Literacy is excellent Essay

â€Å"Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names† (Shah 1). Malcolm X describes his experience and struggle not being able to read or write until he got into prison. All he could ever do in prison was sit there, so he figured he would make light of his incarceration. So what he did was study a dictionary and read books to gain a better understanding and learn much more than he had before. Then with doing that, it made him feel free and empowered with his newly found intelligence now knowing what other people had discussed and had read. Malcolm X came up in a segregated time in the United States where black men and women weren’t allowed to be well educated or earn much of a living. Only having an 8th grade education can keep you trapped in your own mind. Therefore, the significance of literacy is immeasurable due to the fact that it is limitless on what you can do with it. Reading and writing has impacted our lives forever and in so many different ways. Write a letter, text a number, or do homework in a textbook. All these situations and more are due to the fact that people over time and now can read and write. The way we first started communication was through drawings known as hieroglyphics; that then transformed over time into different letters and we could finally write down information. That advancement led us to be able to keep records, talk to people without being face to face, and just write down information. â€Å"In my slow, painstaking, ragged handwriting, I copied into my tablet everything printed on the first page, down to the punctuation marks† (Malcolm X 641). Literacy was hard for him to pick up because it was new to him, and also he didn’t have the resources or materials we do now to help him. Communication since then has exploded to the point of other people learning how to read and write other languages and schools being opened to teach a number of new people how to read and write. Communication therefore led us to advancements in communication. We can now talk to someone halfway around the world without spending a fortune for travel fares. The human race in total can read and write so well that we have taught machines like computers, cars, and phones to now read; something we didn’t have just around 20 years ago. Without communication there could be no advancements and without advancements there could be no communication. Therefore, learning to read and write is key in everything we do and come up with. My cousin also had a problem with reading and writing all through school, and even after he graduated. Unlike Malcolm X, when he was younger he kept trying to give up on doing it because it was frustrating and confusing to him. He hated having to learn something he never understood properly and regrets trying to give up for all those years because it’s still a problem now. Having that happen to him has deterred me from me giving up on something I don’t understand so it doesn’t get worse for me or stay a problem forever. Cognate to Malcolm X, I tried over and over to be at least semi-literate in everything I could. For example, when I was in middle school I would always watch the Lincoln high school NJROTC spin rifles and I knew I would do that one day. So in ninth grade I practiced hard and finally learned how to do just about everything they can do and was able to be in the parade. Also cognate to Malcolm X, I believe learning to be literate in anything takes hard work, concentration, and dedication to the fact that you have to pay attention and learn what to do. Works cited page Shah, Anup. â€Å"Poverty Facts and Stats. † Global Issues. 07 Jan. 2013. Web. 22 Sep. 2013. . X, Malcolm. â€Å"Literacy behind Bars. † The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Reading. Ed. Richard Bullock and Maureen Daly Goggin. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2013. 460-63. Print.

