Effects of Implementation of a School Uniform Policy

Donohue ( 1996 ) provinces in response to turning degrees of force in schools, instructors, parents, and school functionaries have come to see school uniforms as one positive and originative manner to cut down subject jobs and increase safety. They believe that the acceptance of school unvarying policies can advance school safety, better subject and heighten the acquisition environment. In the Washington ( District of Columbia ) schools, a survey of the impact of uniform/dress codifications and patterns on school clime, educational attainment, and pupil affective and cognitive spheres was conducted. The consequences of the informations indicate the followers: ( 1 ) grounds cited for involvement in a unvarying policy were based on the demand to learn pupils that fabrics do non do a individual, fiscal nest eggs for household, and parent concern that kids might take part in an illicit act to buy interior decorator vesture ; ( 2 ) simple schools were more likely than secondary schools to be be aftering to implement a unvarying policy ; ( 3 ) parents were normally involved in developing a uniform policy in simple schools ; ( 4 ) there was no important alteration in the overall attending or educational attainment after implementing a policy ; and ( 5 ) parents an school staff believe that have oning uniforms has had a positive impact on school clime ( Stevenson 1991 ) . Purpose of the Survey: The intent of this proposal is to find if school uniforms, if implemented, will bring forth a perceptual experience of a safer and more disciplined acquisition environment for pupils, parents, and instructors at Southport Middle School in St. Lucie County. Research Questions: The research inquiries which will try to analyze: How will school uniforms cut down violent happenings in in-between schools- Who will profit the most from a school uniform policy, -What consequence will school uniforms have towards designer vesture and peer pressure- Are at that place any benefits or fiscal nest eggs if school uniforms are implemented -What affect will school unvarying policies have on safety and subject in in-between school. Hypothesis: The above information indicates that school unvarying constabularies appear to hold value. A research survey refering the effects of these policies on perceptual experience of safety and subject is of import and should be pursued. The proposed survey, hence, will be based on the undermentioned hypothesis: Percepts of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors in in-between schools are affected by the execution of school unvarying policies. The void hypothesis is stated as follows: School Uniform Policies have no affect on instructor ‘s, parent ‘s and pupil ‘s perceptual experiences of safety at South port in-between school. Rationale and Significance of the Survey: There have been a figure of surveies on the execution of a school uniform policy, and all of those published have been successful in run intoing some end or intent. This survey serves as another stepping-stone that will offer insight so that research worker can prove the sentiments about a policy that may really be implemented and is of great involvement to the concern of the in-between school population. on perceptual experiences of safety and subject on a sample population limited to middle school pupils, parents and instructors in St. Lucie County, Florida. A disciplined and safe acquisition environment should b a precedence demand for a good school, as pupils who are safe and secure are better pupils ( Donohue 1996 ) . In response to turning degrees of force in schools, instructors, parents, and school functionaries have come to see school uniforms as one positive and originative manner to cut down subject jobs and increase safety. They believe that the acceptance of school unvarying policies can advance school safety, better subject and heighten the acquisition environment. Nature of the Survey: In order to supply grounds of a causal nexus between variables, this survey attempts to set up a statistical relationship between the undermentioned variables. The design of the survey is descriptive, with a cross sectional design. The research is expected to associate the dependant variable, perceptual experience of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors at in-between schools with the independent variable, execution of school uniforms. This design appears to be appropriate so that the research worker can prove the sentiments about a policy that may really be implemented and is of great involvement to the concern of the in-between school population. Premises and Restrictions: It is expected that the survey will hold high internal cogency as it tests sentiments about a policy that may really be implemented and is of great involvement to the study participants. There is, nevertheless, a menace of prejudice since pupils, parents and instructors are cognizant of others involved in the research and may alter their replies consequently. The research besides may hold high external cogency if the pupils are considered to be representative of all in-between school pupils in St. Lucie County.LITERATURE REVIEWThe intent of this proposal is to analyze if implementing school uniforms will bring forth a safer and more disciplined acquisition environment for pupils, parents, and instructors at Southport Middle School in St. Lucie County. Theoretical Model: The information introduced in the literary reappraisal provides the footing for a nexus between school unvarying policies and the perceptual experience of safety and subject in the school environment. This information was collected from decision makers and journalists who performed their ain experiments or observed others who had seen the alterations first-hand. In add-on, primary information has been collected from study distributed to all pupils, parents and instructors at South Port Middle School. Therefore, this survey will use a descriptive, cross-sectional design. The findings in the literary reappraisal, thenceforth, will be compared with replies to questionnaire on the execution of school uniforms in the in-between school environment. A convenience sampling of topics who fundamentally â€Å" select themselves † by returning the questionnaire will later supply the primary informations to be analyzed. Introduction to the Literature Review: There is a considerable sum of literature refering school unvarying policies and their consequence upon pupil behaviour. Violence has late, been labeled by many wellness professionals as a possible menace to the overall wellness and academic success of kids ( Stephen 1996 ) . Steming force, hence, has become a precedence concern of school decision makers, particularly in the in-between school environment. Approximately one in four pupil ‘s concerns about going a victim of offense or menaces at school, and one in eight pupils study holding been victimized on a school campus ( Chandler 1996 ) . As a consequence of such studies, schools have implemented force bar plans, but these plans have shown small success ( McAllister 1995 ) . As the force bar plans continue, nevertheless, decision makers, instructors, parents, and pupils have noted a possible connexion between the types of vesture pupils wear in school and school force. Students have oning gang-related or gang-like vesture tend to rule the manner tendency at schools, particularly those in urban countries. When pupils are have oning gang-related vesture, the existent pack members frequently take the chance to come in unnoticed into schools. A pupil, hence, based on the colour or type of vesture he wears, can go the mark of knowing or unwilled force ( Gursky 1996 ) . In add-on, the manner of vesture presently popular with in-between school pupil ‘s loose-fitting bloomerss and outsize shirts can go a agencies of transporting arms or drugs into school and therefore indirectly increases the opportunity of school force. As pupils engage in the avidity to be stylish many besides set up a connexion between vesture manner and school force. Students may envy other pupil ‘s vesture but lack fiscal resources to buy similar manners. Consequently, pupils who do own these valuable points have been violently injured or even murdered for their interior decorator apparels or gym shoes. In Detroit, a 15 year-old was shot for his eighty-dollar hoops places. In Oxon Hill, Maryland, a 17 year-old male award pupil was killed at a coach halt, caught in a cross fire during the robbery of another pupil ‘s interior decorator jacket ( Woods 1996 ) . Consequently, school uniforms may cut down these violent happenings, necessitating kids to have on the same vesture could direct a message that all participants are on the same squad. Uniform Benefits: Historically, uniforms have been worn for a assortment of circumstance. Nurses wear their healthful shred work garb ; athletic squads put on their athletics apparels, complete with squad logo ; and military forces dress out in fatigues or frock unvarying to suit the juncture. Uniforms may be associated with positive or negative functions. Harmonizing to Majestic ( 1995 ) , uniforms can function several maps. First, uniforms define group boundaries, promote group ends, and cut down function struggle. Football squad member, for illustration, do non vie against each other, but they work hand in glove to accomplish the end of winning the game. Second, uniforms can uncover function theoretical accounts. These vesture symbols tell perceivers that the wearer can be categorized as a pupil, security guard, or Boy Scout. Third, uniforms legitimize functions in given state of affairss by clear uping rank and function. For case, individuals dressed in fire combat uniforms would be expected to be firemen who would snuff out firs. Finally, uniforms act as a symbol of group rank. Group members, even if they do non cognize each other personally, can place with each other by have oning a similar uniform. In the yesteryear, school uniforms have been used to exemplify that vesture does non do a individual. This is particularly true in the parochial school scene. However, oppositions of school uniforms have challenged frock ordinance by claiming a misdemeanor of the liberty involvement to command one ‘s visual aspect which is set Forth under the Fourteenth Amendment ( Stephen 1996 ) . In 1969, the Supreme Court affirmed, in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, that official are â€Å" stat † histrions whose subject of pupils is constrained by the federal fundamental law ( Majestic 1995 ) , that the instance established, the right of pupils â€Å" to freedom of look in school unless the exercising of that right would materially and well interfere with the demands of appropriate subject or collide with the rights of others in the school † ( Majestic 1995 ) . Another dictum was established in the â€Å" Kelly Decision † . This determination establishes a method for analysing personal visual aspect instances. Harmonizing to Potner, ( 1996 ) , who believed that â€Å" a individual has a basic autonomy involvement in their personal visual aspect that can non be infringed with some screening of a rational footing related to a legitimate authorities involvement † ( Majestic 1991 ) . It appears that concluding for this instance is based on the theory that pupils are capable legion limitations o their personal freedoms as an built-in portion of the educational procedure. Affects on Safety and Discipline: The clang between pupils ‘ single rights to free look and the duty of public school governments to supply a safe and supportive acquisition environment helps to fuel the argument over dress-code policy. In 1988, in the Hazelwood School District v. Kuhllmeier instance, the Supreme Court found that public schools by and large are non unfastened public forums in the same sense as streets or Parkss and that school functionaries may therefore enforce sensible limitations on free address ( Potner 1996 ) . This opinion was consistent with earlier Supreme Court pronouncements that the â€Å" school ‘s alone function in advancing regard for authorization and traditional values and in fixing persons for engagement as citizens justifies greater latitude in modulating address on school belongings † ( Futrerell 1996 ) . A opinion on compulsory unvarying policy in public schools came from Maricopa County Arizona. In a 1995 instance and Arizona province justice upheld that a rigorous mandatory-uniform policy regulated free look whether the school ‘s ground for the unvarying policy was sensible. Local school territories and single schools normally adopt a unvarying policy. Harmonizing to the Manual on School Uniforms sent to schools by the United States Secretary of Education. Riley ( 1996 ) , finding whether to follow a school unvarying policy involves the followers: First, acquire parents involved from the beginning. Parental support of a unvarying policy is critical for success. The strongest push for school uniforms in recent old ages has come from parent groups who want better subject. Second, protect pupils ‘ spiritual look. A school unvarying policy must suit pupils whose spiritual beliefs are well burdened by a unvarying demand. Third, protect pupils ‘ other rights of look. A unvarying policy may non forbid pupils from warring or exposing expressive points every bit long as such points do non independently contribute to break by well interfering with subject or with the rights of others. Forth, find whether to hold a voluntary or compulsory school uniform policy. Some schools have adopted voluntary school unvarying policies that permit pupils freely to take whether and under what fortunes they will have on school uniforms. Fifth, do non necessitate pupils to have on a message. Schools should non enforce a signifier of look on pupils by necessitating them to have on uniforms bearing a substantial message, such as a political message. Sixth, assist households that need fiscal aid. School territories with unvarying policies should do commissariats for pupils whose households are unable to afford uniforms. Finally, treat school uniforms as portion of an overall safety plan. Uniform policy and its benefits: School territories across the state are sing school unvarying policies because they appear to supply ready solutions to some of the facets of school safety, pack force, arms in school, and assaults associated with larceny of expensive vesture. Gang attire causes packs to be openly hostile to each other and creates and ambiance of bullying or break, and inadvertent erosion of the incorrect colour can set a pupil ‘s life at hazard ( Reasonably, 1994 ) . Besides, in recent old ages, some young person manners have encourage have oning â€Å" baggy † apparels where arms can be and hold been hidden in outsize bloomerss or overalls. These sorts of discourtesies harmonizing to Jolly would be favourably affected by promoting or necessitating uniformity in pupil school wear. School Reduction of Violence: Nolin ( 1996 ) suggests seven benefits historically cited by advocates of school uniforms ; viz. , the belief that ( a ) subject and ( B ) regard for the instructor are increased, ( degree Celsius ) group spirit is promoted ; ( vitamin D ) academic criterions are maintained through uniformity ; ( vitamin E ) strain on parental begets is eased and ( degree Fahrenheit ) there is a lessening in the race for societal position, accompanied by an ability to de-emphasise socioeconomic difference by restricting â€Å" manner statements † , and ( g ) interlopers on the school campus can be more easy identified. School uniforms can besides cut down the accent on manner wars and reenforce the acceptableness of less dearly-won school vesture. Uniforms can ease the strain on parental budgets, a peculiar advantage in low-income households. Uniforms can besides cut down the usage of vesture as index of position and wealth ( Futrell 1994 ) . In add-on to encouraging pupils to concentrate on larning instead than on what to have on, uniforms can advance peer credence, every bit good as school spirit and school pride. By have oning uniforms, pupils can take ownership in school rank, bridge the differences among widely economic degrees of pupils, and go more incorporate through the decrease in cultural and cultural tensenesss ( Cohn 1996 ) . Further, uniforms can back up the connexion between school, professional scene, acquisition, and future success. Some experts suggest that pupils who come to school â€Å" dressed for success † and ready to larn a higher chance of accomplishing their ends ( Riley 1996 ) . In the study of the United Teachers of Dade County, Florida, about 60 per centum of the group ‘s members supported compulsory uniforms for school kids ( Gursky 1996 ) . Similarly, of the five thousand five 100 principals surveyed as attendants of the National Association of Secondary School Principals ‘ Annual Conference in February 1996, more than 70 per centum believed that necessitating pupils to have on uniforms to school would cut down violent incidents and subject jobs ( Portner 1996 ) . Furthermore, greater than 80 per centum of Long Beach Press-Telegram readers supported school uniforms ( Chandler 1996 ) . Long Beach, California, United School District, consisting 56 simple schools and about 60 1000 pupils, was the first big urban school territory in the United States to necessitate school uniforms for all pupils, kindergarten through class eight. Since 1994, when compulsory unvarying policies were adopted in this school territory, functionaries have found that force and subject jobs dramatically decreased ( Potner 1996 ) . In the first twelvemonth following execution, overall school offense decreased by 36 per centum ; sex discourtesies, by 74 per centum ; physical battles between pupils, by 51 per centum ; school suspensions, by 32 per centum ; and hooliganism, by 18 per centum ( Cohn 1996 ) . Uniform Safety and Discipline: In the Washington ( District of Columbia ) schools, a survey of the impact of uniform/dress codifications and patterns on school clime, educational attainment, and pupil affective and cognitive spheres was conducted. The consequences of the informations indicate the followers: ( 1 ) grounds cited for involvement in a unvarying policy were based on the demand to learn pupils that fabrics do non do a individual, fiscal nest eggs for household, and parent concern that kids might take part in an illicit act to buy interior decorator vesture ; ( 2 ) simple schools were more likely than secondary schools to be be aftering to implement a unvarying policy ; ( 3 ) parents were normally involved in developing a uniform policy in simple schools ; ( 4 ) there was no important alteration in the overall attending or educational attainment after implementing a policy ; and ( 5 ) parents an school staff believe that have oning uniforms has had a positive impact on school clime ( Stevenson 1991 ) . Another survey conducted by Woods ( 1992 ) in a Chicago public school surveyed the attitudes of parents toward a unvarying pupil frock codification. Seventy- Seven per centum of parents agreed that kids are pressured by their equals over vesture and about 80 % believed that uniforms eliminated so competition. Sixty per centum disagreed that have oning uniforms promoted positive interactions among pupils. No parents thought that unvarying frock provided any protection against packs and designation with pack vesture, but most felt that uniforms were more economical than the purchase of school apparels. Ninety-three per centum felt that have oning uniforms helps kids recognize that apparels do non do the individual. Finally, the few public schools