Saturday, August 31, 2019

Mice and Men Belonging Extract Essay

The idea of belonging in the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck, relates to the theory of ‘attachment’ in psychology. For most human beings, having a central place they can return to, ideally with loved ones or supportive friends present also, contributes towards their feelings of calm, relaxation and security. Such a place would ideally be one which provides safety,shelter,food, warmth, affection and earning capacity. Not all those elements are always present – sometimes it is enough to live in an RV or trailer park, as long as family or the other things are present. Some nomadic people are happy to pack up and take most things with them – as long as they have support they are happy. However, George and Lennie only have each other and sometimes that’s even a liability – whatever ‘attachments’ they had in youth are gone and that leaves them adrift in a hostile, unpredictable world. That is why they yearn for ‘centredness’ or the security of a place of their own. The answer to this question lies in the character named Candy in â€Å"Of Mice and Men. An old, disabled ranch hand who is unable to stop the killing of his old friend and dog, Candy realizes that he soon will outlive his usefulness and, perhaps, go the way of his old dog. But, when he hears of Lennie and George’s dream of owning a ranch and a house, he is sweetly hopeful, offering his savings to the men. For, with part ownership, he would not fear isolation and poverty, or abandonment. From owning land, too, there is a sense of pride. The itinerant men of the Great Depression belong nowhere, they had nothing and lived in fear of losing a job, for they could not survive without any money. There is a constant stress put on these men who must few the next man as a threat to his job or security. But, if one has a place of his own, he must answer to no one else. In the early part of the novel, George explains the position of these men in the world: ‘Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don’t belong no place, They come to a ranch an’ work up a stake and then they go into town and blow their stake, and the first thing you know they’re pounding their tail so some other ranch. They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to. ‘ I would think that one of the most powerful lessons of Steinbeck’s work is the idea that individuals have to possess a sense of belonging. Part of this is definitely physical. When individuals have to wander from life to life, different form of physicality to different form of physicality, their ability to better understand themselves and others becomes impacted. There has to be some notion of grounding at some point and level where individuals can feel comfortable enough to call it â€Å"home† or know that this is where I belong. Despite lacking this, Lenny and George do a fairly good job of providing the belonging to one another. Certainly, Lenny sees George as essential to his conception of belonging. Yet, George does envision Lenny as a part of his own conception of belonging, a vision that appears in George’s dreams and whose faintest touch can be felt in the relationship they both share.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Beatles: Impact on Rock N’ Roll

Impact On Rock N’ Roll Perhaps music can be considered to be one of the most universal things in the world. Notably, music since the 1960s have been greatly shaped by one of the most monumental music figures in the history of the world, The Beatles. Before the Beatles became a prominent figure in music, the most popular genres of music were all forms of jazz. The Beatles alone were the main influence in bringing rock n’ roll in the music spotlight and still continue to do so to this day. They were said to â€Å"be even be even bigger then Jesus† to quote the humorous and often controversial John Lennon.The Beatles were a pop-rock band that originally formed in the 1960s. The band was formed in Liverpool, England, with the four main members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The band did not originally have Ringo Starr as its drummer and only added him in 1962 when a conflict arose in the recording studio which called for the dismissing of their pervious drummer. The Beatles came to fame in the UK in November 1962 with their single â€Å"Please Please Me† which reached #2 on the charts there. Three months after the release of their first single the band released their album of the same title.At this time, the band was noticing that their fan base was prominently made of teenaged female fans. As The Beatles became more well-known as the band in the forefront of rock n’ roll, a phrase came about that described them. It was called â€Å"Beatlemania† as the frenzy surrounding the group could only be compared to that of a mania. All the emotions they brought up in many people ran the spectrum. Some would feel extreme love while others found the music very offense and condemned the band. It was this very control that they had over the people that helped boost the band into fame unseen before.Soon after the Beatles’ rise to fame in their own country, their catchy tunes started to spread across the Atlantic Ocean to America. The band’s first US chart-topper was â€Å"I Want to Hold Your Hand. † The song became popular when several popular New York City radio stations began to play it in their evening rotations. Around the same time was when their record company decided that it would be good to start merchandising t he band. It was a huge success. Then in 1964, the Beatles made their first historic visit to America. They were greeted by a mass of fans at the airport. They Beatles had never before experience such a reeting. Along with the mass of fans came the FBI, who closely watched the band. Then they had their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show; a popular pop music show of that time. It was all uphill from there. It would be an understatement to say that The Beatles forever changed music. Everything from live performances to recording techniques to style of fashion and more were historically impacted by this band. They would go on to shape and influe nce millions of band to follow in the many years to come. But not only in their musical craftsmanship did they shape the world, but also in the profound message their music held.Te Beatles set records for live performances. They were the first band to have a concert live at a stadium. Their first stadium concert was at Shea Stadium in New York and a total of 55,600 people attended this historical event in pop culture. To add to the substantial impact of this concert, the tickets to the event sold out in a short 17 minutes. This would become the biggest testament to their iconic status. When the Beatles recorded their music, they looked at their songs quite differently than other contemporary recording artists of that time.At that point in time, most singers were only concerned with releasing singles as opposed to full albums with all good songs. The artists would record one or two chart-topping hits and write and record filler songs for the rest of the album. The Beatles on the othe r hand, would rarely include their singles on their full length albums. This required their standard of song to not be filler, but to be of high quality for all of their fans to listen to. This obviously proved to work for them, because the Beatles became the highest selling band in the history of the music industry.Not only did the Beatles impact music with their influence, they also had a huge influence on the popular fashion styles of the time period. Popular fads that arose with the rising popularity of the Beatles were the â€Å"mop-top† haircut, the wearing of their famous collar-less suits, pointed boots, and John Lennon’s famous rounded glasses, which to this day are commonly referred to as, â€Å"John Lennon’s glasses. †   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The themes in the Beatles songs tended to drift towards the distant dream of peace, love, and happiness.This sparked my interest, because I, along with most others in the world would l ove to be surrounded with only these things. When I listen to the Beatles, I feel happy and sing along and lose any worries I may have had before I started listening. They bring of sense calm and joy which has touched millions throughout the years, all the music has been released. I’ve had a passion for music my whole life, and as a teenager in 2008 to be listening to a band that first gained its popularity in the 1960s, this has to show that they were making music that transcends time and barriers.The Beatles music is commonly linked to politics, freedom, and life in the free world. They mentioned an overthrow of communism in some of their songs such as, â€Å"Back In The USSR† and â€Å"Give Peace a Chance. † In doing this, they achieve a level beyond that of mere recording artists. They helped set some groundwork on how a musician can not only impact music but the society in which they live. And how using their influence is a responsibility entrusted upon the m. At the same time, there were riots that were said to be caused by the Beatles’ music.A British rock fan magazine of that time observed that the reason for the violence was that the Beatles â€Å"symbolized the rebellion of youth. † While these riots are basically the opposite of peace, the Beatles wanted it known that their music was meant to inspire revolution in a mostly positive way. War is a common issue in the United States and the rest of the world. The Beatles music represented the war-free world they wanted to see. They hoped that people would see this and understand. They wanted everyone to â€Å"give peace a chance†, especially considering the turbulent times in which they lived.To this day, songs of this influential band are placed in movie soundtracks, covered by popular artists of the day, and used in commercials and advertisements to represent peace-related issues that correlated with their lyrics. Being such a conscience band, controversy had t o follow. In 1966, John Lennon made a comment on Christianity dying and how â€Å"the Beatles were now bigger then Jesus†. This naturally caused massive backlash with the religious conservatives. They became enraged on how John so careless and callously brushed aside their religion.Almost immediately did the public respond; they burned Beatles albums and even bulldozed them. Under intense pressure from the media and of course the record label John issued a public a apology for the comment in a attempt to calm the people. Even as now as of November 2008, the Vatican has forgiven John for the comments he made, chalking it up as merely â€Å"a boast by a young man grappling with sudden fame†. The Beatles and everything that goes with their franchise has incredible popularity and the world would be a different place without their impact.They helped shape an entire generation of followers. They sang of peace, love, and the psychedelics that had to do with their time. But th e Beatles music cannot be contained in that time. It has spurred onward and lived strong in the old and young of today. Without music, the world falls silent; and without the Beatles’ impact, music would not have been changed forever.Bibliography â€Å"List of best-selling music artists. † Wikipedia. . â€Å"The Beatles' influence on popular culture. † Wikipedia. . â€Å"The Beatles. † Way of Life. .