Psychoanalysis History Essay

The theory of psychoanalysis has developed for over a generation since its inception during the 20th century. The theory is accredited to Sigmund Freud who is regarded as the father of psychoanalysis. He laid a strong base on which psychoanalysts of the future would lay foundation and expound on the field as suggested by Sigmund. Donald Winnicott was a British pediatrician who studied babies and provided analytical theories describing the results of appropriate and inappropriate care giving. Edith Jacobson had a traumatizing experience when she was placed in the Nazi concentration camp at the height of Second World War. Her experiences and that of her patients led her into modifying the instinctual drive theory that had been developed by Freud. Harry Stack Sullivan made comprehensive studies of the schizophrenics in the 1920s and concluded that psychopathology could be traced back to an individual’s interpersonal field of experiences. On another front, a contemporary psychoanalyst by the name Robert Stolorow holds the belief that both the experiences of the patient and the analyst should form the point of focus in the analysis. This paper shall look at how the field of psychoanalysis has been shaping over the years ever since it was introduced as a branch of psychology by Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis as a psychological discipline has undergone numerous changes ever since Sigmund Freud made the classical explanation to the branch of psychology. Psychoanalysis has been able to develop from what was considered as a personal psychology to incorporate two people and then developed into the new multi-person experiential psychology. In the first instance, Freud ascribed psychological development to internal forces and drives within the body. Winnicott, Jacobson, and Sullivan laid emphasis on the dual-person relations between individuals as important aspects in their analysis of patients. Stolorow has made major contributions in the development of modern day psychoanalysis through his focus on the analytical inquiry on experimental dynamics of the patient while adopting a multi-personal approach. What is of importance in all these approaches is that the analytical innovators have always referred to the theoretical framework developed by Sigmund Freud (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). Sigmund Freud was born in the year 1856 and is regarded as the father of psychoanalysis. He developed his theoretical framework on personality based on his clinical observations which enabled him to formulate three personality theories. He developed the topographic model; the genetic model; and the structural model with each of the models aspiring to explain the complications found in explaining human personality and the causes of usual and unusual psychosomatic functioning. The topographical model generally provided the map of the human mind. According to Freud, the mind was composed of three spheres including the unconscious, preconscious, and the conscious. The unconscious part was described as that part of the brain which was composed of the feelings and ideas inaccessible to the experiential awareness. Only those ideas and feelings that were accessible to experiential awareness formed the preconscious realm of the mind. The conscious was described as the part of the mind in which immediate experiential awareness of the mind would be stored. According to Mitchell and Black, (1995) â€Å"As his clinical experience grew, Freud realized that what was most crucial to a permanent removal of symptoms was for the objectionable, unconscious material to become generally accessible to normal consciousness† (p. 5). It must be noted that Sigmund Freud noted in his clinical observations that patients would exhibit what he called as defense which was responsible for keeping the unconscious feelings and ideas out of awareness (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). The genetic model referred to developmental stage theory which categorized the human instincts. According to Freud, the biological instincts were vital in the psychological functioning of his patients. Sexual instincts in particular often referred to as drives were regarded as internal instincts demanding an external discharge. Such drives were found to concentrate in particular areas of the body as they waited to be discharged. The particular areas of the body better known as the erogenous zones were pre-eminent in accordance with the development stage of the child. The activity that involved the respective erogenous zone became the primary focus of an individual’s emotional life (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). In the structural model of personality, Sigmund Freud gave a detailed psychic map of the human mind. Freud believed that the mind was divided into three distinct parts known as the id, the ego, and the super-ego. The id is the source of all human instincts and comprises of primeval desires and spontaneous energies that seek instant gratification. The ego regulates and controls the id desires whereas the super-ego is composed of the moral values and self critical attitudes imparted by the society through socialization. Freud was of the view that humans were constantly struggling to strike a balance between the primitive impulses and the societal values (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). Sigmund Freud held the belief that a patient needed to be taken for an analysis so as to unlock unconscious dynamics that were responsible for the psychopathological incidences in the patients. Freud gave a classical approach to psychoanalysis. The fundamental method in classical psychoanalysis is to be found in the conveyance and conflict analysis of free association. The patient is to be composed before being told to speak whatever that comes to his/her mind. Imaginations, hopes, desires, and fantasies are regarded as reflecting on earlier family life of the patient. The analyst has to simply listen to the patient only to make comments to give insight to the patient when need arises. While listening, the analyst is able to develop some empathic neutrality with the patient which is critical in the creation of a safe environment. According to Freud, the free association technique was responsible for bringing out vital information in the past life of the patient. The analyst was regarded as an important figure in the previous life of the patient and during the interaction between the analyst and the patient; transference neurosis developed which referred to the patient’s attitudes and fantasies in regard to the analyst which are pivotal to the expression of critical themes and conflicts in the patient’s past. Sigmund was of the view that resolving these conflicts was crucial to the alleviation of the psychopathic symptoms (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). Object Relations by Winnicott: The development of objection relations by Donald Woods Winnicott led to a unique two-person psychology as an independent school of psychoanalysis. Winnicott sought to challenge the Freudian concept which emphasized on the psychology of an individual. Winnicott laid emphasis on the relational dynamics of children and their respective mothers as major contribution to the development of the self. According to Winnicott, the level of emotional support the child got from the mother was influential in the child’s development of the self. Children went through crucial stages of experience that was to be determined by expressive sensitivity of their mothers. During early stages in life, the child usually experience subjective omnipotence in which case the child gets whatever he/she wants. The child is then made to experience some moment of illusion that any of his/her wishes are accomplished by the mother. With time however, the mother withdraws from responsiveness to the child but in the context of the holding environment. The environment allows for space where the child’s needs are met from the environment without the child having to realize. The mother at this time becomes less involved in the meeting of the child’s needs. The child discovers that his desires are not responsible for the creation of satisfaction but rather the mother’s response to his/her needs was the aspect that brought about the satisfaction. Over time, the child realizes about his/her illusions and he is able to leave them and realizes that he/she was only dependant on the mother (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). The child acknowledges that the desires are usually met by various individuals and that these individuals have their own private desires. The child developed an objective reality together with the subjective omnipotence. Winnicott described the objective reality as the awareness that the child was separate from the desired objects. Between the subjective omnipotence and objective reality lies the transitional object which according to Winnicott resembles neither of the two scenarios. The child looks for an object to get comfort when the responsiveness of the mother to the child’s needs diminishes. Winnicott used the concept of object usage to elaborate on the experiences that the child goes through in which case aggressive tendencies become prominent during the transitional object phase. The mother’s response during the stage of object usage plays an instrumental role in the emotional development of the child. In case the child would get negative response from the mother in regard to usage of objects, then the child would be afraid of making maximum use of the objects and would develop neurotic inhibitions in adult life (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). Winnicott identified the responsiveness of the mother as crucial in the development of the self. He was of the view that the focus of psychoanalysis should be on the development of the self. The analyst in this case resembles the mother and the patient is the individual who missed on the responsiveness of ‘a good-enough’ mother. The analyst in this case assumes the roles of the responsive mother who the patient missed during early life development. The analyst therefore seeks to identify the particular desires of the patient. The relational understanding of the patient’s self was the most important aspect during the therapeutic treatment (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). Ego Psychology by Edith Jacobson: Edith Jacobson (1897-1978) was an American psychoanalyst who was dedicated to revising the Sigmund Freud’s structural model of personality through the development of her own theoretical framework. She developed the instinctual drive theory to incorporate an interaction between the actual experiences and the drive development. According to Jacobson, biological drives were influenced by the previous experiences of caregivers. She speculated that when the child’s early experiences were satisfying and healthy, then libidinal drives would be cultivated. On the contrary, when the child was frustrated during his/her earlier experiences, then the child would develop an aggressive drive which destroys the developmental process in the normal way. The childhood experiences were found to impact on the development of the self. It was established that normal self development occurred when the child is brought up by a mother who addressed the emotional needs of the child whereas a frustrated self develops when the mother was perceived as frustrating by the child. Jacobson reinvented the Freud concept regarding the super-ego which according to Freud developed due to the castration anxiety that in the oedipal stage of development. Jacobson was of the view that the super-ego developed in the child as a result of experience with other individuals. Earlier childhood experiences with the mother affected the child’s socialization to refrain from certain behaviors leading to the development of the super-ego. Jacobson’s clinical approach required the patient to reconstruct the developmental history of the patient. The inquiry of the patient’s past is considered in a conveyance manner between the patient and the analyst to establish a therapeutic correlation. It was believed that when patients unlocked their past developmental record through the conveyance was vital in the therapeutic process (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). Interpersonal Psychoanalysis by Harry Stack Sullivan: Harry Sack Sullivan (1892-1949) has been credited for advancing the interpersonal psychoanalysis. He believed that psychoanalysis was to focus on the previous interactions of the patient in an effort to unravel the psychopathological conditions that were manifested in patients. He held that an individual’s personality was influenced by the lifelong interactions which commenced with the caregivers at infancy. Sullivan got interested specifically in the experiences of anxiety earlier on in life and he observed that in early life experiences, the child’s needs are met through integration tendencies which encompasses the need for satisfaction offered on a mutual basis. Sullivan believed that anxiety feeling was external and that some aspects of the anxiety in caregivers and key figures in the child’s earlier life were able to be transmitted to the child. Thus the child would easily be affected by the anxiety in those individuals who are important in his/her early life (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). The child at this stage would perceive the primary caregivers as anxious or non anxious whereby the child generalized them as either good or bad mother. The child soon realizes that he/she can predict whether a good or bad mother was approaching based on the facial expressions, postural tensions, and vocal intonation. As time goes by, the child then realizes that his/her own behavior was the one determining the ‘goodness’ or ‘badness’ of the mother and therefore starts to form the sense of self. According to Sullivan, the anxious state in the caregivers that was caused by the behavior of the child makes the child believe that he/she is the bad one. On the other hand, those behaviors and actions from the child which produced admiration and appreciation from the caregiver made the child develop a sense of ‘good me’ (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). Sullivan’s clinical approach emphasized on the individual’s sense of the self based on the interaction they had with the others. Thus his techniques involved seeking to increase awareness of how the self operated through probing questions and encouragement of the self-reflection. This was to enable observation, understanding and alteration of important and rapid sequences. It must be noted that Sullivan’s approach emphasized on the insight ad understanding as important aspects for change in the interpersonal psychoanalysis (Mitchell, & Black, 1995). Inter-subjectivity-Modern Psychoanalysis: This is the most recent theoretical framework in the field of psychoanalysis. This model is better described as; The notion that the analyst and [the patient] can mutually shape the conscious and unconscious experience of the other. According to this view, the analyst can never be detached and purely objective observer; instead, he or she is constantly involved in a conscious and unconscious interplay of ideas as well as affective and symbolic communications† (Diamond & Marrone, 2003, p. 14). Dr. Robert Stolorow has been identified as the leading proponent of this approach and he integrates various concepts of object relations theoretical framework, ego psychology and interpersonal psychoanalysis. Stolorow however advances from the theoretical framework developed by others and argues that the whole experiential world of the patient should be analyzed in perspective as opposed to mere relations between the patient and another significant individual in the patient’s life (Stolorow, Atwood, and Orange, 2002). He developed a clinical approach in which he identified three areas of focus in an inquiry which include emotional convictions, self reflexivity and reality. The analyst examines the embodiment of emotional convictions emanating from the patient’s historical experiences in the world. Stolorow considered these convictions to be unconscious and thus they were to be made conscious for an informed reflection and explanation. Through reflection and interpretation, the patient would be able to realize their sense of self as time goes by. The analyst was required to be capable of indulging in self-reflexivity meaning that he was required to be aware of his perspective and prejudices in the clinical environment. Lastly, the inter-subjective inquiry required an aspect of reality whereby it is important for the analyst to consider the reality of the patient and to guard against overshadowing the patient’s reality with theirs. When the reality of the patient was considered, then the analyst was in a position to get the comprehensive picture of inter-subjectivity from the patient’s point of views thus facilitating a healthy diagnostic dialogue (Stolorow, Atwood, and Orange, 2002). Conclusion: It is evident that there have been tremendous innovations in the psychoanalytic theoretical framework during the past century. Sigmund Freud is regarded as the father of psychoanalysis and he is credited for providing the theoretical and clinical base for the other psychoanalytic scholars who were to further the psychoanalysis branch of psychology. Each of the psychoanalytic scholars that were interested in Freud’s thinking and aspired to advance it in their own way has founded their clinical approaches on their experiences. These scholars have included Winnicott, Jacobson, Sullivan and Stolorow. Psychoanalysis has gone through an evolution process starting as a one-person psychology, to a two-individual psychology and now is considered as a multi-people psychology. The future of psychoanalysis is set to broaden even further to incorporate the psychological, social and cultural dynamics of the individual during analysis. This is because lately, there has been an emphasis on evidence-based therapy thus enhancing the significance of considering varied sources of investigated evidence. Reference: Diamond, N. & Marrone, M. (2003). Attachment and inter-subjectivity. London, GB: Whurr Publishers. McWilliams, N. (2004). Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. New York, NY: Guilford Press Mitchell, S. A. & Black, M. J. (1995). Freud and beyond: A history of modern psychoanalytic thought. New York, NY: Basic Books. Stolorow, R. D. , Atwood G. E. , & Orange, D. M. (2002). Worlds of experience: Interweaving philosophical and clinical dimensions in psychoanalysis. New York, NY: Basic Books

