Personality Traits and Characteristics Essay

I had assumed that analyzing my own personality would be an easier task than analyzing the personality of a famous historical person. I made this assumption based on the thought that I knew myself extremely well. However, as I sat down to write this analysis, I drew a blank. I was unsure what to write about my own personality traits and characteristics. As a result of this difficulty, I completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to achieve some insight into my own personality. I also interviewed family members to gather information about my personality that was clear and unbiased. The two approaches I have chosen to complete this self-analysis are Carl Jung’s Attitude and Functions and Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development theories. Carl Jung’s personality theories cover an extremely wide array of ideas regarding the human psyche, or all psychological processes. As a result of this I have chosen to focus on his theories of attitudes and functions. According to Jung, psychological types are a result of various combinations of two basic attitudes and four functions. These attitudes and functions are responsible for our ways of perceiving the environment and orienting experiences. The two basic attitudes of Jung’s theory are extraversion, in which the psyche is oriented outward to the objective world, and introversion, in which the psyche is oriented inward to the subjective world. The four functions include thinking, feeling, sensing and intuition (Engler, 2009). After a considerable amount of research, I concluded that I was an introverted feeler. I tend to be shy and quiet, especially in social situations. As a result I have experienced difficulty developing friendships and relationships with others. I am also a hypersensitive, emotional person. I have been concerned with personal values, attitudes and beliefs my entire life. When I carefully thought about how I come to make decisions, judgments or conclusions, I realized that I do so based on my emotions. My family verified that I am an introverted feeler during their interviews. To expand on my knowledge and understanding of my personality type, I completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This specific test sorts individuals into groups based on the following dichotomies: Extraversion-Introversion (EI), Sensing-Intuition (SN), Thinking-Feeling (TF), and Judgment-Perception (JP) (Engler, 2009). The result of this test was the personality profile was ISFJ, which stands for introverted sensing feeling judging. Many, if not all of my personality traits and characteristics fit perfectly with the ISFJ personality type. I have always had a strong need to â€Å"be needed† by others. I have often struggled with feelings that others did not appreciate my accurate, thorough work at home and in the work place. My perfectionist tendencies have often caused problems for me and cause me to be overly critical of myself. I have often felt taken advantage of by employers and friends because of my loyal and giving tendencies. I have always been the person who worked other people’s shifts or gave friends rides, even when I had other important things to do. Typically, I function best in small groups or one-on-one situations because I am empathetic and sympathetic with others. I frequently overanalyze other’s behaviors and sometimes interpret them as rejection. I am also easily embarrassed. I dislike confrontation and I have extreme difficulty hiding or articulating distress (Heiss, 2007). Another article found on the CG Jung organization website mentioned the affects of the R. A. S. , or Reticular Activating System, has on an individuals personality traits and characteristics. The R. A. S. regulates our stable level of wakefulness, is linked to anxiety and makes it possible for individuals to focus their attention. According to this article, people who are highly aroused take in more information per second than the average person and subsequently needs to diminish or limit the â€Å"volume† of stimulation around them. This is what makes a person an introvert. Introverts are overloaded with information more quickly, and due to that introverts often have chronic anxiety, as well as a negative attitude towards life (Benziger, 2007). I myself have struggled with anxiety and negative attitudes, which led to depression. Due to the fact that I am easily overwhelmed, I tend to sleep excessively. Sleep gives my brain a break from the overstimulation I experience in everyday life. Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development are centered on the polarity that children encounter during certain phases of their life. This theory proposes eight epigenetic stages, each entailing its own life crisis in which an individual can turn one of two ways. Each psychosocial stage provides the individual with opportunities for certain basic virtues to develop (Engler, 2009). However, I am only going to focus on the first six stages of Erikson’s development because I have not been through the other two stages. The first developmental stage is trust versus mistrust, which occurs during infancy. This is when an infant learns whether or not the world can be trusted. If dependable care is given and the infant’s needs are met, the basic virtue of hope will develop (Engler, 2009). I was adopted in my infancy and given more than adequate care. I personally do not believe that my adoption caused me any issues until my later years. The second psychosocial stage is autonomy versus shame and doubt, which arises during the second and third year of life. This stage deals with a toddler’s ability to control their body and bodily activities, as well as independence. The basic virtue that develops at this stage of life is will. Erikson’s third stage is initiative versus guilt, which occurs at three to five years. At this point in time, children are focused on mastering new skills and tasks. If a child prevails, the basic virtue that will arise is purpose. The fourth psychosocial stage is industry versus inferiority, which occurs during ages six to eleven. During this stage children must learn to master skills that they will need to be successful in society. If a child successfully does so, they will develop a sense of competence (Engler, 2009). I do not recall experiencing anything incredibly difficult during these three psychosocial stages of development. I know that my parents had gotten a divorce at age three, which was somewhat confusing for me, but it did not really damage me psychologically in any way. I do remember being incredibly attached to my mother during these stages however, and was typically upset or anxious if I was separated from her. When I was around the age of five, my family moved a short distance to a house in Baldwinsville. The adjustment was easy for me. At age seven, my mother got remarried, in my life long before he and my mother were married. He had always treated my sister and I as his own children. For that, I am extremely grateful. The hardest thing I remember experiencing was moving from Baldwinsville to Liverpool, when I was about to turn eleven years old. I was very anxious, but adapted to my new surroundings with ease. I also did well in elementary school academically and developed a close friendship with another girl during this time period suggesting consistent with Erikson’s ideas of mastery in middle childhood. Ego identity versus role confusion is the fifth stage of development, which occurs during ages twelve to eighteen, and involves establishing an identity and viewing ones self as a productive member of society. During this stage an individual will develop the basic virtue of fidelity. This was a stage in which I struggled. I was beginning to understand what adoption was and had a very difficult time understanding why my birth mother would just give me away. I plunged into an identity crisis at this stage of my life and temporarily developed a negative identity, which was in contrast with my personal values and upbringing. I was also a victim of sexual assault at this time, which diminished my self-confidence and sense of self worth even further. I do believe that my mother’s occupation during my adolescent years complicated my life to a certain extent. Having a mother who is superintendent of the school district I was attending made me feel alienated from my peers and I found it more difficult to make connections with others. The sixth and final psychosocial stage I will be discussing is intimacy versus isolation, takes place during the eighteenth to twenty-fourth years of life. At this time young adults must be able to overcome the fear of ego loss and form a close affiliation with another individual. It is at this point that the basic virtue of love can potentially be established (Engler, 2009). I am currently in this psychosocial stage myself and am struggling. Recently, I escaped a very emotionally and physically abusive relationship, which damaged me psychologically. I also have experienced two significant losses in my life, which I have just begun recovering from. As said previously, the other two stages I have not experienced yet and therefore will not be addressing in this paper. I chose Jung and Erikson’s theories to complete a self-analysis because I felt that they best defined my own personality. I found the results of this analysis extremely accurate and insightful. However, certain aspects of my personality were left out. I believe that some of my traits and characteristics are hereditary while others were learned by watching those close to me over the years. My twin sister and I both have attention deficit disorders, which causes us to be extremely moody and impulsive. Both of us are very opinionated and stubborn individuals. Clearly, some behaviors are a result of genetics. I found this paper very useful in my own self-exploration. It helped me readily identify some of my neurotic tendencies and their possible causes. I plan on using what I have learned from this experience to make necessary changes so that I can lead a happier, healthier life with less neurotic symptoms.

Resilience: Problem Solving and Child

Explain why resilience is so important CYP 3. 3 6. 2 SCMP2 1. 3 CYP 3. 3 6. 1 CYP 3. 3 6. 4 CYP 3. 3 6. 3 What is resilience? Resilience is the ability to adapt to adversity and cope with living in spite of stresses. Building resilience is building the ability to bounce back and adapt to all kinds of adversity, including trauma, tragedy, threats, setbacks and stress.Children at some time in their lives will experience stress and trauma, but by building resilience, children are better able to manage stress and feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. Resilience is important because it is the human capacity to face, overcome and be strengthened or even transformed by the adversities of life. And adversity affects us all at some time in our lives. Resilient children: find ways to solve their problems xercise control over negative thoughts and take responsibility for choosing how to act and feel are more likely to have people to talk to and confide in when something worries them have inner s trength, social and inter-personal skills, and skills in communicating effectively require parents and carers to model resilient behaviours and help promote resilience through words, actions and the environment, in which they are being raised like to try new things, enjoy a challenge need supervision, support and boundaries feel they can succeed ersist with a task and persevere have a sense of optimism believe their contribution can make a difference to an outcome like helping people possess a sense of fun. Ways we can raise a childs' confidence, resilience and well-being Resilience draws on aspects of a child's characteristics including temperament and the environment in which they are raised and supported. It also includes people and opportunities that help build resilience, for  example independence, autonomy and problem solving. Strategies for building resilience can be learned over time.Learning to think positively and in perspective means a child can not only cope with probl ems and setbacks. It also means children have opportunities to learn how to build strengths that protect and promote well-being. To overcome adversity and build resilience, children ideally require: unconditional love and acceptance some autonomy over their lives trusting relationships with significant adults feelings of independence secure relationships and strong role models to help foster friendships and commitment a safe and stable environment self-confidence and faith in themselves and their world.All these things help to build resilience. Helping to promote resilience A child's ability to build resilience is dependent on their age and stage of development. Babies and toddlers have limited physical and emotional competence compared with eight-year old. However, helping a child to feel secure and confident can begin at birth. For babies and toddlers: Provide safety, security, stability and nurture–physically, verbally and emotionally. Rock, stroke, soothe and cuddle often . Use words of comfort to calm. Allow babies freedom to explore in safety. Encourage toddlers to calm themselves.Model optimistic and resilient behaviour. Talk with toddlers and preschoolers about what adversity and setbacks mean. Reinforce a child's faith in their own problem solving skills. Set limits for behaviour and label the behaviour, not the child. Offer explanations regarding rules and discipline. Praise the accomplishment of tasks and milestones. Encourage independence. Help your child to recognise feelings and develop language to express emotions. Build on the security of trusted relationships. Source appropriate picture books from your local library. Know and work with your child's temperament.Help your child stick to a daily routine. For preschoolers and older children: Give unconditional support, nurturing and encouragement. Encourage and help your child practise calming strategies. Model self-esteem, confidence and optimism. Talk about appropriate behaviours. Encourag e independent thought and action. Build on developing an emotional vocabulary and how to label feelings. Help your child to understand their own temperament and why they might react in a certain way to a particular situation. Practise effective ways to resolve conflict at school or in the playground.Talk about ways that a child can seek help and assistance if needed. Spend time every day talking, discussing and sharing what's happening in your child's life. Model and teach attitudes of empathy and ways of caring. Explain that all behaviour has consequences. Provide comfort in stressful situations. Praise completed tasks, work well done, perseverance, desired behaviours. Discuss accepting responsibility for behaviour and why discipline is imposed to limit some behaviours. Clarify expectations, rules and regulations (especially for school).Accept that failure happens and talk about ways your child can overcome feelings of failure and try again. Discuss and support emerging independenc e and autonomy as your child develops, and how this balances out with age-appropriate limitations. Be flexible with routines so that your child has time and opportunity to be creative. Teach your child how to focus on something else if they are worried or upset. Discuss what it means to be a friend and help your child to make friends. Explain the importance of eating properly, resting, exercising and self care.Help your child to see that their individual accomplishments contribute to the well-being of the family as a whole. Why is important to teach them skills to keep them safe? Resilience is coping with change, and for many young children change can be stressful and scary. Helping a child to keep things in perspective and understand why change is an inevitable part of life, will help them to navigate and bounce back from tough times and move forward to better times. Wherever possible, ensure that children have unconditional support and stability from their family or caring network .

