Unit 5 Case Project Questions Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 5 Case Project Questions - Coursework Example The EIGRP is on average 90, while OSPF has a larger distance scale and is 110. Load balancing is one of the option and function that is relatively common between these two. The link state nature and support of OSPF over the EIGRP which supports distant vector protocol also amounts to one of the major difference between the two protocols used in communication systems and networks (Syngress, 2001, p 38). With the given facts and information based detailed, it can be evaluated that OSPF may be preferred over EIGRP on the account of fact that is more flexible and supportive towards the large scaled networks. The option of ease of network is another area which it will enable if implemented in the large scaled networks. The non reliance on the CISCO hardware is another plus and all these options and factors should be taken into account with regard to the decision making between EIGRP and

Performance Appraisal Methods On Psychological Contract Management Essay

Performance Appraisal Methods On Psychological Contract Management Essay The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the impact of performance appraisal methods on psychological contract between employer and employee in UK retail sector ( Iceland food ltd. ). The author will attempt to achieve this by focusing on importance of performance appraisal methods in improving motivation and performance of the employees and by ascertaining whether there is clear understanding of the term of psychological contract involved in performance appraisal meeting. The UK retail market is set to increase in size by 15% over the next five years, taking its value to just over  £312bn (UK Retail Futures 2011: Sector Summary, Data monitor). However this represents a slowing down of annual growth and with operating costs and the cost of credit set to rise, the retail sector faces challenging times. The retail culture is commercially driven and as such there is pressure to perform. Working in retail is hard work and the dynamic nature of the business requires a flexible attitude. Working in a shop is very likely to involve working weekends and late nights. Work-life balance could be a very significant issue for an industry that traditionally has an image of long or antisocial working hours. The retail industry employs over 3 million people (data collected March 08). This equates to 11% of the total UK workforce (UK Retail Futures 2011: Sector Summary, Data monitor). Almost 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the UK is generated by the retail sector. UK retail sales were approximately  £265 billion in 2007, which is larger than the combined economies of Denmark and Portugal (UK Retail Futures 2011: Sector Summary, Data monitor). The retail industry and the jobs within it are susceptible to economic and consumer trends. Today, most organisations on the major basis have some kind of performance appraisal system in place. A study conducted by Hirsh (2006) found that only a third of the HR professionals felt that the established appraisal methods have achieved theirs objectives and that most appraised exercises could not really had helped organisations to improve their performance (Hirsh, 2006 as quoted within Fletcher, 2008 p.1). Indeed, appraisal has become an emotive word because it is either done poorly or partly as the organisations keep on ignoring the values of the performance appraisal, thereby affecting the psychological contract of the individual. There are many indicators of a traumatized psychological contract; this can later be attributed to poor performance appraisal methods. Such indicators include; high turnover, low motivation, low job satisfaction (Hiltrop, 1995). According to Fletcher (2008), The unpopularity of using performance appraisal methods can be clearly seen as most organisations use the same process with different titles such as Performance Reviews, Work Planning and Review and many others. Iceland food ltd. follow this rule as the appraisal methods in place are described. Statement of Purpose The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the impact of performance appraisal methods used on psychological contract between the employer and employee. With an aim of examining the efficiency of the techniques used to perform the appraisal system in place. The importance of the appraisal system within Iceland food ltd. will also be established. This will be initially achieved by investigating the importance of performance appraisal methods in improving the motivation and performance of the employees, and by ascertaining whether there is clear understanding of the terms of psychological contract involved in the performance appraisal meetings. It will be important to understand how these performance appraisal methods are being evaluated. The secondary research conducted on this topic, made use of a number of academic journals, articles and books related to the subject to monitor performance of appraisal techniques. The data collection procedure involves a quantitative questionnaire issued to the employees of Icelands, and a series of semi structured qualitative interviews. 1.2 The Importance of the Study The importance of the study is to understand the effect of performance appraisal on the psychological contract of the individual employee working in the retail food super stores. The method and the aim of the appraisal process is vital in giving training, motivation, confidence and job satisfaction to the employee as well as the rewards they get out of pay review. The author endeavours to find out what are the elements of the psychological contract of employee working in the retail food industry and whether or not it is affected by good or bad appraisal system used by the organisation. The primary research is conducted on the employees of the retail store to get the exact scenario of their present working conditions and their psychological contract with a focus on the performance review policy of the organisation. 1.3 Background of the company Investigated. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ so thats why mums go to Iceland! Iceland began business in 1970, when Malcolm Walker opened the first store in Oswestry, Shropshire with his business partners Peter Hinchcliffe, Colin Harris, Thomas Duffin and John Apthorp investing  £30 each. This was for only one months rent at their Shropshire store. They were all still employees of Woolworths at the time, and their employment was terminated once their employer discovered their job on the side. Iceland initially specialized in loose frozen food. By 1975, there were 15+ Iceland outlets in North Wales, with the first supermarket-style outlet opening in Manchester a couple of years later. The firms head office moved to Deeside, Flintshire in 1979. Iceland was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1984, by which stage it had 81 outlets. In 1989 Iceland bought its competitor Bejam which was some three times larger in terms of business. By January 2004, the combined chain had 760 stores throughout the United Kingdom. Finding the retail market more hostile in the late 1990s, Iceland pursued avenues for differentiation. In 1998, the firm began to focus on providing organic food and genetically modified-free food. This policy saw the company convert its entire frozen vegetable range to organic in 2000. In 1999, Iceland launched what it claimed to be the first nationwide, free, online grocery shopping service. This tied in with the rebranding of all outlets under the Iceland.co.uk. However, the rebranding exercise appears to have been quietly abandoned in the early 2000s, as the unadorned Iceland name is now used more widely, although some stores still have the Iceland.co.uk name on display. Iceland was renamed the Big Food Group in Feb 2002, and attempted a refocus on the convenience sector with a bid for Londis. Grimsey remained until the takeover and demerger of the Big Food Group by a consortium led by the Icelandic company, Baugur Group in February 2005. Since Malcolm Walkers return to the company, Iceland has reduced the workforce by 500 jobs at the Deeside Head Office, with approximately 300 jobs moved in September as a result of a relocation of a distribution warehouse from Deeside to Warrington. During July 2006, 300 workers took industrial action with the support of their union, blocking several Lorries from entering the depot. Despite this, the transfer to Warrington took place and the new warehouse was later outsourced to DHL in April 2007. In January 2009, Iceland announced that it would buy 51 stores in the UK from the failed Woolworths Group chain; three days after the final 200 Woolworths stores closed their doors for the last time. In April 2009, Iceland announced plans to close its appliance showrooms by September 2009 to concentrate on food retailing. Icelands sales for the year ended 27 March 2009 were  £2.08 billion, a 16% increase on the previous year, with net profits of  £113.7 million. Iceland is a successful and growing business, and to maintain our momentum we want to help all our people to fulfil their ambitions and realise their potential.   We take pride in our training and development, and our 2009 staff survey showed that 87% of our employees considered that they had all the training they needed to do their job well.   In addition to paying close attention to the results of these regular surveys, we conduct individual performance reviews designed to identify strengths, ambition and potential, and are strongly committed to providing opportunities for those who wish to develop their careers within Iceland.   Over 60% of our store managers have attained their positions through internal promotion. Currently Iceland is having over 750 stores through out the UK. And more than 18000 employees work within Iceland food ltd. Iceland have employees hand book that is handed over to the employees during the induction. This employees handbook is basically designed for the frontline staffs, which includes the entire details of the induction procedure, probationary period, performance appraisal, disciplinary, dress policy, dignity at work and grievance procedures and other important elements of the contract. The entire information on the Icelands was known to the author with the help of store manager of the Iceland food ltd. And from the Iceland food ltd website and staff hand book. AIM The aim of the research is to investigate the effectiveness of appraisal method on the psychological contract between the employer and employee. Objectives To examine the concept and theories related to psychological contract. To examine the concept and theories related to performance appraisal. To describe and compare performance appraisal methods used by Iceland food ltd. To critically analyse the effect of performance appraisal method on psychological contract. 1.6 Overview of the Study The dissertation will be presented in a series of the following chapters. Brief description of each chapter is written below with a diagrammatic representation (Figure 1.0 and Table 1.0 Overview of the study). Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Literature Review Chapter 3 Methodology Chapter 4 Results Chapter 6 Conclusion and Recommendation Introduction: This chapter gives the introduction to the study, covering the aim and objectives of the study. It includes the statement of purpose and the background of the company investigated. Literature Review: This chapter provides the critical analysis of all the secondary research conducted by the author on the performance appraisal, psychological contract followed by the discussion of the effects of former on latter. Methodology: This chapter explains the research aim and the research process undertaken by the author to fulfil the research questions outlined in previous chapter. It also includes the primary method conducted by the author to gather the research data. Results: This chapter includes the findings of the primary research conducted by the author. It also includes the charts and graphs that explain the findings of the research. Discussion and Analyses: This chapter includes analyses of the finding of the primary research. It also includes the comments of the interviews as well as analyse the outcome of the survey conducted by the author. Conclusion and Recommendation: This is the final chapter of the study which will give a synopsis of all the findings and cross refer it with the objectives stated in the initial chapter. It will also offer the recommendations for further research. Chapter 5 Discussion and Analyses CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Introduction A literature review as defined by Fink (2005:3) is a systematic, explicit and reproducible method for identifying, evaluating and synthesising the existing body of completed and recorded work produced by researchers, scholars and practitioners (Fink 2005, p.3) AIM The aim of the research is to investigate the effectiveness of appraisal method on the psychological contract between the employer and employee. Objectives To examine the concept and theories related to psychological contract. To examine the concept and theories related to performance appraisal. To describe and compare performance appraisal methods used by Iceland food ltd. To critically analyse the effect of performance appraisal method on psychological contract. To draw conclusion and make recommendation about the effectiveness performance appraisal method on the employees of Iceland food ltd. This section therefore, attempts to review some related literature relevant to this study. Moreover this literature review seeks to justify the uniqueness of this study in the light of the works of other known scholars in the field of performance assessment strategies on the psychological contract, focusing on the performance appraisal method used by Iceland food ltd, U.K. This section is arranged into themes in line with the research objectives and questions outlined in the preceding chapter. The review will begin with the purpose of the psychological contract and the appraisal method, followed by the different types of the appraisal methods. Then the performance appraisal method used by the Iceland food ltd U.K. will be critically reviewed and how the performance appraisal affect the psychological contract between the employer and employee will be discussed. Lastly the advantages and limitations of this factor and the importance of this study will be presented. In addition, a recent view is of Conway and Briner where they define : What Psychological Contract is ? To examine the concept of the psychological contract, a review of existing definitions and research needs to be assessed. Origins of the term psychological contract derived from Argyris in the 1960s who referred to it as the implicit understanding between a group of employees and their foreman, while Schein in 1965 further developed the concept focussing on the high level relationship between the employee and the organisation (Wellin 2007). Furthermore, Kotter in 1973 (as quoted within Roehling 1997) described the psychological contract as, an implicit contract between an individual and his organisation which specifies what each expects to give and receive from each other in their relationship. (Kotter as quoted within Roehling 1997 p.210) psychological contract as, the perceptions of the two parties, employee and employer, of what their mutual obligations are towards each other (Conway and Briner (2005) as quoted within CIPD 2009) However, Rousseau (1995) (as quoted in Guerrero and Herrbach 2007) believes that the psychological contract is formulated in the minds of the employees, individual beliefs, shaped by the organisation, regarding terms of an exchange agreement between individuals and their organisation. (Rousseau (1995) as quoted within Guerrero and Herrbach 2007 p.4) Taking all that into consideration, the nature of the psychological contract can be seen as the implicit unwritten expectations and beliefs that one holds in relation to their employment relationship. These contracts can be highly subjective and what makes them binding is what they are perceived to be (Hughes and Palmer 2007). Conway and Briner (2002) state that the beliefs refer to employee perceptions of the explicit and implicit promises regarding the exchange of the employee contributions such as effort, ability and loyalty for organisational inducements such as pay, promotion and security. Moreover, Bloisi, Cook and Hunsaker (2003) supports this statement by stipulating that workers are expected to input their skills, time, effort, commitment and loyalty to the organisation in return of wages, benefits, job security, opportunity to progress their achievement, power, status and affiliations. Witte et al. (2008) clarifies further that the idea of balance is key to these mutual exchanges within this dynamic and informal contract so that the employee feels that what is offered by the organisation balances what the individual brings to the relationship. Perceived imbalance could consequently result in the perception of contract violation. The CIPD (2005) highlighted a simplified Guest model (1996) of the p sychological contract as illustrated in Figure 2.1. The influencing factors that feed into the contract include the human resource practices, organisational content and the individual characteristics of the employee. The psychological contract content can be measured in terms of fairness of treatment, trust, and the amount of which the implicit deal or contract is perceived as being delivered in reflection of a set of obligations or some sort of exchange (Guest 1996). The outcomes as a result of the content of the contract are the employee attitudes and behaviours. The CIPD (2005) found that employees attitudes of trust, fairness and delivery of the deal are major determents to gaining a psychological contract which creates employee commitment and satisfaction. Robinson (1996) (as quoted within Bosch-Sjtsema 2007) claimed that expectations are often shaped by past experience, social norms and observations that are influencing factors to the contract. It was also asserted by Rousseau (2001) that these promise based psychological contracts take the form of a mental model or schema over time. She found that an employees pre-employment experiences, recruiting practices within the company and on the job socialisation as influencing factors to the formation of these schemas which may differ the content or form that an individuals psychological contract takes. 2.1 The Purpose of Psychological Contract According to Bloisi et al., (2003; p.123) the psychological contract is considered as workers implicit expectations about what they are expected to contribute to an organisation and what they will receive in return (Bloisi et al., 2003 p. 123) In a similar way Schein (1965) defined that The notion of a psychological contract implies that there is an unwritten set of expectations operating at all times between every member of an organisation and the various managers and others in that organisation (Schein 1965 as quoted within Armstrong 2003, p 297). According to Hiltrop (1995), it has been noticed there is a significant rate of change of the economic environment in which the organisations work during the last twenty years. Increasing competition, globalisation of markets has demanded greater flexibility and productivity of organisations, as well as new strategies focused on innovation and speed. In the psychological contract the perceived responsibility of an organization influenced by employees expectation ( Cheong Kim 2009). As a result, the terms of old psychological contract has changed radically which earlier gave security, stability and predictability to the relationship between employer and employee (Hiltrop, 1995 p. 286 287). Moreover, the above definition stated by Schein (1965) was amplified by Rousseau and Wade-Benzoni (1994) who stated that Psychological contracts refer to beliefs that individuals hold regarding promises made, accepted and relied upon themselves and another. (In case of organisations, these parties include an employee, client, manager, and/or organisation as a whole.) Because psychological contracts represent how people interpret promises and commitments, both parties in the same employment relationship (employer and employee) can have different views regarding specific terms. (Rousseau and Wade-Benzoni, 1994 p. 463-89) Guest and Conway (1998) summarise stating that since the psychological contract is not written down formally it lacks the characteristics of the formal contract due to which it has no beginning and no end and which is why it cannot be enforced in a court or a tribunal. Guest and Conway (1998) also believe that: The psychological contract is best seen as a metaphor; a word or a phrase borrowed from another context which help us make sense of our experience. The psychological contract is a way of interpreting the state of the employment relationship and helping to plot significant changes (Guest and Conway, 1998 as quoted in Armstrong, 2003 p. 298). 2.1.1 The importance of Psychological Contract The importance of the psychological contract was emphasized by Schein (1965) suggests that the extent to which people work effectively and are committed to the organisation depends on the degree to which their own expectation of what the organisation will provide them and in return what the organisation expects of them; and the nature of what actually is exchanged for example, money in exchange for time at work, security in exchange for hard work and loyalty, and various combinations of other things (Schein, 1965 as quoted within Armstrong, 2003, p 299). The HR profession will have significant role to play in the management and balancing of the general or specific psychological contracts of employees. The HR function can act as a focal point for helping to discover employees expectations through collective channels or individual mechanisms, while seeking to provide for the meeting of employees expectations (e.g. Sims, 1994) (Holden and Breadwell, 2001 p. 546). The HR professionals must make sure that different facets of human resource management and the different managers shape and support the psychological contracts in consistent, integrated and balanced manner, (Rousseau and Greller, 1994 p. 385-401). If employees feel that their psychological contract has been disrupted or breached, and then they may withhold or withdraw from the relationships, consciously or unconsciously, (Spindler, 1994: 326- 327). 2.1.2 The Guest model of Psychological Contract This model was formulated by Guest et al, 1996 suggests that the contract should be measured in terms of fairness of treatment, trust, and the extent to which the explicit deal or contract is perceived to be delivered. Figure 2.1: A Model of the psychological contract Causes Organisational culture HRM policy and practice Experience Expectations Alternatives Consequences Fairness Trust The delivery of the deal Content Organisational citizenship Organisational commitment Motivation Satisfaction and well-being Source: Guest et al, 1996 The simplified Guest model of the psychological contract as illustrated above in Figure 2.1 (as quoted in CIPD 2006) defines it in terms of linkage between the inputs, being the HR practices; the employee features and the companys characteristics together with the content, being the fairness and trust and finally the outputs being the employees behaviour; work performance and delivery. ODonnell and Shields (2002) believes that Guests extended model of the psychological contract (from employee perspective) represents a particularly useful way of understanding the attitudinal and behavioural impact of employment practices at the level of the individual employee (Guest 1998: 659-60) Hiltrop (1995) states that this psychological contract has two important aims, the first for providing a gauge for employers of the type of outputs they are going to obtain from employees and secondly by employees contributing their time and effort for the level of rewards they will receive. 2.1.3 The changing nature of the Psychological Contract According to Hiltrop (1995), there is considerable evidence that shows the changing of the psychological contract in the past decades. Now the employers want to know in advance the outcome of the employees efforts and employees want to know what reward he will get in exchange of the hard work and time spend in the organisation. De Meuse and Tornow (1990) stated that since the 1970s, however, the force that connect employers and employees has become severely stressed organisations deal with the need to cut costs and enhance efficiency, have ever more compacted their workforce and eradicated some of the elements (job security, regular promotions up the corporate ladder, annual wage increases, cheap mortgages, etc.) offered as a rule to employees in the earlier decades (De Meuse and Tornow 1990 p. 203-13). Moreover, people fill in the blanks along the way, and they sometimes do so inconsistently (Rousseau, 1994 as quoted in Hiltrop, 1995 p. 287). In addition to the above context, Kolb et al., (1991) have pointed out that a company staffed by cheated individuals who expect far more than they get is headed for trouble (Kolb et al., 1991 as stated in Hiltrop, 1995 p.287). Conversely, optimistically, some organisations are trying to develop steps that can increase mutuality and to endow with scale for tangential career development and enhance knowledge and skills through opportunities for learning. It has been recognised that the organisations can no longer provide a guaranteed long term job to the employees; they have to take responsibilities to build their skills and give a path for career development. In other words they take steps to improve employability (Armstrong, 2003 p. 302). Two diagrammatic representations are given below which shows the differences between the old and new employment contract by Kissler (1994) and the changing nature of the psychological contract by Hiltrop (1995). Figure 2.2: Difference between the old and new contract. OLD Relationship is predetermined and imposed You are who you work for and what you do Loyalty is defined by performance Employees who do what they are told will work till retirement NEW Relationship is mutual and negotiated You are defined by multiple roles, many external to the organisation Loyalty is defined by output and quality People and skills only needed when required Long-term employment is unlikely; expect and prepare for multiple relationships Source: Kissler, 1994, p. 335-52 Figure 2.3: Changing Psychological Contract . FROM Imposed relationship (compliance, command and control) Permanent employment relationship Focus on promotion Finite job duties Meet job requirements Emphasise on job security and loyalty to the company Training provided by organisation TO Mutual relationship (commitment, participation and involvement) Variable employment relationship people and skills only obtained or retained when required Focus on lateral career development Multiple roles Add value Emphasis on employability and loyalty to own career and skills Opportunities for self-managed learning Source: Hiltrop 1995, p 286-294. Hiltrop (1995) also suggests that a new psychological contract is emerging which is more situational and short term that assumes that each party is less dependent on the other for survival and growth. This new contract was described by Hiltrop (1995) as a worker being employed as long as they provide added value to the company and in return they expect the right to demand interesting and important work with the freedom and resources to perform it well along with performance related pay and training and development. However Armstrong (2006) argued that this could hardly be classified as a balanced contract because employers still dictate their workers employment terms and conditions apart from cases where workers are in demand and there is little supply of skills. Mant (1996) (as quoted within Armstrong 2006) classified workers as resources that are acquired or divested according to shortterm economic circumstances, therefore having little influence over the terms of the contract that their employer offers them. Additionally Taylor (2008) claims that the new relationship is less emotional and is simply an economic exchange, thus moving from relational to transactional. Organisations that are now adopting the rationale behind the use of the flexible firm model (Atkinson 1984) will have developed diverse types of psychological contracts among their workforce. Rousseau and Wade-Benzoni (1995) (as quoted within McDonald and Making 2000) found that temporary staff usually have a transactional contract with significance given to the economic elements of the contract, whilst permanent staff are more likely to have a relational contract involving commitment to the organisation. Additionally Guest (2004) found that the content of temporary workers psychological contract is narrower, transactional and easier to manage on both the employers and employees behalf which temporary workers preferred. An investigation into the company Flexco (Saunders and Thornhill 2005) found that forced change within the company structure through downsizing changed the psychological contract of those on permanent and temporary employment contracts. After the changes it was reported that the temporary workers contained mostly transactional expectations and most permanent employees were found to have relational expectations. However, there were a few exceptions regarding permanent employees, who felt that the changes had violated their contract in terms of interpersonal treatment. These employees felt insecure, and worried that they may face a temporary contract in the future, which emphasises that they no longer felt as though their job was secure. 2.2 The purpose of the performance appraisal. Performance assessment is one of the many people management techniques that classify and order individual hierarchically (Townley, 1994, p.33). A performance appraisal is the process by which a manager evaluates an employees work performance by measurement and comparison with previously established standards (Palmer, 1991 p. 1). According to Palmer (1991), there are two major purpose of conducting performance appraisals. One purpose is to provide the information for the administrative decision making such as the increment of salary, bonuses, promotion and the administrative actions that can be brought by the work performance of the employee. This also helps the organisation to decide whether to introduce for instance, a new incentive system or to improve the present pay and promotion methods. In other words, it is a vehicle to validate and refine organisational actions. For example, it has been noticed in the appraisal data that one of the employee has constant conflicts with the fellow colleague or with the supervisor or manager. Some options can be concluded from the above case, which is, showing more importance to the interpersonal skill while recruiting the new staff or encouraging the present employee to attend the sessions on the conflict management offered by various colleges or providing the employee with one-to-one counselling (Billikopf, 2003 p. 60). The other major purpose is to provide feedback to the employees on their work performance based on the standards established on the job description and analysis. Feedback provided by the supervisor or the manager give the employees an opportunity to develop their career path within the organisation. Feedback can be positive or constructive. Positive appraisal has many benefits and beneficiar