Family Guy Travesty Essay

Scholars express the concern that the image of an American family is transitively evolving through time. The conceptions of denigrating the styles and beliefs of racial-ethnic, immigrant, gay-lesbian, and single parent families has been contended in the early nineties to be that which is not encouraging the veracity of portraying an American family but rather offers the otherwise. Hence, little has been known on the context of the eminent portrayal of an American family in television. Family ideology shapes the consciousness and expectations of those growing up the margin of the mainstream; nevertheless, this leads to the manifestation that the image of the aforementioned member in the community transforms as the market of media simultaneously evolves as well (Greenblatt, 1990). In essence, media is one of the most surprising sources of information in the society. The potential of television to negatively or positively affect attitudes, social behaviors, and other sort of the like has been studied and thrilling results were gathered. Same is true for the portrayal of families, age, sex, and race-role socialization. As a matter of fact, studies show that the images seen on television by its viewers somehow serve as an educational tool, with this, the threat of getting the â€Å"wrong perspectives† is uncontrollable and so are the views of those who have been touched by the influence of media (Fabes, Wilson, & Christopher, 1989). This then connotes the perception that the portrayals aired on television are products of the evolving sense of simultaneous reaction over the media and the society. In simple logic, what the society wishes to see are given by the media, therefore, the portrayal of an American family in the television nowadays are depicting â€Å"reality† so to speak. Of course critics often spur a fight with whatever is served on the table that is not a new thing. How media portrays an American family is an issue that comes along with societal changes (Lasswell, 2002). More specifically, the rise of â€Å"reality TV shows† could attest to that matter. 1950: The Black and White Medium Media in the fifties were not as influential as it has been today. Perhaps the barrier on this is the connotation that there were only few who has television in their household because TV shows were then new to them. In the light of portraying American families, the issue on ethics and morality then surfaces the scenario. Americans were still â€Å"conservative† in some point that showing the â€Å"bedroom† or love scenes would be considered as pornography. Basically, what most viewers would love watching are news about the war, or the commercials which are basically done on live stream. The scarcity of technology and celebrities keep the audience up waiting for their favorite show to air. As critics and normal citizens would contend, they consider the shows in the fifties as strict and politically correct; perhaps because television wanted to portray an â€Å"idealistic† form of family to attract audience whom as commended are experiencing several financial and social problems during that time (Lasswell, 2002). Popular shows in the fifties Something unique sprouted during the 1950’s in the vortex of television shows – the heroes were young men returning from war to a nation ravished and ripe for one of the greatest booms in civilized history, and the love stories that utterly triggers romance among its viewers. Few of the shows who topped are The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver and the Lone Ranger. These shows were among the pioneers of the quasi-comic, quasi-drama shows that contemporary media are now pursuing. For Nelson and Harriet’s reality show, it portrayed the reality of being in a middle class family in the eyes of the masses. They were in the limelight and the story mainly revolved to them. It was the politeness of David and Ricky which captured the hearts of young women, and what amazes the audience all the more were the practicality of the show since they were all representing their real lives and their real names. Similarly, the Beavers in Leave it to Beaver belonged to the â€Å"elites† or the middle-class families. They were the epitome of nice individuals and they were living in Pleasantville. Airing for ten years, I Love Lucy was the representation of a typical American family. Unlike that of the Ozzies, there is a husband who frantically hates his wife’s dream of becoming famous and being a movie star but never left her despite the opposing poles. Not only that, there was a bond between Lucy’s family and the Mertz, it showed that a typical American family is healthy inside and outside the corners of their house (Casconi, 2008). 1960: Batman, Gilligan’s Island and the Addams Family Conceivably, the sixties is considered as the rise of â€Å"superficiality. † This is because the shows which topped the charts were owned by fictional characters and imaginary families. There came Batman, Gilligan’s Island and the Addams Family. Among the rest, these are few of the shows which are carried on in the 21st century. As a matter of fact, up to date, these shows have several renditions—movies, cartoon shows and theatrical plays—all of which connote one thing, that their influence is flexible. American families in such shows showed determination, passion for life and love for family. Still, explicitness was not very much present due to the fact that there have been regulations on the content of the shows aired. However, the question needs further deliberation as there are media laws and other forms of rules but then again, these are not properly implemented since these are tolerated (Casconi, 2008). Empowerment: The positive effect of media in the current schema For every human services organization, the empowerment both of its members and of its target population is perhaps at the core of its every endeavor. A compact and lively human service can only be thoroughly and truly achieve under the condition where the members and participants in the provision of human services are active and empowered. There are many ways to achieve this end, and perhaps the most recent of these ways is the trend of using video files for informing the public and the members of the organization (Coontz, 1998). Since empowerment essentially means â€Å"bringing people who are outside the decision-making process into it (Rowlands, 1995, p. 102). † Thus, it can be said that the empowerment of people outside of the inner circle in the provision of human services can be achieved through the actual mode of absorbing these people right into the heart of the decision-making process. This can be achieved through the help of digital videos where a careful elaboration into the processes of the provision of human services is done through moving images instead of the conventional paper documents and slideshow presentations. For example, the group of people who does not fall among the ranks within the circle of decision-makers in the human service operations can be empowered by giving them a thorough and lively presentation of what they will be doing. By making them fully aware of their tasks, they can be empowered in terms of preparing for what they should expect from the actual operations or field work. Digital videos can help strengthen such a drive for empowering the other members of the human services organization through the creation of visually stimulating videos or documentaries which are rich in content but are not presented in a stale and conventional manner typical to that of formal business corporate meetings. By using videos to stimulate the active participation of the organization members who are not essentially part of the decision-making body can lead to a more vibrant campaign for providing services to people. For instance, in organizational operations such as information dissemination, the human services organization can arrive at certain decisions such as what specific information should be given to the audience and what specific information should given more emphasis and how it can be achieved by taking into consideration the perceptions of the other members (Lasswell, 2002). One way to spur these members to contribute to the decision-making process is by showing them what the organization and the people expect from them through videos. By the time the other members are informed and have become acquainted with the expectations, they can further replenish the tasks and operations of the organization by sharing what they know to the decision-making body which the latter may not be familiar with (Okwumabua, 1999, p. 154). For example, after playing a certain digital video documentary, other members who are very much familiar with the topic viewed can be stimulated by the desire to share what one knows for the awareness and betterment of the organization. The Underprivileged: Their Dose of an Ideal Family in the Fifties The scenario in the fifties showed the following: acutely and chronically ill children were cared for in hospitals and other institutions with severely restricted parental visiting privileges; moreover, children with chronic illnesses rarely survived. But the otherwise are shown today, advances in health care have prolonged and improved the lives of children with chronic illness, and the majority of children are cared for by their families in their homes and communities. The first merger movement at the turn of the century led to significant concentration in some manufacturing industries, and less conspicuous inter-corporate links through family connections, financial houses, and interlocking directorates probably reinforced the trend towards concentration. However, there seems to have been little trend toward increased concentration since then, although average concentration ratios, however measured, show modest increases since 1945. Whatever the measures used, it is clear that oligopoly is prevalent in about one-half of American manufacturing industry, and that there remain sharp distinctions in concentration levels among industries. This does not mean that there have been no recent changes 1950; problems of housing, medical services, education and employment. And so majority of the families were in dire need of a dose of fantasy in their lives (Lasswell, 2002). If they were living in the underprivileged level of the pyramid, then at least they witness how Lucy and Harriet lived a life of fame and fortune. Sixties and Crossing the Lines of Mainstream TV Meanwhile, the expansion of schooling combined with growing affluence contributed to the emergence of a youth culture separate and apart from the family. Late-Twentieth-Century Families In 1960, 70 percent of American households consisted of a go-to-workdad, a stay-at-home mom, and two or more kids. By the end of the twentieth century less than 10 percent of American households fit that profile. But what makes the sixties fascinating in the world of media and broadcasting were the rise of â€Å"adventure† flicks and creative stories. Apart from the â€Å"usual† types of stories—which in one point are considerably idealistic—they crossed the line and took the risk of introducing superficial characters, and superficial kinds of families. 21st Century Warning: Explicit Content The presence of media as a tool of information dissemination has increased largely because of the technological innovations consistently being introduced not only in advancing the productivity rate of media organizations but also in expanding the capacity of the various media outlets to include a wider range of topics (Hudson, 1986). With this expansion, the subjects incorporated into the mass media has also been augmented (Graber, 1980) such that former topics that were once rarely untouched have now been constantly infused with unceasing publicity such as those that tackle Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The changes made by mass media are evidently found on a series of notions due to consciousness, certain perceptions on reality and the palpable alterations of the masses’ individual lives concurrent on what had reconstituted by the mentioned technological change (Palmer & Young, 2003). Technological or digital innovation dwelled on to by human beings had been observed to have been conducting a protective bubble of fixed racial, cultural and ethnic identity resulting to a sense of detachment which lies on the physical state of the screen persona as well as with the transcends in the reality of social culture (Barker & Petley, 2001). To thoroughly understand the representation of media of an American family, one must be enlightened of the status of real-life events. With this, an assessment on the trend of the shows shall commence. Perceivably, the five major parts regarding on the family status includes married, separated, widowed, divorced and never married. Their study showed that there is an increasing number of adults who are not presently married due because of separation of the partners. As expected, there was a variation of the proportion of the numbers of separated people in different cities of the country. Florida exhibits the highest rate of divorce while in Boston and California got the lowest proportion. This can be explained because of the geographic differences (D’Antonio, 2004). Gradually, television shows nowadays such as those which have been mentioned are almost synonymous in context and manner. Furthermore, American families differ from those of more educated families who typically were studied with regard to family interactions and adolescent autonomy issues. Inner-city African American families may experience age-condensed generations such that the generational boundaries are not as clear. Because the boundaries between the roles of mothers and daughters may be blurred, the need for a struggle over autonomy issues may be less salient because the authority differences were never as strong (Lawler, 1997). Additionally, autonomy issues may not be as pressing in a context characterized by preoccupations with the representation of media in such forms of distinction. How they portray and American family is no longer boxed in a certain class—Americans, for that instance—but their target market includes global viewers. Nonetheless, the diversity of characterization of the shows is proof that freedom in the vortex of media and entertainment has lesser rules and the core virtue lies in the truth of fame (Fabes et al. , 1989).