that have implemented school uniforms have done so in the belief that there will be a assortment of benefits for pupils and that uniforms by themselves can non work out all the jobs of school subject, but they can be one positive lending factor to train and safety. Based on the study questionnaire, the sample population felt that a school uniform policy would hold a positive impact on module and pupils perceptual experiences of safety and subject. Any policy with such a positive impact on the module and pupils is good to the school. Decisions: The consequences of this survey will assist help parents, instructors and school leaders in finding whether to follow a school uniform policy. The strongest push for school uniforms in recent old ages has come from parent groups who want better subject. School uniforms can cut down the accent on manner wars and reenforce the acceptableness of less dearly-won school vesture. Uniforms can ease the strain on parental Budges, a peculiar advantage I low-income households. Uniforms besides cut down the usage of vesture as indexs of position and wealth. In add-on to encouraging pupils to concentrate on acquisition, instead than on what to have on, uniforms can advance peer credence, every bit good as school spirit and school pride. Finally, narrow and/or bridge the differences among widely economic degrees of pupils, and go unified through the decrease in cultural and cultural tensenesss.Chapter 3. MethodologyIntroduction: The intent of this proposal is to look into if school uniforms, if implemented, would cut down force in a school environment for pupils, parents, and instructors at Southport Middle School in St. Lucie County. Research Questions: The Research inquiries will try to analyze: How will school uniforms cut down violent happenings in in-between schools- Who will profit the most from a school uniform policy, -What consequence will school uniforms have towards designer vesture and peer pressure- Are at that place any benefits or fiscal nest eggs if school uniforms are implemented -What affect will school unvarying policies have on safety and subject in in-between school. Hypothesis: Percepts of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors in in-between schools are affected by the execution of school unvarying policies. School Uniform Policies have no affect on instructor ‘s, parent ‘s and pupil ‘s perceptual experiences of safety at South port in-between school. Theoretical Model: There have been a figure of surveies on the execution of a school uniform policy, and all of those published have been successful in run intoing some end or intent. This research examines the perceptual experience toward interior decorator vesture and peer force per unit area, unvarying colourss as a step of safety, unvarying frock as a fiscal nest egg, and the impact of the frock codification on self-expression ( which includes steps of subject ) . This survey will get down the procedure of interpreting of import administrative concerns that investigate perceptual experiences of safety and subject on a sample population limited to middle school pupils, parents and instructors in St. Lucie County, Florida. A disciplined and safe acquisition environment should be a precedence demand for a good school, as pupils who are safe and secure are better pupils ( Donohue 1996 ) . In response to turning degrees of force in schools, instructors, parents, and school functionaries have come to see school uniforms as one positive and originative manner to cut down subject jobs and increase safety. They believe that the acceptance of school unvarying policies can advance school safety, better subject and heighten the acquisition environment. Research Design: The study questionnaire was administered to the sample population to find if the benefits identified in the current literature reappraisal were of import plenty to see implementing a school uniform policy. The consequences of the instructor study indicate that school uniforms had a positive impact on the module and pupils. Parents ‘ responses to the study questionnaire findings show that parents believe that purchasing uniforms provide possible fiscal nest eggs on the buying of school vesture. The consequences of the pupil study indicate that pupils are pressured by their equals over the type of apparels they wear and are sometimes ridiculed about their apparels. All relevant descriptive statistics have been reported. A likert graduated table will be constructed, and the relationship of each inquiry to the entire mark will be examined. An alpha of.05 will be utilized to see a 95 % degree of assurance. All ratio degree informations will be collapsed so that a chi-square trial can be used to demo that a relationship exists. If the ensuing statistics reach the degree of statistical significance the hypothesis will be rejected. Sampling Design: The population chosen for this survey includes all in-between school pupils, their instructors, their parents and instructors in St. Lucie County Florida. Subjects include convenience sampling of 30 instructors ( 17 Blacks and 13 Caucasian ) , 30 parents ( 15 Blacks, 10 Haitians and five Hispanics ) and 30 pupils ( 15 Blacks, 10 Haitians and five Spanish americans ) at Southport Middle School who answered a questionnaire refering school uniforms. The study examines toward interior decorator vesture and peer force per unit area, unvarying colourss as a step of safety, unvarying frock as a fiscal nest egg, and the impact of the frock codification on self-expression ( which includes steps of subject ) . This survey will get down the procedure of interpreting of import administrative concerns. Then informations collected from instructor, parent, and pupil studies, and the entire size of the sample and the response informations returned will be reported. The random choice will justify an just distribution. The cogency of the inquiries will fall within the variables to deduce at a dependable analysis by the replies given. The design of the questionnaire consisted of several statements. Each party was asked to react to the inquiries by circling one of the three letters that â€Å" most about reflects † their attitude o the topic. The questionnaire provided specific statements about school uniforms and their affects on certain behaviour in school. The respondents were asked to supply an reply bespeaking the grade to which they supported the statement ( i.e. hold, differ, or unsure ) . In response to increasing school force several Teachers, Principals, Parents, and Students indicated a belief that uniforms could assist cut down force. Many people besides felt that the acceptance of school unvarying policies would take to an increased school safety, pupil subject, and pupil acquisition. The design of this survey is descriptive, with a cross sectional design. The research is expected to associate the dependant variable, perceptual experiences of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors in in-between schools with the independent variable, execution of school uniforms. The survey includes secondary informations from the literary reappraisal along with primary informations gathered from the study analyzing if a relationship exist between the variables It is expected that the survey will hold high internal cogency as it tests sentiments about a policy that may really be implemented and is of great involvement to the study participants. There is, nevertheless, a menace of prejudice since pupils, parents and instructors are cognizant of others involved in the research and may alter their replies consequently. The research besides may hold high external cogency if the pupils are considered to be representative of all in-between school pupils in St. Lucie County. Measures: This quantitative survey is descriptive, with a cross sectional design. The research is expected to associate the dependant variable, perceptual experience of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors at in-between schools with the independent variable, execution of school uniforms. This design appears to be appropriate so that the research worker can prove the sentiments about a policy that may really be implemented and is of great involvement to the concern of the in-between school population. In order to supply grounds of a causal nexus between variables, this survey attempts to set up a statistical relationship between the undermentioned variables: The dependant variable is the perceptual experience of safety and subject at schools where uniforms are required and the independent variable execution of a school uniform policy. A likert graduated table was constructed, and the relationship of each inquiry to the mark will be examined. An alpha degree of.05 will be utilized to see a 95 % degree of assurance. Data Collection: The information introduced in the literary reappraisal provides the footing for a nexus between school unvarying policies and the perceptual experience of safety and subject in the school environment. This information was collected from decision makers and journalists who performed their ain experiments or observed others who had seen the alterations first-hand. In add-on, primary information has been collected from study distributed to all pupils, parents and instructors at South Port Middle School. The research worker met with each group, instructors, parents and pupils, at a regular meeting at the school. At that clip, the studies were discussed and all inquiries were answered. The research worker noted that studies will be sent to parents and pupils who are non present at the school during meeting. The questionnaire was so distributed to all attendants ; respondents were given a deadline for completion and asked to return the informations by puting it in a bead box located in the chief office of South Port Middle School. If non adequate study questionnaires received, a 2nd questionnaire will be given to the respondents. The random choice will justify an just distribution. The cogency of the inquiries will fall within the variables to deduce at a dependable analysis by the replies given. The questionnaire provided specific statements about school uniforms and their affects on certain behaviour in school. The respondents were asked to supply an reply bespeaking the grade to which they supported the statement ( i.e. hold, differ, or unsure ) . In response to increasing school force several Teachers, Principals, Parents, and Students indicated a belief that uniforms could assist cut down force. Many people besides felt that the acceptance of school unvarying policies would take to an increased school safety, pupil subject, and pupil acquisition. Datas Analysis: The study questionnaire was administered to the sample population to find if the benefits identified in the current literature reappraisal were of import plenty to see implementing a school uniform policy. The consequences of the instructor study indicate that school uniforms had a positive impact on the module and pupils. Parents ‘ responses to the study questionnaire findings show that parents believe that purchasing uniforms provide possible fiscal nest eggs on the buying of school vesture. The consequences of the pupil study indicate that pupils are pressured by their equals over the type of apparels they wear and are sometimes ridiculed about their apparels. All relevant descriptive statistics have been reported. A likert graduated table was constructed, and the relationship of each inquiry to the entire mark will be examined. An alpha of.05 will be utilized to see a 95 % degree of assurance. All ratio degree informations will be collapsed so that a chi-square trial can be used to demo that a relationship exists. If the ensuing statistics reach the degree of statistical significance the hypothesis will be rejected. Internal Cogency: This research is expected to associate the dependant variable, perceptual experience of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors at in-between schools with the independent variable, execution of school uniforms. It is expected that the survey will hold high internal cogency as it tests sentiments about a policy that may really be implemented and is of great involvement to the study participants. There is, nevertheless, a menace of prejudice since pupils, parents and instructors are cognizant of others involved in the research and may alter their reply consequently. External Cogency: The research besides may hold high external cogency if the pupils are considered to be representative of all in-between school pupils. It is anticipated that the information gathered will ensue in the null-hypothesis being rejected. Sampling Design: The population chosen for the survey includes in-between school pupils, their parents and instructors in St. Lucie County. Subjects include a non-probability convenience sampling of pupils, parents, and instructors at South Port Middle School, in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, who answered a questionnaire refering the execution of school uniforms. South port Middle consists of about 50 instructors and 1,216 pupils. Teachers in this school represent a broad assortment of ages and old ages of experience in the instruction field. Parents besides represent a broad assortment of ages that come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Students are ages twelve through 16 and stand for different racial backgrounds. Peer Review Discussion: The research survey will look into if school uniforms, if implemented, would cut down force in a school environment for pupils, parents, and instructors at Southport Middle School in St. Lucie County. The population chosen for the survey will include all in-between school pupils, their parents and instructors. Subjects include a non-probability convenience sampling of 30 instructors ( 17 Blacks and 13 Caucasian ) , 30 parents ( 15 Blacks, 10 Haitians and five Hispanics ) and 30 pupils ( 15 Blacks, 10 Haitians and five Spanish americans ) at Southport Middle School who answered a questionnaire refering school uniforms. The study examines how will school uniforms cut down violent happenings in in-between schools-who will profit the most from a school unvarying policy-are there any benefits or fiscal nest eggs if school uniforms are implemented-what affect will school unvarying policies have on safety and subject in in-between school. The survey began the procedure of interpreting of import administrative concerns into the undermentioned hypothesis: Percepts of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors in in-between schools are affected by the execution of school unvarying policies. The primary informations will be collected from instructor, parent, and pupil studies, and the entire size of the sample and the response informations returned was reported. The consequences of the study include the undermentioned: A great bulk of instructors believe that apparels do non do a individual. The bulk of parents believe that uniforms provide possible fiscal nest eggs on school apparels for the hereafter. Eighty per centum of pupils believe that there is peer force per unit area based on the type of apparels kids wear. The design of the survey will be a descriptive survey, with a cross sectional designed. An alpha degree.05 was used to guarantee a 95 % degree of assurance. The ordinal degree informations was collapsed so that a chi-square trial can be used to find whether a relationship exists. The variables in the survey efforts to back up the research that linked the dependant variable, perceptual experience of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors at in-between schools with the independent variable, execution of school uniforms. The survey besides include secondary informations from literary reappraisal along with primary informations gathered from the study limited to information complied by instructors, parents and pupils, which is expected that the survey will hold high internal cogency as it tests sentiments about a policy that may really be implemented and is of great involvement to the study participants. There is, nevertheless, a menace of prejudice since pupils, parent s and instructors are cognizant of others involved in the research and may alter their replies consequently. The research besides may hold high external cogency if the pupils are considered to be representative of all in-between school pupils in St. Lucie County. Therefore, it is anticipated that the information gathered will ensue in the null-hypothesis being rejected. Expected Findingss: It is anticipated that the void hypothesis will be rejected and the research perceptual experiences of safety and subject among pupils, parents and instructors in in-between schools are affected by the execution of school unvarying policies, will be supported. Harmonizing to Jolly ( 1999 ) school territories across the state are sing school unvarying policies because they appear to supply ready solutions to some of the facets of school safety, pack force, arms in school, and assaults associated with larceny of expensive vesture. Ethical Issues: To protect from injury the research worker will admit regard for individual the participant ‘s liberty and duty to esteem that liberty to protect participants with lessened liberty from possible development, and illustration of this would be the kids. In this survey Beneficence will besides be applied, which obligates the research worker to protect participants from injury every bit good as minimize hazards ensuing from the research. Confidentiality, privateness, and namelessness: The research worker will do equal commissariats to guarantee that participant ‘s individualities will non be revealed in the class of the research ore airing of research consequences. Then, there is Informed consent/assent, which may besides be needed mentioning to â€Å" Assent † if the possible research participants are kids of appropriate aged and have the ability to grok it means understanding to take part in research is needed and or release of acquiescence due to age if the research involves no more than minimum hazard. Finally, Justice, that requires just distribution by avoiding selected participants entirely because they are accessible or easy to act upon. Decision: Harmonizing to Jolly ( 1999 ) school territories across the state are sing school unvarying policies because they appear to supply ready solutions to some of the facets of school safety, pack force, arms in school, and assaults associated with larceny of expensive vesture. Research besides indicates the few public schools that have implemented school uniforms have done so in the belief that there will be a assortment of benefits for pupils. As the force bar plans continue, nevertheless, decision makers, instructors, parents, and pupils have noted a turning degree of force in schools. School functionaries have come to see school uniforms as one positive and originative manner to cut down force, subject jobs, and increase safety. They believe that the acceptance of school unvarying policies can advance school safety, better subject and heighten the acquisition environment. Any policy with such a positive impact on the module and pupils is good to the school. Finally, since school territories determine whether to follow school unvarying policies, each territory should reexamine the literature presented in the survey and the informations created for this research survey to find if they want to implement a school uniform policy. In add-on, schools that utilize school uniforms should ever describe their advancement so that future research workers will be able to do determinations on school uniform policy with minimal attempt.

