturdy people, fierce and warlike’. If they were ‘warlike’ they were likely to start wars and a fort that was easy to defend would be an distinct advantage over the enemies. Archaeological evidence shows that the Celts had basic forms of money, which they used to trade with other tribes, so being geographically close other tribes was an advantage for a settlement. So, having examined what the Celts would require from a settlement, the task is to investigate the properties of Hambledon Hill and it’s ability to provide the required site for a settlement. Initially, the most obvious aspect of Hambledon Hill is evident in its name; ‘Hill’. This would have been an important reason why the Celts chose to inhabit the vicinity, due to the obvious defensive advantages of high ground. Defence was definitely an important advantage, as during the Neolithic period, the Roman Armies were rampaging across Europe and Northern Africa, so the Celts needed to be able to defend themselves. In addition to this threat, the Durotriges may have required defence from other parts of the Celtic society, such as the Belgae from the east, and Dumnonii from the west. The Celts significantly added to the defences, building huge ramparts and ditches Another important aspect in discovering why the Durotriges settled on Hambledon Hill is found in the ground. The hill and surrounding countryside are covered in green grass, showing an abundance of fertile and well irrigated soil, and the land around the fort is also very flat. This meant that the Celts would be able to provide for most their dietary needs near the fort; there was no need to transport food over large distances, and it was not essential to trade for food with other tribes, so a blockage of food supply roots was unlikely to be instantly devastating to the population of the fort. Another advantage is that the soil was relatively easy to dig. As the above image shows, the Celts constructed ramparts around the summit of the fort, to aid the defence. If the hill was made of another material, it would probably not have been possible to dig the comprehensive rampart system. In the present age, the fort is a surrounded by a small amount of woodland. When the Celts settled, the hill was surrounded by woodland, and this would have been another important factor in choosing the site for a settlement. The woodland meant many things to the people; it gave them wood for building their homes and fuelling fires, it would have given then somewhere to hunt, and there also may have been a spiritual aspect. Much archaeological evidence shows that the Celts believed that some types of trees were special or sacred in some way, especially the oak. Many of the Celtic religious festivals involved the worship of trees, and the word ‘druid’ is believed to have originated from the Celtic from ‘knowledge of the oak’. Although the Neolithic inhabitants of Hambledon Hill are probably the most well known, the hill had been a home to many peoples for generations before. Archaeological evidence shows that people chose to live on the hill during the Palaeolithic and Neolithic eras, probably due to many of same factors that drew in the Iron Age people. The fortifications highlighted in red on the diagram show the Northern section of the fort, which was inhabited by the Neolithic people. The earlier inhabitancy of the hill may have been an influence on the decision to settle there for many reasons. The first of these is that the Neolithics had already had a settlement on the hill, so the basic infrastructure previously existed – pathways, houses and ramparts were all in existence, so less work was required on Hambledon than if a new site had been chosen. There may have been another element in the decision to settle; the people may have wanted to live where their ancestors did, possibly to live near the remains of their ancestors and probably to share the same holy site. Allowing previously religious sites to fall into disuse and disrepair would probably have been regarded as a form of sacrilege, so the Iron Age Celts may have thought that living near the sites would please their ancestors. A further reason that the Celts would have chosen to settle on Hambledon Hill is it’s close proximity to other forts, such as Hod Hill, and the other settlements shown on the map above. This would be important for defensive and economic reasons. People could be moved from one fort to aid the defence of the other, and if one fort was captured, survivors could escape to the undefeated one. Economically, having so many forts in close proximity to each other meant that trading between them could happen easily. Being close to other forts also helped to prevent inbreeding with the inhabitants of a single fort, resulting in an overall healthier and more resistant population. Another advantage with the geographical location is the proximity to the coast. Although the Hill could not be described as ‘coastal’ it is within travelling distance of the coast, so goods could be brought in from overseas. To conclude, as with any decision to settle, the choice of Hambledon Hill was affected by many things. The strong defensive position was essential, and the presence of woodland, water and flat, fertile land was also vital. The previous inhabitancy of the site would have been an indication that it was an advantageous place to reside in, and the proximity to other forts was also very important. Sources School provided source http://www.Roman-Britain.org The Celts by Robin Place Peoples of the past series: Macdonald Invaded Islands by RJ Unstead