CASE 7 Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

7 - Case Study Example tead of passenger shippers to ensure that the nighttime services offered by the cargo shippers coincided with later afternoon pick-ups and next-time deliveries (Hill, 2011), which were actually the choice of customers. Again, Federal Express took much responsibility of the services it offered to customers and this has remained till date. This is done by ensuring that even in the case of door-to-door deliveries the company uses its internal delivery agents instead of relying on external third party companies. With this, customers are assured to guaranteed delivery and are well informed of whom to go to when the need arises. Computer companies that follow different business models are Apple and Dell. Apple follows a cost leadership strategy emphasizing quantity over quality with its Big Bell Value menu. With this, the company perceives growth from a perspective where every individual entering the premises of the company can get as many information and communication technology tools as possible. As more people are served with various hardware and software, even at lower prices, the accumulated revenue increases. Dell follows a focused differentiation strategy with its limited hardware manufacturing. Unlike Apple, there is total absence of software manufacturing. With this, there is a belief in the need to specialize in one area only so that with the provision of quality products, costs can be increased to meet expected revenue

Determination of principle stress Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Determination of principle stress - Lab Report Example Likewise, the value of normal stress be maximum in another plane. This plane is known as the minimum principle plane or principal plane. The normal stress on the minimum principle plane is referred to as the principle stress (minimum principle stress). Mohr’s circle is graphical technique used to find principle strains and stresses in materials. It also indicates the orientations or principle angles of the principal stresses. This experiment focused on using Mohr’s strain circle to determine the principle directions, principle strains, and maximum strain. The wheat stone bridge for the different channels was set at zero. The torsion rig was loaded with different masses. The masses were used to record the gauge strain readings at different loading levels. The necessary measurements were taken and recorded. From the given experimental readings the Mohr’s circle was drawn and the principle strain, principal direction, and maximum strain determined. The corresponding principle stresses were calculated together with the maximum shear stress through the application of the generalized Hooke’s law. The torsion theory was used in determining the shear stress that acts at the outer radius of the principle stresses and the cross section. Provided the stress componentsï€  Ã¯  ³x, ï  ³y, and ï  ´xy, it was possible to determine the principle stressesï€  Ã¯  ³1, maximum shear stress ï  ´max, the principle angle ï  ±p, and angle ï  ±s. In this regard, the maximum normal stress was found to be 52.5 MPa, minimum normal stress was found to be -18.5 MPa, principle angle 34.2 degrees, Maximum shear stress was 35.5 MPa, Maximum shear angle 10.8 degrees, and angle was 79.2 degrees. The Obtained results show that the shear stress is positive and the normal stress is equally positive. This means that the normal stress is position outside the action plane and the shear stress is rotated clockwise in the point to be considered. Normal stress involves the stress that happens when axial

What, if, any are the logical fallacies inherent in current australian Essay

What, if, any are the logical fallacies inherent in current australian law which permits company directors and officers to evade liability using asset protectio - Essay Example may arise out of past transactions or events, the settling of which may involve in transferring and usage of one’s assets, providing services or other economic benefits. A liability is not necessarily legally enforceable, but most probably will be based on equable or constructive obligations in terms of future projects or transactions. Asset protection, on the other hand, denotes immunity from asset liability. This may be called as protecting one’s property from legal or monetary claims, problems and taxes during life and even after death of the asset â€Å"owner†. It is a form of financial â€Å"self-defense† which places one’s assets beyond reach of the creditors. Traditionally, there have been two major strategies employed to protect personal assets, namely, gifting and the use of trusts Asset protection, though legally justified in terms of its owners, is not morally rationalized when viewed on behalf of the creditors. Asset protection, thus, is a method, by which an individual or an entity, protect their assets, through procedures such as having layers of multiple entities by which the actual perpetuator always remains anonymous, and therefore, unaccountable, for their assets, or by having trusts and insurances. This article aims at identifying and zeroing in upon the logical fallacies and loopholes in the current system of asset liability and asset protection in Australia, if any, and the reforms necessary to correct the same. It has now become almost an undeniable reality that one will be sued for something or the other during his/her lifetime. And in most cases, this type of lawsuit involves asset liabilities. Asset protection has thus become a necessity. Asset protection is no longer a luxury to be afforded to the very rich.   It has become a necessity for upper middle class and even middle class.  Ã‚  Simply put, asset protection devices are strategies and legal structures designed to put one’s assets out of reach of creditors and business

The proposal for an annotated bibliography Research

The for an annotated bibliography - Research Proposal Example Zhu, Jieming, â€Å"Local growth coalition: the context and implications of China’s gradualist urban land reforms,† International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Vol. 23, No. 3 (1999): 534−548 In the above journal, Zhu discusses the process and end results of changes in China’s land tenure system. This paper will be employed in the analysis the Policy implication of China’s urbanization. The paper above discusses of the ways in which the China is adapting to the fast urbanization process. It focuses on the land economic behind reproduction of spaces. This will be used to analyze ways in which China has mitigated effects of scarcity of land amid urbanization. The above authors examine the importance of research in determining public administration of Cities undergoing urbanization such as those in China. This paper will be used to identify forms of governance which China has employed to embrace changes associated with urbanization. Song Yan, and Chengri Ding analyze factors associated with fast growth and development of Chinese cities. This paper will be of vital use in determining how problems associated with urbanization can be minimized while its benefits are internalized. The Novel above describes the changes which China has been generally experiencing in its growth and urbanization phase. The novel will be used to aid in practical understanding of the direct cases and impacts associated with urbanization in China. The above topic will serve well in appreciating Urban Geography concepts as they appear in the real world. China is one of the best countries to study since it is currently one of the fastest growing economies in the world. This led to rapid urbanization and

The external factors the will have an impact on the future of the Essay

The external factors the will have an impact on the future of the clients business - Essay Example There has not been noted any significant changes within this external environment that will impact on the client. Expansion is the key to unlocking business success and business competitiveness. But in order for the client to effectively evaluate where they stand in terms of business expansion possibilities a clear and defined topic related research has to be understood. This will enhance the chances of success while limiting the chances of future business failure. The benefits of the tourism industry in relation to travel are that it is an industry that is constantly growing and changing. The raison d'etre of an industry is clearly economic, but the sustained economic success can also have environmental, social and cultural benefits. As Europe's largest industry with great opportunities for employment there can be no let up in the efforts to ensure that tourism continues to prosper and grow." http://www.rete.toscana.it/sett/turismo/euromeeting_2003/greg_richards_engl.pdf The main concern when a company is entering a new market is whether the political and legal environemt will allow room for the business. The client is part of the EU ccommunity which aims to implement progress in all the political and legal aspects of all the community members. ... The main concern when a company is entering a new market is whether the political and legal environemt will allow room for the business. The client is part of the EU ccommunity which aims to implement progress in all the political and legal aspects of all the community members. These are the benefits that the client can consider since it is also clear that the EU community intends to improve the tourism industy as well. Culture The external enviroment which will act as a plus for the client is culture. This is due to the commonly accepted fact that people are interested in exploring other cultures. The reason that people are also aiming to travel more is that they want to experience different aspects of the different cultures. It might seem that since the EU is becoming one community all the cultures will adopt each others habits, therefore making the experience of travelling outside ones home country mundane and boring. However most countries pride themselves in their heritage and therefore aim to keep it that way. So in this respect the option of expanding is more viable as culture keeps the flames of curiosity burning. Technology Technology is one aspect that is constaly changing and the rate of change often has a high impact on the small businesses. This external factor will play a role in whether the client is sucessful or not. So in analysing this option the main focus will lie on the countries that the client intends to expand in. These countries fall within the EU community and if one aspect of technology affects one of the community memebers the logical conclusion will be that the same affect will happen in the rest of the community. However to ensure that business progresses within the EU community, the decision makers have

Illiad and Odyseey Greek Mythology about the Soul Essay

Illiad and Odyseey Greek Mythology about the Soul - Essay Example The underworld was ruled by Hades, and all souls after physical death went there. Greek religious beliefs were not written down in parchments but were orally passed on from one generation to another. In every culture, epical stories were created, basing on religious beliefs, and exchanged through word of mouth so that the thoughts and beliefs took deep roots in society. While philosophy was hard for the average human being to understand, fictionalized accounts were easily comprehended. Heroic stories had the power to pass on values and moral to people rather than scripts intended to preach religion. Narratives based on adventures of brave and idealistic protagonists, therefore, became popular among masses and the authors interlaced such sagas with religious and philosophical thoughts in a manner accessible to ordinary people. Thus, Iliad and Odyssey, the two epics by Homer, have a strong influence not only on Greek culture but also on their religion. Homer’s â€Å"Odyssey† is an account of Odysseus’ return to Ithaca from the Trojan War. It narrates his adventures and how he overcame the wrath of Poseidon, with the help and blessings of Goddess Athene, daughter of Zeus. Odyssey concentrates on the happenings in Odysseus’ native land, Ithaca during a twenty year period when he was away from his motherland, and the tribulations suffered by his faithful wife Penelope and son Telemachus. Finally, after a long and arduous struggle, Odysseus returns to his land, with the help of the goddess Athene, and is reunited with his wife and son. He also succeeds in killing all the suitors who wanted to marry Penelope during his long absence from Ithaca. As was the contemporary practice prevalent during that time the dead were not buried but cremated. The practice of building â€Å"a mould with all the proper funeral rites† was also practiced. (Homer, 1991. p.12, line 293).  