Should Elian Gonzalez Go Back To Cuba Or Stay In The United States? :: essays research papers

Should Elian Gonzalez go back to Cuba or stay in the United States? This seems to be the question drenching the media on a constant bases. Every newspaper, news broadcast, and magazine seem to have a story about Elian. Titles like â€Å"Elian’s Grandmothers are coming to the US†, seems kind of silly if you read the headline literally. I don’t mean to be cold but why do we care if Elian’s grandmother is coming to the US? Thousands of grandmas have come to the US everyday, but we don’t hear about them. The media has turned this dilemma into a circus. All that aside, the question and heated debate of whether or not Elian should stay still plagues us. Everyone seems to have an opinion on this subject. If you ask people casually what they think should happen, you will get very definite answers and plenty of information to back up there opinions. I have asked many colleagues and friends this question. I myself do not have the answer and do not think I am the one to judge. I have spoken to Cubans friends who say the conditions are so terrible over there that there is no way the boy should go back. They speak of old, decrepit, tiny homes with way to many people living in a single dwelling. They speak of a place that has little food and no milk for their children. I have been told of the conditions in the schools and their lack of proper facilities. These acquantenses tell me that Castro his controlling the boy’s father, monitoring his phone calls and making sure he tells everyone that he wants his boy to come home. They say he is not able to say what he really wants for fear of himself and family. For fear that Castro will take away the family’s food and shelter in Cuba. Over all, the general picture that has been painted is not pretty. The only thing not in debate is the fact that children their live a very different life from the majority of the children in the United States.On the other hand, there are the people that believe the child should be with his natural father. That where the child lives does not matter, what matters is whom the child is with. They say he has lost his mother and should not be taken away from his father.