Power Corrupts in Animal Farm

Power is authority and strength, which is any form of motive force or energy, ability to act, or control. When too much power is given, a dictatorship government can form, in which all decisions are made by one authority. In the book Animal Farm, by George Orwell the author portrays how â€Å"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely†. From the death of Old Major, Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer replaced him. At first things started off pretty well; the harvest was very good the first year and the reading and writing system had helped some, but had limited success on others.In time, the leaders of animal farm started to have mixed feelings. Snowball and Napoleon were in constant disagreement. An important meeting that was held ended with an astonishing outcome. One decision that was made was concerning the windmill project and the most important decision made was who would be the head animal. Snowball and Napoleon each gave their input on what needs to be done around the farm. â€Å"Snowball stood up and, though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep, set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill.Then Napoleon stood up to reply. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it†. At this time, Snowball jumped back up to convince the people that it was a good idea to build a windmill. Then Napoleon sent his dogs after snowball and they chased him off the farm. Since Snowball had been expelled, Napoleon took over â€Å"The Manor Farm† which led to food shortage, hard labor, and deaths. He used his knowledge and education to take over the farm.With all the pigs and dogs on his side Napoleon had absolute power. The pigs were the brains of the farm and the dogs were the military force of the farm. Napoleon had complete control over the farm. Napoleon’s power corrupted the whole idea of Animalism & The Seven Commandments, which the farm fi rst started with. The power that the three pigs obtained had corrupted them and, then Napoleon received absolute power, which corrupted the society as a whole. Throughout the story Napoleon’s power continually increases, but he’s never quite satisfied.Napoleon is always greedy for more power. Napoleon's standards are that he must have complete power and rule over everyone, though he becomes corrupt because he gains absolute power over everyone on the farm. Stalin loses power because he is always hungry for more power, and is never satisfied with the power that he has. As Stalin dies Russia is completely corrupt because the power was not evenly distributed, and the citizens did not count as people. No power is given to the people under Stalin’s rule.Only him, and a few other privileged individuals live with power and respect in the community. In conclusion, history has proven that power is the root of all evil in a communism style government or congregation. In A nimal Farm, the animals tried to be equal, but in time, some animals had certain views and different opinions and some gradually became more powerful. No matter how hard in society we try, equality will never truly be reached by mankind for the reason that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely† (Lord Acton).

Intervention letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Intervention letter - Essay Example It helped. You were my strength then and so many other times, too many to count. At home, you would usually take the blame for me knowing I would be more severely punished. My life would have been much more difficult without you. 3) It was me who wasnt there for you when your baby died, when your husband beat you, when you spent time in the homeless shelter. Each step of the way alcohol and drugs became your escape, your only friend, because you have no one else to lean on like I did in you. These crutches have made your life worse nut the downward steps into addiction can be reversed by taking steps upward. 4) Drugs and alcohol have taken your strength and is preventing you from being the magnificent person you were before. They prevent you from going back to school, finding someone who really loves you and having the family you wanted and deserved. 6) We have located a women-only drug and alcohol treatment center. It specializes in womens specific issues such as abuse and grief. Its comfortable, clean place that provides room and board and it already paid

The story about my friend Ali Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The story about my friend Ali - Essay Example Soon though, my family, including myself, relocated to the United States of America, and at that time, I was apprehensive of the relationship that shared with Ali. Until the time that we were together, things were good for us however, we had never given any thought to what life would be like without the other person around. We did not realise that we had grown so close to each other that it was impossible to spend some time apart. As Ali and I both entered our teens, we used to spend nights talking to each other on the phone, and our parents and friends knew that there was something special between us. I, however, remained naive to that fact and would take all my problems to Ali. He would answer patiently, â€Å"Look inside yourself, you’ll find the answer soon.† So when it was time to move, I asked him, â€Å"What will happen to us?† and I recall that he said the same thing, in the calmest manner possible. Fortunately, Ali and I did not have to grow apart becaus e he soon followed me to America, but to fulfil his dreams of becoming a medical surgeon. I was overjoyed that Ali would once again be by my side, but despite the closeness being reinstated, I always felt that Ali thought of me as his little sister. That was what I told myself when he was always nice to me. This was probably because I felt this way about all my other male friends too and did not know how to think differently of him even though I always knew that he and I shared something completely out of the ordinary with each other.... Till the time that we were together, things were good for us however, we had never given any thought to what life would be like without the other person around. We did not realise that we had grown so close to each other that it was impossible to spend some time apart. As Ali and I both entered our teens, we used to spend nights talking to each other on the phone, and our parents and friends knew that there was something special between us. I however, remained naive to that fact and would take all my problems to Ali. He would answer patiently, â€Å"Look inside yourself, you’ll find the answer soon.† So when it was time to move, I asked him, â€Å"What will happen to us?† and I recall that he said the same thing, in the calmest manner possible. Fortunately, Ali and I did not have to grow apart because he soon followed me to America, but to fulfil his dreams of becoming a medical surgeon. I was overjoyed that Ali would once again be by my side, but despite the clo seness being reinstated, I always felt that Ali thought of me as his little sister. That was what I told myself when he was always nice to me. This was probably because I felt this way about all my other male friends too and did not know how to think differently of him even though I always knew that he and I shared something completely out of the ordinary with each other. I never bothered to segregate the relationship that I shared with Ali into something different than what I had for everyone else around me. Soon, the time came for Ali to express himself to my friends by telling them the inevitable – the fact that he had feelings for me. My friends, Natasha and Rustam, however always knew this to be true because they knew about our history together and how he was