Mercedes benz marketing plan Essay

Mercedes Benz is one of the most recognizable names in the world. If you mention car, luxury, dependable, performance and â€Å"The Best or Nothing†, the first name it comes on your mind is Mercedes Benz. History of Mercedes Benz is the greatest out there, but I am going to focus on the Mercedes Benz USA, also known as MBUSA. MBUSA is a division responsible for distribution and marketing of Mercedes Benz products in the U. S. The headquarters of MBUSA are in Montvale, New Jersey. There are two dealership locations of MBUSA in northeast Ohio, one in Willoughby and the other one in Bedford. Also included in their division are Maybach, Smart and Sprinter. Although founded in 1965, MBUSA started importing Mercedes Benz in 1952, and the iconic car that started it all was 300SL Gullwing. It was founded under Max Hoffman; the current CEO of MBUSA is Steve Cannon. Other key personnel at MBUSA are Harald Henn CFO and VP, Inigo Mazquiaran GM of Corporate Finance and Joachim Schmidt Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz. Over the following years, MBUSA grew into a nationwide organization, now employing over 1500 people. The company also has 356 associated dealerships that employ 21,500 people themselves. MBUSA operates in the Car Dealership industry, in the distribution and marketing division of car sales industry to be more specific. With 305,072 passenger vehicles sold in the U. S. in 2012. SWOT Analysis Strengths: 1. Mercedes Benz has a strong brand value and global leader in premium cars 2. Leader in innovation i. e. 1st to introduce diesel engines, fuel injection and anti-locking brakes Weaknesses: 1. High maintenance cost of Mercedes Benz car 2. High prices compared to competition Opportunities: 1. Developing hybrid cars and fuel efficient cars for the future 2. Fast growing luxury automobile market & increased income Threats: 1. Ever increasing fuel prices 2. Intense competition from global automobile brands The Competition: 1. BMW 1. Porsche 2. Audi 3. Volkswagen 4. Jaguar 5. Ferrari 6. Aston Martin 7. Volvo The Industry they compete in is Oligopoly. Their competitive goal is to be global top-of-the-mind premium automobile brand. By putting their slogan as â€Å"the best or nothing†, they are tending to put inside the people’s mind that there is not another competition for them. The main opportunity for MBUSA is that the economy should grow. And the economy is growing because they sold 15% more cars so far than last year. Their best strength is that they always have been innovators, and the leaders in this industry. The technology on these cars is highest ever possible. And they keep amazing people for what they offer; the good example is the all-new 2014 S-Class Mercedes Benz. All competitive advantages, or disadvantages, that Mercedes Benz as a car offers is reflected at their MBUSA sales division. The product they sell in my opinion is superior of what their competition offers.

Natural Disaster Responses in California

For years, geologists have been predicting that a major earthquake will occur in california. In october 1989, a 7.1 quake hit the san francisco area. Five years later, northridge and southern california experienced an earthquake of similar magnitude. Why too many people is still coming to places like california where earthquakes and natural disasters are predicted? In my point of view, these are the strongest reasons: the most popular place to emmigrate, job opportunities, and better schools, education, and systems. California is the most popular place to emmigrate because it has a great weather, there are too many touristic atractions, many different places you can go to, and there is too many people that come from the same place you came from. I want to use mexican people as an example, they all come for one reason, â€Å"Succed†. They also know they will find a lot of people from mexico in california, specially in los angeles.They also kown that probably about half of the people california would talk spanish so I won†t be really hard for them to communicate with others. Job opportunities is another really strong factor that induces people to come and look for a better life. There are so many jobs in california that is almost a sure thing that anyone would get a job, educated or not educated people, or even if you are not legally able to work in usa you will still get a job. You can easily support yourself with a minimun wage, because you will probably get about 45 or 50 dollards a day when in places like mexico you will just get five dollards for the whole day and doing a really heavy job. Also relatively speaking, everything is expensive in mexico, I mean, here you can get or buy whatever you need for a low price, and you will still have some money left, but in mexico, you will never have enough money unless you are in the high class. â€Å"Schools,† california has great schools, great education level, and better systems than other places. Ucla and usc are some of the great universities california has and if you think about it, everything is related, if you go to a good school and become a really educated person, you will get a really good job and make really good money and then you won†t really worry about a good future because with your education that wiil be garranty. Scientist, doctors, and some other educated people come to usa, not only to california because of all technology that is here and can be helpul. A lot of support from schools, people, and business are another reasons teat encourages you to keep going and get better everyday, and if one day you decide to go back to the place you came from your education will open lots of doors for you. In my personal point of view, I think some people are aware of the disasters that are predicted, some others don†t care or just don†t believe it, nad the other part just come to make some money and come back to their native places. It is a true fact that so many people is still coming to california and when you hear about those things that are predicted, I†m sure you ask yourself why do people still come if they are aware of what†S going on? , well if you think about it I†m sure you will come out with almoist the same answers I just told.