Advanced Critical Writing

The author’s claim about binge drinking is backed up by the literature with findings that British young people are some of the worst perpetrators of binge drinking (Kuntsche, Rehm and Gmel, 2004) and that almost a quarter of British adults are classified as ‘hazardous’ drinkers (NHS, 2011). In a recent presentation to parliament, David Cameron wrote that â€Å"we have to tackle the scourge of violence caused by binge drinking. And we have to do it now.† (Home Office, 2012). Alcohol is undoubtedly a public health issue and is involved in a high number of road traffic accidents and anti-social activities such as assault, as well as being associated with a number of chronic diseases including alcoholic liver disease and a range of cancers (Rehm et al., 2009; Schutze et al., 2011). Furthermore, the economic cost can be devastating with alcohol-related injury costing the National Health Service (NHS) around ?2.7 billion a year, based on 2006 to 2007 figures (NHS , 2011). Therefore, the Government should indeed feel some responsibility to tackle and reduce these figures if at all possible. The author argues that such a strategy as minimum unit pricing for alcohol will be an infringement on the British people, a violation of the free market economy and will cause moderate and responsible drinkers to pay for the â€Å"crimes of a few.† However, the author later contradicts themselves saying that â€Å"boosting the cost [of alcohol] isn’t going to stop me drinking, it’s going to just leave me out of pocket.† Here, the author has gone from the extreme and dramatic to an almost mocking of the proposed policy. It becomes unclear whether the author truly believes that the policy would severely affect the innocent or whether it would simply leave people short of a few pounds at the end of the month. This type of contradictory writing can also been seen elsewhere in the article. For example, the writer opens the article with a murky and sinister scene using evocative words and phrases such as â€Å"swarming†, â€Å"staggering† and †Å"teenagers hunched over a bottle of Frosty Jacks.† This use of language suggests that the author is disgusted and repelled by binge drinkers and the open consumption of cheap alcohol on British streets. However, the author quickly goes on to denounce Government attempts to tackle the problem as a â€Å"crazy idea†, once again sending out a mixed message to the reader. The author also argues against the claim that an increase in prices for drinks with a high alcohol content will put off the type of people who buy such drinks purely to achieve a state of drunkenness, namely individuals suffering from alcoholism. The author asks â€Å"isn’t it their choice to drink alcohol?† and suggests that it is unacceptable to hurt the average person financially by trying to price such individuals out of the alcohol market. This an extremely reductionist viewpoint, meaning that the author of the article is reducing the plight of an alcoholic to the result of just â€Å"their choice† rather than taking into account the plethora of reasons that can lead an individual down the destructive road of alcoholism, such as homelessness, debt or abuse. Such a view-point is potentially damaging as Spanagel (2009) has warned that a reductionist view of the causes of alcoholism can stand in the way of a better understanding of the underlying pathological p rocesses involved in such addictive behaviour. The author goes on to claim that implementation of a ?0.45 minimum unit price for alcohol is the result of the Government’s attempt to try and make revenue from people who can afford a price rise but are just inconvenienced by it. This is an extreme accusation and the author has failed to take into account the evidence that suggests otherwise. Namely that such a policy could have a positive effect on public health and the economy. Using a price-to-consumption model using various data sources and based on 54 population sub-groups classed as harmful, hazardous or moderate drinkers, Purshouse et al. (2010) estimated that a ?0.45 minimum price unit for alcohol would reduce alcohol consumption by 4.5% and avoid 1,970 alcohol-related deaths. A recent systematic review found that a price increase of alcohol by around 10% would lead to a reduction in consumption of alcohol by around 5% (Wagenaar, Tobler and Komro, 2010). Both of these studies have provided strong evidence that a min imum unit pricing strategy with alcohol would be effective in reducing hazardous alcohol consumption. Further strengthening the argument in favour of minimum unit pricing are doubts that other attempts to reduce alcohol consumption will be far from successful. In a recent editorial, McKee (2012) highlighted that the three main â€Å"lines of attack† for tackling hazardous drinking consist of marketing, pricing and availability. Marketing and restrictions on availability are difficult to control, especially due to the lobbying power that many companies within the alcohol industry possess (McKee, 2012), and education-based interventions have been shown to be ineffective (Anderson, Chisholm and Fuhr, 2009) Therefore, pricing appears to be potentially the most effective and most easily manipulated element that the Government can utilise to tackle hazardous drinking. However, in addition to the positive effects that a minimum pricing policy has been predicted to have, there were a lso a number of drawbacks. For example, an increase in type 2 diabetes in young women was predicted due to a loss of the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption and most of the reductions in harm would have been seen in chronic disorders in the over 45s, limiting the positive effect on the health and well-being of younger people (Purshouse et al., 2010). Furthermore, the figures produced by Purshouse et al. (2010) were based on a time period 10 years after policy implementation, suggesting that the benefit of a minimum pricing policy could be a long time coming. These drawbacks could be seen to support the author’s claim that the Government would use a minimum pricing strategy primarily to increase their income, seeing as though implementation of the policy would be limited in its immediate and overall beneficial effects on public health. Furthermore, alternatives to minimum pricing such as increasing tax on alcohol, have also been found to decrease levels of alcohol consumption (Elder et al., 2010). However, the existence of potentially equally as effective strategies for tackling hazardous drinking does not automatically suggest a conspiracy by the Government to reap more revenue through a minimum pricing strategy. The author of the article disagrees with the claim that alcohol fuels crime and with the figure that intoxicated people are involved in causing around 5,000 avoidable crimes every year. However, it is well documented that alcohol is prolifically involved in crime. From 1998 to 1999, 70% of crimes were found to have involved alcohol (Home Office, 2001), with alcohol being a component in up to 70% of all stabbings and beatings, 40% of domestic violence incidents and 50% of child protection cases (Alcohol Concern, 2000). These figures are highly disturbing and the author’s credibility is severely damaged in denying belief in such figures. The author ends the article with a rhetorical question by asking whether we would want â€Å"to live in a free country where people live as their consciences tell them† or whether we want to try and â€Å"control the behaviour of the poor by pricing them out of activities that we disapprove of?† A similar use of rhetoric can be seen throughout the article. For example, the author suggests that the next stage after minimum unit pricing may be an increase in theatre tickets to reduce the number of â€Å"poorer, less educated people who might talk during the show.† This is an example of hyperbole where the author is exaggerating in order to manipulate their audience and create a strong emotional reaction. Through the use of rhetoric, the author will hope to encourage their audience to ‘come round’ to their way of thinking. However, the article would be far more persuasive if the author were to use more facts and empirical evidence to support their view s. In conclusion, the article is well-written in terms of persuasiveness and in using rhetoric to create a strong emotional reaction in the audience. However, the author too often makes statements that contradict current empirical evidence without justification, which damages the credibility of the source. References Alcohol Concern (2000) Britain’s Ruin: Meeting Government Objectives via a National Alcohol Strategy. London, UK: Alcohol Concern. Anderson, P., Chisholm, D. and Fuhr, D.C. (2009) Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of policies and programmes to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. Lancet, 373, pp. 2234-2246. Elder, R.W., Lawrence, B., Ferguson, A., Naimi, T.S., Brewer, R.D., Chattopadhyay, S.K., Toomey, T.L. and Fielding, J.E. (2010) The effectiveness of tax policy interventions for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 38(2), pp. 217-229. Home Office (2012) The Government’s Alcohol Strategy. London, UK: Home Office. Home Office (2001) Fighting Violent Crime Together: An Action Plan. London, UK: Home Office. Kuntsche, E., Rehm, J. and Gmel, G. (2004) Characteristics of binge drinkers in Europe. Social Science and Medicine, 59, pp. 113-127. McKee, M. (2012) Minimum unit pricing for alcohol – the case for action is overwhelming. European Journal of Public Health, 22(4), pp. 451. NHS (2011) Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2011. London, UK: The NHS Information Centre. Purshouse, R.C., Meier, P.S., Brennan, A., Taylor, K.B. and Rafia, R. (2010) Estimated effect of alcohol pricing policies on health and health economic outcomes in England: an epidemiological model. Lancet, 375, pp. 1355-1364. Rehm, J., Mathers, C., Popova, S., Thavorncharoensap, M., Teerawattananon, Y. and Patra, J. (2009) Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders. Lancet, 373, pp. 2223-2233. Schutze, M., Boeing, H., Pischon, T. et al. (2011) Alcohol attributable burden of incidence of cancer in eight European countries based on results from prospective cohort study. British Medical Journal, 342, d1584. Spanagel, R. (2009) Alcoholism: A systems approach from molecular physiology to addictive behaviour. Physiological Reviews, 89(2), pp. 649-705. Wagenaar, A.C., Tobler, A.L. and Komro, K.A. (2010) Effects of alcohol tax and price policies on morbidity and mortality: a systematic review. American Journal of Public Health, 100, pp. 2270-2278. Advanced Critical Writing The author’s claim about binge drinking is backed up by the literature with findings that British young people are some of the worst perpetrators of binge drinking (Kuntsche, Rehm and Gmel, 2004) and that almost a quarter of British adults are classified as ‘hazardous’ drinkers (NHS, 2011). In a recent presentation to parliament, David Cameron wrote that â€Å"we have to tackle the scourge of violence caused by binge drinking. And we have to do it now.