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Eastwind Trading Company Essay

The potential opportunity and long term sustainability of Eastwind Trading Company lies in the uniqueness of their product. The Swanson pearls are the only remaining collection of handmade freshwater pearl buttons in the world. The amount is limited and cannot be easily duplicated due to current environmental condition. Therefore, the fact that no one else carries these types of buttons is the main competitive advantage the Eastwinds Trading Company posses. This exclusiveness, however, can also result in the company’s weakness: very perishable, expensive, and difficult to handle small items that require careful organization and specialization to control costs. The company is still in the existence stage. Gail and Martha are now focusing in getting enough cash to cover all the expenses the acquisition of the business will bring. However, they may also need to center their attention in how to generate enough tools to make their business expand and become a viable company. By having a product that is unique and hard to duplicate, this advantage is long-term. There is a great opportunity in expanding the business by creating new bias of selling the pearls. Hiring sales representatives that will cover all the nation, approaching clothing manufacturers and designers that will buy the buttons at wholesale price and covering the areas that were previously uncovered by the Swansons are some of the main goals of Martha and Gail. These goals will situate the business at a competitive advantage against competitors by satisfying the needs of customers that would be attracted by the exclusivity of the buttons. The key risk for investors is that button business is such an unconventional deal that it may result unattractive. The demand for exclusive buttons in the manufacturer industry as there are other types of cheaper fastenings that can be used for clothing i. e. Zipper and plastic buttons may be decreasing. Consequently, the Eastwind Trading Company needs to implement some sort of diversity in its line to supplement the sales of the raw material when the demand for buttons is low. Martha and Gail have experience in management and marketing which makes a good addition to the development and success of their future business. Their experience can be applied in the development of a new strategy that will re- introduce the pearls in the market while expanding the product in areas that were never covered by the previous wners. The fact that the raw material could be cut off leaving a semiprecious stone that could be mounted as earrings, necklaces or rings is a plus for the business and needs to be exploit at its maximum. Despite the fact that the pair was advised by the financial counselor that they will be working in an â€Å"anemic lending environment, they sell the bankers only the concept of the buttons business, ignoring the more profitable concept of selling them as jewelry. As a result their offer was rejected by about 10 financial institutions. Finally, Stadium Bank would lend the money but only if guarantee by the Small Business Administration (SBA). By having the SBA guaranteeing their debt Martha and Gail may be removing the bank’s incentive to work directly with them. If they encounter a financial problem they may be ignored by the bank instead of getting assistance as borrowers since SBA is guaranteeing the loan by 90%. The fact that the company’s loan has to be personally assured by their owners may be a downside for the negotiation. Gail and Martha’s personal assets may be affected if this venture goes wrong. We hardly recommend Eastwind Trading Company to analyze extremely careful the terms of their loan, see if the loan is right for them and confirm that what the bank is offering is what their business really needs to flourished and succeed before they sign any agreement with the lender. As for right now we will turndown Eastwind’s project. The venture has no strategy in place to explain how the company plans to diversify itself through the use of new products or new services related to the existing product except for the vague ideas associated with the jewelry’s’ creation which is in fact the most profitable option. When a business is such an unconventional deal as the sale of buttons is, it may result unattractive. The key to success will be then to create a really strong business plan, marketing strategy, a good team of sales rep, well-organized channels distribution and an aggressive advertizing campain in order to sale your ideas and pursue your business aspirations.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 31

Questions - Essay Example He explains that a lot of failure is often attributed to the use of external interventions that do not recognize the nature of issues on the ground. The best strategy for resolving civil wars is through the effective analysis of the causes and the political and economic demands on both sides. It is also useful to engage such wars through a carefully selected team of representatives and institutions that both sides may clearly engage and understand. In the event the external forces are deployed, like the U.N. or NATO, their presence in the scene need to recognize the limits that are acceptable to the parties and they must be accompanied by relevant political agencies. If interventions are defined in terms of human rights like those that the Bush administration did in Iraq and Afghanistan, the percussions might be inconsistent because other nations are already sharply divided on their approach to international law and humanitarian assistance discourses and theory. James Kurth is very categorical of the imperatives for dialogue and deployment of forces as a solution to civil war. He particularly hails the necessity for effective selection of the forces that can ever intervene in a conflict and their credibility in the estimation of the actual wrangling factions. Suffice it to say, civil war erupt within a historic and economic context that must be yielded if a solution could ever be attained in addressing them conclusively. The Syrian situation is one that is unique and involves complex international and diplomatic nexus. Nevertheless, the United States after the war in Iraq and Afghanistan have lost important credibility in its international standing as a super power. The Iraq and Afghanistan have led to a considerable contestation of the basis of America’s international hegemony as a super power. If America will intervene in Syria, it might take a different form rather than official national deployment of forces. On this basis, the U.S. can supply the

Cyclones and Earthquakes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cyclones and Earthquakes - Essay Example We cannot completely reduce the material damage done by these natural calamities but the number of human lives that are lost during these disasters can be considerably reduced. We can also lessen the after effects of the calamity like the emotional trauma of loosing near and dear ones. A number of psychological disorders like post traumatic disorder which can hamper an individual's normal life can be vanquished. The poor people are worst victims of a natural calamity. Lot of resources time and money is spent in trying to rehabilitate the individual who have suffered from these calamities. As far as the aftermath of a calamity is concerned cyclone and earthquakes produce similar effects. All these natural phenomena's are a threat to the health and well being of an individual. We cannot avert a natural disaster but we can properly manage it and reduce the damage to human property and mind. Forecast of These natural phenomena is the only thing that can be done and can be utilized to red uce the risk to human life and property. These natural phenomena are a result of the careless utilization of the bounties of nature. The director Salvano Briceno of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction has vey rightly said that "Not only is the world globally facing more potential disasters but increasing numbers of people are becoming vulnerable to hazards," There are people who believe that it is global warming which is increasing the number and severity of the of these natural phenomena. There is no conclusive proof to the fact that global warming is a contributing factor in the occurrence of these natural disasters. Gradually over a period of time the temperature of the earth has increased as a result of human activity. This leads to the trapping of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere consequently raising the temperature of the earth. There is an increase in the number of hurricanes and cyclones in the world and this has been attributed to warmer sea surface and altered wind patterns .Global warming is seen as the cause of the warming up of the sea surface. In a sample study we can see that the nu mber of cyclones in the Atlantic have increased from six in 1900 to 1930 to 15 in 1995 to2005 (Science Daily, n.p) There is no direct relation of earthquakes with global warming but it has been predicted that the melting of the glaciers in the Alaskan region can amount to greater activity of the mobile earth crust i.e tectonic plates. The weight of the glaciers of the Alaskan region is acting as a deterrent for the movement of the tectonic plates. According to Sauber a leading researcher "Historically, when big ice masses started to retreat, the number of earthquakes increased. More than 10,000 years ago, at the end of the great ice age, big earthquakes occurred in Scandinavia as the large glaciers began to melt".( Science Daily, 2004) Therefore it can be deduced that global warming can lead to melting of ice in the Polar Regions and it turn can lead to heightened earthquake activity. Earthquakes and cyclones share similarities as far as the affect of them on human life is concerned. They differ in the causes and different methods of prediction of these calamities. There are different ways in which we can protect ourselves from these natural dis

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Unemployment in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Unemployment in the UK - Essay Example It is worthwhile to mention the fact that employment and business outlook aggravated in 2007 – 2008 after collapse of housing sector or property market and ‘bursting of speculative financial sector’ that resulted in financial difficulties and a credit crunch like situation. Indeed, the bankruptcies of various small and large financial institutions followed by closures of manufacturing and services sector organisations led to rapid surge in unemployment and economic contraction. In simple worlds, the aggregate demand and supply reduced that in turn resulted in a decrease in productive activities and new employment opportunities for general public. The weakness in economy, consumer buying power and real incomes also adversely impacted relatively strong sectors such as heavy machinery, engineering, arms, information technology, airline industry, electronics and others etc. because of fall in demand from all consumers. Hence, these strong sectors were unable to sustai n their business volume and cut down their employees thereby contributing in unemployment across UK. (Gregg and Wadsworth, 2010) Economists have provided an explanation that the weaknesses in financial system were actually the major reason behind UK economic collapse. Indeed, the dependence of consumers on plastic money (such as credit cards, debit, visa etc.) for spending and purchasing goods and services and decrease in circulation of monetary units is itself noxious for sustainable development and smooth functioning of the economy. Secondly, the role of financial institutions in subsequent growth of non-productive business sectors such as mutual funds, leasing, mortgage, securities and bonds obviously could benefit in short-term growth and expansion of money and financial markets. Indeed, contribution of manufacturing sector in Gross Domestic Product of United Kingdom is barely above 20% whereas services

Monday, August 26, 2019

Auditing and Accounting Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Auditing and Accounting Ethics - Essay Example In addition, in question 4 the responsibility in relation to external and internal audit toward the society has been discussed. Loebbecke A. (2000) stated that auditing has historically been concerned with the faithful and accurate accounting of economic resources. This concern arises from the imperative of maintaining accountability in the presence of agency conflicts between the management and owners of a firm. Over time, this notion of accountability has expanded as interest groups established new standards of performance. The underlying philosophy has, however been remained constant: essentially one of ensuring that accounting records have been kept and verifying compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.1 Hayes, R., Dassen R. , et al, (2005) addressed that the independence is one of the most pivotal traits of being an auditor. Hussy, R., (1999) has elucidated independence as the fundamental principle that the auditor must be, seen to be, independent to enable them to behave with integrity and make objective professional and business judgment. Independence could be of two forms as- According to Hayes, R., Dassen R., et al (2005), independence is potentially affected by self-interest, self-interview, advocacy, familiarity and intimidation threats. To approach of this comment, the threats have been clarified as followed: ‘Self-interest Threat’ occurs when a firm or a member of the assurance team could benefit from a financial interest in, or other self-interest conflict with, an assurance client. Examples of circumstances that may create this threat include: Teoh, H. Y. & Lim, C. C. (1996) mentioned that self-interest threat occurs when, (1) any product or judgment of a previous assurance engagement or non-assurance engagement needs to be re-evaluated in reaching conclusions on the assurance engagement, or (2) when a member of the assurance team was previously a director or

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Home Health Care Services for Alzheimer's Patients and Their Research Paper