Capital Punishment: A Global Perspective Essay

               Capital punishment is also called the death penalty. It refers to the legal process where a criminal is put to death by the state, to act as a punishment for a crime that they have committed. The judgment of the jury that a person should get punished in this manner is known as a death sentence while the enforcement is an execution. Crimes that can lead to capital punishment are referred to as capital crimes or capital offenses and include murder, rape, and treason. Reasons for capital punishment Some of the reasons that support capital punishment include;                      Guilty people should get punished in proportion and magnitude to the severity of the crime they have committed. Real justice in essence requires people to suffer for their wrong doing, in an appropriate manner for their crime. Each criminal obtains what their crime deserves, and a murderer or a rapist deserves death.                         Prisoner parole or escapes can give criminals another chance to kill. Could be that the biggest reason to keep the death penalty is to prevent a crime from repeating itself. As much as a criminal is sentenced to life imprisonment, he or she still has a chance to kill while in prison. He is capable of killing his or her fellow inmates, or even the prison wardens. Worse still, a criminal can escape from prison and go on a murder or crime spree. Capital punishment prevents this process of re-offending. Those executed cannot commit more crimes. Execution removes the danger posed to the public by the criminal.                     Capital punishment promotes deterrence. By execution of criminals, it is possible to deter capable murderers from killing people. Crime would become more common if there were no means of deterring people from committing it.                  In case the death penalty is eliminated, it can contribute to the problem of overpopulation in the prison system. This means that the number of prisoners being housed for life will increase. This only adds to the problem of an overcrowded prison system and the facilities in that particular prison could be greatly overstretched. Reasons against capital punishment                     Mentally ill patients may be put to death. Most of the capital crimes are committed in an emotional state in which the perpetrator doesn’t think about possible outcomes. Some people are born with brain defects that cause them to act in unacceptable ways. It could be unconstitutional to put a mentally ill person to death. However, rules have a chance of being vague, and besides, one still needs to convince a jury that the defendant is of unsound mind.                  The court goes to great lengths before settling on a death sentence. During this period, there are endless appeals and required procedures which cause congestion on the court system. These appeals and hearings consume time of judges and other court employees, as well as use up courtrooms and facilities. This time could have been used to resolve other matters if the criminal were sentenced to life imprisonment.                   The society should move away from the revenge mentality. This is because a revenge philosophy leads to an endless circle of violence. Society should be made aware that attacking one’s enemy for revenge always worsens the situation. Besides, capital punishment is useless because it does not bring the victim back to life. Hate, revenge and anger cannot cure the emptiness of a lost loved one.                  Capital punishment does not rehabilitate the criminal or other potential criminals. Instead, it sends wrong signals to the society. It does not make sense for the state to punish someone who has committed murder through murder. Conclusion                        In conclusion, capital punishment should not be brought back because it violates the Bill of Rights. This is because it involves taking away the life of another person. The bill of rights states that everybody has a right to live. When somebody is executed, the right to life is greatly infringed. Besides, punishment of the death penalty is irrevocable. Once carried out it cannot be reversed. When somebody has been executed, it is impossible to bring them back to life. Capital punishment should thus be avoided at all costs.                     Any punishment must be fair, just, adequate and most of all enforceable. Society still views murder as the greatest crime, and should be met with the most severe punishment, which is capital punishment. Whole life imprisonment could fit punishment for murderers. This is because, in prison, the criminals are isolated from their families and are confined in the walls of a prison for the rest of their lives. However, according to many people, life imprisonment seems to be a soft opinion to punish capital criminals, and this perception needs to be corrected in order to do away with capital punishment.                   Imprisonment, whilst expensive and largely pointless, except as a means of removing criminals from society for a given period, is at least enforceable upon anyone who commits murder. Besides, the jury members will not suffer from a guilty conscience of ever passing a verdict for the death of a person. From the arguments on reasons against capital punishment, I should be done away with because it is an inhumane practice. References Hood, R. (n.d.). Capital Punishment: A Global Perspective. Punishment & Society, 331-354. Melusky, J., & Pesto, K. (2011). Capital punishment. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood. Source document

Ian Lemke †Compare and Contrast Essay

Compare & Contrast In 1848, Cady Stanton gave her ‘Declaration of Sentiments,’ pleading for the right to vote and fair treatment to be given to women, which was promised already in 1776. While the country was still young, John Adam’s wite, Abigail wrote him a letter requesting the rights of women be Included In the document he was having written. This was the Declaration of Independence. 30th of these selections have a common goal: they are being written with the purpose to gain women more rights. Even though they were written with the same purpose in mind, they are very different. The mood and layout of the articles are completely different, not to mention they had completely separate audiences Despite the obvious differences, they both hit home with their intended audiences. Abigail wrote her letter tor her husband alone. Him being a delegate to the First conunental congress, she had hopes In mind that she could give women the rights they deserve, that she could raise the status of women by leaving an impact on the founding document of the country. Using threats of rebellion, she asked him to â€Å"Remember the ladies, and be more generous and avorable to them than your ancestors†. Stanton, author of the Declaration of Sentiments, wanted to influence the opinions and gain support among the public as well as the leading government officials. Not solely expecting to win the tight tor equality, she had hoped she would make enough of an Impact that people would hear her voice and fight for a change in political structure. She fought for a change in the legal status of women. Using powerful statements like â€Å"Women are civilly dead,† as they’re denied voting privileges, and that marriage deprives women of their ndependence, she got a lot of attention and support from all sorts of places. ntortunately, despite their pleads being heard by the nation, it wasnt enough. There’s a big difference between being heard and making a difference, which they regrettably found out. They tried their best, and clearly left their mark on history but It took another 72 years before women were given their basic rights and freedoms. The saddest part is there†™s still prejudice everywhere you go, all we can do is keep fighting for a positive change and hope it comes soon!

Coun Theory Essays

Coun Theory Essays Coun Theory Essay Coun Theory Essay Personal TheoryWorking OutlineJacinth SutphinLiberty UniversityCOUN 507November 23, 2013I. Introduction: A comprehensive theoretical approach for any  Christian counselor should always keep in mind the integration of psychology, theology, and spirituality. Knowing and understanding each individual’s issues of life requires us to  take into account  the mind, the body and the soul/spirit. Also taking into consideration the temporal systems, and the supernatural systems which influence a person. McMinn (1996) states, â€Å"the best interdisciplinary integration work usually comes from those who have formal or informal preparation in both psychology and theology† (p.9).II. What is Important for Understanding Human Personality A. Personality Our personality is molded by our life experiences in which we are conditioned. It is important to understand how personalities are developed and how we can assist our clients that are seeking our help. Hawkins (2006) presents a mo del of human personality through  his  concentric circles. Our personality takes into account five distinct factors: the core (God is in the center), then the Soul, Body, Temporal Systems, and on the outside Supernatural. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus said â€Å"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind† (New International Version). Our heart is the center of our being and personality. B. Motivation Crabb(1977) states that â€Å"motivation, is a generalized drive to meet personal needs, is also a normal, necessary part of personality.†As I stated ealier, the heart is the center of our being and personality. Our heart is where we find our motivation and where our passions and emotions are rooted from. Jesus said, â€Å"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest† (Matthew 11:28, New International Version). If we want to live and

Free Essays on Colosseum

When tracing back to different time periods, cultures and civilizations, the ancient Roman Empire possessed probably the most impressive architecture of all time. In the early centuries, the city of Rome was home to more than one million residents. The forums for civic services, temples of worship, and amphitheaters for recreation and play, were just some examples of fine building monuments located in Rome. Arches, columns, and mechanical elements in pulleys and elevators were pioneered by the Romans. However, when one tends to think of great buildings in Rome, one building stands alone. This building is the Flavian Amphitheater, or better known as the Colosseum. To fully understand the form and function of the Colosseum, one must realize the time, place, and culture of this great monument. In the beginning, Rome was both influenced by the Etruscans of the North and Greeks of Italy and South but had its basic roots from a long time of Samnite domination. The Etruscans were that of an interesting type as described by Peter Quennell: The Etruscans...combined a passionate devotion to the ordinary pleasures of life with a haunting fear of death. They were cruel, too, and deeply superstitious...their victims were ordered to fight among themselves until the last had fallen. The Etruscans would have a strong impression in Roman lifestyles and philosophies. For example, the purple robe worn by leaders would be later adopted by the Romans. They also were the influence which brought gladiatorial battles of sacrifice into the Roman culture. This was a time of blood thirsty humans who loved the site of battle. Even an early Christian named Alypius proc laimed that he "took away with him a mad passion which prodded him not only to return (to gladiator events) with those by whom he had first been forced in, but even ahead of them and dragging in others." This was a time of paganism, which meant sacrifice and death. In the first few centuries ear... Free Essays on Colosseum Free Essays on Colosseum When tracing back to different time periods, cultures and civilizations, the ancient Roman Empire possessed probably the most impressive architecture of all time. In the early centuries, the city of Rome was home to more than one million residents. The forums for civic services, temples of worship, and amphitheaters for recreation and play, were just some examples of fine building monuments located in Rome. Arches, columns, and mechanical elements in pulleys and elevators were pioneered by the Romans. However, when one tends to think of great buildings in Rome, one building stands alone. This building is the Flavian Amphitheater, or better known as the Colosseum. To fully understand the form and function of the Colosseum, one must realize the time, place, and culture of this great monument. In the beginning, Rome was both influenced by the Etruscans of the North and Greeks of Italy and South but had its basic roots from a long time of Samnite domination. The Etruscans were that of an interesting type as described by Peter Quennell: The Etruscans...combined a passionate devotion to the ordinary pleasures of life with a haunting fear of death. They were cruel, too, and deeply superstitious...their victims were ordered to fight among themselves until the last had fallen. The Etruscans would have a strong impression in Roman lifestyles and philosophies. For example, the purple robe worn by leaders would be later adopted by the Romans. They also were the influence which brought gladiatorial battles of sacrifice into the Roman culture. This was a time of blood thirsty humans who loved the site of battle. Even an early Christian named Alypius proc laimed that he "took away with him a mad passion which prodded him not only to return (to gladiator events) with those by whom he had first been forced in, but even ahead of them and dragging in others." This was a time of paganism, which meant sacrifice and death. In the first few centuries ear...