† (Home Office, 2012). Alcohol is undoubtedly a public health issue and is involved in a high number of road traffic accidents and anti-social activities such as assault, as well as being associated with a number of chronic diseases including alcoholic liver disease and a range of cancers (Rehm et al., 2009; Schutze et al., 2011). Furthermore, the economic cost can be devastating with alcohol-related injury costing the National Health Service (NHS) around ?2.7 billion a year, based on 2006 to 2007 figures (NHS , 2011). Therefore, the Government should indeed feel some responsibility to tackle and reduce these figures if at all possible. The author argues that such a strategy as minimum unit pricing for alcohol will be an infringement on the British people, a violation of the free market economy and will cause moderate and responsible drinkers to pay for the â€Å"crimes of a few.† However, the author later contradicts themselves saying that â€Å"boosting the cost [of alcohol] isn’t going to stop me drinking, it’s going to just leave me out of pocket.† Here, the author has gone from the extreme and dramatic to an almost mocking of the proposed policy. It becomes unclear whether the author truly believes that the policy would severely affect the innocent or whether it would simply leave people short of a few pounds at the end of the month. This type of contradictory writing can also been seen elsewhere in the article. For example, the writer opens the article with a murky and sinister scene using evocative words and phrases such as â€Å"swarming†, â€Å"staggering† and †Å"teenagers hunched over a bottle of Frosty Jacks.† This use of language suggests that the author is disgusted and repelled by binge drinkers and the open consumption of cheap alcohol on British streets. However, the author quickly goes on to denounce Government attempts to tackle the problem as a â€Å"crazy idea†, once again sending out a mixed message to the reader. The author also argues against the claim that an increase in prices for drinks with a high alcohol content will put off the type of people who buy such drinks purely to achieve a state of drunkenness, namely individuals suffering from alcoholism. The author asks â€Å"isn’t it their choice to drink alcohol?† and suggests that it is unacceptable to hurt the average person financially by trying to price such individuals out of the alcohol market. This an extremely reductionist viewpoint, meaning that the author of the article is reducing the plight of an alcoholic to the result of just â€Å"their choice† rather than taking into account the plethora of reasons that can lead an individual down the destructive road of alcoholism, such as homelessness, debt or abuse. Such a view-point is potentially damaging as Spanagel (2009) has warned that a reductionist view of the causes of alcoholism can stand in the way of a better understanding of the underlying pathological p rocesses involved in such addictive behaviour. The author goes on to claim that implementation of a ?0.45 minimum unit price for alcohol is the result of the Government’s attempt to try and make revenue from people who can afford a price rise but are just inconvenienced by it. This is an extreme accusation and the author has failed to take into account the evidence that suggests otherwise. Namely that such a policy could have a positive effect on public health and the economy. Using a price-to-consumption model using various data sources and based on 54 population sub-groups classed as harmful, hazardous or moderate drinkers, Purshouse et al. (2010) estimated that a ?0.45 minimum price unit for alcohol would reduce alcohol consumption by 4.5% and avoid 1,970 alcohol-related deaths. A recent systematic review found that a price increase of alcohol by around 10% would lead to a reduction in consumption of alcohol by around 5% (Wagenaar, Tobler and Komro, 2010). Both of these studies have provided strong evidence that a min imum unit pricing strategy with alcohol would be effective in reducing hazardous alcohol consumption. Further strengthening the argument in favour of minimum unit pricing are doubts that other attempts to reduce alcohol consumption will be far from successful. In a recent editorial, McKee (2012) highlighted that the three main â€Å"lines of attack† for tackling hazardous drinking consist of marketing, pricing and availability. Marketing and restrictions on availability are difficult to control, especially due to the lobbying power that many companies within the alcohol industry possess (McKee, 2012), and education-based interventions have been shown to be ineffective (Anderson, Chisholm and Fuhr, 2009) Therefore, pricing appears to be potentially the most effective and most easily manipulated element that the Government can utilise to tackle hazardous drinking. However, in addition to the positive effects that a minimum pricing policy has been predicted to have, there were a lso a number of drawbacks. For example, an increase in type 2 diabetes in young women was predicted due to a loss of the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption and most of the reductions in harm would have been seen in chronic disorders in the over 45s, limiting the positive effect on the health and well-being of younger people (Purshouse et al., 2010). Furthermore, the figures produced by Purshouse et al. (2010) were based on a time period 10 years after policy implementation, suggesting that the benefit of a minimum pricing policy could be a long time coming. These drawbacks could be seen to support the author’s claim that the Government would use a minimum pricing strategy primarily to increase their income, seeing as though implementation of the policy would be limited in its immediate and overall beneficial effects on public health. Furthermore, alternatives to minimum pricing such as increasing tax on alcohol, have also been found to decrease levels of alcohol consumption (Elder et al., 2010). However, the existence of potentially equally as effective strategies for tackling hazardous drinking does not automatically suggest a conspiracy by the Government to reap more revenue through a minimum pricing strategy. The author of the article disagrees with the claim that alcohol fuels crime and with the figure that intoxicated people are involved in causing around 5,000 avoidable crimes every year. However, it is well documented that alcohol is prolifically involved in crime. From 1998 to 1999, 70% of crimes were found to have involved alcohol (Home Office, 2001), with alcohol being a component in up to 70% of all stabbings and beatings, 40% of domestic violence incidents and 50% of child protection cases (Alcohol Concern, 2000). These figures are highly disturbing and the author’s credibility is severely damaged in denying belief in such figures. The author ends the article with a rhetorical question by asking whether we would want â€Å"to live in a free country where people live as their consciences tell them† or whether we want to try and â€Å"control the behaviour of the poor by pricing them out of activities that we disapprove of?† A similar use of rhetoric can be seen throughout the article. For example, the author suggests that the next stage after minimum unit pricing may be an increase in theatre tickets to reduce the number of â€Å"poorer, less educated people who might talk during the show.† This is an example of hyperbole where the author is exaggerating in order to manipulate their audience and create a strong emotional reaction. Through the use of rhetoric, the author will hope to encourage their audience to ‘come round’ to their way of thinking. However, the article would be far more persuasive if the author were to use more facts and empirical evidence to support their view s. In conclusion, the article is well-written in terms of persuasiveness and in using rhetoric to create a strong emotional reaction in the audience. However, the author too often makes statements that contradict current empirical evidence without justification, which damages the credibility of the source. References Alcohol Concern (2000) Britain’s Ruin: Meeting Government Objectives via a National Alcohol Strategy. London, UK: Alcohol Concern. Anderson, P., Chisholm, D. and Fuhr, D.C. (2009) Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of policies and programmes to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. Lancet, 373, pp. 2234-2246. Elder, R.W., Lawrence, B., Ferguson, A., Naimi, T.S., Brewer, R.D., Chattopadhyay, S.K., Toomey, T.L. and Fielding, J.E. (2010) The effectiveness of tax policy interventions for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 38(2), pp. 217-229. Home Office (2012) The Government’s Alcohol Strategy. London, UK: Home Office. Home Office (2001) Fighting Violent Crime Together: An Action Plan. London, UK: Home Office. Kuntsche, E., Rehm, J. and Gmel, G. (2004) Characteristics of binge drinkers in Europe. Social Science and Medicine, 59, pp. 113-127. McKee, M. (2012) Minimum unit pricing for alcohol – the case for action is overwhelming. European Journal of Public Health, 22(4), pp. 451. NHS (2011) Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2011. London, UK: The NHS Information Centre. Purshouse, R.C., Meier, P.S., Brennan, A., Taylor, K.B. and Rafia, R. (2010) Estimated effect of alcohol pricing policies on health and health economic outcomes in England: an epidemiological model. Lancet, 375, pp. 1355-1364. Rehm, J., Mathers, C., Popova, S., Thavorncharoensap, M., Teerawattananon, Y. and Patra, J. (2009) Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders. Lancet, 373, pp. 2223-2233. Schutze, M., Boeing, H., Pischon, T. et al. (2011) Alcohol attributable burden of incidence of cancer in eight European countries based on results from prospective cohort study. British Medical Journal, 342, d1584. Spanagel, R. (2009) Alcoholism: A systems approach from molecular physiology to addictive behaviour. Physiological Reviews, 89(2), pp. 649-705. Wagenaar, A.C., Tobler, A.L. and Komro, K.A. (2010) Effects of alcohol tax and price policies on morbidity and mortality: a systematic review. American Journal of Public Health, 100, pp. 2270-2278.