EDIT FILE 4 (MICROFINANCE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT) Essay

EDIT FILE 4 (MICROFINANCE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT) - Essay Example ability to participate in the decisions that affect their lives at a personal level, which reflects the ‘power to’ that emerges from the concept of empowerment1. (Would it be fitting in the context of Saudi to include the collective level as well (I feel that it could be too big a stretch and ideological. What do you think?) b) women’s personal empowerment in both rural and urban areas in the kingdom. This concept of empowerment is an overarching theme that occurs on many levels: 1) In a general sense, whether women clients have become economically and socially empowered due to the support extended by the micro-finance organization. 2) More specifically, I plan to explore and assess the implications of having access to micro-finance on (control over resources, mobility, decision-making, bargaining power in the household) and socio-economic empowerment (self-confidence, self-esteem) of women clients. To highlight both the positive and negative aspects of micro-finance in the context of Saudi Arabia. A positive aspect, for example, would be for the women to become self-reliant or to have the ability to make major decisions about investments relating to their children’s future. Where as negative aspects could mean that the women would have to work longer hours or suffer an increase in domestic violence, etc. Examine how effective micro-finance can be in tackling the issue of high unemployment rates for women in Saudi. So to investigate whether micro-finance is one of the best solutions? If yes/no, then why? To study the characteristics of BRJ micro-finance beneficiaries by using their demographic and micro-finance profile (age, literacy, family size and type, occupation, loan size, enterprise, income, consumption, savings, etc.), and analyze how micro-finance services has impacted the well-being (investment in children education, health status, and nutritional intake) of the client’s family. This, I believe, is necessary in creating a case for

Discussion Board 8-1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Discussion Board 8-1 - Assignment Example The shrinking nature of the brains of the elderly people has the potential to cause serious cognitive impairments upon dependence on a given drug. Compared to youths who depend on given drugs, drug dependent elderly are likely to suffer from serious and extreme visual and hearing impairments. Drug dependent elderly people may also suffer from poor memory as well as develop serious linguistic and communication skills (Parker & Liu, 2007). Despite of the differences, drug dependence among the elderly and the youths cause results to nearly similar consequences. For instance, drug dependence across the age groups is likely to cause damage to internal organs. The extent and speed of damage may largely rely on the quantity and frequency of intake (Parker & Liu, 2007). Drug dependence among individuals across the two age groups is also likely to lead to psychosis. Psychosis condition may presents as either hallucination or delusion or both. Hallucination involves seeing and hearing of things that do not exist in reality. Delusion on the other hand refers to believing of myths and concepts that are not true and hard to prove. These consequences have occurred in both youths and the elderly who abuse and depend on

To What Extent Can Violent Video Games Be Said to Explain Violent Essay

To What Extent Can Violent Video Games Be Said to Explain Violent Behaviour in Teenagers - Essay Example Many parents and educators allege that this obsession with violent video games that grips so many teenagers is a direct cause of violent behaviour in teenagers. A closer examination of the facts about video games and teenage behaviour reveals, however, that this is a very dubious claim, since it is very difficult to prove any causal link between video game playing and violent behaviour in teenagers. The main argument in favour of a link between violent video games and teenage behaviour is that, like violent films on television and in the cinema, they can affect the development of a young person’s personality in an adverse way. Several well respected American medical associations such as the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Medical Association issued a joint statement in year 2000 saying that there is a causal connection between media violence and aggressive behaviour , but that it is a complex effect (Gentile et al., 2004, p. 19). In the United Kingdom there is a strict classification system in place that is intended to prevent the most violent games from getting into the hands of people under eighteen years of age. This system is not always effective, since the majority of parents do not monitor the titles that their teenage children buy, and they often have very little knowledge about what these games actually contain. Clearly the authorities in most countries are convinced that violent video games can cause harm, and they take steps to minimize this harm. These measures do not, however, amount to real hard evidence that links video games with violent behaviour. Media in general contain vast amounts of material ranging from innocuous cartoons and slapstick violence to sick and criminal content that clearly should not be available to teenagers. Young people are exposed to multiple sources of images and texts on the television, in print material and on the internet every day, and so it is difficult to prove that video games are the root cause of any violent behaviour. Any amount of other sources could influence teenagers, and so it seems unreasonable to pinpoint video games as a cause of violent behaviour. They are perhaps an easy target because they are well regulated, and their popularity can be measured through sales and feedback to the providers. They may also arouse deep suspicion in technophobe adults who cannot keep up with the skills of young people in their care. For all of these reasons, it seems likely that the perceived effect of playing video games is exaggerated, and that their relative novelty in the entertainment landscape has attracted undue attention to the particular contribution that they make. It can be argued that evidence for the influence of video games is to be found in statements of young people themselves. There are many cases where teenagers enter the criminal justice system because they are acc used of some act of violence. In such a situation they can state that they were influenced by a certain game title. Examples such as the â€Å"Grand Theft Auto† series are often mentioned in this connection, because this kind of first person action game involves street crime and aggression towards fictional characters. Violent youth offenders are often

Theory and Practice of Successful Entrepreneurship Case Study

Theory and Practice of Successful Entrepreneurship - Case Study Example Henry Ford helped Americans In solving many problems that were related to industrialization. His main dream was to enhance peace in the world by creating good relation among nations.   Bringing Henry’s statement to a real-life situation, it seems to make sense because industrialization is somehow connected to civilization and civilization, in this case, means a high level of literacy.   According to the research carried out over the last ten years, it is evidently true that the main cause of war is idleness. For instance, the issue of unemployment tends to serve as a major threat to the economic status of a country.   The jobless will always clutch at anything o earn a living and this is what has led to an increase in crime rates following the statistics of various countries. Industrialization may also lead to the establishment of various businesses hence providing employment opportunities to the jobless. Looking at the various entrepreneurship activities and strategies, there is a certain barrier in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation. Henry being an entrepreneur, his statement can be proved true through looking at some of the enterprenual activities in both the past and present. Over the past few years, there has been a sort of re-evaluation of the whole concept of entrepreneurship all that it takes for someone to become one. Authorities and governments in various places have recognized the necessity and the importance of nurturing entrepreneurs. Many governments, across the world, have come to discover the vital role entrepreneurs play in the political, economic and social welfare of citizens or a nation as a whole. In the U.K. for instance, business enterprises are the main drivers of the economy and that is why UK government has come up with policies that target entrepreneurs in a bid to improve the economic performance of their government. Entrepreneurial activity and minds are vital to building a stable and sustainable economy. This can be explained in so many ways, for instance, it creates job opportunities, growth and makes the currency stronger. A number of things do contribute to increasing entrepreneurial activities in a country and in the developi ng of an entrepreneurial economy. The UK Government is so determined to promote  Ã‚   enterprises particularly those activities which aim at achieving economic goals and those that also aim at increasing the productivity of the UK as an economic block.

The Benefits and Disadvantages of Country Living Essay

The Benefits and Disadvantages of Country Living - Essay Example This means that even though you can easily find public transport it will take you much longer to reach your destination because of the high traffic. According to the Texas Transportation Institute cities with the worst traffic include Long Beach, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas, Houston, Chicago, Arlington, Riverside, Detroit, San Jose, San Diego, Orlando and Atlanta (Malone). If you live in the country you must have your own otherwise transport is almost impossible however it takes much less time because of the peaceful roads.It is not only public transport that is a problem, the lack of other amenities such as branded stores and eating places is also a hassle. There are much less extracurricular activities to enjoy. If you are bored in the city you can watch a movie, go to a concert, eat out at a fine restaurant or cafà © or simple hang out at a bar; there are countless places to choose from. A significant difference in the quality of education in the city and the country also leads to many people moving to the cities. There are so many good schools and universities in the city where you can achieve excellent education whereas in the country you will find that educational institutes are limited and sometimes the courses or classes offered are limited too as compared to the city where there are numerous education opportunities. Although it may seem strange the cost of living in the country has risen by 20 percent for the more remote areas (Charlotte). So this is one aspect you need to keep in mind before you decide to settle in the countryside. The distances between places are greater which means more fuel costs. But an advantage is that you will get to walk more which is a very healthy workout. The air is also cleaner in the country so you will be exercising without even realizing.

UK Taxation System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

UK Taxation System - Essay Example Alongside, the developments in the indirect taxation are also described. Income Tax is believed to be the largest source of earning equating up to 30% of the total tax revenue in UK. This is charged on salaries from employment, on rental income for let-out properties, on bank and building societies' interests and on company dividends. The one that comes next in this list is the Value Added Tax (VAT). VAT is charged to the customer by businesses on the supply of goods and services in the country. The revenue generated by the UK government by way of VAT comes somewhere around to 23% of the total tax revenue and also this is believed to be the second largest earner of revenue to the government. Apart from this the government of UK also generates revenue through some other kinds of taxes like the National Insurance Contributions (NIC), duties and Corporations Tax, the contribution of which are believed to be 21%, 16% and 8% respectively. There exist also other sources of contributions like the Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Inheritance Tax (IHT), Stamp Duty (SD) and Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) etc., which form the rest of the total tax revenue. The Tax Year: The Tax Year in the United Kingdom starts on the 6th of April in the current year and ends on 5th of April in the following year. All the citizens of the country pay their income tax by reference to the same. The different kinds of rates and allowances relating to taxes are finalized in the Annual Budget which is scheduled every year in the month of March. The Tax System: A study conducted in the previous year reveals that almost 29.5 million individuals do pay tax in the form of income tax in UK. Indirect taxes are collected in the form of Excise duties, Vehicle excise duties, Insurance premium tax, Air passenger duty, Landfill Tax and Aggregates Levy etc. The government of UK levies excise duty particularly on five types of goods. They are tobacco, fuel, beer, wine and beer. A flat rate is followed for levying tax on these particular goods. When it comes to tobacco, they are additionally subject to a tax called ad valorem tax. This ad valorem tax is set up at an amount of 22% of the total retail price. The following table shows the tax rates of duties that were levied in the year 2006-07. Table.1 Excise duties, 2006-07 Good Duty (pence) Total duty as a % of price Total tax as a % of price Packet of 20 cigars: Specific + ad valorem 314 66.4 81.3 Pint of Beer 29 13.5 28.4 Wine (75cl bottle) 129 38.2 53.1 Spirits (70cl bottle) 548 48.0 62.9 Ultra-Low sulphur petrol 47 50.8 65.7 Ultra-Low sulphur diesel 47 49.1 64.0 Sources: HM Revenue and Customs website (customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal'_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageExcise_InfoGuides); UK Trade Info website - www.uktradeinfo.co.uk; National Statistics - www.statistics.gov.uk Capital Gains Tax: The concept of Capital Gains tax was introduced in the year 1965. These capital gains are supposed to be levied on the

The Royal British Legion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Royal British Legion - Essay Example It was this royal charter which gives the Legion the prefix 'Royal' in its title. Till date, the Legion is principally a campaigning organization which promotes the wellbeing and welfare of presently serving and retired members of the British Armed Forces. The first campaign of the Royal British Legion pertained to the campaigning for War Disablement Pension cases for war veterans. At present, campaigns of Royal British Legion which are ongoing include advocating for increased research into psychological conditions of  Gulf War syndrome  and for enhanced compensation for the victims of the war. Other campaigns by the organization include upgrading of War Pensions; the expansion of endowment mortgage payment for British military personnel that are serving outside the country. The key objective of the organization is better provision for support of British military personnel that are facing difficulties in resettling back into civilian life. One of the most successful campaigns of the organization is the one in which the Legion organized a fund-raising drive weeks before  Remembrance Sunday. During the course of this campaign supporters of the war veterans were required to wear artificial  red poppies on clothing. It was announced that the proceeds from the sales of the artificial poppy flowers will be donated to charity. Appeals for Charity The organization can use a number of appeals for raising charity. Two forms of marketing objectives can be relevant to this organization. The first one relates to recruitment of volunteers, the second one relates to collection of charity for the objectives of the organization. To increase inflows of charity funds to the organization, the Royal British Legion can organize a festival to commemorate celebrate war veterans. It is proposed that most parts of this festival should be composed of formal. The event can generate revenue for the organization through sale of the attendance tickets or sale of items related to cele brated wars. These wars can depict civilian life during wartime or based on similar themes. Such an event is likely to generate high attention of the prospective target market because it will enable viewers belonging generations that were born after these historic wars – for instance, the World War II – to benefit from the affirmative engagements of those people who want to relive glorified history of the nation. Another appeal for charity which can be used by The Royal British Legion is the support for foreign troops of United Kingdom who are engaged in military combat. The organization can launch an ‘Honor’ campaign which can call on the citizens of United Kingdom both within country and abroad to honor the  military men protecting country’s interest in foreign lands like Afghanistan (Beamish and Ashford, 2009). The objective of the campaign would be gather public support for the issues recognized by the Legion and to promote interests of milita ry men abroad. The same campaign can be used to create support of the federal government, as well, for the troops and to influence government to create laws which are beneficial for the interest of these men. One aspect of this campaign can be seeking priority treatment for military men in hospitals rather than having them to wait for treatment in national institutions. ‘Online Assistance of Military Men’ can be a campaign which can