Prime Minister of Canada - Role and Duties

Prime Minister of Canada - Role and Duties The prime minister is the head of government in Canada. The Canadian prime minister is usually the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons in a general election. The prime minister may lead a majority government or a minority government. Although the role of prime minister in Canada is not defined by any law or constitutional document, it is the most powerful role in Canadian politics. Head of Government The prime minister of Canada is head of the executive branch of the Canadian federal government. The Canadian prime minister provides leadership and direction to the government with the support of a cabinet, which the prime minister chooses, the prime ministers office (PMO) of political staff, and the privy council office (PCO) of non-partisan public servants who provide a focal point for the Canadian public service. Cabinet Chair The cabinet is a key decision-making forum in the Canadian government. The Canadian prime minister decides on the size of the cabinet and selects cabinet ministers- usually members of parliament and sometimes a senator- and assigns their department responsibilities and portfolios. In selecting the members of the cabinet, the prime minister tries to balance Canadian regional interests, ensures an appropriate mix of anglophones and francophones, and makes sure that women and ethnic minorities are represented. The prime minister chairs cabinet meetings and controls the agenda. Party Leader Since the source of power of the prime minister in Canada is as leader of a federal political party, the prime minister must always be sensitive to the national and regional executives of their party as well as to the grassroots supporters of the party. As party leader, the prime minister must be able to explain party policies and programs  and be able to put them into action. In elections in Canada, voters increasingly define the policies of a political party by their perceptions of the party leader, so the prime minister must continuously attempt to appeal to a large number of voters. Political appointments- such as senators, judges, ambassadors, commission members and crown corporation executives- are often used by Canadian prime ministers to reward the party faithful. Role in Parliament The prime minister and cabinet members have seats in Parliament (with occasional exceptions) and lead and direct Parliaments activities and its legislative agenda. The prime minister in Canada must retain the confidence of the majority of the members in the House of Commons or resign and seek a dissolution of Parliament to have the conflict resolved by an election. Due to time constraints, the prime minister participates in only the most important debates in the House of Commons, such as the debate on the Speech from the Throne and debates on contentious legislation. However, the prime minister does defend the government and its policies in the daily Question Period in the House of Commons. The Canadian prime minister must also fulfill their responsibilities as a member of Parliament in representing the constituents in their riding, or electoral district.

E- Marketing for New Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

E- Marketing for New Companies - Essay Example Chatterjee (2009) has noted that the competition among start-up companies can be high. It is also explained that most of these companies need to reach a high number of customers, usually worldwide (Chatterjee 2009), a target that it is difficult to be achieved without the use of the Internet and social media. Â  The current paper focuses on a particular form of marketing, the e-marketing, which is often described as internet marketing. Reference is made specifically to the current status of e-marketing and its value for promoting the products/ services of a start-up company. The literature related to the specific issue has been reviewed and evaluated in order to decide whether and at what level e-marketing can be effective in promoting a start-up company. It is revealed that e-marketing would be the most appropriate form of marketing for developing such activity. On the other hand, there are many e-marketing strategies available to start-up companies that need to promote their products/ services. This means that e-marketing is a valuable tool for promoting start-up companies but it cannot perform high unless it is effectively managed, as all other tools that support modern business operations. Moreover, it should be noted that e-marketing cannot secure the success of start-up companies b ut only in cases when its involvement in the marketing of these companies is carefully planned and monitored so that unexpected failures, that can be major, are avoided. Â  In order to understand the role of e-marketing in the promotion of start-up companies, it should be necessary to explain the key characteristics and advantages of e-marketing, as a concept closely related to the advances of technology and the changes in customer trends worldwide.

Problem at China Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Problem at China Airlines - Essay Example This paper stresses that CAL has continuously faced different challenges within the Chinese market relating to political, social, economic as well as technological aspects that drastically affected in its overall performance. In accordance with the case study, it has been viewed that the organisation successfully performed its various business operations by offering superior services to the customers in its different operating areas. In this regard, the organisation has adopted an effective strategy during the year 1995 in terms of procuring 15 numbers of advanced Boeing 737 medium-haul jets for expanding its businesses. This essay declares that the political disturbances have been witnessed as one of the major difficulties for CAL while conducting its business operations. The political association between Taiwan and Mainland China has been observed to be quite strained because of the growing disputes concerning political status of Taiwan. The political problems between Taiwan and China have drastically affected the airlines business of CAL because the Chinese tourists are allowed to visit Taiwan in a group but they are not allowed to visit individually. In addition, the cargo transhipment service was also restricted between these two countries that also affected the business operations of CAL at large. Due to political disturbances, CAL and other Taiwanese airlines had changed its international flight route via southern region by connecting Southeast Asia and Middle East countries that ultimately emerged major difficulties for CAL.... In this regard, the organisation has adopted an effective strategy during the year 1995 in terms of procuring 15 numbers of advanced Boeing 737 medium-haul jets for expanding its businesses (Samanta & Faheem, 2010). Question 1) Macro-Level Issues The different macro level issues that faced by CAL can be understood by conducting a detailed environmental analysis based on PEST framework. PEST Analysis PEST analysis is regarded to be an important analytical model for an organization that assists to identify different circumstances concerning social, political, economic as well as technological factors (Lorat, 2009). Political Factors The political disturbances have been witnessed as one of the major difficulties for CAL while conducting its business operations. The political association between Taiwan and Mainland China has been observed to be quite strained because of the growing disputes concerning political status of Taiwan. The political problems between Taiwan and China have drasti cally affected the airlines business of CAL because the Chinese tourists are allowed to visit Taiwan in a group but they are not allowed to visit individually. In addition, the cargo transhipment service was also restricted between these two countries that also affected the business operations of CAL at large. Due to political disturbances, CAL and other Taiwanese airlines had changed its international flight route via southern region by connecting Southeast Asia and Middle East countries that ultimately emerged major difficulties for CAL (Samanta & Faheem, 2010). In this regard, it has apparently observed that the association between Taiwan and China remained quite strained because of the disagreement concerning political

Personal Worldview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Worldview - Essay Example This essay discusses that since we used to attend that camp with our church I know that most of the kids from various churches only get to go because it is free to those in need. I used to see firsthand the excitement on the children’s faces as they heard stories from the Bible for the first time. God placed that upon my heart to donate monthly and I know my small donation might plant a seed in a heart that otherwise would not have been planted. By following God’s will to live a life of obedience and to serve others, I can live freely as God intended me to live (Smith, 1999).Other ways I am called as a Christian is to respond with openness and honesty, but also with grace towards those, I differ with (Smith, 1999). Living in a secular world requires me to deal with people who may not feel the same way I feel about different topics or choices. It is always important for me to treat them with respect even though I may disagree. Without being judgmental I can make my own p osition known. Knowing that there may not be a meeting of the minds on some issues, grace and respect should always be apparent. The Jesus in me that people see will hopefully plant a seed of a life they wish to have.If we share the world of the Gospel, it will become evident that to worship the One God, love the Christ, obey parents, show kindness toward our fellow beings, escape from debauchery and strictly observing chastity, honesty and integrity, that these are essential to make the world a peaceful and prosperous world (Smith, 1999).

The mechanical testing of a silk fibrion (SF) scaffold seeded with Essay

The mechanical testing of a silk fibrion (SF) scaffold seeded with MSCs in Colon Engineering - Essay Example TEC was spawned by the rats 100% with no regard to source of tissue, the initial occurrence of adult cells of engineered intestine or an engineered tissue. Architecture of TEC is same as acetyl cholinesterase, inherent actin staining on muscularis propria staining for actin identified in deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-digoxigenin nick end labeling assay similar to native colon, lamina propria of a linear distribution, ganglion cells, S100-positive cells, and a terminal (Fonkalsrud 1999). By the use of cavity information specified in function of vitro dependable with advanced colonocytes, and an optimistic response of short circuit current to theophylline demonstrating integral transfer of ion. TEM exhibited regular architecture of micro part (Dayton 2000). Architecture of colon was retained in anastomosis with uncultured uptake of fluid visualization. The rats survived embedding and 100% of all them spawned TEC. Almost 60,000 OU was obtained from every pup colon of rat. This is an adjustable quantity as the surface area of tissue in every case may differ. For the reason that adult colons were very large, every rat colon of adult rat gave a result of a specimen of 800,000 (Meagher, 1998). These were inclusive of the ones spawning subordinate TEC and the ones embedded with adult tissue TEC. The TEC average size was 4cm by 5cm by 4 cm. There was absolutely no measure of TEC going below 3cm by 3cm by 2 cm, and the prevalent one was 6cm by 8cm by 7.5 cm. This is shown below TEC was paramount visible as a minor cyst with a lumen that was mucus-filled lumen the second week onwards (Shepherd 1990). Prior to that, there was no visible lumen recognized. Sequential growth took place the weeks after the second week. 9. Grikscheit TC, Ochoa ER, Ramsanahie A, et al 2001. Tissue engineered colon, characterization and comparison to native colon. Owen Wangensteen Surgical Forum Abstracts of the American College of Surgeons

Health Care Accreditation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health Care Accreditation - Essay Example These accreditations are important for clinics because customers tend to trust clinics that have such accreditations. The accreditation of Minnesota Hospital Price Check is not quite compulsory for Mayo Clinic but it is quite important to the patient as such accreditations aid patients in comparing the cost they will be paying for acquiring services. To obtain accreditation, a clinic has to first write an application letter to the accreditation company such as the Joint Commission, next the company provides details about what they will be evaluating and what are the standards, next the company conducts a survey of the clinic and if the clinic is operating according to the standard, the clinic gains accreditation. All accreditations last for a limited period of time, after this period, companies need to gain reaccredited. The process of getting reaccredited starts with an application sent to the accreditation company, the company then conducts an onsite survey and desk assessment and then decide whether to provide accreditation or not. If the organization is expected to loose or has lost its accreditation, the consequences are that consumer stop trusting that company and they start preferring other companies or clinics. " Top Performers on Key Quality Measures | Joint Commission." Accreditation, Health Care, Certification | Joint Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2012.