American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

American History - Essay Example This act of civil disobedience became the spark that ignited the masses during the 1950’s and 1960’s in protesting the racial inequalities. The government, today widely viewed as a body that finds solutions to such social problems, was the entity that created this problem in the first place. The Jim Crow laws that disenfranchised black voters ensured that only white opinions mattered in the political process. Segregation, during the Jim Crow era, was not limited to transportation mediums. In Alabama, hospitals, whether public or private, could not require a white nurse to care for blacks (â€Å"Jim Crow Laws†, 1998). The subject of segregation became a much discussed topic during World War II. The nation that hailed itself as the symbol of freedom sent its young men to fight and die in a war to make the world safe for democracy. An embarrassing aspect of this high idealistic struggle was that U.S. blacks were subjugated within the very armed forces that were supp osed to stand for freedom of all nations. The black soldiers, of course, very much resented this lower class distinction as they bled the same color red as the white soldiers. The heroic actions by many black soldiers during the war began a change of direction in the attitude of whites throughout the country regarding race relations. The U.S. Constitution provided the lawful assurance that non-violent strategies were defensible in court. This allowed for the protests which inevitably led to the awakening to the black plight of many unwary whites who then joined the cause leading to the eradication of racist Jim Crow type laws forever. People, both black and white, were now willing to violate absurd, archaic local segregationist laws because they believed they were abiding and defending a ‘higher law,’ the Constitution. The original objective of the Southern Christian Leadership

World Religion Buddhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

World Religion Buddhism - Essay Example Turning into a Buddhist monk can be a difficult job. This is great precedence as it sets a pattern for the followers. The individual has to satisfy many percepts laid out for them. According to the Dalai Lama, three practices have to be fulfilled by the individual which allows them the status of a Buddhist monk. The first is to finish any attachment one might have to their material lives. The second is to remove any form of desire and instead replace it with complete devotion to the idea of reincarnation: Samsara. The third and last is to eliminate any ideas of cherishing the self. These are an important part of Buddhist religion not because of the lessening of attachment it provides towards the material world but because these essentials were completed by the Buddha himself. A visit to a Buddhist monastery was vital to truly understand the true meanings set behind understanding the work done by a Buddhist monk. As a gathering of followers, it has to be designed and controlled in a way that attracts and encourages Buddhist followers. It was for this reason that I visited Ram Bahadur, an old monk working in a monastery for around twenty years. While the monastery itself was beautifully decorated with huge pillars and carpeted floors, the residence of the monk was simple and clean. The two diversely different settings presented one clear message: the gathering place must reign in the beauty with which it attracts followers while the followers themselves must shun this outward beauty. The first thing vital to all Buddhist monks is a clear and vivid knowledge of the faith itself. This includes the idea of the four noble truths, the eight-fold path and the path towards enlightenment. It is for this reason that all monks believe in the idea of karma which is passed down from their actions (Harvey).  

The Story of Foreign Trade and Exchange case Essay

The Story of Foreign Trade and Exchange case - Essay Example Competitive advantage is acquired once a business diversifies its products and ensures that they are of higher quality, fair prices and is locally and internationally available compared to their competitors. This strategy suggested by the story of foreign exchange and which has been adopted by Nestle has made this company attain a competitive advantage in the consumer healthy foods market where there are many giants. Its diversification into not only beverages and snacks but also baby food and the availability of the products worldwide has made it gain more and dominate the market. Its absolute advantage is derived from its corporate social responsibility which is giving back to the community as much as possible for sustainability purposes. Nestle is one of the companies that formed World Cocoa Foundation whose aim is to integrate with cocoa farmers all over the world and assist them on increasing their productivity, supplying their products and even dealing with the adverse environmental effects. It has also invested more than $500 million to deal with health problems like diabetes and obesity among

How is nature social Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

How is nature social - Essay Example Such transformations have not only touched on issues concerning natural scientists alone, but also the social scientists, the general public, and environmental groups. Environmental groups, with the aid of the media, guaranteed that, by the 1980s, concepts such as â€Å"ozone holes† and the â€Å"greenhouse effect† would be part of everyday vocabulary. An intricate juxtaposition of scientific developments, technological advances and ideological changes, coupled with consequences of the economic growth, has changed the way in which individuals conceive social representations of nature (Leslie and Evernden 1992, p.4). The paper explores the concept â€Å"social constriction of nature,† which has lately become a crude, but universal term describing various understandings of nature, knowledge, and the world. The essay explores the transformation of the physical environment into landscapes via cultural symbols and how the landscapes mirror individuals’ definiti ons of themselves. ... owever, the philosophy, history, and sociology of science in the last two decades have largely asserted and confirmed the relativism of any distinct scientific claims regarding nature (Crist 2004, p.6). Scientific understandings of nature (inclusive of ecological understandings) have frequently been criticized for being mechanistic. In the last two decades, dissatisfaction with positivism has been rife with many theorists appreciating the roles of culture and language in individuals’ perception and understanding of the nature (Whatmore 2005, p.18). It is apparent that naive forms of realism in which nature is a directly perceptible entity that is concisely available to all irrespective of experience, cultural context, or motivation have not been successful. However, among some social scientists, the stress on cultural factors has replaced, rather than complemented biological explanation, which reflects the swing of the epistemological pendulum from biologism (1950s) to the pre occupation with culture (Bird 1987, p.255). Models of Nature Models of nature have typically referred to ecological, or more commonly, scientific understandings and have rarely included cultural factors. Recently, however, there has been a significant step towards defining the nature as a â€Å"social construction.† This translates to the notion that nature is an artefact of human, social and linguistic capability. Vivien Burr suggests â€Å"what individuals regard as truth is mainly a creation, not of objective observation of the world, but of the social processes and interactions† (1995, p.4). Equally, Peter Mason advances that â€Å"reality† is itself a product reflecting the activity of individuals’ imagination (1990, p.15). Language plays a critical role in this construction. According to

Dada Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Dada Movement - Essay Example Political affiliations played a conclusive and directive role in the art movements of the times. It was held to be an inviolable rule that the art aught to spring out from the human desperation for assigning some black and white meaning to life and must hence be meaningful and conventional. Elaborate philosophies were built around art movements and art evolved into a highly institutionalized form of self expression. Bourgeois ideas of taste and decorum dominated the art world and artists used to work with a coveting eye on the market value of their art. There was set a standard of beauty and taste and the art was strictly expected to cater to such calibrated specifications. The artistic urge for experimentation had been diluted and subdued over the years and the art was turning out to be a very predictable and complacent aspect of life. Then we had the World War I that mercilessly exposed the sense of waste and nihilism embedded deep in the Western consciousness. The unrestrained violence and mayhem that embodied the spirits of the times gave way to a sense of disillusionment with the established standards of meaning and value. The sacrosanct and well entrenched ideas about ethics and norms simply crumpled before the carnage let loose by the till now invisible human affiliation with violence and rage. The cardinal quest for imbuing life with some sort of meaning and purpose, now seemed to be irrelevant and unrealistically ambitious and arrogant. The set standards of beauty and good taste turned out to be a superficial and artificial faade that simply faded away before the corrosive impact of times and underneath it emerged a scenario dominated by frustration, disappointment and a pathetic loss of hope. I believe that this moment in the European history represented a unique aspect of human consciousness that was the hallmark of those times. Such a frustrated state of human psyche desperately yearned for some sort of artistic expression and release and Dada movement symbolized the human endeavor to give some discernable form to this human obsession with waste and confusion My main objective behind writing this paper is to somehow analyze the genesis and relevance of Dada movement with the local and international communication communities. The world today is as much in danger of being gagged and benumbed by a sense of stagnation and inertia as it was in the times that led to the flowering of Dada movement. Such a crisis gives way to a plethora of queries pertaining to Dada movement. Was Dada movement just a fluke unleashed by the circumstantial desperation or was it a phenomenon built around authentic and desirable aspirations Does Dada movement have any meaning and relevance for the contemporary art lovers Above all, will Dada art succeed in soliciting the reverence and attention from the contemporary connoisseurs or will it unceremoniously succumb to a looming apathy and aversion, which was its fate in the days of the yore. It is said that history repeats itself and much to my surprise, I have discovered that that the contemporary

Environmental Law in India Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Environmental Law in India - Essay Example Indian government had desires to boost its economy. Boosting the agro based and agro supporting industries was one of her key economic preferences. However, the government, to achieve the abovementioned aims, ignored all the safety measures that should have been taken. In 1969, Union Carbide (UCC-the parent company) set up a small plant (Union Carbide India Ltd.- UCIL) in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, to formulate pesticides. The United Carbide also had no risk management plans nor did the government bothered to ask them to develop any. This intentional ignorance led to more than 20000 causalities. BBC - On This Day.3rd December,1984.In Context, Bhopal Disaster. The MIC facility was located in the existing Carbide plant adjacent to an existing inhabited locality and hardly two kilometers from the railway station. Although Union Carbide claims that the "squatter settlements" around the plant arrived only after the inception of United Carbide, modern research has convinci ngly rejected the claim. As described earlier, in 1960's and 1970's, the developing countries were in a desperate desire for the economic growth through the industrial promotion. The Indian economy is mainly based on agriculture. It thus required the growth in agro based and agro supporting industries in order to boost their agricultural sector in general, and the economy on the whole, in line with the modern technologies. Since these countries lack the essential infrastructure (for example, training, communication, education etc.) required to maintain the emerging technology, they are specially at the greater degree of vulnerability. As a result of it, these nations often find themselves competing for international investors and during this race to excel in attracting the foreign companies, they tend to ignore, sometimes without significant deliberation but often deliberately, the health and environmental violations in which these multinational corporations engage in. "Developing countries confer upon MNC's a competitive advantage because they offer low-cost labor, access to markets, and lower operating costs. Once there, companies have little incentive to minimize environmental and human risks. Lax environmental and safety regulation, inadequate capital investment in safety equipment, and poor communications between companies and governments compound the problem." (Cassels 279). This happened with India too. They also ignored the safety, health and environmental violations by the Union Carbide on a mass scale. A. UNION CARBIDE AND THE INTRODUCTION OF PESTICIDES The Indian economy was based on agriculture. This project was the part of India's Green Revolution. During the late sixties and early seventies of the twentieth century, the total agricultural production increased dramatically by the use of pesticides. The government wanted to have the plants for the pesticides within India in order to gain self sufficiency in the agricultural production without losing significant amount of foreign exchange. (Cassels 39) In 1969, a small plant was set up at Bhopal with the name Union Carbide India Limited,