Can Amanda Turn Her New Business Around Before It Is Too Late Case Study - 1

Can Amanda Turn Her New Business Around Before It Is Too Late - Case Study Example The four major management functions, planning, organizing, influencing, and controlling, play a significant role in performing the daily activities of an organization. The concept of planning sets specific goals for organizations, managers, and other employees. In the opinion of Pride, Hughes, and Kapoor (2010), planning assists the management team to understand where the organization is, how to make the organization move along the specified path, and when to take appropriate measures to achieve the targeted organizational goals etc (pp.169-170). Elimination of uncertainties, minimization of impulsive and arbitrary decisions, quick resource allocation, effective use of resources, adaptive responses, anticipative action, and integration of various decisions and activities are other benefits usually obtained from planning. According to Hurd, Barcelona, and Meldrum (2008, pp.42-43), ‘organizing’ is an effective functional element of management that assists the firm to achieve the targets set in the planning phase. Organizing aids a firm to distribute the works effectively among its employees. Organizing is essential to clarify the powers of every manager and the way he has to exercise those powers. This practice will also prevent managers from taking unfair advantages of their position. Similarly, work coordination, effective administration, growth and diversification, sense of security, and scope for new changes are some other fruitful outcomes of organizing. A manager’s level of success or failure is determined on the basis of his/her ability to influence people within the particular department. When managerial individuals effectively deploy their influencing skills, they exude a positive energy that would highly motivate their subordinates. This motivation will directly enhance organizational productivity and thereby profitability. In the view of Marquis and Huston (2009, p. 434).

Public Support for NASA Essay Example for Free

Public Support for NASA Essay Established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, NASA believes in these words of Abraham Lincoln: â€Å"With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed (â€Å"External Assessment;† â€Å"Public Opinion of the American Space Program†).†Ã‚   After all, NASA is dependent on public funding for its unspeakably expensive space programs.   Even though the government has spent an immense amount of money on the Iraq War, and it is common knowledge that at least forty seven million people in the United States, including at least eight million children cannot afford health insurance, NASA’s programs must continue. These space programs cost billions of dollars, while the cost of providing health care for a single American child is far less.   Therefore, public support for NASA must dwindle according to the times.   The American public is pretty wise as far as funding for NASA’s space programs is concerned.   This is the reason why public support for NASA slipped during the year 2001 after its rise in the 1990s (David).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite the current trade deficit of the United States – a loud and clear message that American consumption is beyond control – as well as the health care failures confronting the country besides the overuse of public funding on the Iraq War; the famous Gallup Poll has revealed that the American public is by and large supportive of NASA at present (Jones).   Of course, the Gallup Poll is a survey conducted through the scientific method.   So therefore, its results are considered credible.   All the same, Bergin reports that there is an obvious gap in support for the prestigious space agency of the United States among the group of Americans aged 18 to 24.   Perhaps the Gallup Poll would be considered credible still.   Regardless, Bergin adds that the young people of the United States are the future voters and taxpayers whose support is crucial for NASA’s future planning.   Hence, the Office of Strategic Analysis and Communications has assumed the responsibility of finding out whether the communications and public relations department of NASA is failing the young members of the American public (Bergin).   In other words, the young people of the United States must be inspired by the space programs of NASA.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   NASA has plenty of supporters willing to convince the public about the value of its work.   The Citizens for Space Exploration, for example, is a â€Å"multi-state organization† comprising U.S. taxpayers who are supportive of the United States’ space exploration investment (Citizens for Space Exploration).   The organization describes itself thus: â€Å"We are private citizens, small business owners, students, teachers, space and non-space business representatives, and county and municipal officials (Citizens for Space Exploration).†Ã‚   Seeing that people from almost all walks of life are backing NASA today, there is no doubt that the United States’ space exploration investment is almost fully supported by the American public.   Moreover, it may very well be that the young people of the United States are taking the problems of Iraq as well as health care more seriously than the older Americans. This is making them disbelieve in the value of NASA to the American society.   The goals of NASA, after all, do not appear as serious as the problems confronting the nation.   According to the Presidents National Space Policy, NASA must achieve the following goals for the United States: (1) Enhancement of knowledge about the universe, the solar system, and the Earth through robotic as well as human exploration; (2) Strengthening and maintaining the security of the nation; (3) Enhancement of â€Å"economic competitiveness† in addition to â€Å"scientific and technical capabilities of the United States;† (4) Encouragement of private, local and state use of, and investment in space technologies; and (5) Promotion of â€Å"international cooperation to further U.S. domestic, national security, and foreign policies (â€Å"External Assessment†).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Apparently NASA did not help to secure the United States against the terrorist attacks on 9/11, which is why young people do not believe in the capabilities of the space agency.   Levin and Watson write that the majority of people in the United States had doubts about NASA even after it had managed to send man to the moon.   According to David, the American public is not very interested in sending people out of the Earth’s atmosphere in any case.   Hence, a survey conducted in the year 1971 by the Roper Organization revealed that two-thirds of the Americans were of the opinion that the government was spending far too much money on the exploration of space. However, the American public showed a great deal of support to NASA after the Columbia accident.   Although the accident entailed an increased need of public funding for NASA’s space programs – the number of Americans that had previously claimed that they wanted public funding for NASA to be reduced, declined.   As a matter of fact, soon after the Columbia accident, the National Opinion Research Center conducted its annual poll to discover that the number of people wanting a reduction of public funding for NASA had declined to thirty five percent (Levin and Watson).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even so, the American public has consistently ranked the budget of NASA lower in importance than defense, health care and education.   When public funding for NASA fell during the 1990s – to the point of being halved – the space agency had little to spend on Research and Development, considering the massive amount of expenses it incurs on virtually all of its departments and programs.   After the Columbia disaster, the agency complained that the decline in public funding was indirectly responsible for the accident. As an example, NASA had cuts its budget for photographing the launches of shuttles.   Without vivid photographs of the patch of foam that had struck a wing of Columbia eighty two seconds after its launch, engineers at NASA had mistakenly concluded that Columbia was not in danger (Levi and Watson).   This may very well be the reason why public support for NASA increased after the accident.   After all, NASA cannot be shut down under the Presidents National Space Policy.   Thus, the American people must have gathered that they ought to support NASA as best as possible to ensure the safety of other Americans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Still, the people of the United States do not believe in the extravagance of NASA’s programs.   Educated Americans are more likely to assume that the benefits of NASA continue to exceed its costs.   The majority of the Americans, on the other hand, are of the opinion that the space program should be similar to the Centers for Disease Control in delivering practical benefits to their lives.   Rich Americans, mostly men and white, are known to support NASA much more than the others.   The others are not too confident that the space agency is â€Å"worth its price tag (David).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although NASA is not supported by eighty percent of the Americans at present, and only a little more than half of the population of the United States is known to believe that the benefits of NASA exceed its costs; it is possible for the space agency to raise public support for its programs by communicating with the Americans, especially the young Americans, more often.   The young people can be inspired to enjoy NASA’s creativity.   All the same, there are a number of concerns on the young American mind that must be addressed before NASA’s experiences can be thoroughly enjoyed by all. These concerns include the health care problems facing the nation, as well as the tremendous amount of money that has been spent by the U.S. government on the Iraq War.   Undoubtedly, young people are more likely to believe that the problems faced by their nation present them with a great responsibility.   Hence, NASA would have to be patient if it is not supported by the young people of America.   After all, nobody ever said that NASA was more important to the United States than its defense, health care and education.   The United States is also suffering from a trade deficit at present.   NASA should consider it a blessing, therefore, that even fifty percent of the Americans support its programs. Works Cited Bergin, Chris. â€Å"Constellation concerned by the gap in public support for NASA.† http://www.citizensforspaceexploration.org/index.htm. David, Leonard. â€Å"Poll: Public support for NASA slipping.†http://www.space.com/news/nasa_poll_020510.html. â€Å"External Assessment.† http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/nsp/assess.htm. Jones, Jeffrey M. â€Å"Americans continue to rate NASA positively.†   31 Oct 2007. 19 Novhttp://www.gallup.com/poll/102466/Americans-Continue-Rate-NASA-Positively.aspx. Levin, Alan, and Traci Watson. â€Å"Public Support Could Prove Crucial for NASA.† 18 Aug 2007. 19 Nov 2007. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-08-18-inside-shuttle_x.htm. â€Å"Public Opinion of the American Space Program. Sep 2007. 19 Nov 2007. http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/hqlibrary/pathfinders/opinion.htm.

Heart Rate and Exercise Experiment Results

Heart Rate and Exercise Experiment Results M3 Present data collected before and after a standard period of exercise with reference to validity For M3 I am going to discuss data that was collect before and after the period of exercise. The data will be in reference to the validity of the results. There are a number of things that may have affects the results of our period of exercise as we did not discuss what we eat before the exercise, different weights, if there were any energy drinks drank before the exercise and if there were any pauses between taking results. In the first table to results it shows what Laura and Christines resting heart rate and resting breathing rate per minutes. The method of measuring was to time our heart rate for 15 secs then multiply the result by 4 to get what our heart rate would be for a minute. The same method was used to find out our breathing rate per minute. With this method I would say that it would be accurate although it can all depend on the person as the heart rate may not always stay at the one rhythm so this may make the results invalid. Exercise, emotions, fever and some medications can cause your heart to beat faster, sometimes to well over 100 beats per minute. www.my.clevelandclinic.org Table of results Lauras resting heart rate = 80 bpm Lauras resting breathing rate= 20 Christines resting heart rate= 56 bpm Christines resting breathing rate = 14 Table of heart rate and breaths per minutes after 2 minutes exercise Heart rate per minute- Laura Heart rate per minute- Christine Breathing rate per minute Laura Breathing rate per minute- Christine 80 56 20 14 152 118 60 60 128 94 48 52 120 80 40 36 104 74 36 24 84 62 32 16 80 56 20 14 For our result we both ran up and down stairs for two minutes this was our method of exercise to make it accurate the exercise was set so that we were both doing the same method. Although the level of the exercise could make the results less accurate as one of us may have been running faster which would make one persons heart rate higher than the others. Lauras weight would be heavier than Christines so this may be why my heart rate is higher than Christines as the heart needs to work harder to the heart blood pumping round the body. The level of fitness affects heart rate, which tends to increase if youre overweight. An increased resting heart rate puts more stress on your heart during and following exercise. www.healthyliving.azcentral.com Before taking part in the exercise or taking result we did not discuss what we ate that morning which can affect the results as what we eat can depend on how much energy that we have. If someone eat carbohydrates before exercise it can help to increase blood glucose and glycogen levels. If you dont have enough glycogen, you wont have the energy to exercise to the best of your ability. www.bupa.co.uk The results in the table of heart rate and breaths per minutes after 2 minutes exercise show the heart rate for Laura went down faster than Christines heart rate. Although being overweight can affect the rate in which the heart rate goes back to the resting heart rate. While being overweight may affect the heart rate, I do dance dvds and go on the treadmill so this may be why the heart rate did not take long to go back to the resting heart rate. While taking the heart rate and breath rate it was hard to know when were started taking the heart rate/breathing rate and when we stopped as Christine did not make this clear. Therefore, the measurements may not have actually been 15 secs each time this would mean that the results are not accurate as the measurements could be a few secs out. With the breathing rate per minute results the Christines breathing rate started to rest as a slower pace than Lauras but after the third reading her breathing rate started to decrease faster than Lauras. it was hard to measure the breathing rate as within 15 secs there was only a few breaths taken so it did not really seem accurate but once the amount of breaths per 15 secs was multiplied by 4 it all added up being it look more accurate although I still would not say that the method that we used to take the breaths was not the best to use for accuracy. For the breathing rate I would say that exercise for 5 minutes would be better than 2 minutes as after 2 minutes the breathing rate did not go overly higher but after 5 minutes the breathing rate would have been a lot higher there for the time in which the breathing rate went back to normal would have took longer although this would not really change the results much it would make the results more valid as there would be more off them. The resting rests for both the heart rate and breathing rate would be the most accurate result as it was taking three times for more accurate results then we added the three together and multiplied by 3 to find out what the main rate would be for both of the readings. I think that if the heart rate and breathing rate was measure for 1 minute instead of 15 seconds then multiplying by 4 the results would be more accurate as there was breaks in between resetting the timer which would affect the rate in which the heart and breathing rate was going down as if there were no breaks at all the results would have been different making them more accurate than the results that we did get.