Diversity and Multiculturalism Meaning Assignment

Diversity and Multiculturalism Meaning - Assignment Example sity has been defined â€Å"as acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing, and celebrating differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and public assistance status† (Esty, et al., 1995). Diversity can be defined in many other ways too. Diversity is recognizing and appreciating the various characteristics, some of them have already been mentioned above, that make an individual unique. Diversity helps in promoting individual as well as collective achievement. Diversity believes in providing equal opportunities to all irrespective of race or religion. The concept of diversity is being increasingly used by business managers to deal with the issues that have cropped with the increased presence of minorities and women in the workplace. "Managing diversity† has become a critical part of the management of an organization. Diversity has to be successfully managed or else i t can lead to an increase in employee turnover, absenteeism, disruption in work, harassment and what is more important a low morale. All this in turn will further lead to low productivity. Today it has become necessary to have a diverse workforce as it adds value to an organization. Diversity in a workplace means recognizing and respecting individual differences that may arise in the workplace. This will benefit the organization and lead to more productivity and also give a competitive edge to the organization. Good diversity management means creating a fair environment for the employees. Today many definitions and terms can be used to describe multiculturalism. One definition is that multiculturalism is â€Å"the doctrine that several different cultures (rather than one national culture) can co-exist peacefully and equitably in a single country† and "by making the broadest range of human differences acceptable to the largest number of people, multiculturalism seeks to overcome racism, sexism,

Marketing Plan for Atlantic Quench Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Marketing Plan for Atlantic Quench - Essay Example The researcher states that the current marketing strategy of Atlantic Quench is to push its product portfolio of existing juice products in its existing market. Atlantic Quench has specialized in producing cranberry juice products, which are known for its high nutritional value. Based on the current marketing strategies and the environmental condition, the marketing plan for the next year has been designed. The marketing plan of a company acts as a blueprint which guides the future marketing efforts of an organization. The marketing plan encompasses the developing the desired marketing mix and isolating the target customers based on the product category and posting of the company. This paper is focused on the marketing strategies and future marketing plan of a hypothetical fruit juice company called Atlantic Quench, which is a cooperative firm originated in the US. It covers a detailed study of the existing marketing strategies of the company along with the internal and external envi ronmental analysis. The marketing plan has been outlined by SMART objectives and it includes the strategies to devise the future marketing mix and marketing communication strategies for the next year. The political environment of the nation largely influences the marketing strategies of a firm. It dictates the trade policies and regulations both in terms of domestic and overseas operation. Atlantic Quench mostly operates in the US which is its home country and it has also diversified into UK. These nations have a relatively stable political structure to support the growth of a fruit juice company like Atlantic Quench. However, the rise of the interest rate by the US government has made it relatively difficult for companies to finance their business. Moreover, the political relationship between the home country and the host country can also influence the supply chain of the companies. Therefore, the success of internationalization of Atlantic Quench is dependent of the political stat us of the US.

Philosophy of Space and Time Essay Example for Free

Philosophy of Space and Time Essay At the end of the nineteenth century, physicists were looking back at an era of progress unrivaled in known history. Classical, or Newtonian, physics explained the motion of objects in space and on earth, Kepler’s laws accurately predicted planetary motion, and Maxwell’s electromagnetic unified electricity and magnetism theory and predicted, correctly, that electromagnetic waves behaved exactly like light; paving the way for the recognition that light itself was an electromagnetic wave. It appeared that the world was explained. It was not to be. Two revolutionary theories were introduced that changed forever the way in which scientists and lay people alike view the universe. These were the Theory of Relativity and Quantum Physics (Giancoli 730) . Physicists at the turn of the century assumed that any wave must travel through some medium. This assumption required there to be some transparent substance in space that would allow light to propagate through it, much like a ripple on the water. They knew that this could not be air, since light traveled from stars to the earth through the emptiness of space. Another medium had to be responsible. This medium was named the Ether and it was thought to exist in all space. They understood that the ether had a zero density, since it was very difficult to detect (Giancoli 731). Two physicists in the 1880’s, Michelson and Morley, designed a clever experiment that they thought would determine the speed of the Earth in orbit around the sun. They anticipated being able to measure the speed of light in different orientations. They anticipated that the speed would vary with the orientation of the light wave to the ether. What they discovered was that the speed was constant. They believed there experiment was a failure. What their experiment showed, although they did not accept it, was that the ether did not exist. In 1905 Albert Einstein proposed a theory that reconciled this and other issues. This theory would change how scientists and lay people viewed space, time, mass, and energy (Giancoli 730). Einstein’s equation relating mass and energy, E = MC2, is easily recognizable. It brings together matter and energy as different forms of the same substance. This would imply that mass could be converted directly to energy, and vice versa. This radical departure from classical physics had several implications, both for scientists and for our culture. For scientists, the theory of relativity established the ultimate speed limit. The speed of light in a vacuum, c, is as fast as anything can go (Giancoli 748). Culturally, the discovery of relativity and quantum physics made possible such things as nuclear power, nuclear weapons, and medical imagery such as MRI Scans, CAT Scans, and PET scans. The advent of nuclear weapons changed our society. Nuclear attacks were a common theme in Hollywood films. Citizens built there own bomb shelters, argued the pros and cons of the nuclear power industry, and have enjoyed the advances in medicine. Indeed, our society now takes for granted these advances, and assumes that there will be a continued rapid advance as our knowledge base improves. Cosmology, or the study of the universe, has benefited from the theory of relativity. Many phenomenons, such as black holes, are only describable in terms of relativity and quantum physics. The advent of space telescopes, radio telescopes, and optical telescopes that detect emissions outside of the visible spectrum have shown the world the images of a universe unlike the one that was believed to exist just a hundred years ago (Giancoli 914-942). The search for extra-terrestrial life was instigated with the federal governments backing. The private citizens embraced this search, of 3 so much so that when the government quit funding SETI, individual citizens continued to support it. The discovery of relativity, quantum physics, and the new nature of cosmology has changed not only the scientific community but society as a whole. SETI, CAT scans, an Einstein’s name are household terms. The changes in perception of the world around us really cannot be overstated.