Look to the Future or to the Past Essay Example for Free

Look to the Future or to the Past Essay Today there are many obstacles to success, and the decisions you make, along with a little bit of luck will greatly influence whether you succeed or not and the magnitude of this success. Now the things we have done on the past will influence what people think about us, influence the actions that people have on us, and is significant in the situations you will be put in. However, when we are faced with making a decision nowadays, we must look at the big picture: What will happen to me because of this decision tomorrow? Next month? Next year? How about in 5 or 10 years? How will my friends and family be affected? And are the consequences going to be good or bad? This big picture is why I believe that people must look to the future when making decisions because it holds more weight in making a decision. Looking to the future is more likely to help you make a good decision because it makes you look at what will happen as a result of a decision with a clear head. If you look to the past, your judgment might be clouded with what did happen without understanding that it simply is what DID happen, and it probably won’t happen again, but the decision you make will effect what will happen. The big picture is always important here because every small decision that a person makes can have a huge effect on what the future will be like. For example, lottery winners have a tough time deciphering this and looking at the big picture. Most lottery winners just take the cold hard cash instead of getting equal payments every year for the rest of their lives, these winners not looking to the future, just go and squander away all of their money as if they have an unlimited amount when they essentially just have a minor boost, like a shot of nitrous or steroids. Just like the lottery winners if they can’t spend the money well, which most of them don’t, they lose it all and fast, backed up by the fact that 70% of lottery winners spend up all of their money in years. This is simply because they didn’t look at the big picture and that is a problem today, people are always looking for a quick fix, instead of looking at the big picture. Clearly, having the ability to make big decisions is just as rare in some cases as winning the lottery, you usually only get one chance and by looking at the big picture, to the future, it can help you make the best decision. In conclusion, I think it is best if we look towards the future. This is because as people we must look at the big picture when making a decision so e can make the best decision possible to help shape our lives the right way, and looking to the future will help us on this task. As they say if we don’t learn from history it will repeat itself, so we must learn from history and learn to apply it to our future by always looking ahead. That is a quality that us humans have is to look ahead, and in this world, looking ahead is our best shot at success because making a decision won’t influence your past, which cannot be changed, however, it will affect your future.

Effectiveness Of Performance Related Pay In The Nhs Management Essay

Effectiveness Of Performance Related Pay In The Nhs Management Essay The following report evaluates how the aims of Performance Related Pay (PRP) schemes are underpinned by theory, focuses on how PRP theory relates to the aims and objectives of the NHS and considers how effective the current PRP policy is within the NHS with specific focus on whether the current scheme meets the needs of the current NHS organisation. The NHS has seen relative success where PRP schemes have been applied, with 51% of NHS managers recently commenting that PRP schemes in their trust had resulted in employees working harder. Although 61% of the staff involved with NHS trusts operating these schemes suggested the idea of rewarding performance was divisive and undermined the overall co-operation of its staff . The overall benefits of PRP include facilitating and implementing change in a structured manner, aligning the employees objectives with the wider goals of the organisation and introducing structured rewards in a fair fashion. Although the aims of the PRP scheme may be aligned to the business strategy, they will only succeed if the end goal is enough to motivate the individual. Within the NHS one would suggest there have to be additional concepts for performance management to focus on, such as content, departmental resource and career development for PRP schemes to be a success. When the introduction of PRP to any organisation is applied, it is supposed to encourage fairness and equality with rewards. However criticism of PRP within the NHS organisation suggests that it does not provide fairness and equality. Research has shown that the perception is that PRP benefits those in more fiscal or senior orientated roles than it does for those lower down the organisation. PRP schemes will be hard to introduce to NHS trusts where they do not already exist due to the nature of the structured role orientated pay scale and the inflexible nature of the NHS. This would be further compounded by the unionised nature of the NHS, with the unions likely to resist any move from collectivism to individualism in discussions about pay and contract conditions. Recommendations at the end of the report include consideration to the design of the scheme and how crucial this can be to the schemes future success: the need to manage PRP openly to prevent breakdown of relationships and thus prevent negative impacts on performance overall and the importance of clear management of objectives by individuals best placed to manage their teams. Evaluate how the aims of the Performance Related Payment scheme are underpinned by theory The initial concept of performance related pay (PRP) schemes were introduced as a way to reward employees for completing a specific goal. The sense of reward was expected to act as a motivator therefore the scheme was embraced with high expectations (Daniels, Macdonald, 2005:183). Assessment of organisational reward applications shows that performance is not the only way employees relate to being congratulated on doing a job well. However, it is suggested the benefit of using performance based reward systems has been in the applying of the statistical elements of the method, allowing for a clear and relatively objective means of performance measurement. (Shields, 2007:410/11). This suggests that organisations favour a method which provides a supportive conclusion with quantative evidence to back up decisions made that may favour one individual over another. Secondly the use of PRP schemes have been linked to wider business strategic plans which have sought to align the employees objectives with the wider goals of the organisation (Holbeche, 2009:219). However, performance based reward schemes have been criticised in recent years, despite becoming seen as the norm within organisational structures (Holbeche, 2009:219). Alternative applications can be rewarded through behavioural analysis in line with a set of parameters and goals. However, this method of reward has been argued as being subjective and open to abuse and interpretation (Shields, 2007:410/11). As such the use of performance management against tangible goals as a measure provides something concrete for the employee to be measured against which cannot be refuted (Shields, 2007:411). PRP schemes can however be heavily criticised when there is a belief the targets are not truly achievable (Lai, Tsui, 2009:116). Moreover there is a concern that where targets are consistently not achieved and are deemed inaccurate, the effects can be rapid demotivation with the workforce (Lai, Tsui, 2009:116). An additional aim of PRP can be the encouragement of equality and fairness, this is not that everyone should be paid the same but those that add value are rewarded appropriately in comparison to others that may not contribute to the same level. How does this theory fit into the organisations aims and objectives? The aims and objectives of the NHS centre on measureable statistics such as level of patient care, treatment times, waiting list turnover, number of patients seen and treated, level of discharged patients and sound fiscal management. These are rolled down from central government and managed by the individual NHS Trusts across the country. It is suggested that providing a tangible measure against which to be managed is a key element in the use of PRP within the NHS. The use of tangible goals means the objectives are clear and concise (Shields, 2007:410/11). Furthermore the NHS argues that the use of performance measures means there is an ownership placed onto the employee to perform to their expected level and for their manager to ensure they are learning and developing (Shields, 2007:410/11). The NHS has seen relative success where PRP schemes have been applied (Shields, 2007:411). Under these schemes the employees use individual goal setting applications, which instead of creating conflict; achieved motivation although in-depth assessment of the research found that the goal setting aspect of the measure was the most favoured element (it enabled a clear guide for the reward) the behavioural assessments were deemed subjective (Shields, 2007:411). However one might argue that whilst this may work within a public service sector environment there are contrasts within private industry. The directed use of strategic alignment can pitch departments against each other creating internalised conflict (Schienmann, 2009:142). Furthermore people can be encouraged to apply their focus in a directed way which means they stop looking at the wider picture. In doing this there is the potential to create a funnel and individuals end up working at cross purposes instead of working together (Schienmann, 2009:142). Furthermore contrasting these statistics is the idea that public sector employees see financial reward as a secondary motivator to work harder (OECD, 2005:74). This is supported by research into all public sector environments, which suggests that job content and career development are primary motivators to increase performance (OECD, 2005:74). This is supported with recent research into the NHS management structure. During questioning into applied PRP, 61% of the staff involved with NHS trusts operating these schemes suggested the idea of rewarding performance was divisive and undermined the overall co-operation of its staff (OECD, 2005:73). This was implied to be because there was a lack of team discipline and people worked as individuals. This behaviour was cited as unacceptable within an environment that made life and death choices based on teamwork (OECD, 2005:73). On the other hand the same research contradicts this idea; stating that when questioned 51% of NHS managers suggested that PRP schemes in their trust had resulted in employees working harder (OECD, 2005:74). As such one might argue that the use of performance related pay schemes only work when the individual is financially motivated, and this could be applied to all sectors, public and private. Therefore there is an argument to suggest that although the aims of the PRP scheme may be aligned to the business strategy they will only succeed if the end goal is enough to motivate the individual. Within the NHS one would suggest there have to be additional concepts for performance management to focus on such as content, departmental resource and career development. Although the theory of PRP may be applicable, the practice does not necessarily translate into a high performing team. Critically Evaluate the Effectiveness of this Scheme One might debate the effectiveness of the performance related pay schemes within the NHS depending on the expected outcome. It is assumed that the expectation within employee groups from the introduction of PRP is increased morale and improved performance which therefore increases operational output (Lai, Tsui, 2009:116). Yet it should also be considered that the scheme can be used as a method to employ goal setting policy within an establishment where this has not been done before. Research suggests that the introduction of PRP validates the implementation of goal setting within public sector environments regardless of motivational output (OECD, 2005:76).This could be considered a significant benefit of the application of PRP within a wider assessment of the scheme. Furthermore the implementation of PRP provides the opportunity to redefine established organisational performance norms (OECD, 2005:76) and allow the NHS the advantage of being able to implement change in a structured manner. However it can also be argued that change in itself carries the potential for overall internalised threat (Huston, Marquis, 2008:178). Research suggests that when not welcomed, change has the ability to inject conflict into the organisational structure (Huston, Marquis, 2008:178). This means the focus moves away from the primary strategic aim. Moreover, conflict can send negativity around the workplace, ensuring non-compliance, and removing any degree of support for any performance based schemes (Huston, Marquis, 2008:178). Unfortunately it would appear the scale for conflict is high within the NHS when PRP is discussed. If the trust is considered as a business organisation the application of PRP means that pay adjustments can be applied in a measured way which can therefore become a strength (OECD, 2005:76). However, this means the counter argument becomes a weakness from the employees perspective (OECD, 2005:76). As such one would argue that changing to a PRP scheme will reduce the involvement of the trade unions because the focus moves from collectivism to individualism as a discipline (Gall, 2003:13). This could be seen as a weakness because unlike privatised industry the NHS environment is cited as being more static with less flexibility between positions and employee expectations (Gall, 2003:13). It is suggested that the termination of the collectivism power would leave NHS staff negotiating for contracts in the same way private industry do. This leaves the employees open to increased discrimination between financial rewards at the same grade levels. This is seen with the introduction of flexible working hours for employees, which effectively abolishes the overtime model for staff, and the theory implies that staff would no longer be financially compensated for working additional hours over their standard agreed contract rate (OECD, 2005:76). On the other hand the introduction of flexible working is defended as necessary within modern society. As such this implies that the change in financial application by moving to PRP incentives should not be seen as a weakness but a strength or opportunity to open the job market up to new applicants. Moreover research suggests that the use of performance related pay within the NHS environment provides a recruitment incentive and improves staff retention in the long term (OECD, 2005:76). Conclude whether the scheme meets the needs of the organisation One might argue that the introduction of PRP to any organisation is applied to encourage fairness and equality with rewards (Redman, Wilkinson, 2009:160). However criticism of PRP within the NHS organisation suggests that it does not provide fairness and equality with its rewards (Abel, Esmail, 2006). Research suggests that although PRP is adopted, there are inherent weaknesses in the application of the initiative and previous discriminations against gender and ethnicity remain prevalent despite the results of performance based measures (Abel, Esmail, 2006). This is further supported with a government review of the NHS performance review process. This research found a large number of consultants who voiced their concerns over both racial and gender discrimination within the PRP, however they also suggested discrimination based on their medical specialism and the degree to which the individual contributed towards management decisions existed alongside traditional discriminations (Abel, Esmail, 2006). Thus one may suggest that the performance reviews favoured those who worked in more high profile specialisms, which could provide additional funding. On the flip side of this discussion however is the consideration that those lower in the organisational structure would welcome the opportunity for performance based pay rewards in order to grow their roles and develop their careers. However this research implies their performance is isolated in comparison to that which benefits the wider business model needs. In recent research conducted in this area it was concluded that incentive polices such as PRP have provided a positive knock on effect where quality and safety are concerned. This point is interesting as in an environment such as nursing, one would have assumed quality of care and safety are principle fundamentals of patient expectations. However performance is massively improved when the employee is offered additional reward for reaching targets in these fields (Kurtzman et al, 2011). The research however goes on to suggest that the use of incentive schemes place an increased burden and creates a blame culture for nurses without addressing the infra-structure needs that the NHS trusts require to meet the targets set for them, This shows that the adaptation of PRP can be seen as being a double edged sword within the NHS system (Kurtzman et al, 2011). Report Conclusion The research appears to suggest that the performance based incentive schemes meet the base needs of the NHS as they make the basic principles of nursing happen in accordance with expectations. However an incentive scheme such as PRP cannot overcome the lack of adequate environment, staffing levels and low salary level. As such this implies that performance based pay does not work as a motivator for the existing workforce. Neither would one conclude that it works as a recruitment incentive as was previously suggested. Instead the implication is that the use of performance based incentive schemes means that those with power can continue to reward those they single out for success, whilst the remainder of the workplace organisation are left to manage with inadequate environments in which to meet the targets they are given. One might determine an outcome borne from two potential directions. In one case if the NHS is seen as an organisational structure and not as a public service, the use of PRP may be seen as successful. As a scheme this allows management to reward those individuals who are benefiting the NHS. From within this it can be assumed the discrimination that occurs is justified. However on the other side if the NHS is viewed as a public service with its key members being the front line staff, one would have to conclude that PRP does not benefit the needs of the organisation. Nursing graduates are decreasing in numbers; the vocation is increasingly seen as a difficult environment with insufficient financial reward and high expectations (Chitty, 2005:36). Following these arguments one would have to conclude that the use of a PRP scheme would provide the NHS with specific benefits when linked into an open environment which supported fairness and equality. However the current organisational structure of the NHS is not conducive to producing the environment needed to make this ideology successful. Instead work is perhaps needed with the basic infrastructure of the NHS organisation before additional performance plans will be able to achieve the required outcome for the operation. Recommendations for the management of PRP within the NHS There are several recommendations to be made for the management of pay within the NHS. These are as follows; Design of the scheme When PRP schemes are adopted, the design of them is crucial to their success and application (Redman, Wilkinson, 2009:134). Not only is it necessary to consider what will work for the majority of the workforce, but it is also vital to link the work of the individual into the wider team dynamic (OECD, 2005:86). As such when incentive schemes are applied, the link between teamwork and the individual is necessary in order to ensure a performance measure that involves the wider strategic picture of the organisation (OECD, 2005:86). In the case of the NHS this would be rectified through adapting some of the schemes considered elitist and improving some of the base working conditions which affect a wider degree of the working population. One would assume this will improve morale and create a workforce that wants to achieve targets and attain performance rewards. Communication When introducing performance related ideology the implementation has to be anticipated and managed openly (OECD, 2005:86). When relationships break down internally the need for consolidated teamwork becomes harder, this affects all forms of performance (Redman, Wilkinson, 2009:134). Within the NHS business model this argument is applied especially when managing trade union relationships (OECD, 2005:86), especially because this sector is driven by collective bargaining Furthermore this is particularly relevant because the core competencies of the roles have to be the same within the medical profession. The hierarchy has to be clearly defined by actual role competencies which enable staggered payments. Therefore performance based payment becomes harder to manage because each level should work at the same rate. Moreover this suggests the link between performance based pay and goal setting is vital in ensuring that employees are enabled to achieve and maintain their goals within fair and attainable means (OCED, 2005:87). Measurable Objectives Within the NHS organisational model one would assume targets for performance will centre on measureable statistics such as treatment times, waiting list turnover, number of patients seen and treated, level of discharged patients. These provide clear and measureable targets for people to meet and the measure is quantitative therefore enabling a degree of concise clarity to the measure. However research shows that providing clear statistical measures within the NHS model results in internalised pressure which manifests through the lower ranks (Kurtzman et al, 2011). Therefore one would argue this supports the need to correct the basic infrastructure within the organisations, prior to implementing reward schemes for employees. Management of Objectives When applied, the goals provided must be clearly managed by team leaders within the confines of the department or ward. This means the head medical staff responsible for these staff members have to take on a level of responsibility for managing their team as well as coping with their medical expectations. One might argue this is especially difficult within the NHS model and compounds the issue of burden and blame as medical professionals find themselves having to become more like managers (Kurtzman et al, 2011). This is known to be a contentious argument for medical professionals who chose their roles as vocations (Kurtzman et al, 2011). Stimulate Change Research suggests that performance related incentives should be used as a way to stimulate and introduce change into organisational structures (Redman, Wilkinson, 2009:135). This can be achieved through challenging the status quo and looking at new ways to manage (OECD, 2005:89). It could therefore be supported that the introduction of performance related pay into NHS trust models is applicable. As an observer one may assume the NHS organisational model has not particularly been challenged in decades, thus this strategy enables a fresh way of adapting new methods.