Immigration Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Immigration - Research Paper Example The border which separates the United States and Mexico is an important ground which has led to speeding the process of this illegal immigration (Bowden 2007). It is a process which lays many impacts on the lives of the people who live in Mexico as well as the United States. Many questions have been raised on this issue as to whether what needs to be done to cope up with this issue and whether this border has led to provide any benefits. A balanced solution to this problem should be found out and the illegal immigrants from Mexico who come to the United States for a better future should be considered and legalization for them should be an option. Not only this, they should be given due rights but regulation of this immigration should also be done so that the influx of the number of people does not overshadow the opportunities of the people who already reside in the United States. This paper further provides an in depth analysis on pros and cons of illegal immigration and supports the presence and benefits of illegal immigrants for the country (America) and the nation. Illegal immigration is an act as the name implies of breaking the law and entering another state. But a question arises that is this law above the life of a person and his right to secure his future and work for a better life and earning. The Mexican border has been considered as a right choice by many people living in the United States because for them it has actually restricted the number of people entering their country illegally but for the people living there, this border has actually served to obstruct their opportunities of earning a living and raising their families. Illegal immigration along this border has been showing inclining rates and it has even been seen that this influx has been raised after this border was actually created (Bowden 2007). The illegal immigrants work in farms and do not enjoy the privileges and rights that their American counterparts do. They work on lower pays and do not receive good working conditions. This is because their employers know that these workers will not be able to raise their voices due to fear of being deported (Lilly 2008 & Welch 2007). Illegal Immigrants are not welcomed by the governments for any other reason than the economic benefits they bring to them and the jobs they fill including the lower level and lower wage high effort jobs like cleaning, serving in the pubs and clubs and clearing off the streets. The unavailability of rights and equality measures for these illegal immigrants who are, certainly, helping the country in one way or the other is questionable (Mailonline, 2006). Groff (2010) also points towards the unethical practice of using illegal immigrants without giving them equal rights or incentives within the boundaries of the country. â€Å"It's like taking someone and making them without a nation† (Groff, 2010). These issues need to be addressed and a solution needs to be considered for this problem. It is not economically favorable for the United States to deport all these workers because it will lead to a loss of valuable employees and a considerable reduction in workforce. At the same time, it will also not be economically feasible to arrange for transport for the evacuation of the millions of immigrants (Lilly, 2008). Hence, a better solution would be to actually legalize the workers who are already working in the country. The Mexicans who come in search of job opportunities should be

Health Care Accreditation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health Care Accreditation - Essay Example These accreditations are important for clinics because customers tend to trust clinics that have such accreditations. The accreditation of Minnesota Hospital Price Check is not quite compulsory for Mayo Clinic but it is quite important to the patient as such accreditations aid patients in comparing the cost they will be paying for acquiring services. To obtain accreditation, a clinic has to first write an application letter to the accreditation company such as the Joint Commission, next the company provides details about what they will be evaluating and what are the standards, next the company conducts a survey of the clinic and if the clinic is operating according to the standard, the clinic gains accreditation. All accreditations last for a limited period of time, after this period, companies need to gain reaccredited. The process of getting reaccredited starts with an application sent to the accreditation company, the company then conducts an onsite survey and desk assessment and then decide whether to provide accreditation or not. If the organization is expected to loose or has lost its accreditation, the consequences are that consumer stop trusting that company and they start preferring other companies or clinics. " Top Performers on Key Quality Measures | Joint Commission." Accreditation, Health Care, Certification | Joint Commission. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2012.

Probability in Healthcare Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Probability in Healthcare - Assignment Example Treating variation for time spent on Physical Education is evident that it offers health benefits to elementary schooling going children. The experiment was done to 300 elementary school going children from different schools. The probability of P.E reducing obese was 0.8. This was considered a positive significance and the probability was close to one. Thus, it was depicted that Physical education plays a significant role in reducing the rate of obesity among children. The researchers also identified a gender difference: additional Physical education reduces weight three times more than to girls of the same age. The explanation behind these results is that PE among other physical activities is complements for boy child (Increased PE makes boys to be more active), but substitutes for girls. The researcher further stated that the challenge was to ensure more girls take part in physical activities in order to reduce their obese rates. Thus, elementary schools should consider adding more time to Physical education classes to increases the probability of curbing obesity amongst school going