Critical Evaluation Of Ethnography And Grounded Theory

Critical Evaluation Of Ethnography And Grounded Theory It is obvious that research is an important element of our everyday life. Research is everywhere we go; it is background of everything we face in our present time like for example management, marketing or finance. There are two main streams of performing a particular research; it is qualitative method which is based mostly of words and statements or quantitative which involves statistics and empirical evidence. Two out of three most frequently discussed qualitative approaches which are grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology would be discussed in this paper (Avis, 2003). In the first part of this paper I am about to discuss the main idea of ethnography. I am going to discover what is it and I would talk about the methods of research ethnographers use in order to get information they need, for making a relative conclusion. In addition, in this research paper I would to talk about what are the problems the researchers face in obtaining and evaluating obtained observations. This part would present several example of how this method could be applied in everyday life. Second part would show the differences between two approaches ethnography and positivism approach. The purpose of this part is to show the understanding of ethnographic research method from positivist perspective. Third part of this research paper would debate about second most frequently discussed qualitative approach, grounded theory. What is it, what are main notions of this research method? Moreover, I would discuss main methods and techniques of this research and the areas where it is usually applied. In addition I would pay attention on the methods of hypothesis formation and testing. In fourth part I would discuss grounded theory method from positivist point of view. I would argue why this research method would not suit positivists requirements. My argument would present the examples of how certain grounded theory research could be performed from positivist point of view. Last but not least, this research paper would present differences between two most frequent qualitative research methods, grounded theory and ethnography. Ethnography In general ethnography is a qualitative research method that recognized as a participant observation, it is the method where researcher contributes his or her time examining, communicating or cooperating with a social group. By observing and communicating with a social group researcher could understand how a particular group ties their relationships among each other, how a particular culture was built and maintained in order to keep social group together (Brown-Saracino, Thurk, Fine, 2008). Making research ethnographers mostly focused on actions and intentions of the social group. Researcher observing the social group on daily bases tries to understand what idea is behind of a particular deed or objective (Herbert, 2000). By getting new information about the group, understanding what they take for granted, ethnographer could identify structure of their actions. Detailed examination of the groups behavior on daily basis separates ethnography from other qualitative researches, like in terviews (Power, 2002). Any group of persons prisoners, primitives, pilots or patients develops a life of their own that becomes meaningful, reasonable, and normal once you get close to it, and a good way to learn about any of these worlds is to submit oneself in the company of the members to the daily round of petty contingencies to which they are subject (Goffman, 1961, pp. 9-10). There are various methods which researchers use in order to get a data about a particular group. One of the best examples of how ethnographer could participate in a groups activities is research made by Burawoy (1979), he worked as a machine operator for ten months in a Chicago factory in order to answer the question, why workers of the factory do not work harder. Some researchers were trying to achieve more close relationships with the groups of study; however, some relationships are unchangeable. Ethnographers usually balance between being insider and outsider, they are trying to see everything through the eyes of the social group ethnographers trying to analyze and in the same time trying to see whole picture in general applying theories (Taber, 2010). According to Power (2002) ethnographer has to maintain two positions at the same time. One, he or she has to be a good actor, who can engage obtained information in ongoing interaction. Second, has to be rational and logical scienti st to correctly interpret obtained information. Interviews, surveys and questioners are completely different from ethnography because rather than to examine what people say, ethnographers examine both what people say and do. There is huge gap between described relationships and reality. The fact that ethnographer can differentiate between deeds and words make ethnography more informative methodology (Liebow, 1967). Furthermore, ethnography involves more emotions and feelings. By getting inside of the social group researchers has to change his or her habits, sights and tastes. It is also an important factor in evaluation of observations (Dennison, Wintrob, Brunt, 1972). The research made by Herbert (2000) in Los Angeles Police Department involved emotional responds because witnessing of suicide had a huge impact on him and this changed the observation results. Because of emotional effect, policemans job appeared to him very tough and only for people with strong heart. Ethnography from positivists perspective. Looking on ethnographic methodology from positivist point of view, we can agree and disagree in certain extent with ethnographers epistemology. First of all, both of them, ethnographers and positivists, make some kind of observations in order to get information. However, the information ethnographers get is completely different from what positivists trying to achieve in their research. As it was mentioned before ethnography uses observations and involvement methods in order to understand what is the culture and behavior of the social group. Taking as example the experience of Burawoy (1979), ethnographer who entered society of factory workers to obtain information about why workers do not work harder. The idea of research made by Burawoy was to see the world through the eyes of those workers he was working with, understand their feelings and emotions. Whereas, positivist researcher would not try to put him or herself in shoes of another person he or she would rather employ empirical analysis in this case and for example would pay attention on such factors as what is the duration of working day, how often workers have to stay overtime, how often workers go out to smoke or everything that affects workers productivity. According to Trochim (2006) the idea of positivism is to focus on what we could examine and evaluate, everything that goes outside of this scope is considered as impossible. Also Silverman (1998) stated that there is no agreed doctrine underlying all qualitative social research. Ethnographers do not have certain rule to perform their analysis, while positivists follow certain set of rules during analysis (Avis, 2003). Date collection is general aspect of qualitative research mostly in form of words and statements, and the method of analysis they use do not involve statistics or empirical analysis (Cepeda Martine, 2005). In above paragraph I was giving the example of research made by Herbert (2000) who went to analyze policemens job. He was saying that case of suicide terrified him so much that his emotions affected his conclusion about his research. In case of positivism this is not acceptable; positivism states that this is only one truth (Somers, 1998). In case of positivism there cannot be to different interpretation of same results. Moreover, if pay attention on the speed of research performance, positivists would say that ethnography is not efficient methodology. In order to get information ethnographer has to go inside of the company and spend ten, like in case of (Burawoy, 1979), or more month in order to obtain observations from a group of people. Whereas, positivists could obtain information of the whole company roughly in same period of time. Positivism covers bigger sample size rather than ethnography (Amaratunga, Baldry, Sarshar, Newton, 2002). Grounded theory Originally, grounded theory was introduced by Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss in 1967 (Strauss Corbin, 1998).Grounded theory was developed by leaning on the experience which they had in one of the Chicago school and also by taking into account the criticism; they developed their own strategy of data analysis (Glaser Strauss, 1967). Design of the research frequently relies on the reviewing literature which leads to formation of hypothesis. After this, hypothesis would be tested in the real world. Whereas grounded theory examines the realities and analyses the data without any hypothesis (Glaser Strauss, 1967). In the qualitative research the analysis of data can be described differently as the result of an interpretivist point of view on a certain event or action. In grounded theory the analysis of data includes searching for concepts which are behind the reality, by searching for codes, concepts and categories. Creation of the grounded theory passes three stages induction, deduc tion and verification (Strauss, 1987), each of them are absolutely important to formation of the new theory. Also it is important to notice that all three stages, according to Strauss, will be involved in research not consistently, and to some extent are present at each stage of research. To make the construction of theory more systematized, Glazer and Strauss offer several necessary strategies of the analysis in qualitative research. Firstly, analytical process must alternate with process of gathering information or even to go in parallel with it. Secondly, observance of this principle allows to create theoretical sampling in the process of research, purpose of which, is to represent not the investigated group of people (object of research), but the aspects, properties of characteristic or quality of the investigated phenomenon (subject of research). Theoretical sample is a process of data gathering for theory generating by means of which the analyst collects, unites, codes, analyzes the data and decide, what of them to collect at a following stage and where to search for them to develop the theory in process of occurrence. This process of data gathering is supervised by the appearing theory (Glaser Strauss, 1967). Thirdly, to make a continuous comparative analysis, this could be used at different stages of analytical process. Defining the place of the comparative analysis, in the developed methodological field, authors place it between two basic strategies, the approaches of the analysis. The first approach is the content-analysis at first the coding model must be set, and then data must be gathered regularly, estimated and analyzed on in advance certain, invariable and uniform scales for all of them which allow to give to the qualitative data, quantitative form. On the basis of the new structured data file by means of numerical model are proved preliminary put forward hypotheses (are accepted or denied). Glazer and Strauss connect second approach with a situation when it is necessary to develop some preliminary ideas or hypotheses. In this case operation of detailed coding can slow down the achievement of the objective, therefore the analyst only looks through the data for a finding of new properties of theoretical categories and writes memo s about these properties (Glaser Strauss, 1967). Such approach describes more likely an initial stage of coding and for theory construction is insufficient, as constant transformation and reintegration of the data in process of accumulation and the material review in the latter case is required. And the third corresponds to this problem, offered by authors, the approach. It connects in analytical procedures of constant comparison procedure of the developed coding the first and style of development of the theory of the second. The purpose of a method of constant comparison in which coding and the analysis, theory generating are united more regularly, than is supposed in the second approach, by means of use of the developed coding and analytical procedures. Being more systematized, than the second approach, a method of constant comparisons at the same time is not connected and with the first which is developed for preliminary testing, instead of theory opening. Grounded theory from positivists perspective. In my opinion from positivism point of view grounded theory is not quite correct decision for theory deducing. Strauss mentioned that in some cases it is better to start the research with an initial hypothesis which can be changed or evaluate during the research (Glaser Strauss, 1967). In this case I think that the initial idea can be lost which has been introduced originally in the research. Whereas from the positivists point of view the theory or hypothesis must be suggested and only then it must be tested, without changing its initially idea (Trochim, 2006). The result of this test should confirm or deny this theory or hypothesis. Use of grounded theory is useful in area as medicine; many researchers use the given approach for research of this area. For instance grounded theory was used in order to understand how Medical Family Therapy helps patients to deal with complex family dynamics that usually happens after hospitalization, also the therapy was directed to help people to av oid next hospitalization (Anderson, Huff, Hodgson, 2008). In addition, as it was mentioned by (Trochim, 2006) positivist seeking to find one single truth, whereas one of the parts of the grounded theory research is coding the possible answers of participant, this is a certain type of interpretation due to the fact that every single researcher codes information in a unique way which is not acceptable by positivist researcher (Allan, 2003). Similarities and Differences of Grounded Theory and Ethnography. Grounded theory and ethnography can be very compatible; as ethnographic studies may give the wide explanation which can be extremely valuable data, for grounded theory analysis (Glaser Strauss, 1967). Some of these compatibilities came from the similarities in the characteristics of these two approaches. Ethnography is observing and analyzing behavior in natural conditions and the grounded theory makes collecting of data in the natural conditions too. Also there are similarities in backgrounds, both grounded theory and ethnography came from sociology, but in addition to ethnography it has also anthropological background. The main focus of this approaches are different where grounded theory stands for developing the theory whereas ethnography describing and interpreting a culture. In data collection both approaches gather information through different kinds of interviews, but ethnography moved beyond using observations of other (Creswell, 2006). Conclusion In this coursework I talk about two qualitative approaches ethnography and grounded theory. These two approaches are used in many areas of our life. They help us to justify some undiscovered phenomenas that we face. They both have similarities and differences which makes them unique in certain areas. As it was mentions above ethnography focuses on describing and interpretation of culture of the certain group of people. Whereas, grounded theory is used to grounding the theory in the view of people (Creswell, 2006). I looked on these two qualitative approaches from the perspective of positivist. I found that mostly positivism do not support both of them. In my opinion both of this approaches are time consuming in discovering certain hypothesis or theory. Also, as it was mentioned above positivists are seeking for single truth, whereas in both qualitative approaches, grounded theory and ethnography, could be found multiple truths depending on research emotions, feelings and understandings. In addition, I mentioned that one more criteria that is used by positivists comparing to grounded theory and ethnography which is statistical or empirical data analysis. Only because both qualitative approaches use mostly words and statements positivists could reject such evidence.