Chinese Occupation Of Tibet :: essays research papers

Chinese Occupation of Tibet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe that Chinese occupation in Tibet is a tragedy that should be delt with before a total genocide of the Tibetan cultures occurs. This is a very serious topic that has been avoided since the late 1940's.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chinese occupation in Tibet is one of the great tragedies in history. The Communist government is trying to completely erase the Tibetan culture. Since the Tibetan religion is Buddhism they have vowed to never hurt another living creature, and because of this they cannot fight back against the Chinese army. Tibetans can only practice their religion under extensive government watch and thousands of monasteries have been destroyed. Over 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed and thousands imprisoned for voicing their religious beliefs. Tibetan women are sometimes forced to have abortions and become sterilized. The Chinese have reeked havoc on Tibet's fragile environment through extensive deforestation and open dumping of nuclear waste. Tibet's most sacred lake, Yamdrok Tso, is currently being drained for a Chinese hydroelectric power plant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This problem has not been dealt with for nearly 60 years. The United Nations has failed to punish China for any of its human rights abuses. Major corporations from around the world continue to do business with China. Last year, despite continuing pressure, the United States renewed China's Most Favored Nation trading status. Unfortunately, since China represents such a potentially gigantic market, politicians are reluctant to impose any trade sanctions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Chinese government claims to be helping the Tibetan culture, but in

The Humour in Educating Rita Essay -- Educating Rita Willy Russell Ess

The Humour in Educating Rita ‘Educating Rita’ is a humorous play that was written by Willy Russell in 1979, based on his own life. It is set in Liverpool and depicts the perseverance of a working class, 26-year-old hairdresser with no qualifications called Susan, or as she is called throughout the play, ‘Rita’, as she tries to ‘discover herself’ by participating in an English literature course at the Open University. Her lecturer, who is from a more middle class background, Frank, is somewhat of an unorthodox one; he is frequently found to be drunk and, during one lecture, he is so drunk that he falls off of the rostrum in the hall! This erratic behaviour leads to him being sent to Australia for two years. In this essay, I am going to discuss how I might direct this play so that I achieve humour for the audience. There are four main aspects that create the humour in the play ‘Educating Rita’: the first of which is the comedy of the character. This is when a character in the play is perceived as being humorous by the way that the character speaks or a trait that the character has. When Rita enters Frank’s classroom in the first scene, she blurts out: â€Å"I’m coming in, aren’t I? It’s that stupid bleedin’ handle on the door. You wanna get it fixed!† As director, I would have the actress playing Rita fall through the door and point towards Frank, as if to order him to fix the door. The actor playing Frank would have to put on a stern face, looking in disbelief at Rita; in shock at the way she entered. Considering the fact that this is an interview situation, the audience would be shocked, as the language is totally out of the blue and inappropriate for such a formal situation. Also the fact that she ... ...e rostrum- an action that occurs because of his drunkenness. Along with Frank’s drinking, Rita’s entrance to the play is an example of extremely effective comedy of character. However, as the play progresses and Rita becomes more aware and cognisant of her actions the comedy seems to derive from Frank’s drunkenness. There is much to be said as to how you would direct this play. Personally I would involve more than just the two characters Frank and Rita. This would give me as director, the chance to introduce more humorous situations. Other occurrences that would possibly make the play more interesting could be added to the play with the introduction of extra characters. Willy Russell wrote this play to be performed, but I must wonder why he wrote the play with only two characters if he did eventually see the play being performed on the silver screen.