Home Health Care Services for Alzheimer's Patients and Their Caregivers - Research Paper Example The paper throws light on Alzheimer disease, incurable diseases that worsen with age and eventually lead to death. Alzheimer sufferers in 2006 were 26.6 million. It is predicted that, by 2050, it will affect 1 in every 85 people worldwide. Alzheimer disease symptoms can easily be confused with other age related diseases. The first, early symptoms of Alzheimer are trouble in remembering events that may have occurred recently. It is confirmed using behavioral evaluations, thinking abilities and brain scan tests. At an advanced stage, symptoms include irritability, confusion, aggression, trouble with language mood swings, long term memory loss, withdrawal from family and society, loss of body functions, which leads to eventual death. Researchers infer that the life expectancy after diagnosis relatively seven years with three percent of patients living for more than fourteen years after diagnosis. There are several possible, suggested ways that can be used to delay symptoms in older indi viduals. These ways include a balanced diet, exercise and mental stimulation. These ways can effectively manage the symptoms, therefore, making the patient more comfortable. Since Alzheimer disease is incurable and degenerative, the patient depends on care given by other people. In most cases, the role of the caregiver is usually taken by taken a close relative or the spouse. Alzheimer disease places a massive burden on the caregivers. This places pressure on the caregiver’s life involving psychological, social, economic and physical aspects of his or her life. It is also extremely expensive disease to the family and society. United States and other countries are carrying out research on Alzheimer disease seeking its treatment and prevention. Professional home health agencies give support to the care givers. If the caregiver knows the services rendered by the agencies and know the right time to transit from home to palliative care, gives the caregiver respite and peace. Preve ntion as the basis for effective home care There is no absolute evidence that supports measures as effective in preventing Alzheimer disease. Studies conducted globally regarding delaying and prevention of the disease show inconsistent results. However, there have been proposed relationships between some factors such as diet, pharmaceutical products and cardiovascular risks in relation to developing the disease. Cardiovascular risks factors like diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and smoking are associated with a risk of Alzheimer disease. It is proposed that Mediterranean diet that includes fruits and vegetables, wheat, cereals, fish, red wine and olive oil reduces the risk of this disease. However, there is little evidence to prove that moderate use of alcohol specifically red wine lowers the risk of Alzheimer disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce inflammation associated with amyloidal plaques, which increases the chances to be affected by Alzheimer disea se. Research as also shown that people who get involved in intellectual activities, for example, playing board games, reading, completing crossword puzzles, regular social involvement and playing musical instruments are at a lower risk of getting Alzheimer disease. Medical marijuana has been found to hinder the progress of the disease. It prevents by hindering formation of deposits associated with brain disease. However, cannabinoids have not been found to improve or treat the disease. Environmental factors such as metal intake especially aluminum and exposure to solvents increases the risk of Alzheimer although these studies have been criticized based on credibility and accuracy. Management and home based care for Alzheimer patients As explained earlier, there is no absolute cure for Alzheimer disease. The medication available offers small symptomatic help but remains in palliative in nature. The current treatment they can be given to Alzheimer patients

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Australian industrial relations and employment law reforms Assignment

Australian industrial relations and employment law reforms - Assignment Example State involvement in industrial relations actions is both interesting and questionable, especially where politics that come with it are put into consideration. This paper seeks to critically analyse the reforms in employment sector by pointing out various benefits and poor decisions that were made in Australia for the past two decades. 2.0 Industrial Relations and Employment Law Reforms The establishment of the commonwealth conciliation and arbitration commission was a major step towards bringing towards finding a peaceful resolution to industrial relations. It also did recognize trade unions and this was a major boost for collective bargaining. All the registered unions became part and parcel of institutional framework that was meant for the Australian industrial relations. ... In 2005, workplace choices was introduced and this market the start of the Australian workplace agreements (AWA) and this was followed by the drastic disbandment of unfair dismissal laws which was targeting the employers that have less than one hundred employees (Hyslop & Stillman, 2004, pp.2). The language of employment relations has also been adjusted to include certain terms like high involvement which do bring out the aspect of employee motivation to work. Such linguistic changes also do emphasise the critical needs for teamwork, multiskilling and general involvement of employees to ensure that high levels of performance in terms of productivity and quality standards are achieved. Generally, the feeling for employees in Australia has been the lack of inclusion or consultation when it comes to keys issues that have an impact on their work and life (Quiggan, 2005, pp.2-6). Reports of over-working, high stress levels and lack of job security seems to have been the main driving force in this approach. The national employment relations have really changed. During these changes, the industrial relations reform was a major issue on the agenda of various political parties and has continued to elicit much debate from the political seen. 3.0 Industrial relations reforms amid hidden political interests When the Australian labour part got elected in 2007, introduction of Fair Work Australia and WorkChoices came onto being. This two employment systems had a major impact on the workforce of Australia and changed the face of employment relations and how the citizens view it. They also marked the beginning of State participation in the industrial relations. The election of Liberal National Coalition party that

Friday, August 23, 2019

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 10

Ethics - Essay Example Aristotle’s Human Function Argument: Based on the human function argument, Aristotle had argued that a clear concept of happiness can be realized if the human function could be studied and understood. It reflects that every function or activity of human beings contains the goodness or happiness in it based on rationality of the function. Thus with the rational part of the human soul performing an activity or a particular function, the goodness or happiness takes place. Aristotle had considered happiness to be the best good that could have happened to a human being. Thus in order to determine the goodness in man, Aristotle’s function argument states that the function of the human needs to be ascertained. Also, according to him, human life has been stated to be common to plants, as well as to animals thereby having an active life element with rationality (Korsgaard 129-132). The arguments presented by Aristotle as part of the function argument includes: â€Å"(1) Humans must have a function, or else they would be idle, which is absurd; (2) Each human body part has a function, so the whole human must likewise have a function; (3) The human function is unique to only humans themselves; (4)Human function is not growth and nutrition because these aspects of life are shared with plant; (5)Human function is not sense perception because this aspect of life is shared with animal; (6)The part of the human soul with reason is unique to human; (7) The bare capacity of reason is insufficient to constitute a life function; and (8) Therefore, the human function is activity of the part of the soul that expresses or requires reason† (Pritchett). Failure of the Function Argument: Although Aristotle tried his best to determine the human function reflecting the happiness and goodness factors in human, his beliefs could not stand alone against the questions and criticisms that were raised. Aristotle could not place his arguments successfully as he lacked support ive arguments over the premises he focused on. He could not explain the reason for human function to be considered as unique. When he said that human function is common to plants, it raised questions on the fact as to how two things can be similar only because they share some activities in common. Also, when he stated about animals, it is not clear whether he meant to say that humans only have functions and animals do not have any function. Different functions can be associated with different features or a same function can be presented in different ways by different individuals or animals. Hence Aristotle’s arguments could not present clearly the meanings of the premises (Pritchett). Critics also could not realize how the goodness of a human being can be associated with the good performance or activity of the individual even if there is a function present in human beings. Questions could be raised on several thoughts. For example, even if it is believed to be true that goodn ess of a human is based on the good activity of the human, question arises whether it is good to be a good human or whether every the goodness of every single human can be determined the same, and so on (Korsgaard 131). Thus

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Why I Selected a Career Path as a Special Education Teacher Essay Example for Free

Why I Selected a Career Path as a Special Education Teacher Essay With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2001 and revisions of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools have implemented the pre-referral process encouraging individual based level of education for a particular student. Historically, before recent updates to state and federal special education guidelines, students typically received special attention to their specific needs through parent conferences, generic observations, a few general intervention techniques, psychological evaluation, or simply a review of report cards, social records. Since the implementation of IDEA, students are now receiving proactive approaches to match his or her level of need. Two such approaches of evaluating individual students are Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and Response to Intervention (RTI). Both PBS and RTI are structured on a different model, but both have the same goals. Each intervention approach takes into account components and accounts for critical universal factors that target a specific individual, group, or level. These two models offer a range of interventions that are scientifically applied to a student, based on the student’s level of needs through previous monitoring in the classroom. Response to Intervention (RTI) is defined as â€Å"the practice of providing high-quality instruction and interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about changes in instruction or goals, and applying child response data to important educational decisions† (Batsche et al. , 2006). RTI has emerged as the more popular of the two intervention model’s and has been accepted by most schools in the United States, as the new way of thinking about early intervention and identifying a child’s educational disability. The RTI approach considers the application of an individual student’s difficulties in schools by evaluating student’s environment and then provides intervention as soon as the student shows signs difficulty, lack of focus, or academic problems. The goal of RTI is to ensure all students receive the highest quality of education and instruction and reduce any possible false referrals to unnecessary classes, or programs. RTI has a three tier model for also eliminating unqualified teachers as a reason for a student’s lack of performance, or grades. For example in, tier I of the three modeled tier, teachers are required to implement different teaching techniques in order to gauge a student’s performance and focus toward learning. This form of teaching is a method only most qualified teachers can provide in the RTI process. Tier one is described as a universal assessment using formal and informal instructional techniques. Tier two targets students that have not made progress in a given amount of time and are monitored frequently. These students are considered as having some academic weakness. Tier three is more of an intensive intervention and for students that do not respond to instruction form tier two. Tier three students may be eligible for special education classes and programs. When a student is evaluated and qualifies for tier three, the students will be specially monitored and eventually reviewed for receiving an individual educational program (IEP). Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), is based more on a model of how to solve inappropriate behavior and prevent that behavior through teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors. â€Å"Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) is a process for creating school environments that are more predictable and effective for achieving academic and social goals. For some schools, PBIS will enhance their current systems and practices, for others it will radically change the culture for the better† (www. cms. k12. nc. us). Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a systemic approach to proactive, school-wide behavior based on a Response to Intervention (RTI) model. â€Å"The concept of PBIS has been researched in education for approximately 15 years† (www. cms. k12. nc. us) and has been implemented successfully in thousands of schools in over 40 states. PBIS applies evidence-based programs, practices and strategies for all students to increase academic performance, improve safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish a positive school culture. Schools implementing PBIS build on existing strengths, complementing and organizing current programming and strategies. The PBIS model had resulted in dramatic reductions in disciplinary interventions and increases in academic achievement. Data-based decision making is a hallmark of PBIS and is a scientific approach to the pre-referral process to special education. There are many ways to define, or explain the concepts of PBIS and RTI, but each provides a specific three tiered pre-referral process to special education that will enhance the quality of life for students participating in these interventions. Whichever intervention a student is placed, he, or she should receive a higher quality education and instruction. Elements common in these models indicate a system of intervention based on a student’s performance that will indicated whether there is a legitimate learning disability, not just the need for additional instruction for no reason. References RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION. (2006). In Encyclopedia of Special Education: A Reference for the Education of the Handicapped and Other Exceptional Children and Adults. Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http:library. gcu. edu:2048/login? qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. cred oreference.com/entry/ wileyse/response_to_intervention CPI Educate. Empower. Enrich. (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. crisisprevention. com/Resources/Knowledge-Base/Positive-Behavior-Support SEDL Advancing research, improving education (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from : http://www. sedl. org/pubs/sedl-letter/v19n02/rti. html CMS Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. (2011). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. cms. k12. nc. us/cmsdepartments/PBIS/Pages/default. aspx Response to Intervention (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. nasponline. org/resources/handouts/revisedPDFs/rtiprimer. pdf.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The poor relation Essay Example for Free