Reflexology benefits which community mental health clients experience

Reflexology benefits which community mental health clients experience Reflexology is growing in popularity in its use for a wide range of conditions such as pain management, to ease the effects of cancer treatment, and indeed mental health problems. Reflexology, a complementary therapy, has been around for many years and its main purpose is ultimately to aid relaxation and restore energy. Literature suggests that it may improve quality of life and promote well-being. An increasing demand for Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAMS) emphasises the need for more research, therefore this research proposal suggests that further research is required to understand more clearly the benefits perceived by clients when reflexology is utilised in conjunction with their exiting plan of care. SEARCH STRATEGY A comprehensive literature search was conducted in relation to reflexology for mental health illness, in particular anxiety and anxiety related disorders. It was the intention to locate valid and reliable research carried out within the last ten years, however expanding this period located much more research that was considered relevant, and thus has been included within the literature review. The main databases for the literature included Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Web of Knowledge, Swetwise, PubMed, British Nursing Index (BNI), Internurse,Wiley Interscience, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) , EBSCO, and DARE (Centre for reviews and dissemination). Keywords used within the search strategy included: reflexology, anxiety, mental health, complementary therapies, complementary medicine, perceptions of reflexology, CAMS for enduring mental health, holistic care in psychiatry, holistic approach to mental health, zone-therapy and therapeutic touch. Additional literature was sourced from The Association of Reflexology. A manual search was also conducted for relevant books and leaflets. Searching literature revealed much quantitative and qualitative research on the topic of reflexology, the majority of which was related to reflexology for physical conditions such as cancer (of various types), multiple sclerosis, and skeletal ailments. A relatively small number was associated with mental health illnesses. LITERATURE REVIEW As mentioned there is an abundance of information and research with regards to the perceived benefits of CAMS including reflexology, however methodological flaws exist within some of these studies. Here, the researcher will attempt to give a critical, yet an evaluative account, on some of the research already published on the topic of reflexology. In addition, the researcher will draw upon previous research that has been carried out on why clients use reflexology, thus understanding reasons as to why it is becoming a popular complimentary therapy. Complimentary and alternative therapies incorporate a wide spectrum of approaches, however according to the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2007) they can be grouped into five main categories which are alternative medical systems, mind-body interventions, biologically based therapies, manipulative and body based therapies, and energy therapies. It is important to point out that these diverse modalities to not aim to neither diagnose or cure an illness; they merely aim to promote wellness and enhance wellbeing (Mamtani and Cimino, 2002). In recent years complementary therapies have seen an increase in popularity (Harris and Rees, 2000; Kessler et al, 2001; Russinova, 2009) for all age groups (Barnes and Bloom, 2008) and the reasons for this are varied. Change the start of this paragraph†¦ The Complementary and Alternative Medicines Project (2008) was commissioned by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in 2000. Get Well UK a non-profit organisation was appointed to oversee the project. A large sample of 713 clients who had either musculoskeletal or mental health conditions were referred to the study by their General Practitioner (GP) with the aim of exploring the potential use of CAMS within existing primary care services. Utilising the measure yourself medical outcome profile allowed data to be generated through a validated measurement. Respondents were asked to complete this before their first treatment and again after their final treatment. Additionally there were independent surveys conducted via post to the participants, the GPs and the CAMS practitioners involved. The modalities of CAMS within the study included reflexology, aromatherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, massage, chiropractor and osteopathy. Upon evaluation, it was concluded that 79% of those who took part felt an improvement in the mental health, 69% reported an improvement on their well being, and 84% reported that improvement of their well being was directly due to the CAM treatments. In addition, 94% stated that they would definitely recommend CAM treatments to others with similar complaints to themselves. Since the research, The Prince of Wales has called for a  £10 million investment into research of CAMS. Whilst the conclusion of this research appears promising for the various therapies involved, a closer look reveals that only a minority of mental health conditions were included in the selection criteria, which were anxiety, stress and depression. If the inclusion criteria allowed for a range of mental health conditions, their findings may have been different. However, strength is that it had a large sample size, which many other studies have failed to have. In response to the above research project, the Government strongly hold the view that more evidence is required, and recommended that research should attempt to contribute to the existing evidence based using the same rigorous methods that is required and desired of conventional medicine (Department of Health, 2001). Reflexology has been described as a technique used to promote the healing powers of the body that works on the premise that certain areas of the feet correspond to areas of the body. It is a non-evasive therapy where gentle pressure is applied to areas of the foot. It is believed that reflexology was practiced in china as early as 4000 BC. Reflexology, originally named zone therapy emerged from America during early 20th century. Reflexology is increasing being utilised in palliative care settings and have found to be effective in alleviating anxiety, additionally improving their physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological well being. Gambles et al (2002) carried out semi-structured interviews to identify cancer patients perceptions after a course of reflexology was offered. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of reflexology offered in outpatients. Positive results were derived from the analysis demonstrating that reflexology was beneficial for this group of clients. The majority of the clients indicated that the main benefits perceived were a reduction in anxiety levels. Other clients highlighted a reduction in pain, and some noted an improvement in their sleep pattern. The lack of negative comments in this study indicates that reflexology was positively received by the client group. However as the findings were mainly gathered from narrative, thus subjective data, it could be said that lack of objective measurement reduces it value. However, the paper included some of the raw data in the form of quotations which enhanced the validity and credibility of the research. While the above research was carried out in Scotland, similar research has been carried out in England (Lewith et al, 2002). Washington Hospices have also seen a significant rise in demand in the utilisation of complementary therapies for individualised, holistic client care (Kozac et al 2009) Research carried out in Northern Ireland to assess CAM use suggested that Reflexology was among the top six therapies used in Northern Ireland. The main reason for the use of reflexology was to enhance wellness and relaxation (Mc Donagh et al, 2007). The method used to carry out this research was surveys and had a sample of 100 people. Write more about this Bring in here about the Mind Report (unpublished research) A qualitative study (Richardson, 2004) found that clients rationale for using complementary therapies is diverse. Reasons ranged from clients feeling unhappy with orthodox medicine, having poor relationships with their GP, for symptom relief, and the increased availability of many complimentary therapies. Not dissimilar to the findings, although more specific to the reasons why clients avail of reflexology, Bishop et al (2008) found that reasons range from; for pleasure, as a treat, anticipated beliefs, prevention/management or alleviating current physical and mental health problems, and as a supplement or addition to conventional medicine. While this research was carried out in England and had a sample population of 46 clients, a bigger sample may have identified broader variations for their use. A systematic review by Wang et al (2008) agreed that there is indeed evidence to support that reflexology may have potential benefits; however they hold the view that there is no evidence to support its efficacy. To conclude their review they suggested that the routine provision of reflexology is not recommended for any illness or condition, expect for some symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis. Upon completing a systemic review Ernst (2009) and in agreement with Wang et al (2008) also concluded that there is evidence to suggest the effectiveness of reflexology although the results of previous studies are not convincing as the methodologies utilised within the trials were often poor with small sample sizes, lacked objective data or contained inaccurate measurements. As the systematic review focused on physical conditions and not mental health disorders the Jadad scale was used to assess the quality of the methodology. This instrument, often used for RCTs within the context of p hysical therapy has a score range of 0-5 (5 being highest quality) and is based on three criteria, is often used globally for the measurement of RCTs (Olivio et al, 2008). It is important however to note that research within complementary therapies often face difficulty in obtaining objective data as it is a very individualised approach, therefore client outcomes vary due to the clients values and belief system and evidence is placed on client feedback and satisfaction. Health professionals are encouraged to work towards evidence based practice, however, as the evidence mainly comes about as the result of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) this can often place professionals in a dilemma due to the lack of RCTs in some complementary therapies (need ref) The underpinnings of RCTs are that of objective measurement, and often reject or disregard subjective data, which in turn make it more difficult to obtain hard evidence. CAM practitioners and reflexologists treat clients with individ uality, they see their clients as unique therefore the treatment is unique. As a result much of the research into reflexology does not fit adequately in the criteria for RCTs as emphasis is placed on individualising care, not placed on standardising care. For this reason lack of objectivity should not be lack of effectiveness. Need a linking sentence There have been significant changes and developments into the way mental health care is delivered, with much focus and emphasis on community based care. This shift from the traditional long stay hospitals has been seen as a positive step towards person centred holistic care. There is indeed much focus on recovery with the aim of supporting clients to manage their illness so that they can continue to reside within their community and live their life to their optimal best. Beresford (2000) and The Mental Health Foundation (2000) found that people wish to play an active role in their recovery from mental illness which includes being involved in the treatment and decision process and would like the opportunity to avail of complementary therapies. Thornicroft et al (2008) hold the view that central to the provision of effective community based care is that services need to reflect the needs of the clients, be holistic, individualised and patient centred. Keep this paragraph at the end of lit rev. People with mental health illnesses such as anxiety and anxiety related disorders often require different treatments, therapies and services to help them deal with, thus manage their illness more effectively (Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2005). Regardless of any methodological flaws, it is important that health professionals take into account clients motivations for using complimentary therapies such as reflexology. We must listen to the clients perceived benefits and work towards a greater understanding of such benefits. . CHAPTER 2 METHODOLOGY 2.1 DESIGN Quantitative and qualitative approaches, what do each entail, why I have chosen mixed methods There are two main approaches to research; qualitative and quantitative. Each have there own advantages and indeed limitations. These approaches do not have to be used alone, they can often be used together. Mc Neill and Chapman (2005) put forward that mixed methods are often desirable as it enables the researcher to overcome some of the inherent weaknesses that many methods possess. Qualitative research design is often used to gather sensitive information. It aims to gain a more in-depth understanding of peoples beliefs, values, opinions and experiences. The rationale for choosing qualitative over quantitative approaches is that qualitative methods are more holistic; it seeks to understand perceptions held by individuals, and seeks to find out why instead of how many. It is a naturalistic approach whereby the research is carried out under natural conditions. Although qualitative data can be hard to objectively measure, it remains valuable because it considers and represents the perception of humans. A frequent criticism is that the qualitative approach lacks rigour (Rolphe, 2006). Bradbury-Jones (2007) suggest that keeping a reflective diary can enhance rigour whereby the researcher can reflect on their own values, beliefs and preconceptions which can all affect how the responses of the respondents are interpreted. Parahoo (2006) holds the view that reflexivity is not always easy to achieve and suggests that allowing the respondents to read the data obtained for agreement or clarification is a way of validating the data obtained. within the qualitative approach, It is argued that in order to assess the effectiveness and indeed efficacy of any treatment, service or therapy, randomised controlled trails (RCTs) should be used. RCTs are seen to be the gold standard of research (Kunz et al, 2007), however there are also limitations and criticisms of RCTs, especially where placebos are used (Vaque and Rossiter, 2001) Willaims and Garner (2002) proclaim that RCTs merely provide information about groups rather than individual clients. Many RCTs often give age restrictions and tend to focus on groups with the same diagnosis, in other words clients with dual diagnosis or mixed diagnosis are often excluded. Whilst we are encouraged to incorporate the results of RCTs, Naylors (1995) viewpoint is that RCTs lack external validity therefore it is not always possible to use the results and apply them in clinical settings. Using this approach in vulnerable groups also raises several ethical questions and concerns (American Psychiatric Association, 2006; Tharyan, 2006). However Green (2008) exerts that excluding vulnerable groups may also exclude them from gaining benefits The researcher proposes to use semi structured interviews (qualitative) as a means of collecting data and there are many reasons for taking this approach. This method can provide the researcher with rich and valuable information about the experiences and perceptions of clients with a mental health illness. SAMPLE Parahoo (2005) reminds us that selecting a sample for research requires much consideration, especially in mental health nursing research. The target population (sample) required for this proposal is 6 clients within the local community who currently have a diagnosis of anxiety or any anxiety related disorder as categorised in the DSM IV or ICD 10. The vulnerability of this group of clients must be considered whilst recruiting clients. Polit and Back (2004) exerts that clients should never feel obliged to take part in any study and no coercion from the researcher must take place. It is therefore important that when discussing the research with clients that it is emphasised that there will be no penalty for refusal to take part. Write about how you will get the sample How many Inclusion and exclusion criteria For the purpose of this research proposal the researcher has suggested convenience sampling, sometimes referred to as volunteer sampling. As the name suggests the sample is convenient, and is fairly typical of a qualitative approach to research (Burnard, 2004; Polit and Beck, 2010). However, Convenience sampling is not without its limitations (write about some limitations, also the good points). There are no set rules concerning samples sizes, although qualitative sample sizes are generally much smaller than quantitative sample sizes. In order to obtain the sample needed the assistance of the community mental health team (CMHT) is required. An information booklet containing the topic and aims of the research will be mailed to members of the CMHT. When nurses are located the researcher intends to arrange a small conference so that any issues can be raised, this will also provide an opportunity for the CMHT to ask questions. It is important that the researcher also leaves their contact details should any further questions arise. When the team are happy with the research topic and aims, they can discuss this (if applicable) with their clients and leave a participant information booklet with their client to read. If clients have any literacy or reading limitations or any sight problems then it is imperative that their nurse read out the information, or if preferred an audio cass ette will be prepared so the client can listen to the tape at their own time and pace. A client with literacy or communication difficulties should not be discriminated against and it is important that they are not excluded due to reasons mentioned. It may however pose challenges in the data collection and analysis (Low, 2006) The researchers contact details will be provided on the information booklet, which will enable the client to contact the researcher for more information if required. When six clients have shown interest and agreed to participate a consent form must be signed (see appendix). Arrangements will then be put in place, at the convenience of the participants and the reflexologist for the reflexology to commence. 2.3 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION semi structured interviews, BDI 2.4 ROBUSTNESS OF DATA COLLECTION METHODS 2.5 DATA ANALYSIS how are you going to analysis the data, ie through recordings, transcribing the data from the tape etc 2.6 PILOT STUDY 2.7 PROCEDURE FOR MAIN STUDY 2.8 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS Research such as the Milgram experiment (where participants inflicted electric shocks to another participant), The Stanford Prison experiment (where participants became verbally and physically abusive towards one another) and The Monster Study (where an attempt to induce stuttering was conducted on orphans) a number of ethical principles and frameworks have been developed with the main aim being the protection of participants well-being (Kovisto et al, 2001; Keogh and Daly, 2009). Indeed the Numberg trials at the end of the second world also received much controversy. This resulted in the formulation of the Numberg code, which has been noted to be one of the worlds most recognised ethical documentation. The Numberg Code and the Helsinki Declaration provide the basis for research. These basic principles are used globally any can provide researchers with an outline to the ethical, moral and legal obligations of research (Benard and Ficher, 2006) Ethical considerations are an important element in any type of research and the onus of upholding the ethics of research should be the responsibility of the researcher (Research Council UK, 2009). Clients with a mental health illness are a vulnerable group and many steps must be taken for their protection. Ethical approval will be sought from the relevant bodies (appendix) (University of Ulster, 2006). it is advised that this can be a lengthy process so the letter will be mailed at the earliest available date. Ethical considerations is not merely about non- maleficience, and beneficence, it is much broader than that. Consideration of the benefits versus the risks must be considered. No research should ever intentionally cause harm. As mentioned in section †¦. An information booklet will be provided for those who wish to take part. The information provided will be easily read, wherever possible will be free of jargon so that it is comprehensible to the reader. A list of contact numbers of local organisations will also be added to the booklet as the nature of the study is obtaining information from a vulnerable population group and any likelihood of upset must be addressed. Other information included in the booklet is; what will happen when the research is completed, upholding confidentiality, the right to withdraw and complaints procedures (Medical Research Council, 2005). It is important that all this information is capsulated within the booklet as a new procedure, intervention or ser vice may seem confusing at first and provoke unnecessary anxiety to both the client and the staff involved. Data Analysis Researchers who use qualitative approaches to gain information can use several ways of analysing their data (Elo and Kyngas, 2007). Only the data analysis method applicable to this research proposal will be discussed here. The first stage of narrative data analysis is to gather all the information that was obtained from the participants, although this may first appear relatively easy task to do, the reality is that it is a lengthy and time consuming process. Furthermore it is not an easy or straightforward task to accomplish. When transcribing the tape recordings it is important that we consider the rate and tone of the speech and be aware of the colloquialisms (slang) used in everyday conversations. Pauses, sighs or any prolonged silences must also be noted as excluding any of these will result in losing valuable information and the transcription will not emphasise or illustrate an understanding of what the participant is trying to put across, in other words we need to be extremely careful when interpreting the data.