Bertrand Russell on Critical Thinking :: Critical Thinking Essays

Bertrand Russell on Critical Thinking The ideal of critical thinking is a central one in Russell's philosophy, though this is not yet generally recognized in the literature on critical thinking. For Russell, the ideal is embedded in the fabric of philosophy, science, liberalism and rationality, and this paper reconstructs Russell's account, which is scattered throughout numerous papers and books. It appears that he has developed a rich conception, involving a complex set of skills, dispositions and attitudes, which together delineate a virtue which has both intellectual and moral aspects. It is a view which is rooted in Russell's epistemological conviction that knowledge is difficult but not impossible to attain, and in his ethical conviction that freedom and independence in inquiry are vital. Russell's account anticipates many of the insights to be found in the recent critical thinking literature, and his views on critical thinking are of enormous importance in understanding the nature of educational aims. Moreover, it is argued that Russell manages to avoid many of the objections which have been raised against recent accounts. With respect to impartiality, thinking for oneself, the importance of feelings and relational skills, the connection with action, and the problem of generalizability, Russell shows a deep understanding of problems and issues which have been at the forefront of recent debate. The ideal of critical thinking is a central one in Russell's philosophy, though this is not yet generally recognized. Russell's name seldom appears in the immense literature on critical thinking which has emerged in philosophy of education over the past twenty years. Few commentators have noticed the importance of Russell's work in connection with any theory of education which includes a critical component. Chomsky, for example, reminds us of Russell's humanistic conception of education, which views the student as an independent person whose development is threatened by indoctrination. Woodhouse, also appealing to the concept of growth, points out Russell's concern to protect the child's freedom to exercise individual judgment on intellectual and moral questions. Stander discusses Russell's claim that schooling all too often encourages the herd mentality, with its fanaticism and bigotry, failing to develop what Russell calls a "critical habit of mind". (1) The threat of indoctrinatio n, the importance of individual judgment, and the prevalence of fanatical opinions all point up the need for what nowadays is called critical thinking; and Russell's work is valuable to anyone who wants to understand what this kind of thinking entails and why it matters in education.

Armenian Genocide †Forgotten Fire Essay

1.The author included the quote from Hitler as the epigraph because he wrote â€Å"Who does now remember the Armenians† before the question and Hitler’s quote answered it. The quote answers the question because only Hitler remembered the Armenians and did the same to the Jews. My ideas didn’t change after reading Forgotten Fire because I already knew the story about the Armenian Genocide. 2.Vahan couldn’t discuss his fear with his mother because first of all, he was too scared to say a word and he wasn’t confident enough to say anything. Also he was imagining things in his mind of what might have happened to his father and maybe if he told his mother, he would burst out in tears. He didn’t also want to disturb his mother because his mother was very depressed when her husband left and it seemed like her heart wasn’t there. Also, her mother would have lied to him anyway and not tell him the truth for why the Turks took his father. 3.The attitude of the Armenian community changed in various ways. No one knew something was going to happen to them, so once everything started; everyone began to only care about themselves. Some people just didn’t want to go any longer and just wanted to be shot before getting tortured in any way. Also they were shocked of what the Turks had done and they started hating them. Every Turk they saw, they started to hate. 4.The Kenderian family was a very wealthy family and lived a great Armenian life. The father had great honor in his community. Vahan greatly admires his father because he always followed his father’s rules and the only way he survived was staying strong and admiring what his father told him to do step by step. The memory of his father gave him a lot of courage to survive because every time he had a hard time, he would close his eyes and imagine what his father told him and then move on. 5.I was aware of the Armenian Genocide before reading the book. The only ethnic war I know of before World War 11 was the Jewish Holocaust. 6.After the murder of Vahan’s brothers, he had a hard time. He didn’t feel  like himself anymore and thought that there was no point of living any longer because he knew that the soldiers would come back and kill him also. He was in pain and couldn’t stand the fact that his brothers had died, he thought everything was imaginary. After that, he stood up more and became aggravated tat he was going to survive through everything. 7.After violent experiences on his journey to Constantinople, his behavior changed afterward. He witnessed many things so after a while, if he saw someone get shot or people begging for something, he did not care because it was normal to him already just because he seen it so many times. The graphic descriptions didn’t disturb my reading because I knew about the Armenian Genocide before I read the book and also I saw an Armenian movie which had more details so the description in the book didn’t seem so harsh. 8.Vahan reveals his spiritual doubt when all the time he prayed about someone or something he got no answer. For example he would always pray to find his family members and when he didn’t, he started to doubt praying. After that, he finally found out that God really exists and he answered as many of his prayers as he could. 9.Vahan knew that Selim Bey wasn’t a polite person but the way he treated him, his first impression of Selim Bey was surprising. Vahan actually â€Å"liked† Selim Bey and couldn’t believe he had done anything to harm the Armenians. Vahan discovers Selim Bey’s true nature when he sends him to his father’s house and doesn’t ever visit Vahan again. Selim Bey betrayed Vahan which showed he didn’t care about him. 10.What Vahan means when he says I would be free an would never be free is the it was unbelievable that he was free from everything now and didn’t have to worry about hiding from Turkish soldiers, but then he still didn’t fell free because he didn’t have his family and everything he once had which made him seem like he had something missing in himself. I don’t think there are countries that deny freedom to certain citizens based on their ethnicity. 11.Mr. and Mrs. Tashian help Vahan on his journey to a new life in many ways.  Vahan learned how to take care of himself and form a family of his own one day. Also, he learned how to do different types of tasks that he learned from Mr. and Mrs. Tashian. Also, they influenced him to move on and not give up which gave him the courage to continue. 12.Everyone in Vahan’s past gave him courage to contribution to freedom in many ways. Every time Vahan was in a dark room or some place he was not sure what he can do, he would close his eyes and imagine something that someone said or did from the past which helped him move on and do what the person once told him to do. Each person gave him courage because he would imagine something each person told him to do and then he would gain more courage and confidence with his journey. 13.The meaning of the tile Forgotten Fire is the death of all the Armenians that was forgotten by the Turks. 14.The quote from Hitler was related to the Armenian Genocide because the world did indeed forget the extermination of people after the war. As well as the Jewish Holocaust, the extermination of humans was forgotten by everyone and never came to mind after such a cruel person such as Hitler committed such an act that was done to the Armenians. It also relates to the Armenian Genocide because Hitler tried to do the sane thing to the Jews as the Turks tried to do to the Armenians. http://www.armenian-genocide.org/Education.73/current_category.123/resourceguide_detail.html

Usb Flash Drive

————————————————- USB flash drive Definition:Â  USB flash drives are compact file storage devices to save your information externally. Flash drives are about the size of a disposable lighter and can be conveniently worn around your neck or attached to your keychain. The end of the flash drive is inserted into the USB port on the computer. Once attached to the computer, they operate in much the same way as floppy drives, but have capacities currently in the range of up to 2 gigabytes.Pen drives, or USB–based technology thumb drives, have become the most popular data storage media devices for working professionals, students, academicians and independent tech consultants. Lightweight, small and easy to carry from place to place, a pen drive easily fits into a pocket or a wallet. Pen drives now available in multiple capacities, ranging from 512 MB to 32 GB, are used to store documents, photos, files, music videos and more. All read/write speed values are displayed in MB/Sec. Store Files A 4 GB or 8 GB pen drive can be used to store basic documents, PDF files, PowerPoint presentation and spreadsheets. 16 GB or 32 GB pen drives can be used to store high-capacity files such as videos, TV episodes and even movies. Transfer Files * Word documents, PDF files, presentations, photos and other files saved on a computer can be easily transferred or downloaded onto to a pen drive. Similarly, files can be transferred from a pen drive to a PC or laptop. Portable Devices * Independent technical consultants and PC technicians can use pen drives as portable work devices.They can store important files, utilities tools and programs in pen drives, and transfer them to another workstation or work site elsewhere. Working professionals can transfer their presentations and other important files stored on their hard drives to pen drives and take them elsewhere. Back-Up D evices * As almost all brand pen drives are password protected, they can also be used as effective back-up storage devices. Important personal information such as medical history, critical family information, important contacts, old family photographs, etc. can be stored in pen drives. Promotional Items * Many companies are now using pen drives to sell promotional material, marketing communication content and other sales literature. The ease with which pen drives can be customized and imprinted with company logos, pictures and images makes them effectivee promotional items. A USB Pen drive is a data storage device that contains flash memory with a combined Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. USB Pen drives are naturally changeable and rewritable, and physically much lesser than a floppy disk.We can use USB pens easily to plug it into the USB port of your computer and lookout the system automatically identifies the new device. You can stare at your system drive; a new drive has bee n produced. The operating system can communicate with your USB Pen Drive just like any ordinary Hard Disk Drive. The USB Pen Drive is dust-proof and shock-proof and contemplating a mere 21 grams, it needs no batteries, has no touching parts and is presented in range of volumes from 32 mega byte to a massive 1 giga byte.USB stands for Universal Serial Bus and it is a ‘standard' organized by the computer manufacturing to agree a vast amount of different devices to be easily involved to one machine with the minimum condition for further drivers and software and still work at an effective speed. Many firms within the UK use Persuasive USB pens as little enticements to customers of old and new. The hint of giving out Promotional USB pen drives is to offer customers with something that they can use that has your company logo upon it. A collection of Promotional pen drives can be given out to clients it all depends on how current you want them to be.General items of Promotional USB p en drives have been pens with messages printed upon them. Give your fixed customers Promotional USB flash drives like printed pens and they will have an thing they can use on a regular basis that has your name inscribed upon it. Moreover, give Promotional USB drives to prospective new clients and they will be capable to deliver your company brand inside their business premises. Each time they use an USB pen that has been given to them by you, your goods will be floating through their minds and your company will be leading in their thoughts. For more information visit http://www. global-emarketing. com .