Improving Child Observation Journals

Improving Child Observation Journals Master of Education: Reading and Literacy Abstract The purpose of this study is to describe the effect that providing journal and case study paper examples, more time to observe in the child care center and the use of different teaching methods will have on the improvement of observation journals and case study papers. This action research involved Child Development classes at Deerfield High School during the fall 2008 school year. Students struggle with completing weekly observations and case studies. This paper will share the findings of research that was done to assist students. If students have a better understanding of the observations and case studies, are provided with examples and are given more time to observe, the desired outcome is that their observation journals and case study papers will improve. Introduction Background of Problem I am a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Deerfield High School in Deerfield, Illinois. Deerfield is a northern suburb of Chicago and the high school has approximately 1,800 students. I have been teaching at Deerfield High School for four years. While I have been at this high school, I have taught Child Development Preschool Lab, Consumer Economics, Freshman Advisory and Contemporary Living. Family and Consumer Science classes were formerly referred to as Home Economics which involved becoming a knowledgeable homemaker. In Child Development classes, proper parenting techniques were emphasized. Now that Home Economics has evolved into Family and Consumer Sciences, there is an emphasis on preparing students to become well-informed parents as well as preparing them to become educated professionals who may work with children in their careers and their personal lives. Last year I taught two sections of Child Development Preschool Lab, which is the focus of my action research project. My first period class had 11 female 10th-12th grade students and my second period class had 14 female 10th-12th grade students. Every week in Child Development Preschool Lab, my high school students, referred to as the high school friends, plan and teach lessons to two to five year old children in the on-site child care center, Deer Park Teaching and Learning Center (DPTLC). The students also observe these preschoolers, referred to as Deer Park friends, every week while they are in the child care center. The students typically really enjoy the class; however, they struggle the most with observing the children and creating their observation journals and semester case study papers. Through the use of their journal entries, the high school friends analyze and evaluate one specific Deer Park friend’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social development and write a case study paper to determine how a specific child is developing for their age. As a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, I believe it is essential for high school students to be able to communicate what they observe or see through detailed written form. Specifically, in Child Development Preschool Lab, this information should later be used to make conclusions about how a preschool aged child is developing physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. Providing students with life long observation, analytical and written communication skills to be used in their future will benefit the student learner. Rationale for my Research The focus of this research study will be helping my students improve their observation journals and case study papers during first semester. Observing, journaling and the semester case study paper are what students struggle with the most all year in this class. It causes frustration and anxiety for the high school students and me. I often find myself wondering how I can make this a more pleasant learning experience for everyone involved (high school friends, Deer Park friends and me.) In each observation journal, the high school friends are required to record six different observations every week. Each observation should include a factual description of what they see, an educated opinion of how the child is developing, and an assessment of the child’s developmental rate for their age. The students go into the DPTLC on-site child care center to observe children ages two to five years old. After approximately one month of observing a variety of Deer Park friends, high school friends are assigned a specific child to observe for the remainder of the semester. Students are given 20-25 minutes of class time every week to observe in the child care center to collect their observations. The journal entries collected over the semester are used to assess one Deer Park friend’s developmental rate in the four areas of development. The journal entries act as evidence to support how the high school friend rates the Deer Park friend’s development in the case study paper. Observing and journaling are taught in two class periods. I spend about 40 minutes initially teaching this assignment the first time. I spend approximately 20 minutes reviewing it the second time a few days later. Observing and journaling are taught during a lecture while students take notes. I provide one or two examples of journal entries on the board and we discuss this as a class. Chapter notes, developmental milestone handouts and the textbook appendix are shown to students as a resource to use when they are assessing how the Deer Park friend is developing for their age. Feedback is provided to students on their observation journal entry assignments on a bi-weekly basis. I provide comments on their journals and return them to the students within two days of them turning them in. I will occasionally have a one-on-one meeting with students who really struggle with the assignment. The evidence that supports students struggle with observing, journaling and writing their case study papers includes my observation that students are confused and frustrated with this assignment year after year, low scores on journal assignments, students not completing journal assignments and students struggling with the semester case study paper. Intervention Planned to Implement Through my experiences teaching observing and journaling in Child Development Preschool Lab for the past four years, I believe that students struggle with observation journals and their case study papers because they are not given enough time in the child care center to collect sufficient observations. This causes students to feel rushed which increases frustration and anxiety. Additionally, more time should be spent and different teaching methods should be used when teaching observing, journaling and the case study paper. Finally, student work may improve if excellent examples of observation journals and case study papers were given to students. Focus Statement The purpose of this study is to describe the effect that providing journal and case study paper examples, more time to observe in the child care center and the use of different teaching methods will have on the improvement of observation journals and case study papers. Research Questions Therefore, my research question is: What are the benefits of providing Child Development Preschool Lab high school students with journal and case study paper examples, more time to observe in the child care center and the use of different teaching methods among students to improve observation journals and case study papers in Child Development Preschool Lab during the fall semester? The questions that I will be exploring include: How will giving more time to observe in the child care center impact the high school students journals and case study papers? What teaching methods should I use to teach observing and journaling? Will spending more time on teaching observing and journaling improve student work? How will providing excellent examples of observation journals and case study papers impact student work? Will student anxiety and frustration levels decrease if more observation time is given? Key Terms High School Friends High school students in the Child Development class who work with the preschoolers in the child care center. Child Development Preschool Lab An Applied Arts course that incorporates Child Development curriculum along with a practical lab experience where high school students work with preschoolers in a child care center. Deer Park Friends Twoto five year old preschool children that attend the Deerfield High School on sitechild care center. Case Study Papers The Child Development Preschool Lab first semester final project where students analyze one preschooler’s rate of development for their age. Observation Journals Weekly observations that high school students make about the preschoolers when they are in the child care center interacting with the children. Deer Park Teaching and Learning Center (DPTLC) The name of the Deerfield High School on site child care center where two to five year olds come for child care. Four Areas of Development Intellectual, social, emotional, physical are the four areas in which children develop. Literature Review Students learn in many ways and it is essential that educators meet different student needs by implementing a variety of teaching strategies. Sometimes this involves class discussions, providing examples to guide students, modeling a concept, or encouraging students to learn through hands-on learning experiences. Many high school teachers have said that students respond well when they are motivated to learn and when they are actively engaged in the lesson. Benefits of Observing Preschoolers Observing preschoolers is essential for students who are working with young children. The information that is learned through seeing what a young child can do first hand is critical in helping a high school student assess how a child is developing. These observations also act as a credible source to support their evaluation of the preschooler’s developmental rate and provide specific examples to the parents in the high school student’s case study paper. Through observation, teachers are able to gather valuable information about the preschoolers that may help them in planning and preparing developmentally appropriate lessons (Barbakoff Yo, 2002). Barbakoff Yo suggest that teachers use a running record or a checklist to record their observations of a child. Providing teachers with adequate time to collect and record observations of the preschoolers interacting with one another is â€Å"time and energy well spent† (Barbakoff Yo, 22). Perhaps allowing students to spend more time observing the children in the child care center will increase their understanding of how children develop. This may lead to more creative lesson plans and more thorough journals and case study papers. Teaching Methods and Student Motivation Research has also shown that several teaching methods have been proven to be more effective than others when motivating students to learn. Lam Law (2007) examined the relationship between how the use of teaching writing strategies and motivating students affects student writing performance. Students should be challenged and need to understand the importance of the writing assignment they are expected to complete (Lam Law). According to Lam Law, the writing assignment must be related to something they can connect with in their past, present or future. Student writing also improves when students are curious about the topic they are writing about and when they are provided with feedback (Lam Law). Lam Law support the idea that when students are motivated and understand â€Å"why† they are completing an assignment they are more likely to grasp the idea being taught and are more successful. Writing Strategies: A Four Step Process Collins Collins (1996) have identified a four step process that educators find useful when teaching students to write. These writing strategies include; â€Å"identifying a strategy to teach, introducing the strategy by modeling it, allowing students to use it and helping students work toward independent mastery through repetition and practice† (Collins Collins). Although modeling and practicing new concepts is beneficial, some students are not able to grasp the content being taught through this strategy (Collins Collins). Collins Collins have found that some students learn best through the use of concrete visual examples. When teaching students a new idea, educators may find it useful to consider what excites and motivates students to learn and what teaching methods address all student needs. Providing Examples to Students Providing students with excellent examples to guide them in their work is a teaching strategy that has been found to be useful for students. In the article, â€Å"Students’ Perceptions of Teaching and Learning: The Influence of Students’ Approaches to Learning and Teachers’ Approaches to Teaching, a ninth grade student who was interviewed said,† â€Å"the best way of learning is definitely hands on, trying it yourself, I think that is a very good way. And seeing examples of what you’re doing† (Campbell, Smith, Boulton-Lewis, Brownlee, Burnett Carrington, 2001). Additionally, Day Elksnin (1994) discovered that the concept being taught should be described, modeled, discussed (talked through aloud) and practiced by the students. Students may be involved in this process from the very beginning by asking them what they struggle with most and what they think may help (Day Elksnin). Providing feedback to the students is also effective when students are struggling (Day Elksnin). Day Elksnin’s research supports the idea that presenting students with examples and models of previous work will assist them in the understanding of the assignment which will lead to improved grades. How Students Learn Best Many students have been interviewed and surveyed on how they learn best. They have become a valuable resource when evaluating how different teaching strategies impact their feelings while they are in the class and their success rate on assignments. Campbell, Smith, Boulton-Lewis, Brownlee, Burnett Carrington (2001) found that when interviewed, both students who have a deep approach to learning and students who have a surface approach to learning, felt that when being exposed to new concepts, they learned more when they were in a caring, supportive environment and when they were actively engaged in the lessons being taught. However, when the class was teacher focused and when students were lectured to, both types of students became surface learners and were not as engaged (Campbell et al.). Their perceptions of the class were negative compared to the hands-on, active classes that built the students self-esteem (Campbell et al.). This can be related to students’ anxiety and frustration levels when learning. If students feel they are in a supportive, caring environment that provides hands-on learning experiences, they will approach learning in a deeper way. Child Development students experience hands-on learning on a weekly basis when they are in the child care center teaching and observing the preschool children. As educators, it is vital that we consider the different needs of our students when teaching a new concept. Our students may be some of our best resources when evaluating the teaching methods we use. Teachers should consider the methods used to teach the lesson, the time period given to teach the new concept, and the amount of frustration or excitement the teaching strategy or assignment brings to students. Data Collection Methodology In this study, which focuses on describing the effect that providing journal and case study paper examples, more time to observe in the child care center and the use of different teaching methods will have on the improvement of observation journals and case study papers, I will primarily be using qualitative data. The form of qualitative research method I plan to use is ethnography. Ethnography is fitting to my research due to the fact that I will be observing my students when they are working in there every day surroundings (Glanz, 2003). I also found ethnography to be appropriate for my research because I will use observations as a main source of my data collection (Glanz, 2003). The research method I am using is not a case study because I am collecting data that I will interpret and focus on a group rather than an individual (Glanz, 2003). The research questions that guide my data collection are: How will giving more time to observe in the child care center impact the high school students’ journals and case study papers? What teaching methods should I use to teach observing and journaling? Will spending more time on teaching observing and journaling improve student work? How will providing excellent examples of observation journals and case study papers impact student work? Will student anxiety and frustration levels decrease if more observation time is given? (See Appendix A) When collecting my data, I am interested in comparing my perceptions of what students struggle with when observing, journaling and writing their case study papers to the students’ perceptions of what they struggle with when observing, journaling and writing their case study papers. The data will be collected during the first semester of the 2008-2009 school year. The data I will collect will primarily be qualitative which will include my own observations, colleague interviews and collection of student work. I value how my students are feeling about the projects assigned in my class so I will ask for input from the students as well. This data will be provided through a student focus group and student surveys at the beginning and end of the semester. All of the data collected will assist me in answering the questions I am exploring in this action research project. Colleague Interviews There are three teaching professionals I interviewed before the high school students began observing in the child care center. The Deer Park Teaching and Learning child care center Director, another Child Development teacher and an English teacher were asked for input on my topic. When interviewing the child care center Director (See Appendix B) and the Child Development teacher (See Appendix C), I investigated the time spent on teaching journaling and observing and the teaching methods they felt were beneficial to the students. I also wanted to understand their perceptions on how they feel providing students with example journals and case study papers impacts the students understanding of the assignment. Through these interviews, a qualitative research method, I was able to understand the teachers’ views on providing students with more time in the child care center to observe. When interviewing the English teacher (See Appendix D), I focused on strategies used by this teacher to improve students writing. It was also beneficial to find out what students in English class struggle with most when they are writing and what the teacher does to address these struggles. I am hoping to apply this information to my class to assist my students when they are writing their case study papers. I asked both the English teacher and the Child Development teacher what type of presentation methods students struggle with and what type of presentation methods get students excited about learning. Student Focus Group At the beginning of the semester, I will hold a class discussion regarding the amount of time given to observe in the child care center (See Appendix E). During this class focus group, a qualitative research method, I intend to also get feedback from the students regarding their views on how providing example observation journals will impact their understanding of the observation journal writing process. What I have found in the past is that students have a pretty good gage on what they need to be successful so asking students what their needs are at the beginning of the semester is important. Student Survey – Questionnaire Two surveys (See Appendix F) were created to request information from students in the two Child Development classes I teach. The intentions of the surveys, a qualitative research method, were to ask the students for their input to address the following questions: How will providing more time for you to observe in the child care center impact your observation journals and case study papers? What teaching methods do you benefit from most when learning about observing, journaling and writing your case study papers? Will spending more time on teaching observing and journaling improve your journals and papers? How will providing excellent examples of observation journals and case study papers impact affect your understanding of the assignment and your work? Will your anxiety and frustration levels decrease if more observation time in given? The questionnaire will be implemented at the beginning of the semester, before they observe, and at the end of the semester, after their papers are wr itten, to gain a better understanding of the students’ viewpoint on this assignment. Collecting Artifacts Another qualitative research method I plan to use is to sporadically collect the students’ observation journal entries throughout the entire semester. My intention is to analyze the improvement of the students’ work as the semester goes along. I will collect the journals after the first time they observe when more time is given in the child care center, more time is spent on teaching observing and journaling and examples are provided to the students. I will compare this to the observations I have made in regards to student work from previous years. Collecting these artifacts throughout the semester will allow me to evaluate the students’ understanding of observing and journaling as they progress through the semester. It will also provide me the opportunity to give the students feedback so the students will feel guided in this process. At the end of the semester, I will collect the final case study papers and the scores on the journals and papers, which is a quantitative data collection method. This will allow me to analyze student progress throughout the semester. The case study papers will also provide me with an idea of each student’s overall understanding of observing and how they are able to relate the information they have gathered through their observations to how a child is developing. Observation and Field Notes While students are using the example observation journals to guide their own journal writing, I will observe and note, qualitatively, the ease at which students do this. I will also note how often the students refer to their examples as the semester progresses. Throughout the semester, during the first ten minutes of class and the last ten minutes of class, I will observe and make notes on the students’ frustration levels related to observing. The beginning and end of class is a time when students talk to each other about a variety of things they are dealing with at the time. This will be an ideal time for me to step back and listen to their discussions between one another in regards to observing, journaling and writing their papers. Timeline for Collecting Data: Time of Year Data Collection Source Data Collection Source Data Collection Source Data Collection Source Before Semester Begins 3 Colleague Interviews Beginning of Semester Student Focus Groups Collect Artifacts – Observations Journals Scores Student Survey – Questionnaire Observation Field Notes Middle of Semester Collect Artifacts – Observations Journals Scores Observation Field Notes End of Semester Collect Artifacts – Observations Journals Scores Student Survey – Questionnaire Observation Field Notes Data Analysis Qualitative Data During my data collection I will obtain data through colleague interviews, student focus groups, student surveys, observations, and artifacts. After my data is collected I will organize the data (Glanz, 2003). In order to organize my data I will read and reread the data to allow myself the ability to distinguish any patterns that are important (Glanz, 2003). Themes that I am prepared to find through my data collection is that students will benefit from examples that are provided. After analyzing my observations, students surveys, and student focus group notes I predict I will find students will be relieved to have examples of the paper. I find that with provided examples students enjoyment of the project will be much more positive. To analyze my data I will group student in three categories: students that view examples as helpful, students that view examples as no help, and students that view examples as hurting their understanding. I will collect my data and then put each student in one of the three categories in which they fit. After I collect data I will need to code the data and find any themes or patterns that arise (Mills, 2007). Quantitative Data The quantitative data that I am collecting in my research is the student’s case study paper scores. I will use the scores to compare if student did better this year than from previous years. I will compare student’s papers to papers from the past two years. I will need to also review students overall scores throughout the year to be sure that the students did better because of the examples provided and my teaching methods but not because of the student’s natural ability. Call for Action and Predictions Affected Population The findings of this study will provide valuable information to high school teachers who have students who struggle with or are frustrated by the writing process. English teachers typically are responsible for teaching students the writing process and allowing them to practice that skill in their class. However, writing may be reinforced in all subject areas. The more practice students have with writing, the more likely they will be successful, especially if they are motivated and are writing about something they can connect with or enjoy. Both types of students, students who struggle with writing and those who do not, may benefit from the research found in this study. I predict that providing examples to students and modeling writing strategies, will allow students to gain a better understanding of the observation journal and case study paper assignments. If students are able to visually see clear examples of what is expected in their writing, they are more likely to succeed and become less frustrated. Specifically, the students who will benefit from this study the most are my current students and future students because I will alter my teaching methods to include examples of previous student work. My colleague’s, Susan Johnson, students will also benefit if she decides to implement similar strategies when teaching observing and journaling. Importance of ResearchOnce this data is collected and analyzed, it will provide me with the information I need to make changes to the way I teach observing and journaling. At this time, students are very frustrated with observing and writing their papers and I believe the data that I will collect may provide some insight into â€Å"what† specifically students are struggling with and â€Å"why† they have such a hard time with these assignments. I believe if I can find what is frustrating to students I can help students focus on the importance of the project rather than the difficulty. The data will also allow me to ask other educational professionals and students their opinions on this issue so I can gain multiple perspectives. Hopefully, this will allow me to implement change in my teaching methods, the assignment and the students learning experience. Hypothesis and Future Outcomes Although I have not collected any data at this time, I expect student frustration levels to decrease and the quality of student work to increase if students are provided more time in the child care center to observe. I anticipate students would not feel as rushed and may be able to gather more thorough descriptions of what they see if they could spend the entire period in the center rather than half of the period. More time in the center may also provide students with an enhanced learning experience because they might be more likely to interact with the preschoolers and become more engaged in what they are observing. Student’s engagement in observing may motivate them while they are completing their observation journals and writing their case study papers because they will have more experiences with the children to refer to. I foresee the students’ understanding of observing and journaling to improve if more time was spent on teaching these concepts and if a variety of engaging teaching methods were used. It can be frustrating for students when they are not given enough time to learn a new concept. Allowing students time to practice and discuss examples of observing in groups, partners and individually before going into the child care center, will enable students to become more comfortable with the observation process. Many students get excited about learning new ideas when they are learning through hands on experiences and working with other students. When I am teaching observing and journaling, I will try to provide students more opportunities to do this before expecting them to go into the child care center to observe on their own. I feel this will help motivate students about the observation and case study project.Finally, I anticipate that providing students with examples of observation journals and case study papers will assist them in their understanding of the assignment.