Definition Essay - The Meaning of Love -- Expository Definition Essays

The Meaning of Love One can love a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins and friends, strangers, pets, the sunlight on a warm evening, reflecting through a prism, held by fishing line stuck to a little suction cup to a dusty window. You can love food from cake to roast beef, even those tiny individual candy bars that are never enough but just give you a taste of chocolate before you pop in the second one. One is able to love the feeling of carpet between toes or the tension in a hammocks string when you lay in that 'u' position swinging delightfully with each motion of your body. We can declare love for sounds coming from a stereo, love for that particular sound wave in coordination with other sound waves that make it to the inner ear as that thing we call music. Some of us love to feel a little pain, love feeling that edge of life that lets us know we're alive, nerves tingling with the sensation that something is not quite right, mind ablaze with the knowledge t hat the power to commit more pain or to stop it is in grasp. One might love a particular spot in the world, a city, a hill, a nook, a field of sunflowers swaying in the breeze. From flying an airplane at sound-breaking speeds or laying near comatose, the only movement the flipping of pages and the flitting of eyes as words are dragged into a brain to organize, recognize, and realize their meaning in correlation to each other. Love is all around us, continually exuding from ourself and others. When what someone does not love is near, or when it's something they hate, we are quick to learn it. The disgust in the face as a lump of food falls out of the mouth that tried something new or something forgotten. The shying away from a cer... ... anyone . . . then love must simply be everything else. For one, a scritch of fingernails across green blackboard is a loathsome, marrow scraping experience. For another, the drunken footsteps upon a staircase pounding higher and higher, closer and closer to the bedroom door. Maybe being touched on the nose or those little prickly seeds that hold on like velcro to anything they touch. At the same time another could love those little spiky balls, or enjoy owning drunken feet, the world a blur with head so heavy. Love is so ready to include that anyone is hard-pressed to find something the world excludes and places in a bin called "hate." So I ask you to love, to experience this feeling throughout every nerve of your body, every electric-impulse of a brain cell, every beat of your heart and blink of the eye. Because that's what love is to me. Simply everything.