Investigating the Volume of a Drop Essay

Criteria: – Planning (a) – Planning (b) – Data Collection – Data Processing and Presentation – Conclusion and evaluation Laura Hu Lab Partner: Tu Tai Kuong Started January 20, 07 Completed January 27, 07 5 pages + raw data Planning (a) and (b) Objective: To accurately measure the volume of a drop of water and saturated salt water under two set temperatures. Hypothesis: Since the mass of a substance changes as the temperature changes, we believe that the volume of a liquid would change as temperature changes. This is because we know that density is equal to mass divided by volume. Density is different depending on its temperature and mass is constant. Therefore, with a difference in temperature, there will be a difference in volume. The second thing we predict is that salt water will have a smaller volume per drop than water. This is because the density of salt water and the mass of salt water will be greater than normal water due to the added salt in the water. This will make it heavier than regular water.. Independent Variables: Forces affecting the drop as it is about to come down (gravity and shaking of hand) Where to drop lands (may land on the sides of the beaker, making the drop stick to the sides instead of dropping to the bottom) Water evaporation Atmospheric pressure Dropping device type (diameter of the place where the drop will come out) Height from which the droplet will be dropped (prevent splashing) Saturation of salt water Number of drops that will be tested Loss or increase in heat while conducting the experiment Dependent Variables: Temperature of the liquids The type of liquid Materials: 2 Eye Droppers 2 Thermometers 2 Graduated cylinders (0.5ml increments) Microwave Refrigerator (set at 1 degree Celsius) Paper towels Saturated salt water (table salt dissolved into water at room temperature until it cannot dissolve anymore) Nestle Pure Life natural spring water (bottled water) 4 Styrofoam cups 1 Procedures: 1. Prepare a data table with columns named â€Å"Start volume†, â€Å"End Volume†, â€Å"Difference† and â€Å"Volume per drop†. Example: Start volume End Volume Difference Volume per drop 2. Put bottled water two Styrofoam cups. Take one of the cups and add table salt in it. Mix it until the salt will not dissolve any longer. Put both cups in the fridge. Set the fridge to 1 degree Celsius. Leave them there overnight. 3. The next day, take out the salt water and mix it again to make sure it is saturated. Put the Styrofoam cup containing the salt water into a second Styrofoam cup. 4. Take an eye dropper, fill the eye dropper with salt water 5. Take the graduated cylinder and position it so that the end of the eyedropper is 2cm from the bottom of the graduated cylinder. Record the start volume of the liquid inside the cylinder (0 cm in this case). 6. Slowly drop 10 drops into the cylinder, maintaining a 1 cm distance between the liquid and the end of the eyedropper. Record the volume. Dispose of the remaining water inside the dropper. Fill the dropper again with salt water. Drop 10 drops into the cylinder. Make sure to carefully count every drop! Record the end volumes. 7. Repeat step 5 five times. 8. Clean out the graduated cylinder using tap water, and use paper towels to dry it clean. 9. Put the salt water back into the fridge. 10. Take out the cold water (from the fridge), put it in another Styrofoam cup and repeat what you did in step 5-8. 11. Put the water in the microwave and heat it at high power for 1 minute. 12. Take it out, stir the water, measure the temperature (and write it down) and use the water to do steps 5-8 again. 13. Take the salt water out, microwave it at high power for 1 minute. 14. Repeat what you did in step 12 for the salt water. 15. Clean everything up. Data Collection Attached to the back of the lab. 2 Data Processing and Presentation Difference = End volume – start volume Ex. End volume = 2.11ml, start volume = 2.00ml 2.11ml – 2.00ml = 0.11 ml = difference Volume per drop = Difference / 10 Ex. Difference = 0.11ml 0.11ml/10 = 0.011ml = Volume per drop Cold bottled water at 0.5+ 0.02 degrees Celsius Star Volume End Volume Difference Volume per Drop 2.00ml 2.11ml 0.11ml 0.011 ml 2.11 ml 2.29 ml 0.18 ml 0.018 ml 2.29 ml 2.49 ml 0.20 ml 0.020 ml 2.61 ml 2.80 ml 0.19 ml 0.019 ml 2.80 ml 2.98 ml 0.18 ml 0.018 ml Average volume per drop: (0.011+0.018+0.020+0.018) / 5 = 0.0134ml Rounded: 0.013 ml Uncertainty: + 0.02 / 10 = + 0.002ml Volume per drop = 0.011ml to 0.015ml Cold saturated salt water at 0.5 + 0.02 degrees Celsius Star Volume End Volume Difference Volume per Drop 2.00 ml 2.12 ml 0.12 ml 0.012 ml 2.12 ml 2.30 ml 0.18 ml 0.018 ml 2.30 ml 2.41 ml 0.11 ml 0.011 ml 2.41 ml 2.60 ml 0.19 ml 0.019 ml 2.60 ml 2.71 ml 0.11 ml 0.011 ml Average volume per drop: (0.012+0.018+0.011+0.019+0.011) / 5 = 0.0142 ml Rounded: 0.014 ml Uncertainty: + 0.02 / 10 = + 0.002ml Volume per drop = 0.012ml to 0.016ml Warm bottled water at 38 + 0.5 degrees Celsius Star Volume End Volume Difference Volume per Drop 2.00 ml 2.11 ml 0.11 ml 0.011 ml 2.10 ml 2.30 ml 0.20 ml 0.020 ml 2.30 ml 2.45 ml 0.15 ml 0.015 ml 2.45 ml 2.60 ml 0.15 ml 0.015 ml 2.60 ml 2.81 ml 0.21 ml 0.015 ml Average volume per drop: (0.011+0.020+0.015+0.015+0.015) / 5 = 0.0152 ml 3 Rounded: 0.015ml Uncertainty: + 0.02 / 10 = + 0.002ml Volume per drop = 0.013ml to 0.017ml Warm saturated salt water at 38 + 0.5 degrees Celsius Star Volume End Volume Difference Volume per Drop 2.00 ml 2.10 ml 0.10 ml 0.010 ml 2.10 ml 2.31 ml 0.21 ml 0.021 ml 2.21 ml 2.34 ml 0.13 ml 0.013 ml 2.34 ml 2.49 ml 0.15 ml 0.015 ml 2.60 ml 2.71 ml 0.11 ml 0.011 ml Average volume per drop: (0.010+0.021+0.013+0.015+0.011) / 5 = 0.014ml Uncertainty: + 0.02 / 10 = + 0.002ml Volume per drop = 0.012ml to 0.016ml Conclusion and Evaluation Our experiment tested two variables (the type of liquid and the temperature) and how they affected the volume of a drop. From our experiment, there is a slight difference between the volume of bottled water and the volume of salt water, so therefore it proves that the volume of a drop is dependant on the type of liquid we use. I also hypothesized that salt water would contain a smaller volume per drop than bottled water. This hypothesis was disproved in the experiment. We found that the volume of a drop of bottled water at 0.5 degrees Celsius is 0.01ml less than the volume of a drop of saturated salt water at 0.5 degrees Celsius. For our experiment, we couldn’t prove that temperature affected the temperature affects the volume of a liquid because the volume of a drop of our bottled water increased by 0.02ml while the volume of a drop of warm saturated salt water remained exactly the same. Quite unexpectantly, we discovered that a drop of bottled water is greater in volume than a drop of salt water after they’re heated up to 38 degrees Celsius. All our data, however is only true IF we disregard the series of lab errors that may have altered the results. Here is the list of lab errors: Lab Errors: 1. Every drop that comes out of the eyedropper is a result of gravity pulling the drop of water out of the eyedropper opening. Because the force of gravity is constant, we can assume that every drop has the same volume, unless there was another force involved. This other force is the shaking of the hand holding the eyedropper. To prevent this, we first planned to tape the eyedropper to a ring stand. This way it would stay motionless so that no other force except gravity would act on every individual drop. Unfortunately, the eyedropper was not long enough to reach far enough into the graduated cylinder, therefore we held the eye dropped ourselves while dropping the liquids. For this reason, the shaking of our hand may have affected the results of our data. 4 2. To prevent liquids from splashing onto the sides of the graduated cylinder, we decided to make every drop 1 cm above the liquid inside the cylinder. This would prevent each drop from making the water splash too much. 3. Since we couldn’t use the ring stand, the drops may have gotten stuck to the sides of the graduated cylinder because we couldn’t guarantee that the eyedropper was held vertically over the water. Even if we did make sure it was vertically straight, our hands might have shook, flinging the drop so that it would hit the side. 4. Water evaporation may have occurred when we were performing the lab, so before recording the data for 10 drops, there may have been a little bit of water that had evaporated so each drop is actually slightly bigger than what we had recorded. 5. We are not 100 percent sure that we counted the correct number of drops because there seems to be a few trials that had an unusually large volume compared to the other trials. This may have also been because the water stuck to the sides of the graduated cylinder came down and added to the volume of one trial. 6. Since the graduated cylinder we used only went up in 0.5ml increments, we had to estimate the 0.01ml values. Our data may be off by 0.01 or 0.02ml (thus a + 0.02ml error). 7. Atmospheric pressure affects the results slightly. This is something we cannot control, however we did the entire in a short period of time, so the atmospheric pressure should have been somewhat the same during that period of time. 8. We couldn’t make sure that NO heat would be lost or gained when we took the cold water from out of the fridge or when we took it out of the microwave. We insulated the water with 2 Styrofoam cups, but even that couldn’t make sure that no heat would be gained or lost. Also, water would lose or gain heat as we are dropping each drop, or when it is sitting in the graduated cylinder, waiting to be measured and recorded. For this reason, each drop may be a little bigger or smaller in volume than our recorded values. 9. We tried to control the saltiness of the salt water by making it saturated salt water. To do this, we put much more salt than is needed to saturate the water, into the container. We stirred until no more salt was dissolved, or so it seemed. We couldn’t be absolutely sure that the water was saturated because maybe the salt was just dissolving more slowly, but it was still being dissolved. 10. When we were heating up the water inside salt water, we still had a little bit of salt left on the bottom.. This may have caused a problem because when we wanted saturated water, we wanted it saturated at 0.5 degrees. After we heat the salt water, it wouldn’t be saturated anymore, so more salt would be able to be dissolved into the solution. This means that the salt water after getting heated was slightly saltier than before it was heated.