China Daily Asia Weekly News Agency Analysis

China Daily Asia Weekly News Agency Analysis Findings on China Daily Asia Weekly News Agency China Daily Asia Weekly news agency has been used by us in reporting the issue of demonstration in Hong Kong. We have monitored this news agency for one month started from 1st October 2014 until 30th October 2014. We were observing the news agency in terms of the format of news they portray. The format of news includes total of news reported per day, photos and videos the author uploaded, the paragraph of each news, the author of the news and the theme of the news reported. The total number of news that have been collected by us for one month is 120 news. The news reported in China Daily Asia Weekly are mostly neutral in terms of news slant. However, there is some news reported by them that is negative western but it is just a minority in number. Besides, China Daily Asia Weekly news agency also did not provide any subtitle for their news. Moreover, the news source for each news are mostly the government which includes Chief Executive, Ministry’s Spokeswoman, Secretary General and many more. However, there is also minority news that have demonstrators as their news sources such as the leader of Federation of students and many more. To begin with the analysis, we will start by explaining on the total number of news reported per day by China Daily Asia Weekly. The total numbers of news are vary to each day. The highest numbers of news reported per day is 13 news while the least number is zero news per day. There were no news reported by China Daily Asia Weekly regarding the demonstration issue in Hong Kong on 12th, 19th, 25th and 31st of October 2014. The highest number of news reported was on 6th of October 2014. There is also 1 news reported per day on 17th, 28th, and 29th October 2014. Mostly news reported on 6th of October were talked about the negative consequences that have been caused by the protesters movement. We also noticed that the news on the issue of demonstration in Hong Kong reported by China Daily Asia Weekly were becoming lesser towards the end of the month. The total numbers of news reported per day is high until 8th of October 2014 and then decreased to 1 news reported on 9th of October. After 9th of October, the news reported regarding the issue were become lesser until the end of the month and the higher news reported after 9th of October was 6 news per day which is on 16th of October 2014. Thus, we can conclude that the issue in Hong Kong are becoming less popular to be reported by China Daily Asia Weekly news agency than the beginning of the month and maybe it is because of the issue is going to meet its solution soon. Second thing to be analyse is about the photos and videos the author uploaded in each news per day. China Daily Asia Weekly has not posted any video in their news. The agency only posted photos to their readers and the photos are all in colour. However, the highest total number of photos the agency uploaded on each news is 3 photos and the least is no photo uploaded on news. The highest number of photos uploaded was on 15th of October and about 39 news were reported without any photos on it. In addition to that, if we want to compare on the frequency of the photos uploaded by the agency, we can say that half of the news with 68 numbers of news reported has 1 photo uploaded on it and only 7 news that has 2 pictures on it. Besides that, each of the photos uploaded on the news were also come with the description under it that represent the situation of the photos. From this, we can see that China Daily Asia Weekly news agency is not emphasize more on photos and videos as the highest number of photos uploaded per news is only 3 photos. Thirdly, another thing to be analyse is regarding the numbers of paragraph written on each news. As we have observed from the data we collected, the highest number of paragraph is 23 paragraph and it was on 2nd of October where the news entitled â€Å"Occupy taking luster off Golden Week† was reported. The news is about the decreasing of sales for retail sectors to making some profit on the Golden Week holiday as the date is usually the great time for them in getting more profit. This is because of the protesters movement who blocked the roads which then prevent their customer. The least paragraph written in the news is 4 paragraph. There is some news that have only 4 paragraph in there which is on 3rd, 13th and 22nd of October 2014. The news that have 4 paragraphs on it is usually reported about announcement and economics. It cannot be conclude that the least number of paragraph per news, the less credibility of news they convey as the credibility of news cannot be seen through the length of the paragraph written because sometimes it is only the repetition of previews news. However, the least paragraph of the news is actually portray the less significance of the news to the readers. Next, we further our observation to the authors of the news reported. From one month observation, we found that there are two authors that written most of the news in China Daily Asia Weekly news agency. The authors’ names are Timothy Chui and Kahon Chan. Timothy Chui has written total numbers of 31 news from the beginning until the end of October. Same goes to Kahon Chan who started written the news from the 1st of October until the end of the month and have written the total numbers of 31 news. There is also some news that have been taken from the International news agency which is Reuters. In addition to that, there is also some authors that only wrote one news in China Daily Asia Weekly such as the news written by Andrea Deng, Selena Li, and Edmond Tang. We also found that there are several news that have been wrote by two authors. There were only 3 news that have been written by two authors while majority of news reported are from single author. From the observation of th e authors of news reported, we can conclude that Timothy Chui and Kahon Chan are the reporters that have significant roles or works in China Daily Asia Weekly news agency as they covered more news than other authors did. Finally, we were also focussing on the theme or denominator of each news that have been reported. We can see that from 30 days of observations, the most common theme and denominator of the news is talked about the negative consequences and effects of demonstration. There are about 30 news that talked about the negative effects of the protests towards the citizens. Among them are the news written by Ming Yeung and Wang Yuke on 1st of October where they wrote about how the protesters or demonstrators endanger the life of the people in Hong Kong. They wrote in their news about how the protest cause chaos and bad traffic to the streets that trouble the local emergency services such as Ambulance Fire Fighters to reach the victims on time. They reported on their news that said, â€Å"Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Joseph Leung Wai-hung told the media on Tuesday that emergency services have fallen significantly short in their promise to reach those in dire need, that is, to respond to emergen cy situations within 12 minutes†. There is also other news on the same theme which talked about negative impacts of demonstration to the citizens. The news written by Celia Chen and Agnes Lu covered about how the businessman and businesswoman live around the paralyzed districts encounter great loss to their business. They wrote that some of the workers in some affected restaurants have been forced to take leave as the tourists absent. Among the restaurants and hotels that have been affected by this demonstration protest is Tung Yuen Banquet on Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. The manager of the eatery told China Daily that, â€Å"On Fridays, we normally had bookings for at least 20 tables in the past, but tonight, for instance, we only have three tables booked. There is many other news that have talked on the negative consequences and effects of demonstration protests. Besides that, other common denominator that is usually found in the news is calling for peace. There are some news reported in China Daily Asia Weekly that talked about the public calling for peace and put an end to the protest. There is a news reported by Timothy Chui on 5th of October 2014 that wrote about a man who climbed up roof of footbridge just to call demonstrators to end the protests and clear the roads. The man surnamed Yip climbed onto the roof of a footbridge around 1 pm to call demonstrators to end their sit in and clear roads. After 4 hours and 45 minutes the police negotiators tried to calm the man down, finally they were able to bring him down. However, he demanded to speak with protest organizers and delivering an hour long speech to express his feeling that he would rather die rather than seeing his daughter are not able to return to school because of the protests. This shows that mostly news in China Daily Asia Weekly portray the news about the negative impacts of protests. This also can be conclude that this news agency view â€Å"Occupy Central† which is the name of the protest as irrelevant and cause harm to many people.

Kurt Donald Cobain Essay -- essays research papers

My favorite artist is Kurt Cobain. He was born February 20, 1967 & died April 5, 1994 at the age of 27. He was the vocalist/guitarist for the famous Grunge Rock band named â€Å"Nirvana†. Which was formed in 1986. Nirvana was composed of two other people who were really close friends of Kurt. This was the beginning of Kurt’s prosperous career. But for him that was the beginning of a painful and stressful life Kurt’s education level wasn’t high. He dropped out of High School at the age of 17. Being a senior he only had two more months left to graduate but that was the choice he made. Since he had been playing & composing music since the age of 13. He chose his music career over his education . Since he really didn’t care about his future ,since he already knew that he wasn’t going to ... Kurt Donald Cobain Essay -- essays research papers My favorite artist is Kurt Cobain. He was born February 20, 1967 & died April 5, 1994 at the age of 27. He was the vocalist/guitarist for the famous Grunge Rock band named â€Å"Nirvana†. Which was formed in 1986. Nirvana was composed of two other people who were really close friends of Kurt. This was the beginning of Kurt’s prosperous career. But for him that was the beginning of a painful and stressful life Kurt’s education level wasn’t high. He dropped out of High School at the age of 17. Being a senior he only had two more months left to graduate but that was the choice he made. Since he had been playing & composing music since the age of 13. He chose his music career over his education . Since he really didn’t care about his future ,since he already knew that he wasn’t going to ...

Importance of Early Invention Essay -- Children Education Learning Ess

Importance of Early Invention Early childhood researchers have repeatedly found and established that the rate of human learning and development is most rapid in the preschool years. Therefore, if the child’s most teachable years are not taken advantage of, it could result in the child difficulty of learning a particular skill at a later time (Kidsource, 1996). Karnes and Lee (1978) have noted that, â€Å"only through early identification and appropriate programming can children develop to their full potential† (Smith, 1988). One of the most important skills young children must learn during their early childhood years is how to expressively communicate. "At least 70% of preschool children with disabilities have communication impairments and 12% of all services provided to infants and toddlers in 1995 were for speech and language (Luze, Linebarger, & Greenwood, 2001). Communication skills are important for young children to further gather knowledge, to grow cognitively, and to interact appropriately with others in their environment. If a child is delayed of communication skills, it may further delay other developmental areas and create problems. This may include problems in early literacy, school achievement, behavioral development, and establishing relationships with friends and family. Benefits of early intervention Three primary reasons for intervening in a young child that I have found are: to enhance the child’s development, to provide support and assistance to the family, and to maximize the child’s and family’s benefit to society. The child will need fewer special education and facilitative services later in life. It has been proven that children involved in early intervention are less likely to be held back in a... ...ton, VA: ERIC Clearinghouse on Handicapped and Gifted Children. (ERIC Document Service NO. ED295399). Retrieved February 26, 2002 from ERIC database. KidSource. What is early intervention? (1996, August 10). Retrieved February 19, 2002, from http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/early.intervention.html The Editors. (2002, January 10). In early-childhood education and care: quality counts. Building Blocks for Success, 21(17), 8-9. Retrieved February 27, 2002 from http://www.edweek.org/sreports/qc02/templates/article.cmf?=17exec.h21 Newspapers & Magazines: Smith, P. (2002, February 22). You can never be too early. The Times Educational Early Intervention 14 Supplement, 1841, 23. Retrieved May 7, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis. White, T. (2001, November 16). Getting back to basics. The Baltimore Sun, 1B. Retrieved May 7, 2002 from Lexis- Nexis.