The poor relation Essay The stories that I have read both have dreams. Both of the stories have dreams that are virtually impossible to achieve. Although the dreams in the book are set in very different times and are very different to each other, they are suitable for that period of time. Both the authors show that dreams are always present everywhere no matter where they are and when they take place. Both of the authors write from there own past experience, one way or another. George and Lenniei s dream is to liv of the fata the lani. This means that they dream to buy their own land and be there own boss and work there every day. They also want to be fed from there and Lennie wants to tendi his rabbits. As soon as candy finds out that George and Lennie have a dream, Candy buysi in to it by offering all his savings. Lennie and George are outcasts and exiles, the reason for this is for the fact that they are itinerant workers and they always work together and go everywhere with each other. This makes them outcasts because they always go everywhere together where as compare to other people at that moment in time every one went on their own. Michaeli s reality is common and typical. There is nothing fascinating in his life apart from his nephew little Frank. Michael is unemployed and searches for work virtually everyday and he lives on his own. His family sees him as a failure in life. Michael doesni t see himself in that way. In Michaeli s dream he see himself as a rich and a wealthy person whose son like friend little frank is the most important thing to him. Michaeli s dream also comprises a castle in the air, which he possesses and is very proud to have. His dream is about caring for little Frank and being cherished in the society. George and Lenniei s dream farmi is a version of the American dream. All American people dreamt this dream. The dream farmi represents ambition and the possibility of escape from the itinerant workeri s loneliness and poverty. Georgei s vision is an example of the second kind of unhappy vision, when he sees his future as unending, aimless drifting: Ii ll take my fifty bucks ani Ii ll stay all night in some lousy cat house. Or Ii ll set in some pool-room till everi body goes homei i. In the sub-text of The Poor Relationi , Dickens is commenting on the Victorian society. Dickens is trying to say that in Victorian times it was hard to get respected. The most imperative quality at that time was being rich and being a businessman. Dickens is also saying that even if you are respected and are gracious you wont have as much associates as a person who is rich and a businessman. Money was the source to everything at that time, together with friendship. What the America people didni t understand was the fact that the American dream was the American nightmarei. Thati s because only a limited number of Americans could achieve this dream and the rest would just have it as a wish. Everyone could not achieve this dream because all and sundry cannot be there own bossi s as this would lead to an economic collapse. This is why iti s described as the American nightmarei Both authors set their stories in there own times so they can comment upon it. They didni t write stories that were either in the future or the past. They established their stories on reality. Writing in the present increased the number of audiences for the book at that time. The reason for that is because the audience can see themselves fit in to those circumstances. Consequently they would prefer this rather then something that doesni t match their circumstances. The narrative structure used by each writer is very different. Stienbeck has made a play-type of structure. Thati s because at the start of every chapter he describes the setting first and then starts the story. This is completely different to the way that Charles Dickens writes. Charles Dickens uses a frame story containing two inner stories, which are told by Michael. In my opinion this is an arduous way of writing compare to that of Stienbecki s method. The kind of language that the writeri s use is completely different to each other but are both appropriate to the time they wrote in. Stienbeck uses a colloquial style with swear words and slang to add realism to his characters and situation. Like when George says If that crazy bastards foolini around i this style of language was everyday language in that time. The language that Dickens uses is very sophisticated and ornate style; this was appropriate to his literate age. The reason for that is because in that time people tried to gain respect and loyalty so therefore they had to use posh style language. Stienbeck and Dickens both use imagery but Stienbeck uses a lot of imagery compare to Dickens. The only important imagery that Dickens uses is that of the Castle of the Airi imagery, whereas Stienbeck uses a lot of imageries like in the first section of the book he says i On the sand-banks the rabbits sat quietly as little grey, sculptured stonei. Another imagery that he uses is i A big carp rose to the surface of the pool, gulped air, and then sank mysteriously in to the dark water againi i Stienbeck uses a lot of different types of imagery where as Dickens uses a limited amount. Both of the authors are trying to state the fact that dreams doni t always come true. The society denies it one way or another. Michaeli s dream is impossible to achieve simply because a castle in the air is impossible to construct, but the atmosphere that he wishes to have is possible to have which is that he wants people to care and have admiration for him. George and Lenniei s dream is destroyed by the society, people who were in the bunkhouse. Their dream is destroyed by the society because Lenniei s mistake which led to his own death. This was very misfortunate for George and Lenniei s dream. Although the storyline of both of the books are different, the point that they are trying to make is very analogous to each other which is that dreams can be denied be society. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE John Steinbeck section.

Study On What Is Absenteeism Management Essay

Study On What Is Absenteeism Management Essay To many in the world of work, absenteeism is one of those stubborn problems for which à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..there is no clear culprit and no easy cure (Rhodes Steers, 1990). Furthermore, as a general phenomenon it does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of sex, race and religion. Bydawell (2000) postulates that employers have the right to expect good attendance from their employees as employment is a contract between two consenting parties. The author additionally states that absentee issues will undeniably arise within the employment relationship, and should be resolved in a way which is fair and unbiased to both the employer and the employee. Absenteeism can be very costly to organisations and gargantuan reserves can be realised through successful management of non-attendance at work. in addition to the cost implications, absenteeism is influenced by dozens of interconnected factors which make it even more difficult to quantify, qualify, or rectify (Tylczak , 1990). One of these factors which have been cited by different researchers is an employees level of job satisfaction in the workplace. In combination with this, George and Jones (2002) maintain that many scholars have studied the relationship between absenteeism and job satisfaction in an attempt to discover ways to reduce absenteeism. Early job satisfaction research has emphasised the fundamental assumption that job disappointment represents the main reason of absenteeism (Steers, Porter Bigley, 1996). McShanes (1984) review as quoted by Steers et al. (1996) supported the notion that employees who are disappointed with various aspects of their jobs are more likely to be absent. Studies by McShane (1984) found job satisfaction to be more highly related to frequency of absences than to number of days lost (St eers et al., 1996, p. 409). Rhodes and Steers (1990) propose that employee attendance is based on an employees motivation to attend as well as their capability to attend. According to George and Jones (2002), job satisfaction is one of the factors affecting an employees motivation to attend. It becomes important to calculate the strength of the relationship between absenteeism and job satisfaction as positive attitudes can at times serve to pull the individual towards the organisation and the reverse can be expected when attitudes are more negative (George Jones, 2002, p. 94). An employees ability to attend is influenced on the other hand by factors such as family responsibilities, transportation problems, accidents and etc. Once all these variables are recognized, managers may begin to understand why employees sometimes choose not to come to work when they are fully capable of attending. By the same token, it is equally important for managers to understand those circumstances in which people, for whatever reason (illness or otherwise), are genuinely unable to come to work (Rhodes Steers, 1990). Furthermore, the question most people would ask is what is an acceptable absenteeism rate? In terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 (1997), an employee is entitled to 30 working days sick leave in a three-year period. Bydawell (2000) states that if all the employees within a company jointly take their full entitlement, the companys absenteeism rate will run at approximately 4 %, which is generally believed to be tolerable. Some companies permit employees to exceed their 30 days, but in these instances it would be regarded as unpaid leave. typically organisations do not take these additional days into account when calculating their absenteeism rate and it results in an mistaken estimation of the situation. Bydawell (2000) purports that in reality, many companies run at absenteeism rates as high as 12 % without even realising it. Absenteeism seems to be a behaviour that organisations can never get rid of, but they can rather control and manage it. George and Jones (2002) note that organisations should not have absence policies that are so restrictive that they literally force workers to come to work even if they are ill. Organisations may want to recognise that a certain level of absence is indeed functional. Before looking at the causes, outcomes and issues related to absenteeism i need to look at the definition of the following terms: Absenteeism Job satisfaction Absenteeism In terms of the discussion, the three terms absence, absenteeism and sickness absence will be used as synonymous in sense, implying that workers who were scheduled for work and expected to attend, did not turn up. Cascio (2003) defines absenteeism as any failure of an employee to report for or to remain at work as scheduled, regardless of the motive. Milkovich and Boudreau (1994) describe absenteeism from an organisations point of view as the frequency and/or duration of work time lost when employees do not come to work. Absenteeism therefore implies an unplanned, disruptive incident; but more distinctively, it can be seen as non-attendance when an employee is listed for work (Van der Merwe Miller, 1988). Job satisfaction Spector (1997) stated that job satisfaction merely as the extent to which people like their jobs and the different aspects of their jobs. Job satisfaction is also defined as a reaction towards different facets of ones job that is a person can be relatively satisfied with one aspect of his or her job and dissatisfied with other aspects (French, 1998; George Jones, 2002; Kreitner Kinicki, 2001). Robbins (1998) defines job satisfaction as a general approach towards ones job; the difference between the quantity workers receive and the amount they consider they should receive. http://www.jstor.org/pss/255965 (accessed at 13/04/2010) http://etd.uwc.ac.za/usrfiles/modules/etd/docs/etd_init_6525_1175242441.pdf (accessed at 13/04/2010) www.CottrillsReward.com/motivation (accessed at 13/04/2010) Types of Absenteeism Absenteeism can be classified into three broad categories (Van der Merwe and Miller, 1998) as under; Sickness absence, Authorised absence or absence with permission and Unexcused absence or absence without leave. Sickness Absence Sickness absence is a category where employees claim health problem as their reason for absence. Requirements regarding medical or doctors certificates vary and are determined by company policy or the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 (1997) is that a certificate needs to be produced after two days of sickness absence. Most managers have found that certification is not a guarantee of genuine absence as it has become easy for people to gain access to medical certificates. Authorised Absence / Absence with Permission Absence with permission is where workforce gives an justification for their absence whether that be for holidays, study leave, special leave etc. Usually such a request is included in the absence policy (Van der Merwe Miller, 1988). Unexcused Absence All absences that do not fall in above mentioned categories and where no valid reason is given or not accepted are known as unexcused absences (Van Der Merwe Miller, 1988). This type of absence, when it reaches difficult extent, will have to be pointed out to employees in question in command to fetch their attendance in line with satisfactory standards. Employees who come to work later in the day or who disappear earlier are in general not recorded on the leave records of employers and the manager is normally aware of such absences (Wolmarans, 1994). A MODEL OF ABSENTEEISM Aamodt (1996) maintains that before an organisation spends time and money trying to stop absenteeism, it must first be aware of the theories around why people dont turn up on work. different models have been developed to describe absence deeds, but the Integrated Model of Attendance developed by Rhodes and Steers (1990) provides a heuristic structure on the different factors influencing employee attendance (FIGURE1.). FIGURE1 Source : Absenteeism Model, Source: Rhodes Steers (1990, p. 46) FIGURE1 suggests that an employees attendance (Box 8) is primarily determined by two important variables: An employees motivation to attend (Box 6) An employees ability to attend (Box 7) The authors further suggest that the employees motivation to attend is influenced by two factors: Satisfaction with the job situation (Box 4) Pressures to attend (Box 5). In the context of this model, the job situation refers to the general working environment and not only the nature of the tasks. Rhodes and Steers (1990) list seven factors related to the job situation that could guide to increased job satisfaction namely (Box 1): job scope job level, role stress size of the work group style of the leader, co-worker relations and the opportunity for advancement. A few of these factors are explained briefly. If, for example, the particular management style is dictatorial and disliked by staff, it could cause friction and poor attendance might be the consequence (Rhodes Steers, 1990). In terms of co-worker relations, Johns (1996) argues that group norm have a strong impact on attendance levels. Du Plessis et al. (2003) found that a culture of absenteeism amongst one group of employees might influence work values and devotion of other employees. New employees seem to adopt the existing culture, values, norms and standards of the organisation which they join, i.e. they might be influenced by the present absenteeism norms in the organisation (Rosseau, 1985 as quoted by Du Plessis et al., 2003). Lau, Au and Ho (2003) found that industries with a high group absence rate also had higher levels of individual absences. Organisations are therefore faced with the challenge of managing absence behaviours within groups as it influences the behaviour of e mployees entering the organisation. Furthermore, the model suggested that employees values and expectations also have an influence on employee attendance (Box 2). Attitudes, values and goals differ considerably from person to person, depending on what is important for the individual at a particular point in time. Rhodes and Steers (1990) postulate that work related attitudes (for example, job involvement) can play a significant role in determining how employees view the psychological contract between employees and management, as well as how committed they are to coming to work. Further variables cited by these authors include personal work ethics and the centrality of work which refers to how important work is in a persons life goals. The decision by an employee to absent him/herself is thus related to the importance attached to work. Another factor influencing attendance is the personal characteristics and backgrounds of employees (Box 3). Tylczak (1990) terms this category employee specifics and includes things like gender roles, desire to spend time with friends and hobbies. As an example, older, more established employees might be more stable and might report fewer sick leave incidents than younger employees who do not mind risking their jobs due to absence. Closely related to this is the question of whether lifestyle choices influence absenteeism. According to Ericson (2001), lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking and other substances could influence absenteeism. Common in organisations is the trend of employees taking sick leave either on a Friday or on a Monday due to alcohol and other substance abuse. Ericson (2001) maintains that the area of lifestyle choice is probably the hardest part of absenteeism management to address, as it blurs the lines between personal habits and the workplace. An organisation can offer counselling services to help resolve these personal problems in an attempt to reduce absenteeism levels. These plans are in general referred to as employee support programmes (EAPs) and is defined as a confidential counselling and referral service provided by organisations as an employee advantage (Strazewski, 2005). Finally, the model suggests that there are certain pressures to attend (Box 5) which have an influence on an employees motivation to attend and these include the economic/market conditions (like unemployment), incentive and reward systems, personal work ethic and organisational commitment. Hence, if unemployment levels are high, people might be less willing to take sick leave for fear of losing their jobs (Rhodes Steers, 1990). There are also factors that constrain an employees ability or capacity to attend (Box 7) Illness Family related and transport problems Individual personality traits Demographic variables also impact on absenteeism and includes like; Age Tenure (length of an employment) Marital status Number of dependents Gender Job level etc. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/usrfiles/modules/etd/docs/etd_init_6525_1175242441.pdf (accessed at 14/04/2010) Common Reasons behind Absenteeism Some of the common reasons behind absenteeism are as under; Serious accidents and illness Low morale Workload Employee discontent with the work environment Benefits which continue income during periods of illness or accident The existence of income protection plans (collective agreement ) Poor working conditions Boredom on the job Inadequate leadership and poor supervision Personal problems (financial, marital, substance abuse, child care etc.) Poor physical fitness The existence of income protection plans (collective agreement ) Transportation problems Stress http://superfriends13.tripod.com/causes_absent.htm (accessed at 14/04/2010) Absenteeism measurement Rhodes and Steers (1990) point out that measuring absenteeism can serve four purposes to organisations, namely, to administer payroll and benefit programmes, for production scheduling, to identify absenteeism problems and to measure and control personnel costs. Administering payroll and benefits programs According to Rhodes and Steers (1990), information about who is present and who is absent from work can assist organisations in determining whether absence is compensable under a benefit program or other contractual arrangements. Production scheduling Rhodes and Steers (1990) maintain that it is important to have absence data available as it can assist managers in planning for which human resources will be needed to meet production requirements. In this way, organisations will avoid the cost of overstaffing and also be protected from having too few employees at work. Identifying absenteeism problems To assess whether there is an absenteeism problem, it is important to measure absenteeism and have this data available. This could assist in determining if some departments have higher absence rates than others, how an organisation compares with others in the industry, whether there is a certain trend and so forth (Robinson, 2002). Measuring and controlling personnel costs Excessive absence can be costly to organisations. Anderson (2004, p. 26) notes that unexpected absence costs corporate America billions of dollars annually in direct costs. By measuring absence, the organisation could estimate the costs, thereby reducing its effect on the organisation. Moreover it can facilitate the determination of which proportion of absenteeism managers are able to control, in order to devise appropriate strategies to reduce absence in the workplace (Rhodes Steers, 1990). According to (Van der Merwe Miller, 1988) the two most widely used measures of absence are: The Gross Absence Rate (GAR), which measures the extent of absence Absence Frequency Rate (AFR), which measures the incidence of absence taking). The Gross Absence Rate (GAR) the formula for GAR is as follows: GAR = ÃŽ 100 The disadvantage of the GAR is that it gives an overall figure and can be distorted by long sick absences. Two or three employees who are on sick leave for a few weeks, could inflate the organisations GAR and could give an incorrect impression of a severe absence problem. Absence Frequency Rate (AFR) The AFR is used to overcome these disadvantages.The formula for calculating AFR is as follows: AFR = Van der Merwe and Miller (1988) note that when computing the AFR, each absence, irrespective of the length, is counted as one incident. The AFR is expressed as a ratio, and normally it is given per month, i.e. the absence incidents per person per month. These two measures provide a useful summary description of both the extent and frequency of absence in organisations. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/usrfiles/modules/etd/docs/etd_init_6525_1175242441.pdf (accessed at 16/04/2010) Cost related to absenteeism Absenteeism is costly and managers are continuously exploring ways to reduce the cost. Bydawell (2000) and Schumacher (2004) underlined the growing concern that employees who absent themselves and present doctors certificates, are in fact absent for non-health related matters. Some employees even use their sick leave as vacation days when they have shattered their annual leave benefits. This makes it very difficult for managers as some employees have an entitlement state of mind. Haswell (2003) maintains that it is unlikely that absenteeism can be completely eradicated in organisations hence, financial provision should be made for sick benefits. To determine whether absence is really a problem to be addressed, the organisation has to measure the costs of absence to the organisation. A number of studies have attempted to determine the financial implications of absenteeism. Chadwick-Jones (1982) as cited by Butler (1994, p. 26) estimated that one days absence by an employee costs the organisation one and a half times the daily rate of pay of that employee. Most companies probably use their own methods of determining the cost associated with absenteeism. However, according to Butler (1994), there are a few ways to estimate absenteeism costs. One of these is the aggregate approach that estimates the number of additional employees to be hired to offset the effects of absenteeism. The company thus hires casual labour or temporary employees to fill in for the absent employees, especially in positions that cannot be left vacant, for example, an organisations receptionist position. Goodman and Atkin (2000) as cited by Butler (1994, p. 26) indicate that the cost therefore of recruiting, selecting, training and paying these additional employees represents one way in which the costs of absenteeism can be estimated. Another approach estimates the incremental costs per day associated with the absent employee, for example, salary and pension that still have to be paid during the employees absence. According to Butler (1994, p. 26), if an employee is absent and a casual/temporary employee is hired, the task of management is to compare the costs that would have been involved if the absent employee had come to work, plus the additional costs of hiring a replacement employee. It is important then for organisations to have a proper system in place to determine the costs of absenteeism, so that it can be managed effectively. 5. Organizational Behaviour Theories and Absenteeism 5.1 Maslows Hierarchy of Needs f motivation is driven by the existence of unsatisfied needs, then it is worthwhile for a manager to understand which needs are the more important for individual employees. In this regard, Abraham Maslow developed a model in which basic, low-level needs such as physiological requirements and safety must be satisfied before higher-level needs such as self-fulfilment are pursued. In this hierarchical model, when a need is mostly satisfied it no longer motivates and the next higher need takes its place. Maslows hierarchy of needs is shown in the following diagram: Implications for Management Maslows theory holds, there are some important implications for management. There are opportunities to motivate employees through management style, job design, company events, and compensation packages, some examples of which follow: Physiological needs: Provide lunch breaks, rest breaks, and wages that are sufficient to purchase the essentials of life. Safety Needs: Provide a safe working environment, retirement benefits, and job security. Social Needs: Create a sense of community via team-based projects and social events. Esteem Needs: Recognize achievements to make employees feel appreciated and valued. Offer job titles that convey the importance of the position. Self-Actualization: Provide employees a challenge and the opportunity to reach their full career potential. 5.2 Herzbergs Motivation Hygiene Theory (Two Factor Theory) To better understand employee attitudes and motivation, Frederick Herzberg performed studies to determine which factors in an employees work environment caused satisfaction or dissatisfaction. He published his findings in the 1959 book The Motivation to Work. The studies included interviews in which employees where asked what pleased and displeased them about their work. Herzberg found that the factors causing job satisfaction (and presumably motivation) were different from that causing job dissatisfaction. He developed the motivation-hygiene theory to explain these results. He called the satisfiers motivators and the dissatisfiers hygiene factors, using the term hygiene in the sense that they are considered maintenance factors that are necessary to avoid dissatisfaction but that by themselves do not provide satisfaction. Details available at: http://www.netmba.com/mgmt/ob/motivation/mcclelland/ (Accessed on April 24, 2010) Factors Affecting Job Attitude Leading to Satisfaction Leading to Dissatisfaction Achievement Recognition Work itself Responsibility Advancement Growth Company policy Supervision Relationship w/Boss Work conditions Salary Relationship Implication for Management Herzberg argued that job enrichment is required for intrinsic motivation, and that it is a continuous management process. According to Herzberg: The job should have sufficient challenge to utilize the full ability of the employee. Employees who demonstrate increasing levels of ability should be given increasing levels of responsibility. If a job cannot be designed to use an employees full abilities, then the firm should consider automating the task or replacing the employee with one who has a lower level of skill. If a person cannot be fully utilized, then there will be a motivation problem. Critics of Herzbergs theory argue that the two-factor result is observed because it is natural for people to take credit for satisfaction and to blame dissatisfaction on external factors. Furthermore, job satisfaction does not necessarily imply a high level of motivation or productivity. 5.3 McClelland Theory of Needs In his acquired-needs theory, David McClelland proposed that an individuals specific needs are acquired over time and are shaped by ones life experiences. Most of these needs can be classed as achievement, affiliation, or power. A persons motivation and effectiveness in certain job functions are influenced by these three needs. McClellands theory sometimes is referred to as the three need theory or as the learned needs theory. 5.3.1 Achievement People with a high need for achievement (nAch) seek to excel and thus tend to avoid both low-risk and high-risk situations. Achievers avoid low-risk situations because the easily attained success is not a genuine achievement. In high-risk projects, achievers see the outcome as one of chance rather than ones own effort. High nAch individuals prefer work that has a moderate probability of success, ideally a 50% chance. Achievers need regular feedback in order to monitor the progress of their achievements. They prefer either to work alone or with other high achievers. 5.3.2 Affiliation Those with a high need for affiliation (nAff) need harmonious relationships with other people and need to feel accepted by other people. They tend to conform to the norms of their work group. High nAff individuals prefer work that provides significant personal interaction. They perform well in customer service and client interaction situations. 5.3.3 Power A persons need for power (nPow) can be one of two types personal and institutional. Those who need personal power want to direct others, and this need often is perceived as undesirable. Persons who need institutional power (also known as social power) want to organize the efforts of others to further the goals of the organization. Managers with a high need for institutional power tend to be more effective than those with a high need for personal power. Implications for Management People with different needs are motivated differently. High need for achievement High achievers should be given challenging projects with reachable goals. They should be provided frequent feedback. While money is not an important motivator, it is an effective form of feedback. High need for affiliation Employees with a high affiliation need perform best in a cooperative environment. High need for power Management should provide power seekers the opportunity to manage others. All organizational behaviour theories stress that if employees are satisfied than they will contribute as much as they can in the success of an organization. Organizations can use various methods in order to keep their worker happy and if staff is happy and like to come on work regularly it mean that there are less chances of absenteeism and it can save the huge cost associated with the absence of employees. So it is the responsibility of organizations to manage and make sure that they have adequate system that can bring their workforce normal to work. Details analysis on these approaches will be later on discussed in this article.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Booker T. Washington :: essays research papers

Booker T. Washington was the first African American whose likeness appeared on a United States postage stamp. Washington also was thus honored a quarter century after his death. In 1946 he also became the first black with his image on a coin, a 50-cent piece. The Tuskegee Institute, which Washington started at the age of 25, was the where the 10-cent stamps first were available. The educator's monument on its campus shows him lifting a symbolic veil from the head of a freed slave. Booker Taliaferro Washington was born a slave on April 5, 1856, in Franklin County, Va. His mother, Jane Burroughs, was a plantation cook. His father was an unknown white man. As a child, Booker swept yards and brought water to slaves working in the fields. Freed after the American Civil War, he went with his mother to Malden, W. Va., to join Washington Ferguson, whom she had married during the war. At about age 16 Booker set out for Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, which had been established by the chief of the Freedmen's Bureau to educate former slaves. He walked much of the way, working to earn the fare to complete the long, dusty journey to Virginia. For his admission test he repeatedly swept and dusted a classroom, and he was able to earn his board by working as a janitor. After graduation three years later he taught in Malden and at Hampton. A former slave who had become a successful farmer, and a white politician in search of the Negro vote in Macon County obtained financial support for a training school for blacks in Tuskegee, Ala. When the board of commissioners asked the head of Hampton to send a principal for their new school, they had expected the principal to be white. Instead Washington arrived in June 1881. He began classes in July with 30 students in a shanty donated by a black church. Later he borrowed money to buy an abandoned plantation nearby and moved the school there. By the time of his death in Tuskegee in 1915 the institute had some 1,500 students, more than 100 well-equipped buildings, and a large faculty. Washington believed that blacks could promote their constitutional rights by impressing Southern whites with their economic and moral progress. He wanted them to forget about political power and concentrate on their farming skills and learning industrial trades.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Underpaid Teachers in Ohio Essay -- High School Teachers Employment Sa

Underpaid Teachers in Ohio   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High school teachers’ average salary varies across the world. The United States is said to be one of the richest countries in the world, yet our teachers are being paid one of the lowest amounts. The Education Intelligence Agency, author of the article â€Å"Ohio Teacher Overcomes Union’s Tolerance† published an International Teacher Salary Report ranking the fifty states by â€Å"how much the average salary exceeded per capita personal income.† According to the Education Intelligence Agency Ohio’s percentage rate is only fifty- five point one percent. According to the Education Intelligence Agency the lowest state percentage is in South Dakota at twenty- three point six percent and the highest state percentage is Alaska at one hundred and one point five percent. Teachers are a very important part of our society. Teachers’ jobs consist of more than just sitting behind a desk for nine months and having paid summers off. The re are many extra tasks that teachers have that most people don not consider. Teachers in public schools work hard for a low salary and should be more appreciated; public school teachers shape the world’s young people, serve as role models, and work long hours.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ruth E. Sternberg is the reporter for the Columbus [Ohio] Dispatch Schools and has completed a survey on the issue of Ohio’s teacher’s salaries. According to Sternberg, the public high schools that have high salaries do not have enough money for new technologies. This is a disadvantage for the students. The students do not have the advantage of computers, digital cameras, and other new technologies that make learning more fun. The students who do not have these technologies may lose interest in learning. Sternberg also points out that higher salaries also causes businesses to decide not to open their stores in that district because of the higher taxes. The stores do not want to pay out more money than what they have to, even if it is for a good cause. I can understand the concern of the business owners, but they should think about where the money goes and how much it would benefit the public schools in that area. Sternberg discusses the loss of teachers that would be forced on the district if they raised the average teacher salary. This would mean that the class sizes would be larger and the teacher to student ratio would also rise. This would be a d... ...d be a completely different place then what it is now. These facts about how hard teachers work and how much they do for us should stand as proof that teachers are overworked and underpaid. Work Cited Alexander, Sandina. Personal Interview, 23 January 2003. Gaines, Gail. Focus on Teacher Salaries: What Teacher Salary Averages Don’t Show.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Southern Regional Education Board. Atlanta, GA: ERIC Document Reproduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Service, 2000. ED461644. Keliher, Evan. â€Å"Forget the Fads- The Old Way Works Best† Newsweek. September   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2002: 18. Mintz, Katy. â€Å"Focus Letter: Teachers Earn The Salary They Make.† The Desert Sun.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2002. 8 January 2003. Sternberg, Ruth E. â€Å"Ohio Teachers Settle Salary Contracts For Less Money.† SACC T.V.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2002. 13 February 2003. The Education Intelligence Agency. â€Å"International Teacher Salary Report.† Ohio   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Roundtable & Ohio Freedom Forum Online Library. 1999. 22 January 2003.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   United States Department of Labor. â€Å"Bureau of Labor Statistics.† Occupational Outlook   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Handbook. 2002-03. 13 February 2003. . Wilgoren, Jodi. â€Å"Education Study Finds U. S. Falling Short† (2001): 4pp. 22 January   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2003

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Klinefelter Syndrome :: essays research papers

KLINEFELTER SYNDROME Klinefelter Syndrome is a syndrome in which a person has an additional X- chromosome. It is not life consuming, but rather people who have this syndrome can live perfectly normal lives proper treatment and care. If precautions are taken early on. Dr. Harry Klinefelter and his co-workers at Massachusetts center hospital in Boston in 1942 first identified the syndrome. These men were of the first to publish a report on this syndrome in its whole, so as to not leave any questions in your mind about this syndrome. What is Klinefelter syndrome Klinefelter syndrome is a syndrome in which a person inherits an extra X-chromosome making their genetic makeup xxy instead of the normal How it occurs This syndrome occurs by natural selection in which the condition arises from chromosomal nondisjunction during meiosis in this process, the 46 chromosomes in the cell separate, ulimatiing producing two new cells having 23 chromosomes each. Before meiosis is completed, however, chromosomes pair with their corresponding chromosomes and exchange bits of genetic material. In women, X-chromosomes pair, in men, the X and Y-chromosomes separate, and meiosis continues. Otherwise it is not something that happens by the law of nature in which you are randomly chosen in its specific frame of how many times it happens, whom it effects, and how it happens. There is really no specific frame in which it invariably happens. It is known through that it happens during the process of meiosis in which chromosomes split. WHO IT AFFECTS Klinefelter Syndrome only occurs in males. This is so because females have a similar condition called Turner’s Syndrome who generally has the same side effects as Klinefelter Syndrome. Instead of having one X chrosomes they have two. Where as in Klinefelter patients are XXY, instead of XY which is the normal. PROGNOSIS Although many men can live out their lives without ever seeing the effects of XXY many men do see the effects of XXY, many men do see the effects of this syndrome. Common effects are; tall around six feet, small testes, inability to produce sperm, spare facial and body hair, and gynecomastig. A few associated conditions are:  infertility  incomplete masculinization; feminine or pear shaped body  osteoporosis  venous disease  learning, emotional, and mental disorders  low energy  low self-esteem  communications difficulties  frustration based outbursts  motor skill issues  developmental delays Although these things are Klinefelter Syndrome, many doctors distinguish chromosomal anomalies. From any possible resulting syndrome diseases, and conditions.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Intro to Rh Bill Essay

Introduction: Humans are naturally born governed with laws and that’s what we call the natural law. And as we, humans grow to become more intellectual, we generated our own laws and rules to govern our lives for better quality and discipline. But sometimes, there are laws or proponents that have gained different viewpoints among us as to its necessity, value, and morality. One of these is the Reproductive Health Bill. Almost over a decade has passed since the Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines was for the first time proposed, now that the pursuance of the bill has gained its rebirth, still it has become a part of the national debate bringing about a wider division. The Reproductive Health Bill, popularly known as the RH Bill, Is this essay helpful? Upgrade your account to read more and access more than 650,000 just like it! get better grades is a Philippine bill aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care. While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate on its key proposal that the Filipino taxpayer and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices furthermore, 81% Filipinos are Catholics, the Catholic Church exerts a strong influence in public life. Its staunch of opposition to the bill has drawn the ire of non-Catholics and Catholics alike who support the bill, and they invoke the principle of separation of church and state to stop the church. Passage or non-passage of the bill has negative implications depending on the views.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Born or Made Essay

In other words, I’m hitting two birds with one stone: watching the movie and relating it with my reaction paper on leaders being born or made. I’m talking about Captain America and Iron Man. What about them? Captain America was a hero in the past. He joined the military. Because of his diminutive size, he wasn’t given much attention in the army. In other words, he was a nobody until he was asked to be part of the experiment. From a small soldier to a buffy one, he has become a man of power and strength. He has become Captain America! On the other hand, Tony Sparks, commonly known as Iron Man, was a genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist. Because of his intelligence, he was able to make inventions that helped mankind and eventually made him Iron Man. Both have the same goal: to help and save mankind. Now, how is this related to the main topic of this paper? As I was observing the two heroes, my personal opinion would be: Captain America has innate abilities of being a leader while Iron Man has acquired the abilities, so to speak. So, are leaders born or made? II. Synopsis In the article written by Bottger (2010), he mentioned that the question â€Å"Are leaders born or made? † may not even be relevant. He claimed that it is a question that has obsessed many leadership scholars over the years and is often posed by executives in development programs. According to him, it’s â€Å"a bad question which begets bad answers†. â€Å"As many decades of leadership writing shows, this is a question that cannot yield a satisfactory response, especially for aspiring leaders. Understandably, the line taken by management educators tends to be that most leadership qualities can be developed, given adequate amounts of key personal characteristics, notably intelligence and physical energy. But the fact is that you do not know what you are born with until you try very hard to express it. Actually, the question illuminates little, as it fails to deal with a basic point, namely the degree of responsibility sought. What level of leadership responsibility does the person aspire to? The highest levels of leadership responsibilities present tasks that are massive, complex and conflictual. The playing field, the boundaries and the rules become less certain. Indeed, it is the leader’s job to shape these choices. † Bottger proposes three questions to assess one’s leadership potential: How far do you want to go? What are you willing to invest? How will you keep it up? III. Reaction/Insights Throughout history, we have learned many great people and great leaders. Napoleon Bonaparte, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , our very own Dr. Jose P. Rizal to name a few. They indeed proved their worth, thus making them part of the great men in history. But, how about now? How about me? Humbly speaking, I would say I’m not born to lead, but I’m sure made to lead and serve. If I were to trace my leadership roadmap, I would gather my playmates and acted like I was their teacher. In grade school, I was an active member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, I even became a Patrol Leader. In high school, I was a class officer. When I reached college, I became a class mayor. Now that I’m teaching, I have been a co-moderator of our school’s Student Council. Working with young leaders is indeed a challenging yet rewarding experience for me. I have learned so much from my council leaders. Young as they are, they have a lot to share. I can see the spirit of service in them strong. Eventually, they will become our nation’s future leaders. If I am made to lead, so are they. It is a humbling experience to be working with these young leaders because I get to realize my strengths and limitations. The leadership trainings and workshops I was exposed to eventually helped me become effective in my assignments. There is no doubt that with proper training and exposure, a person who is willing to learn and even learn from his mistakes, will become a good leader. Indeed, everything can be learned, but the leader-wanna-be should be willing to learn. But how come others seem to learn faster than the rest even if they are all willing to learn? One important factor would be intelligence. We have different IQ’s. Some learn faster, some need more time to grasp what is being taught to them. Another factor would be the environment they were or are exposed with. A person may be early on exposed to dealing with other people, say, employees of his parents in their family business. His parents may have already exposed him at a young age on how to deal with their staff and the different responsibilities involved in their business. Another person may have been exposed to a leadership in a basketball team. Being a varsity member and the team captain, he exercised responsibilities of a leader. I believe that openness to growth is very important especially to aspiring leaders. As an aspiring leader, how far do I want to go? Honestly, I love being in the academe. For as long as my superiors put their trust in me, I would love to stay for a higher position in the academe. What am I willing to invest? Pursuing my graduate studies is one step I am taking. I understand there’s still so much I have to learn. How will I keep it up? I need to be more open to criticisms, resistance and setbacks. It’s tough, I know. But I believe I can make it. Knowing that the Greatest Leader is there to guide me, I will really be able to do things right. I believe I am made to lead and serve for God’s greater glory. IV. Conclusion Are leaders born or made? I would rather say leaders are made. I believe that if a person already has innate leadership abilities, but isn’t open to growth, he or she will never become an effective leader. However, if someone has shown such leadership potential and shows willingness to be trained and is really open to learning more, he or she will become an effective one. Furthermore, the important question is: what are you willing to do – or to sacrifice – to become the best leader you can be? V. Source Bottger, P. C. & Barsoux, J. (2010, March). Are leaders born or made? Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://www. imd. ch

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Coloplast a/S †Organizational Challenges in Offshoring

COLOPLAST A/S – ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES IN OFFSHORING Coloplast one of today’s leading suppliers for medical devices and associated services, was established in 1957 in Denmark. The company operates in 5 business areas: ostomy, urology (continence care), wound care, skin health and â€Å"Amoena†, for external breast forms. In 2004, 92. 5% of the total group profit derived from the chronic care divisions ostomy and continence care, which have very stable product lines.However, as a part of the company’s 2008 strategy consideration revenues were supposed to be ensued by a total of 20% of products established within the past 4 years, dating no further back than 2004. Coloplast is one of the companies that were born globally. In the year of its foundation already every second ostomy bad was being exported, by 2005 97% of its revenue was generated outside of Denmark. Until 2001, the company had six major production facilities within Denmark.In 1999, the manag ement level, for the first time, took a closer look at the idea of offshoring its production to a low-cost location. During the following thorough evaluation period the organization carried out extensive feasibility studies and interview Danish companies, which had already offshored to one of the locations in question. The evaluation committee undertook field trips to Poland, Ireland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Eventually, it had been decided to offshore to Hungary.Coloplast’s managers where aware of the language barrier on the Hungarian side as well as the social impact problems due to the redeployment of Danish employees, hence they took precautions to avoid work stoppages; they introduced an open and honest communication policy. The substantial one-off costs could be minimized by transfer or reassignment of employees in combination with the usage of voluntary attrition and early retirement. However, the offshoring process uncovered and amplified the weaknesses of the dece ntralized organization.The management realized in order to effectively transfer the knowledge to Hungary they had to introduce standardization into their production process. The company’s internal organization had to be changed very fundamentally. Offshoring to Hungary was a great success and the company gained considerable knowledge. Estimates forecasted an annual growth rate of 10% leading to a doubled production in 2010, which would require 50% more staff and space. Despite the fact that the Hungary project went very ell, management acknowledge that they had missed out on a few great opportunities concerning for example local sourcing, because the offshoring organization had consumed most of the managerial capacities. The main question for Rasmussen was now: â€Å"Should the internal organizational issues be tackled fist and the offshoring to China initiated later, or is the knowledge they have gained and the guideline they have derived from the last offshoring project en ough to proceed immediately without the risk of overseeing important issues again?

Psychology and Scientific Method Essay

There are many arguments that debunk the idea that psychology could ever be a ‘pure science’. In any event, psychology has been touted by many a philosopher as a pseudo-science. This is primarily because science itself has a fixed method by which they conduct scientific experiments. We discuss precisely what it is that makes a theory scientific, how theories can be related to evidence and the principal issues involved in evaluating a theory. We also look at what it is that a science of psychology should study. What aspects of psychology can be defined as scientific and what aspects are thoroughly based on conjecture? Can we really call psychology a scientific medium? The observable is what science studies. Freud was initially concerned with studying the unseen, while observing behaviors (Hays, 1964: 27). He believed that the insanity that is presented to the outside world was due to a complex internal mental mechanism (Hays, 1964: 27). However, Freud also fell short of one thing, hard evidence that these mental processes existed. Scientific method determines that there are 4 or 5 steps the researcher has to take in order to make the experiment valid in the eyes of the scientific community. Physics lecturer Jose Wudka states that these steps include: 1. Observation; 2. Hypothesis; 3. Prediction; 4. Test the prediction with experiment (Wudka, 1998). The last step may be that the prediction needs to be retested and the hypothesis revisited. If we take Freud as an example, his experiments were based almost entirely on observation with no empirical data to either prove or disprove his hypotheses. Theory remains just a theory until is proved as fact. Theories are therefore related to evidence in a crucial way. Firstly, there has to be evidence of something that can be studied: for instance in criminal justice we have a bullet cap left behind at a crime. This bullet may be lying in a certain way and with the added presence of gunshot residue (cordite) can help investigators to formulate a hypothesis about what happened with the particular crime. With the case of Freud for instance, we can observe behaviors of children or even adults, but we cannot say where it comes from without getting inside the head. This makes the evidence inadmissible and the theory remains just that – a theory. Secondly, evidence that is presented, has to be tested. This means that the evidence must relate to the theory it is trying to legitimate. In this case, the evidence either proves the theory or it forces the experimenter to return to the theory and rework it. A theory can be evaluated by means of this same testing procedure, key issues being predominantly about validity, verifiability and reliability. Take for instance the normal experimental procedure for empirical research that includes the presentation of a valid sample group that is anonymous and whose records are either thus or confidential. An example of theory testing in psychology that does follow the scientific method is that of medical and electrical testing. One particular research example in psychology is that of Electro Shock Therapy. In this case the treatment studied is reversed in that the EST was used to treat asthmatics, successfully. This case studied asthmatics brought in for EST after intense supervision prior to hospitalization. The patients were monitored before, during and after the treatment to see whether there is a relationship between hysteria and asthma (Cohen and Holbrook, 1947: 213). In this case the patients themselves provide the data necessary for testing the hypothesis. The hypothesis was that there was a relationship between hysteria and asthma. The results showed not only a relationship, but I significant reaction to Electro Shock Treatment (Cohen and Holbrook, 1947: 214). In other research, EST is studied for its effect on schizophrenia rather than the usual bipolar disorder. This research revealed that EST may be useful in the treatment of this psychotic illness. This especially when combined with medication (ScienceDaily, 2005). These research projects were conducted under strict supervision and with documentation the entire process. On the other side of the coin, there are arguments that also dispel scientific method. William McComas of the Rossier School of Education cites 15 myths about scientific method that he considers to be principal issues. In the scope of this paper we cannot discuss all of McComas’ issues but a few will be discussed. The first of these is that hypotheses become theories and then become laws. This is not always the case since sometimes the evidence does not uphold the hypothesis. He also says that theory is not always absolute. Theory can only be absolute if there are no exceptions and in psychology particularly, there are almost always exceptions. Science and scientific method are also not always absolute proof, nor does it always answer all the questions (McComas, 1998: 2-9). In tune with the fact that the evidence does not always support the hypothesis, science does also not always represent reality but functions as a model around which scientific developments can be made (McComas, 1998: 9-18). Furthermore and specifically in psychology terms, these theories are flouted by the presence of some elements in a patient that do not fit the ‘textbook’ description of a certain ailment. For instance, it could be said that most cases of borderline personality disorder come from upper to middle class sectors and develop this type of disorder as a textbook concern, not all BPD patients are upper to middle class. This is merely an example of the type of issue that faces the social sciences where individuals cannot be controlled in the way that plant slides or blood tests can be. The science of psychology is about people and the nuances thereof. It is aware that humans are temperamental and also subject to the actions of other people. This means that psychology can be studied as an observation, by viewing the behaviors of people and documenting them. Psychology cannot be studied in the same way as other sciences can be, despite the fact that in empirical sciences there are also issues of compliance. If we consider that communicable diseases such as HIV/Aids can be physically examined, that blood cells and antibodies can be made visible and studied in their physical form, psychology is not the same. Inroads have been made to attempt to clarify tests done decades earlier, such as Pavlov’s conditioning studies, but unless a method becomes available to view thought processes, these theories remain unproved. The visible is the first step to studying science, but psychology hits a wall after that. We know certain aspects of psychology, such as schizophrenia is as much a neurological disorder as a psychiatric one, but there are other psychological issues we do not know. This means that psychology has to be studied in a multidisciplinary way, rather than as purely scientific. In qualitative research as in quantitative, issues of evaluation are the same. In some psychiatric cases, a patient may also have medical problems, such as diabetes, epilepsy or malnutrition and these can be physically seen. There are indeed ways in which psychology fails the test of scientific method, and therefore falls into the category of ‘pseudo science’. However, there are issues in pure sciences that also fall short of the elitist idea of science. Films such Stanley Kubrick’s â€Å"A Clockwork Orange† explore the idea of experimentation with the human brain, but to undergo such testing even with the consent of volunteers, would be considered inhumane. It seems to be ethical to test chemicals on animals or to test explosives in remote areas, but not ethical to perform potentially dangerous tests on human brains. This leaves psychological testing with the likes of psychometric testing and theories, yet again. As discussed, scientific method is reliant on having the evidence to back it up, whereas psychological is based on assumption to a large extent. Psychological profiling is an example of this in that given the evidence presented, a criminal can be profiled by the marks he leaves behind. Seldom is this knowledge enough to prove someone is guilty of not.