The Fall of the Potato: Causes of the Great Famine Essay -- Essays Pap

The Fall of the Potato: Causes of the Great Famine Phythophthora infestans was the lethal fungus that infested Ireland's potato crop and eventually ruined all of the land it grew on. This time is called the Great Famine and has impacted Ireland due to its destructive extinction of the potato farms which caused disease, extreme poverty, and death. There are several circumstances to take into consideration when looking at the causes of the Great Potato Famine in Ireland. Due to the great dependence the Irish people had on the potato, it is clear how blight could devastate a country and its people. To understand the Irish people's dependence on the potato for diet, income, and a way out of poverty, it is necessary to look at several key factors that were evident before the famine. Factors such farming as the only way of life, rise in population, and limited crops explain why the people of Ireland relied on the potato. But not only do these reasons clarify why the famine hit the Irish people so hard, other important factors play into effect as well. By looking at the weak relationship between England and Ireland through parliamentary acts and trade laws, it is more evident what the causes of the Great Famine are and why it was so detrimental. The relationship between Ireland and England played a major role in the causes of the Great Famine. Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801 due to the Act of Union (Edwards & Williams 19). Under this act, Ireland was placed under "the jurisdiction of the richest and most industrially advanced empire in the world" (Kinealy 33). From this act, Ireland's parliament was abolished and became controlled by England through political leadership established throughout the Irish state. A... ...remier. EBSCO. Roesch Library, Dayton, Ohio. 19 January 2004. http://library.udayton.edu/research/article/ - Edwards, R. Dudley and T. Desmond William. The Great Irish Famine: Studies in Irish History 1845-52. Dublin, Ireland: Browne & Dolan, Ltd., 1957. - Kinealy, Christine. â€Å"How Politics Fed the Famine†. Natural History 105 (1996): 33-3. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Roesch Library, Dayton, Ohio. 19 January 2004. http://library.udayton.edu/research/article/ - O Grada, Cormac. The Great Irish Famine. England: MacMillan, 1989. - O Tuathaigh, Gearoid, ed. Ireland before the Famine, 1798-1848. Dublin, Ireland: Gill & MacMillan, Ltd., 1972. - Poirteir, Cathal. The Great Irish Famine. Dublin, Ireland: Mercier Press, 1995. - Whelan, Kevin. â€Å"Pre and Post-Famine Landscape Change.† O Tuathaigh 19-34.