Learning theories Essay

Primary research consists of the collection of original primary data. It is often undertaken after the researcher has gained some insight into the issue by reviewing secondary research or by analyzing previously collected primary data. It can be accomplished through various methods, including questionnaires and telephone interviews in market research, or experiments and direct observations in the physical sciences, amongst others. Secondary Research: Secondary research (also known as desk research) involves the summary, collation and/or synthesis of existing research rather than primary research, where data is collected from, for example, research subjects or experiments. The term is widely used in medical research and in market research. The principal methodology in medical secondary research is the systematic review, commonly using meta-analytic statistical techniques, although other methods of synthesis, like realist reviews and meta-narrative[2] reviews, have been developed in recent years. Such secondary research uses the primary research of others typically in the form of research publications and reports. In a market research context, secondary research is taken to include the re-use by a second party of any data collected by a first party or parties. In archaeology and landscape history, desk research is contrasted with fieldwork. Primary Research Vs Secondary Research One of the major differences between the two is that primary research is conducted with the help of primary sources available where as secondary research is conducted on the basis of some data collected from someone who had got it from the sources. Primary research is expensive to conduct since it involves primary sources. But secondary research is not much expensive as primary. Another major difference between the two is that primary research is much more time consuming as compared to secondary research. As a matter of fact the results found by the primary research are usually to have better quality than those from the conduct of the secondary research. Primary research is also usually detailed and elaborated since it is supposed to be both qualitative as well as quantitative. On the other hand data pertaining to secondary research is usually not much detailed and elaborated since it involves indirect uses. Primary research is done with a lot of hard work and dedication. On the hand secondary research is usually presented with a number of data and records. These are usually taken from books, periodicals published by governmental organizations, statistical data, annual reports and case study ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOUR. Organizational behavior is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups and structures have on behavior within an organization for the purpose of applying such knowledge towards improving an organization’s effectiveness. It is an interdisciplinary field that includes sociology, psychology, communication, and management; and it complements the academic studies of organizational theory (which is focused on organizational and intra-organizational topics) and human resource studies (which is more applied and business-oriented). It may also be referred to as organizational studies or organizational science. The field has its roots in industrial and organizational psychology. 1 Organizational studies encompass the study of organizations from multiple viewpoints, methods, and levels of analysis. For instance, one textbook divides these multiple viewpoints into three perspectives: modern, symbolic, and postmodern. Another traditional distinction, present especially in  American academia, is between the study of â€Å"micro† organizational behaviour — which refers to individual and group dynamics in an organizational setting — and â€Å"macro† strategic management and organizational theory which studies whole organizations and industries, how they adapt, and the strategies, structures and contingencies that guide them. To this distinction, some scholars have added an interest in â€Å"meso† scale structures – power, culture, and the networks of individuals and i. e. ronit units in organizations — and â€Å"field† level analysis which study how whole populations of organizations interact. Whenever people interact in organizations, many factors come into play. Modern organizational studies attempt to understand and model these factors. Like all modernist social sciences, organizational studies seek to control, predict, and explain. There is some controversy over the ethics of controlling workers’ behavior, as well as the manner in which workers are treated (see Taylor’s scientific management approach compared to the human relations movement of the 1940s). As such, organizational behaviour or OB (and its cousin, Industrial psychology) have at times been accused of being the scientific tool of the powerful. Those accusations notwithstanding, OB can play a major role in organizational development, enhancing organizational performance, as well as individual and group performance/satisfaction/commitment. One of the main goals of organizational theorists is, according to Simms (1994), â€Å"to revitalize organizational theory and develop a better conceptualization of organizational life. † An organizational theorist should carefully consider levels assumptions being made in theory, and is concerned to help managers and administrators. 1. INTRODUCTION TO LEARNING. The process of learning has great value for enriching human life in all spheres of life. All activities and behaviors that make personal, social and economic life peaceful and pleasurable are learned. Learning definitely affects human behaviour in organizations. There is little organizational behaviour that is not either directly or indirectly affected by learning. For example, a worker’s skill, a manager’s attitude, a supervisor’s motivation and a secretary’s mode of dress are all learned. Our ability to learn is also important to organizations preoccupied with controlled  performance. Employees have to know what they are to do, how they are to do it, how well they are expected to do it, and the consequences of achieving good or poor levels of performance. Thus, learning theories have influenced a range of organizational practices concerning: 1. The induction of new recruits 2. The design and delivery of job training 3. The design of payment systems- 4. How supervisors evaluate and provide feedback on employee performance 5. The design of forms of learning organization The concept of the learning organization became popular during the 1990s. The learning organization is a configuration of structures and policies which encourage individual learning, with individual and organizational benefits. The organization itself can also be regarded as an entity which is capable of learning independently of its members. Knowledge has thus become a more important asset for many organizations than materials and products. 1. 1 WHAT IS LEARNING Learning covers virtually all behaviors and is concerned with the acquisition of knowledge, attitudes and values, emotional responses (such as happiness and fear), and motor skills (such as operating a computer keyboard or riding a bicycle). We can learn incorrect facts or pick up bad habits in the same way that we learn correct facts and acquire good habits. It refers to a spectrum of changes that occur as a result of one’s experience. Learning may be defined as â€Å"any relatively permanent change in behaviour or behavioral potential produced by experience†. It may be noted here that some behavioral changes take place due to the use of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue. Such changes are temporary. They are not considered learning. Therefore, changes are due to practice and experience, and relatively permanent, alone are illustrative of learning. In the definition given above, it is clear that the process of learning has certain distinctive characteristics. These are: First, learning always involves some kind of experience. These experiences may be derived from inside the body or they may be sensory, arising outside. The task of inferring whether or not learning has taken place may be an obvious one, but observable behaviour may not always reveal learning. It is important to distinguish between two types of learning. Procedural learning or ‘knowing how’, concerns your ability to carry out particular skilled actions such as riding a horse. Declarative learning or `knowing that’, concerns your store of factual knowledge such as an understanding of the history of our use of the horse. Second, the behavioral changes that take place due to learning are relatively permanent. Behaviour can be changed temporarily by many other factors and in ways which we would not like to call learning. These other factors include growing up or maturation (in children), aging (in adults), drugs, alcohol and fatigue. For example, you must have noticed that whenever one takes a sedative or drug or alcohol, one’s behaviour changes. Each one of these drugs affect physiological functions leading to certain changes in behaviour. Such changes are temporary in nature and disappear as the effect of drugs wears out. Third, learning cannot be observed directly. We can only observe a person’s behaviour and draw the inference from it that learning has taken place. A distinction has to be made between learning and performance. Performance is evaluated by some quantitative and some qualitative measures of output. For example, the number of calls a sales representative makes to customers or the quality of a manager’s chairing of a committee meeting. But, learning acts as a constraint on the outcome. Normally, we cannot perform any better than we have learned, though there are occasions when the right motivational disposition and a supportive environment help to raise the level of performance. Researchers have found that increased motivation may improve our performance up to a point but, beyond this, increased motivation may cause a lowering of the level of performance. 2. PRECONDITIONS FOR LEARNING Two preconditions for learning will increase the success of those who are to participate in such programs: employee readiness and motivation. The condition known as employee readiness refers to both maturational and experiential factors in the employee’s background. Prospective employees should be screened to determine that they have the background knowledge or the skills necessary for learning what will be presented to them. Recognition of individual differences in readiness is as important in an organization as it is in any other learning situation. It is often desirable to group individuals according to their capacity to learn, as determined by scores from tests, or to provide a different or extended type of instruction for those who need it. The other precondition for learning is that the employee be properly motivated. That is, for optimum learning the employee must recognize the need for acquiring new information or for having new skills; and a desire to learn as learning progresses must be maintained. While people at work are motivated by certain common needs, they differ from one another in the relative importance of these needs at any given time. For example, new recruits often have an intense desire for advancement, and have established specific goals for career progression. Objectives that are clearly defined will produce increased motivation in the learning process when instructional objectives are related to individual needs. 3. SOME PREREQUISITES FOR LEARNING After employees have been placed in the learning situation, their readiness and motivation should be assessed further. In addition, facilitators should understand the basic learning issues discussed below. 3. 1 MEANINGFUL MATERIALS In accordance with adult learning theories, the material to be learned should be organized in as meaningful a manner as possible. It should be arranged so that each successive experience builds upon preceding ones so that the employee is able to integrate the experiences into a useable pattern of knowledge and skills. The material should have face validity. 3. 2 REINFORCEMENT Anything which strengthens the employee’s response is called reinforcement. It may be in the form of approval from the instructor or facilitator or the feeling of accomplishment that follows the performance; or it may simply be confirmation by a software program that the employee’s response was correct. It is generally most effective if it occurs immediately after a task has been performed. Behaviour modification, or a technique that operates on the principle that behaviour that is rewarded positively (reinforced) will be exhibited more frequently in the future, whereas behaviour that is penalized or unrewarded will decrease in frequency, is often used for such purposes 3. 3 TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE Unless what is learned in the development activity is applicable to what is required on the job, the effort will have been of little value. The ultimate effectiveness of learning, therefore, is to be found in the answer to the question: ‘To what extent does what is learned transfer to the job? ’ Helpful approaches include ensuring that conditions in the development program conform as closely as possible to those on the job, and coaching employees on the principles for applying to the job the behaviors which they have learned. Furthermore, once formal instruction has been completed, the supervisor must ensure that the work environment supports, reinforces and rewards the employee for applying the new skills or knowledge. 3. 4 KNOWLEDGE OF PROGRESS As an employee’s development progresses, motivation may be maintained and even increased by providing knowledge of progress. Progress, as determined by tests and other records, may be plotted on a chart, commonly referred to as a learning curve. Exhibit 8. 9 is an example of a learning curve that is common in the acquisition of many job skills. 4. PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING A. Distributed Learning: Another factor that determines the effectiveness of learning is the amount of time given to practice in one session. Should training or development be undertaken in five two-hour periods or in 10 one-hour periods? It has been found in most cases that spacing out the activities will result in more rapid learning and more permanent retention. This is the principle of distributed learning. Since the most efficient distribution will vary according to the type and complexity of the task to be learned, it is desirable to make reference to the rapidly growing body of research in this area when an answer is required for a specific learning situation. B. Whole v. Part Learning: Most jobs and tasks can be broken down into parts that lend themselves to further analysis. The analysis of the most effective manner for completing each part then provides a basis for giving specific instruction. Airline flight attendant jobs, for example, involve a combination of mechanistic (specific tasks that follow a prescribed routine), and organic (tasks that involve decision-making and individualized responses) duties, which are best learnt separately, and then combined to form the whole job responsibility. Thus, the prescribed takeoff and landing announcements, and formal safety procedures, are supplemented with separate learning activities about how to deal with difficult passengers or how to cope with food supply problems. In evaluating whole versus part learning, it is necessary to consider the nature of the task to be learned. If the task can be broken down successfully for part learning, it should probably be taught as a unit. C. Practice and Repetition: It is those things we do daily that become a part of our repertoire of skills. Employees need frequent opportunities to practice their job tasks in the manner in which they will ultimately be expected to perform them. The individual who is being taught to operate a machine should have an opportunity to practice on it. Similarly, the supervisor who is being taught how to train should have supervised practice in training D. Multiple Sense Learning: It has long been acknowledged that the use of multiple senses increases learning. Smith and Delahaye state that about 80 per cent of what a person perceives is obtained visually, 11 per cent by hearing and 9 per cent by the other senses combined. It follows that in order to maximize learning, multiple senses of the employees, particularly sight and hearing, should be engaged. Visual aids are therefore emphasized as being important to the learning and development activities. 5. THEORIES OF LEARNING OR APPROCHES TO LEARNING 1. BEHAVIORLIST APPROACH Behaviorism, as a learning theory, can be traced back to Aristotle, whose essay â€Å"Memory† focused on association being made between events such as lightning and thunder. Other philosophers that followed Aristotle’s thoughts are Hobbs (1650), Hume (1740), Brown (1820), Bain (1855) and Ebbinghause (1885) (Black, 1995). Pavlov, Watson, Thorndike and Skinner later developed the theory in more detail. Watson is the theorist credited with coining the term â€Å"behaviorism†. The school of adult learning theory that adopted these principles has become known as the school of behaviorism, which saw learning as a straightforward process of response to stimuli. The provision of a reward or reinforcement is believed to strengthen the response and therefore result in changes in behavior – the test, according to this school of thought, is as to whether learning had occurred. Spillane (2002) states, â€Å"the behaviorist perspective, associated with B. F. Skinner, holds that the mind at work cannot be observed, tested, or understood; thus, behaviorists are concerned with actions (behavior) as the sites of knowing, teaching, and learning†. The hypothesis behind behaviorlist learning theories is that all learning occurs when behavior is influenced and changed by external factors. Behavioralism disregards any notion that there may be an internal component to man’s learning. Grippin and Peters (1984) emphasize in regard to an individual’s subjugation to external stimulus as a determinant of response (i. e. , behavior). Contiguity is understood as the timing of events that is necessary to bring about behavioral change, while reinforcement refers to the probability that repeated positive or negative events will produce an anticipated change in behavior. 1. (A) Classical Conditioning (Pavlov) Classical conditioning is a reflexive or automatic type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus. Originators and Key Contributors: First described by Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), Russian physiologist, in 1903, and studied in infants by John B. Watson (1878-1958). Several types of learning exist. The most basic form is associative learning, i. e. , making a new association between events in the environment. There are two forms of associative learning: classical conditioning (made famous by Ivan Pavlov’s experiments with dogs) and operant conditioning. Pavlov’s Dogs In the early twentieth century, Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov did Nobel prize-winning work on digestion. While studying the role of saliva in dogs’ digestive processes, he stumbled upon a phenomenon he labeled â€Å"psychic reflexes. † While an accidental discovery, he had the foresight to see the importance of it. Pavlov’s dogs, restrained in an experimental chamber, were presented with meat powder and they had their saliva collected via a surgically implanted tube in their saliva glands. Over time, he noticed that his dogs who begin salivation before the meat powder was even presented, whether it was by the presence of the handler or merely by a clicking noise produced by the device that distributed the meat powder. Fascinated by this finding, Pavlov paired the meat powder with various stimuli such as the ringing of a bell. After the meat powder and bell (auditory stimulus) were presented together several times, the bell was used alone. Pavlov’s dogs, as predicted, responded by salivating to the sound of the bell (without the food). The bell began as a neutral stimulus (i. e. the bell itself did not produce the dogs’ salivation). However, by pairing the bell with the stimulus that did produce the salivation response, the bell was able to acquire the ability to trigger the salivation response. Pavlov therefore demonstrated how stimulus-response bonds (which some consider as the basic building blocks of learning) are formed. He dedicated much of the rest of his career further exploring this finding. In technical terms, the meat powder is considered an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and the dog’s salivation is the unconditioned response (UCR). The bell is a neutral stimulus until the dog learns to associate the bell with food. Then the bell becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) which produces the conditioned response (CR) of salivation after repeated pairings between the bell and food. John B. Watson: Early Classical Conditioning with Humans John B. Watson further extended Pavlov’s work and applied it to human beings. In 1921, Watson studied Albert, an 11 month old infant child. The goal of the study was to condition Albert to become afraid of a white rat by pairing the white rat with a very loud, jarring noise (UCS). At first, Albert showed no sign of fear when he was presented with rats, but once the rat was repeatedly paired with the loud noise (UCS), Albert developed a fear of rats. It could be said that the loud noise (UCS) induced fear (UCR). The implications of Watson’s experiment suggested that classical conditioning could cause some phobias in humans. 1. (B) GOMS Model (Card, Moran, Newell) The GOMS Model is a human information processing model that predicts what skilled users will do in seemingly unpredictable situations. Originators and proponents: Card, Moran and Newell in 1983; Bonnie John et al. This model is the general term for a family of human information processing techniques that attempt to model and predict user behavior. Typically used by software designers, a person’s behavior is analyzed in terms of four components: Goals – something that the person wants to accomplish. Can be high level to low level. Operators – basic perceptual, cognitive, or motor actions used to accomplish goals, or actions that the software allows user to make. Methods – procedures (sequences) of sub-goals and operators that can accomplish a goal Selection rules – personal rules users follow in deciding what method to use in a circumstance 1. (C) Operant Conditioning (Skinner) A behaviorist theory based on the fundamental idea that behaviors that are reinforced will tend to continue, while behaviors that are punished will eventually end. Originators and Key Contributors: B. F. Skinner, built upon Ivan Pavlov’s theories of classical conditioning. Operant conditioning can be described as a process that attempts to modify behavior through the use of positive and negative reinforcement. Through operant conditioning, an individual makes an association between a particular behavior and a consequence. Example 1: Parents rewarding a child’s excellent grades with candy or some other prize. Example 2: A schoolteacher awards points to those students who are the most calm and well-behaved. Students eventually realize that when they voluntarily become quieter and better behaved, that they earn more points. Example 3: A form of reinforcement (such as food) is given to an animal every time the animal (for example, a hungry lion) presses a lever. The term â€Å"operant conditioning† originated by the behaviorist B. F. Skinner, who believed that one should focus on the external, observable causes of behavior (rather than try to unpack the internal thoughts and motivations) Reinforcement comes in two forms: positive and negative. Positive and negative reinforces Positive reinforces are favorable events or outcomes that are given to the individual after the desired behavior. This may come in the form of praise, rewards, etc. Negative reinforces typically are characterized by the removal of an undesired or unpleasant outcome after the desired behavior. A response is strengthened as something considered negative is removed. The goal in both of these cases of reinforcement is for the behavior to increase. Positive and negative punishment Punishment, in contrast, is when the increase of something undesirable attempts to cause a decrease in the behavior that follows. Positive punishment is when unfavorable events or outcomes are given in order to weaken the response that follows. Negative punishment is characterized by when a favorable event or outcome is removed after a undesired behavior occurs. The goal in both of these cases of punishment is for a behavior to decrease. What is the difference between operant conditioning and classical conditioning? In operant conditioning, a voluntary response is then followed by a reinforcing stimulus. In this way, the voluntary response (e. g. studying for an exam) is more likely to be done by the individual. In contrast, classical conditioning is when a stimulus automatically triggers an involuntary response. 1. (D) Socialist Learning Theory (Bandura). Bandura’s Social Learning Theory posits that people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, and modeling. The theory has often been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories because it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation. Originator: Albert Bandura People learn through observing others’ behavior, attitudes, and outcomes of those behaviors. â€Å"Most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others, one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action. † (Bandura). Social learning theory explains human behavior in terms of continuous reciprocal interaction between cognitive, behavioral, and environmental influences. Necessary conditions for effective modeling: 1. Attention — various factors increase or decrease the amount of attention paid. Includes distinctiveness, affective valence, prevalence, complexity, functional value. One’s characteristics (e. g. sensory capacities, arousal level, perceptual set, past reinforcement) affect attention. 2. Retention — remembering what you paid attention to. Includes symbolic coding, mental images, cognitive organization, symbolic rehearsal, motor rehearsal 3. Reproduction — reproducing the image. Including physical capabilities, and self-observation of reproduction. 4. Motivation — having a good reason to imitate. Includes motives such asA past (i. e. traditional behaviorism), promised (imagined incentives) and vicarious (seeing and recalling the reinforced model) Bandura believed in â€Å"reciprocal determinism†, that is, the world and a person’s behavior cause each other, while behaviorism essentially states that one’s environment causes one’s behavior, Bandura,who was studying adolescent aggression, found this too simplistic, and so in addition he suggested that behavior causes environment as well. Later, Bandura soon considered personality as an interaction between three components: the environment, behavior, and one’s psychological processes (one’s ability to entertain images in minds and language). 2. CONSTURCTIVIST Constructivism is a synthesis of multiple theories diffused into one form. It is the assimilation of both behaviorialist and cognitive ideals. The â€Å"constructivist stance maintains that learning is a process of constructing meaning; it is how people make sense of their experience†. This is a combination effect of using a person’s cognitive abilities and insight to understand their environment. This coincides especially well with current adult learning theory. This concept is easily translated into a self-directed learning style, where the individual has the ability to take in all the information and the environment of a problem and learn. Constructivism as a paradigm or worldview posits that learning is an active, constructive process. The learner is an information constructor. People actively construct or create their own subjective representations of objective reality. New information is linked to prior knowledge, thus mental representations are subjective. Originators and important contributors: Vygotsky, Piaget, Dewey, Vico, Rorty, Bruner Constructivism A reaction to didactic approaches such as behaviorism and programmed instruction, constructivism states that learning is an active, contextualized process of constructing knowledge rather than acquiring it. Knowledge is constructed based on personal experiences and hypotheses of the environment. Learners continuously test these hypotheses through social negotiation. Each person has a different interpretation and construction of knowledge process. The learner is not a blank slate (tabula rasa) but brings past experiences and cultural factors to a situation. Vygotsky’s theory is one of the foundations of constructivism. It asserts three major themes: Major themes: 1. Social interaction plays a fundamental role in the process of cognitive development. In contrast to Jean Piaget’s understanding of child development (in which development necessarily precedes learning), Vygotsky felt social learning precedes development. He states: â€Å"Every function in the child’s cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first, between people (inter-psychological) and then inside the child (intra-psychological). † 2. The More Knowledgeable Other (MKO). The MKO refers to anyone who has a better understanding or a higher ability level than the learner, with respect to a particular task, process, or concept. The MKO is normally thought of as being a teacher, coach, or older adult, but the MKO could also be peers, a younger person, or even computers. 3. The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). The ZPD is the distance between a student’s ability to perform a task under adult guidance and/or with peer collaboration and the student’s ability solving the problem independently. According to Vygotsky, learning occurred in this zone. Vygotsky focused on the connections between people and the sociocultural context in which they act and interact in shared experiences (Crawford, 1996). According to Vygotsky, humans use tools that develop from a culture, such as speech and writing, to mediate their social environments. Initially children develop these tools to serve solely as social functions, ways to communicate needs. Vygotsky believed that the internalization of these tools led to higher thinking skills. 3. COGNITIVISM The cognitivist paradigm essentially argues that the â€Å"black box† of the mind should be opened and understood. The learner is viewed as an information processor (like a computer). Originators and important contributors: Merrill -Component Display Theory (CDT), Reigeluth (Elaboration Theory), Gagne, Briggs, Wager, Bruner (moving toward cognitive constructivism), Schank (scripts), Scandura (structural learning) The cognitivist revolution replaced behaviorism in 1960s as the dominant paradigm. Cognitivism focuses on the inner mental activities – opening the â€Å"black box† of the human mind is valuable and necessary for understanding how people learn. Mental processes such as thinking, memory, knowing, and problem-solving need to be explored. Knowledge can be seen as schema or symbolic mental constructions. Learning is defined as change in a learner’s schemata. A response to behaviorism, people are not â€Å"programmed animals† that merely respond to environmental stimuli; people are rational beings that require active participation in order to learn, and whose actions are a consequence of thinking. Changes in behavior are observed, but only as an indication of what is occurring in the learner’s head. Cognitivism uses the metaphor of the mind as computer: information comes in, is being processed, and leads to certain outcomes. 3. 1 GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY Gestalt psychology or gestaltism (German: Gestalt – â€Å"essence or shape of an entity’s complete form†) is a theory of mind and brain of the Berlin School; the operational principle of gestalt psychology is that the brain is holistic, parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies.