Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Adolescent Alcohol Abuse

Pre-adult Alcohol Abuse Essay Pre-adult Alcohol Abuse:What Factors are Present?Over the years, numerous analysts have committed their time and vitality to examine juvenile liquor misuse. They have discovered that there are numerous components that add to pre-adult liquor misuse. These elements are mental, natural, social, and social. Not these components have an impact in each immature who mishandles liquor, yet one of these elements is generally present. Mental scatters have been found in both American, and Taiwan teenagers who misuse liquor. The wellbeing dangers of pre-adult liquor misuse are incredible. Liquor influences the physiology of a youngster. It upsets the hereditary qualities and hormonal adjusts that are basic in the early improvement of youngsters.Treatment of liquor misuse is an incredible condition of progress and advancement. Numerous advisors, specialists and guides are attempting to fuse new treatment thoughts and strategies into the customary procedures that have been utilized for a consider able length of time now.It is critical to investigate the variables that add to pre-adult liquor misuse provided that these elements are identified early, and an immature is placed into a counteraction program the probability that they will manhandle liquor will incredibly decrease.Psychological Factors According to the exploration, there have been numerous mental issues found in young people who misuse liquor. Most of the exploration has been done so as to explain the subject of whether these mental elements are available before an immature maltreatment liquor, or after the liquor misuse has happened. In the exploration done by Rhode, Lewinsohn, and Seeley (1996), they utilized a network test of 1,507 young people between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. The young people were ordered into the classes of teetotalers, experimenters, social consumers, issue consumers, and misuse as well as reliant gatherings. In this investigation, 373 subjects met the models for discouragement, 15 were bipolar, 93 experienced hyper center side effects, and 124 had a nervousness issue (Rhode et al., 1996). Moreover, uneasiness issue and gloom were mental scatters that were increasingly predominant in female young people with liquor maltreatment than their male counterparts.Males who manhandled liquor would in general experience the ill effects of reserved character issue. It is accepted that females who experience the ill effects of uneasiness issue or melancholy use liquor as a self-medicine to cause them to feel better. As indicated by Clark, and Bukstein (1998), one type of introverted issue known as direct issue lead youths to carry on and search out new encounters. This is likely the motivation behind why pre-adult guys with a solitary issue go to liquor misuse. As per Rhode (et al., 1996), More than 80% of teenagers with a liquor use issue had another mental issue. (p. 106). In his examination, the liquor misuse would in general follow as opposed to continue the mental issue. From this, it tends to be presumed that specific mental issue, for example, solitary issue, and sadness are a factor in pre-adult liquor misuse. Natural FactorsMany contemplates have concentrated on the ecological elements that youths are presented to, and how these components lead to liquor misuse. The point of an investigation performed by Clark, Lesnick, and Hegedus (1997), Was to inspect injury history and other antagonistic life occasions in young people with liquor reliance or misuse and to contrast them and an example of network abiding teenagers without liquor use issue (p.1746). This investigation included 256 young people between the ages of fourteen and eighteen (Clark et al., 1997). Young people who manhandled, or were subject to liquor announced more injuries then those in the benchmark group. The kinds of misuse experienced by guys and females would in general vary. Females experienced increasingly sexual maltreatment, and guys would in general be survivors of rough acts. Both sexual maltreatment casualties, and survivors of savage acts demonstrated expanded measures of liquor use than those young people who wer e not mishandled at all. In the event that subjects encountered various injuries, they would in general maltreatment liquor more than those that accomplished just a single injury or no injury by any stretch of the imagination. From this investigation, it very well may be reasoned that injury and misuse prompts pre-adult liquor misuse. Social Factors An examination done on Hispanic and Black young people in the New York downtowns presumed that there were surely social factors that added to pre-adult liquor misuse. The investigation utilized an example of 4,874 Hispanic and African

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Terrorism on the Internet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Fear mongering on the Internet - Essay Example The assault on the World Trade Center was one where fear mongers unleashed an exceptional degree of devastation and the consideration of the world was attracted forcefully to the perils presented by the psychological militant danger. Sterne (2003) characterizes psychological warfare as â€Å"as a demonstration or danger of viciousness against noncombatants with the goal of getting payback, threatening, or in any case affecting an audience.† Over the years, the substance of fear mongering has changed †it is not, at this point confined to state supported fear based oppression, however has developed into particular nearby cells, with singular fear monger components spreading danger so as to accomplish their own narrow minded political or different finishes. Sterne explains that in this specific situation, fear mongering isn't the sort of foe that can be battled on a hard and fast open battle premise. She characterizes fear based oppression as â€Å"a sort of infection, whic h spreads because of hazard factors at different levels: worldwide, interstate, national and personal.[www.buzzflash.com]. With expanding globalization, the utilization of the Internet has broadened to envelop another circle of exercises that are encouraged through the electronic medium{Kusher 1998). It is presently conceivable to accomplish on an individual premise, an extent of action that would have recently required the accessibility of an immense measure of assets and a few people. However, through the modest electronic medium, it has gotten feasible for PC shrewd people to take part in a few crook and fear based oppressor exercises that are portrayed by the bargaining of touchy data and by enormous scope demolition. Since generally business and Government movement has now become e-based, psychological oppressors can cause a lot of harm by hacking into the databases of Government associations.

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Everything You Need to Know about Project Management

Everything You Need to Know about Project Management We often hear about projects succeeding, and others not succeeding. A number of things could be blamed for the latter: lack of resources and funding, unsatisfactory leadership, lack of direction for the team. In truth, most often it lacks proper project management. © Shutterstock.com | Rawpixel.comIn this article, youll learn about 1) a definition of project management, 2) a step-by-step approach to successful project management, and 3) an overview of non-traditional project management approaches.PROJECT MANAGEMENT DEFINEDProject Management is defined as the discipline that involves “initiating, planning, executing and controlling the work of a team of people towards the achievement of a specific goal, or sets of goals”. These goals could be the development or production of unique products, services, or some other metric improvements, all of which are expected to deliver additional value. Through project management, activities are conducted using various tools, skill sets, knowledge, methodologies and techniques in order to meet the requirements of the projects.The main goal of project management is to ensure that the objectives of the project are achieved within specified constraints.Projects are, by nature, temporary. They have a defined starting and ending point. They will begin at a specific point in time, and will wrap up once the objective or goal has been achieved.The definition above already marks the difference between Project Management and Program management. It is non-routine and temporary, while Program Management can be long-running. There are defined scopes and resources while, in program management, these aspects could be flexible. There is only one project to speak of in Project Management, but Program Management refers to overseeing several projects all at once.Project management is also considered separate from the normal, repetitive operations of a business. For example, in a manufacturing company, the actual business process of putting resources into production is not a project, since these are permanent (or even semi-permanent) activities of the business. Now, if management decides to devise a new business process to create another set of products, that is the project.Projects have four identifi ed elements:Scope â€" This refers to the size of the project, the goals expected to be achieved upon its completion, and the different project requirements.Resources â€" These includes the people or manpower, the materials, tools and equipment that are used in the execution of the project.Time â€" This encompasses the durations of the tasks, the critical path, schedules, and dependencies.Money â€" Projects involve costs and expenses, contingencies, revenue, and profit.Among the four elements, the scope is deemed to be the most important, since it pretty much covers the other three elements as well. Project Managers must first manage the scope of the project.All four must be managed, however, since they are interrelated. Ignoring one will adversely affect the others, and vice versa. Successful project management means managing all four elements effectively.One question often asked is if there are specific types of project management. Project management takes different forms or types when applied to specific industries. For example, a project in the construction industry will be different from that of a project in the IT industry. It goes without saying that management for each project will also differ, since we are talking about two different specializations or fields here. Still, they are likely to follow the same template of project management by following specific project management processes.STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH TO PROJECT MANAGEMENTProject PlanningThe failure of many projects have been blamed on decisions that were made on the spur of the moment, leading to resources and costs that became too much to handle. This is because they were not able to create a project plan or, even if they did, the plan was not well-made or subsequently implemented. This is the problem with many organizations that are pressed for time: they want to get on with the work, so they skip over the project planning part and immediately launch into it. The result? Too much waste. Very little to no results. A failed project.The output of project planning is the project plan, which outlines all the tasks, activities, dependencies and the applicable timeframes. Here we will look at its contents:Project GoalsWhat are the goals of the project? What does it ultimately want to achieve upon its closing?You have to take into account the needs of the stakeholders, or the people who have an interest in your project and its results. Will the project’s completion mean the satisfaction of their needs? Will it be able to provide a solution to their problems? Obviously, before you can set your project goals, you have to:Identify your stakeholders. They may be your investors or sponsors of the project, the employees or members of the organization, the customers or end-users, or the general public as a whole.Identify the needs of these stakeholders. Keep in mind that stakeholders have differences, and that includes their needs. The needs of the investors, for example, will be di fferent from that of the customers. This may done through surveys and interviews.Rank the needs from most important to least important. This is a way to set priorities, so you will know which ones to address first. The list will then enable you to set goals.The goals you set must be CLEAR and ATTAINABLE. There must be no grey areas and all the members of the project team must be fully aware of the goals, and understand their respective roles in achieving them.DeliverablesWhat are the things that are expected to be delivered by the project team? Of course, these deliverables must be in accordance with the project goals.Along with the project deliverables, you also have to indicate the estimated dates of delivery of these outputs.Project ScheduleWhen you were talking about the project deliverables, you merely gave an estimate of the delivery dates. It is time to zero in on the exact dates of delivery.Each project deliverable has corresponding tasks that must be accomplished in order f or the deliverables to be obtained. In your project schedule, indicate:The specific tasks that must be accomplishedThe estimated length of time (in hours, days or weeks) of performing and completing the taskThe costs and other resources required to perform and complete the taskThe target delivery date of the deliverablesWhen scheduling, be careful to keep things realistic. You do not want to set too tight deadlines, but you do not want it to be so slack that you’ll end up having idle time. Of course, it is a given that there is a chance you will end up needing more time. This can be fixed by going over your schedule and making the necessary adjustments if, and when, possible. With a carefully prepared project schedule, it will be easier for you to justify asking for more time or resources.Support PlansThe project plan may be standalone, but it does not hurt at all to have supporting plans to prop it up a bit. Examples of such plans are:Risk Management Plan, where risks that may be encountered by the project are identified and possible responses are prepared.Human Resource Plan, where the roles and responsibilities, as well as accountabilities, of all members of the organization are clearly defined and described. This will aid the project manager in recruiting members to include in the project team.Communication Plan, because it is inevitable for project teams to collaborate with other teams. By coming up with this plan, there is a clearer picture of how information is transmitted or exchanged among the teams. This also includes reportorial responsibilities.The Project Life CycleProject planning will not be possible if there is no project life cycle to speak of. This refers to the series of activities that must be performed or accomplished in order to achieve the project goals. Granted, projects differ in size, focus and complexity. Still, they all follow the same life cycle.The project life cycle includes five phases. This is also often referred to as tradit ional project management which has five major process steps.1. InitiatingThis involves the determination of the nature and scope of the project. In order to do that, there is a need to look into the business environment and understand how it works. Some of the key activities in this stage are:Analysis of business requirementsEvaluation of historical and current data on the business’ operations, including financial reports and budgetsIdentification of stakeholders and analysis of their roles and impactIdentification of the stakeholder needsIdentification of project objectivesIt is during this phase that feasibility studies are often conducted. These are excellent tools in figuring out possible options that can address the issues at hand and help achieve the project objective.It is also often during this phase that the project manager is chosen and installed, as well as the members of the project team and the other participating work groups.2. PlanningWe move on to the more detailed phase of the project. A project plan or a flowchart is prepared to plan the timing, schedule, costs and allocation of resources to perform the activities in the project. This involves taking into account the cost of associated risks during implementation of the activities of the project. It is also during this stage that the project team will gain the final approval to proceed with the project. Activities performed in the planning stage include:Putting the planning team togetherIdentifying the deliverables of the project, including quality targets and control measures (these may be your baseline)Identifying the activities that must be performedDeveloping a work breakdown structure and mapping their interconnectionsObtaining cost estimates for materials, equipment, labor, and other costsPreparation of project budgetDeveloping a schedule for carrying out the activities in the work breakdownIdentification of potential threats, problems or risks and formulation of appropriate responses should these threats, problems or risks crop up in the course of the project implementationThere is no fixed number of activities to be performed in a project. Some projects may have only a handful of tasks, while other projects consist of a long list of activities. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as you keep your eye on the objective.3. Executing or ImplementingThis is the implementation phase, where the key activities of the project are performed or executed in order to obtain the project deliverables previously identified. In other words, the project plan is now set into motion.Here, the following activities are undertaken:Allocation of resources to the appropriate activities or project phasesCoordination with key stakeholdersCarrying out the tasks listed in the planReporting the project progress in regular meetings4. Monitoring and ControllingEvery step of the project, there is a need to track its progress. This is helpful, so problems can be identified and addressed in order to minimize risks. Feedback plays a major role in this stage. There may be variances from the baseline or target previously set. If they cannot be corrected to bring things back to the original plan, they should be documented as variances.This phase calls for:Measurement of activities as they take placeKeeping an eye on the project variables and continuously comparing them with the planTaking the appropriate actions to correct problems and address issuesRegular reporting to stakeholdersDocumentation of progress and updating of the plan, if anyReview of project deliverables in accordance with the baseline or targets5. Closing or CompletionAt this stage,  the project is formally declared to be completed. This will only take place when the stakeholders have accepted and were satisfied with the final output or deliverable.It involves:Releasing or delivering the final deliverablesDocumentation and archiving of the project files and other pertinent documents used and generated th roughout the projectConduct of post-implementation review, where lessons learned are talked about, in view of being applied in future, upcoming projectsThere is also a need to formally communicate the closure of the project to all the stakeholders.The Project ManagerIn every project, there are several players at work, and the lead character is the Project Manager. You may have assembled a team of highly talented and skilled individuals, with specialized skills needed to get the project done. But you will still need a focal point â€" that one person who will manage the whole project, all aspects of it, from start to finish.The Project Manager is the one handed the overall responsibility for the different processes involved in project management, from initiation to the closing of the project. He is the one who is responsible for achieving the objectives of the project.Listed below are the key functions or responsibilities expected of a project manager:Creating effective project plans and project management plansSetting project objectivesIdentifying the requirements or needs of the projectOverseeing all aspects of the project, including cost and timeCreating reports about the status of the project, and corresponding metricsCommunicating with top management or program managers about the project progressLiaising with other departments and projects within the organizationCoordinating with external parties and other outside stakeholdersOVERVIEW OF NON-TRADITIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT APPROACHESWe have touched on the traditional project management approach, which talks about the stages of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing or completion. However, this is not the only approach applicable, since there have been more methodologies developed through the years. Let us go through each of them briefly.Lean Project Management: This lean approach focuses on reducing time and waste without compromising on the value being delivered. The concep ts often included are lean manufacturing and lean construction, since these are areas that often have to deal with bottlenecks and wastage.Iterative approaches: Agile project management is possibly one of the most talked about concepts these days. Usually applied in the field of software development and information technology, agile focuses primarily on human collaboration and iteration. Various methodologies have been developed surrounding the agile concept, and they include Scrum, Extreme Programming, Kanban and Crystal Clear.Critical Chain Project Management: The focus of this approach is to deal with the uncertainties that come with project management. Of course, it also takes into account that these uncertainties must be dealt with despite the limited availability of resources allocated for the project.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Green Children Of Woolpit - 1457 Words

The Green Children of Woolpit is a twelfth century mystery that has been around for centuries. Many people have speculated and formed theories on where these children had come from. No theory has been proven true, but the theories range from malnutrition to something such as extraterrestrial visitors. This strange phenomenon can be explained. These children that visited England, are aliens from a different world. The evidence that the children give the people from England describes a land that is not on planet Earth. The Green Children of Woolpit is a twelfth century mystery that started in Suffolk, England. During this time, this area was the most agriculturally productive in all of rural England. The village of Suffolk had belonged to the powerful Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds. In Suffolk, two green-skinned children were found at the mouth of an old wolf pit where the final wolf had been rumored to perish. The two children were found by reapers working at a nearby farm. They spoke in a n unfamiliar language and wore strange clothing that was unknown to the people of England. The children were soon accepted into the household Sir Richard de Caine at Wilks. After a while both children became ill and things looked bleak for the both of the strange children. The boy had eventually passed, while the girl soon miraculously recovered. The girl’s skin even turned back to a normal color. After the boy’s passing, the girl took lessons and learned to speak English. She learned to speak

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

A Study On Type 2 Diabetes - 1553 Words

Type 2 diabetes is a very well known disease throughout the US. There are about 27 million people in the US with the disease and 86 million others have prediabetes which means their blood glucose is not right but also not high enough to be diabetes yet. 208,000 people under the age of twenty have been diagnosed with either Type 1 or 2 Diabetes. The discovery of diabetes came way back in 1910 when English physiologist Albert Sharpey-Schafer made the discovery of a substance that would normally be produced in non-diabetics. That would be called insulin. In 1976 the first insulin pumps were created. In 1978 the portable insulin pump is created and researchers got normal blood glucose levels on a patient with the pump. In 1982 the FDA approved insulin produced by genetically altered bacteria. Russian scientists have found that the presence of a certain bacteria in your gut may help with the development of the disease. Scientists also say that a woman s dementia risks are higher with the disease because of the blocked brain and blood vessels. After analyzing data with 2.5 million participants, researchers found that women have a 20% higher chance than men for developing dementia while also having diabetes. Some studies have even shown that having 3-4 cups of coffee daily may help reduce your risk of Type 2 Diabetes. They say that drinking a cup a day will cut your risks by 92%. Drinking 3 cups a day will cut your risks by 79%. People who drink 6 cups a day will cut theirShow MoreRelatedA Study On Type 2 Diabetes1398 Words   |  6 PagesType 2 Diabetes Samantha Cilione Oregon Institute of Technology â€Æ' Type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t know how to use the very little insulin the pancreas produces if it produces any at all. While there is a rare possibility to have Type 1 diabetes but, that it is a genetic disease where the pancreas produces little to no insulin causing the person to have to manually inject insulin. Since Type 2 diabetes is more of a controllable disease and know to be a â€Å"lifestyle† disease a person does not haveRead MoreA Study On Type 2 Diabetes Essay857 Words   |  4 PagesType 2 diabetes is a polygenic, complex disease that has become a worldwide health crisis. According to the World Health Organization over 422 million people in the world had this disease in 2014 (1), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that in the United States alone 29 million people had diabetes in 2014 (2). While the genetic predisposition contributing to the diabetes phenotype is not fully understood to date it still remains an area of active research. There are also variousRead MoreA Study On Type 2 Diabetes1958 Words   |  8 PagesThis essay will focus on type 2 diabetes, which is becoming one of the fast growing chronic health conditions in the United Kingdom (UK). Approximately 700 people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each day in the UK (Diabetes Uk, (2014)a). It is costing the NHS about  £10billion pounds each year to treat diabetes along with its complication and it is expected to rise in the next couple of years (Diabetes UK, (2014)b). This essay will discuss the nurse’s role in giving holistic care to patientsRead MoreA Study On Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus2468 Words   |  10 PagesType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is becoming rapidly more prevalent worldwide, owing largely to the growing obesity pandemic. According to the international diabetes federation, 1 in every 10 people will suffer from T2DM globally by 2035. (1) Various prevention strategies have been developed focusing on weight loss reduction via increased exercise and diet modification. Medications and bariatric surgery are additional strategies considered for prevention of T2DM. The pathogenesis of T2DM involvesRead MoreA Study On Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus778 Words   |  4 PagesType-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in African American Adults The high-risk populations are individuals with increased propensity to greater risk of poor mental, physical, emotional, and social health (Olokoba, Obateru, Olokoba, (2012). The high-risk individuals are susceptible a decreased functional status, and diminished quality of life. In many populations, the causes of the high-risk vulnerabilities are due poor utilization of health care services, poor disease management, and to aRead MoreCase Study : Diabetes Mellitus Type 22136 Words   |  9 Pages Case Study #1: Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Monay Link The University of Tampa Case Study #1: Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an endocrine disorder that has the potential to affect various major organs throughout its progression. Diabetes Mellitus is divided into three common categories: type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent), and gestational diabetes. Ninety percent of over 24 million people suffer from type 2 diabetes in the UnitedRead MoreT2DM ( Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus : A Study743 Words   |  3 Pages A study detailing the occurrences of T2DM(Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus), and correlating them with the epigenetic modifications, the possible heritable effects on body metabolism, and the potential processes underwent by exercise and diet choices which affect the epigenome across generations has been conducted.While research on the epigenetic signatures causing insulin resistance, influenced by exercise and physical activity, and attempts to identify therapeutic solutions to avoid obesity and boostRead MoreA Case Study Of A 41 Year Old Mexican American Woman Who Was Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes978 Words   |  4 PagesThe following is a case study of a 41 year-old Mexican American woman who was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Alicia Cordova is 5 feet 3 inches tall. And currently weigh 155 pounds; she was pregnant for her second child when she developed gestational diabetes .After pregnancy her blood glucose went back to normal. Mrs Cardova was advised to exercise regular, maintain a healthy weight, and to get regular checkups. However, she has not been able to maintain a healthy weight; she states thatRead MoreThe Prevalence And Incidence Of Type 2 Diabetes Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesA. Statement of the Problem The prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes are increasing worldwide, particularly in devel-oping countries, in conjunction with increased obesity rates and westernization of lifestyle (In-zucchi et al., 2012). The economic burden for health care systems is skyrocketing, owing to the costs associated with treatment and diabetes complications. Type 2 diabetes remains a leading cause of cardiovascular disorders, blindness, end-stage renal failure, amputations, and hospitali-zationsRead MoreIs The Social Environment Influence Type 2 Diabetes1040 Words   |  5 PagesStudies have shown that the social and built environment can play an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes and self-care behaviors (Christine et al., 2015; Gebreab et al., 2017; Pasala, Rao, Sridhar, 2010; Sidawi Al-Hariri, 2012; Smalls, Gregory, Zoller, Egede, 2014; Winkleby Cubbin, 2003). Social environment includes factors such as safety, violence, social disorder, social cohesion, and collective e fficacy of the neighborhood (National Research Council (US) et al., 2013)

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Lowprotein Free Essays

Not all naturally occurring metals are used by the body for important biological processes. Lead and cadmium are examples of these metals that are not essential for life but may even cause toxicity and death if taken in large doses. A study conducted in Japan showed a correlation between protein intake with the increased vulnerability for intoxication of cadmium (Tavari 1986). We will write a custom essay sample on Lowprotein or any similar topic only for you Order Now Rats given a low protein diet were observed to have higher toxicity from these metals that were also detected in the urine and feces (Suzuki 1984).   A low protein diet in humans is usually advised to those with kidney and liver diseases and as a result, this negative effect of higher metal toxicity is important to understand. Metals act by binding to organic compounds subsequently altering their structure and possibly modifying their function. When the function in not carried out well, this can lead to cell death and inactivation of the production of important enzymes (â€Å"Metals as toxins†). For instance, a metal compound can compete with a biologically significant element such as oxygen to create an enzyme responsible for degrading glucose. If this metal successfully defeats oxygen, the enzyme may not be produced; thus, glucose will not be degraded and possibly accumulated. This is a simple example of what a metal can do to the body. In the case of normal protein intake, the body has enough proteins that can bind to harmful compounds such as metals. Similar to the action of a lock and key, a specific protein can complex with damaging bioelements and then excrete them outside the body to prevent possible internal damage. Metallothionein specifically works as a chelating agent and combines itself with cadmium, for example and is excreted out of the body while Selenium, a protein abundantly found in egg whites, suppresses the toxic effect of metals (â€Å"Metals as toxins†). A low protein intake thus, have a significant effect in resulting to high levels of cadmium and lead in the blood since most protein clearly function in sweeping out these harmful metals by binding with them and then carrying them out of the body. References â€Å"Metals as toxins.† Retrieved August 11, 2007, from http://www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session2/group29/introtox.htm Suzuki, K.T., Miyamoto, E., Tanaka, Y. Kawamura, R. and Yamamura, M. (1984). Effect of diet on urinary and fecal excretion of cadmium, copper and zinc from rats preaccumulated heavily with cadmium. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol. 13 no.5. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from www.springerlink.com/index/J456157JVU87212T.pdf Tavari, P.C., Jain, V.K., Ashquin, M. and Tandon, S.K. (1986). Influence of protein deficiency on cadmium toxicity in rats. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol.15 no.4. Retrieved August 11, 2007, from www.springerlink.com/index/G88L4P84417XT467.pdf       How to cite Lowprotein, Essay examples

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Macro Factors Affecting Business Environment †Sample Assignment

Question: Discuss about the Macro Factors Affecting Business Environment. Answer: Introduction The Fashion Industry of Australia represents 219 brands and has largely increased the number of responders to the brands in 2015. It is learnt that a number of companies have adopted a high number of actions in order to improve the wages given to the workers in the industry. Apart from this, two thirds of the brands have recorded growth since 2013 and 90% of all grading areas have seen and recorded improvements in the overall functioning. The structure involves a detailed supply chain of actions that include raw materials, input production, final stage production and brand recognition (Nimbalker, Mawson and Cremen, 2015). The Australian Laws provide strict Intellectual Property Rights as a tool that is used to protect the creativity of the designers. Apart from these, are a number of laws that have been put into place to help designers work better, provide best quality designs and clothing and protect the originality of designs from being copied. The brands are permitted to promote and sell their products through varied means such as direct selling, social media and collaborations with distributors across the globe. Designers get endorsements from celebrities and have been allowed the recent Bangladesh Accord that can be used to uplift the Bangladesh Industry and manufacturing units so as to reduce the cost of production and contribute to the cost and safety of the workers in these factories. The efforts of the industry have indeed made a large difference in the overall uplift and improvement in Bangladesh (Australian Fashion Chamber, n.d.). Provide a brief situation analysis of the industry background including size, growth and structure, and identify the major competitors and their market shares. The fashion world is a big business in Australia. The Australian Fashion Industry, textile, clothing and footwear sums up to a valuation of roughly $3 billion. The retail and wholesale sectors adds up another approximate $7.5 billion. The entire fashion industry in Australia employees over 200,000 individuals. The present day climate of the fashion industry is such that, small boutiques and departmental are facing a setback owing to the high demand for online shopping. However, Australian fashion designers are tougher than almost all other designers coming from various other parts of the world (The Australian, 2012). The industry is dispersed. Increased costs in the prime locations of the cities in Australia leaves no choice but to move fashion houses to suburbs. Thus brands, designers and design all diversifies and spreads all over the country. The position of the fashion industry in Australia is still unique with 85% of the business coming from small and medium scaled fashion brands. Across the entire nation small fashion entrepreneurs and designers are fast flourishing. On a global level the position of fashion emerging from Australia has spread widely and effectively (Webster, 2013). Some of the leading fashion brands in the country include Ellery, Romance was Born, Bassike, Jac and Jack, Zimmerman, Dion Lee, Malicevski and Camilla and Marc. Macroenvironment Factors which are external in nature to any business enterprise are technically termed as macro-environmental factors. These are, by nature, uncontrollable. Neither can an organization directly control it or influence it. However, these are powerful by property. Such external environmental factors comprises of people, groups of people, organizations, agencies, firms, events, conditions, policies, forces etc. With the proper speculation of macro-environmental factors the fashion organizations can make better business strategies and policies for coping with the changed external factors. The following paragraphs outline these factors:- Political The fashion industry in Australia is affected by numerous political macro-environmental factors. For example workers rights are one such factor. In the various manufacturing plants, if wages of medical benefits are having a less favorable effect on workers then the union workers can interfere. Such worker picketing affects production. Delays can occur when the designer is working hard to be ready for the Spring or Fall fashion show in time. Problems like trade embargo forces fashion wholesalers for fetching new supplier thus affecting profit and sales. Economic There can be positive as well as negative effects of the economy on the fashion line. When the economy enhances there is more disposable income in the pockets of people and they indulge more into buying good clothes. Thus fashion industry an increased sale trend. Recessions on the other hand hits the industry negatively where sales become lower significantly and large inventory being stuck. Social-Cultural Fashion industry is a consumer industry and hence is affected by the sociocultural external factors as well. For an instance the fashion designing company might have to design apparels catering to different cultures and societies. Wholesalers and retailers cater to what is in the demand in the society for decades. The consumer group has a change in their fashion preferences as they hit their 40s and 50s. All such factors affect the industry in Australia. Resource availability, demand of fashion range and clothes production all are technical macro environmental factors affecting the fashion industry. If suppose, a certain material is scarce then the entire clothing range suffers. They might have to use a substitute. The price of certain material might increase as well due to the shortage of such products (Suttle, 2014). Some of the various studies related to people comes under the subject demography. There are many demographic factors which affects the fashion industry as these are relevant to the business for implementing or formulating business policies. Factors such as size of population, growth rate, age, sex, size of family, life expectancy, status as per occupation ,gender, pattern of employment etc all have an effect for demand for various fashion goods (Aayush, 2012). Demographic Segmentation The demographic segmentation of any industry primarily includes the age and life cycle, gender, income, generation and social class factors (Larsen, 2010). With regards to the fashion industry of Australia, the brands cater to all genders. Any fashion industry cannot restrict itself to only one gender and hence clothing for all genders are designed and marketed well. When it comes to income groups, although the most popular brands cater to the high income groups; however, there is a large market for middle income and low income group individuals as well. Furthermore, clothing and fashionable clothes are available for individuals who belong to any generation. Whether it is infants, toddlers, children, adults, teenagers or elderly people, clothing can be availed at stores very easily. There are no evident social class factors that disturb the overall functioning of the industry. Geographic Segmentation Geographical segmentation on the other hand focuses on the diversification of customers into segments based on the different countries, states, regions, neighborhoods, cities etc (Larsen, 2010). Since the analysis is based on the fashion industry of Australia as a whole, it can be stated that the diversification of the fashion industry has not happened as yet. The major brands are restricting themselves to the major metropolitan cities; however, local brands tend to cater to small cities and localities. Psychographic Segmentation Discussing the psychographic segmentation, it is basically based on two primary factors that include personality profiles and lifestyle profiles. The psychographic segmentation is adopted when the geographic and demographic factors are not sufficient to understand the perspective of the people or the potential of a company or industry in the market. It divides individuals on the basis of attitudes, interest and opinions largely (Larsen, 2010). With regards to the Australian Fashion Industry, it can be concluded that every individual has a different perspective when it comes to clothing. While some women might like dresses, the others might go for professional clothing largely. Hence, the psychographic characteristics of the industry are vague and cannot be graphed. Behavioral Segmentation The Behavioral Segmentation on the other hand discusses the response received by the company or industry on the products or services provided by the potential consumers. Some of the behavioral factors include occasions, benefits, user status and rate, loyalty factors and attitudes (Larsen, 2010). Since the Australian Fashion Industry has grown to a large extent since its inception, it can be concluded that the industry has had a fair response. Though a lot of Australians are not starting to focus more on savings rather than spending; however, the fashion industry and the brands have recorded much higher sales as compared to records in the year 2013. Marketing Stratgeies Some controllable tools and tactics for marketing is technically termed as marketing mix which companies uses for producing desirable responses from their respective target industries. These are all those processes the company can use for having an influence over demand generation for their product or service. Marketing mix is an efficient tool helping entrepreneurs and marketers for years in the planning and execution of their marketing strategies. Today we will be discussing and comparing marketing mix of two different clothing brands based in Australia. These are AussieBum men underwear manufacturing company and Billabong sports clothing lines. AussieBum Marketing Mix The company AussieBum deals in the manufacture of comfortable men undergarments. It was first established in the year 2001. The director of the company Sean Ashby initially launched this innerwear clothing line for giving swimwear style and grace. The brand started small at a lounge room in the suburbs of Sidney. By the year 2007 over 1000 orders started pooling in a day from varied destinations across the globe. Guyon Holland joined the company at around 2009 and from then there has been no looking back. By breaking classical rules and norms the company today stands high in the names of similar brands. Since 2001 onwards AussieBum witnessed a 20% growth in its each quarter. Today it is a multimillion dollar organization employing over 35 employees producing over 150 unique products for its strong user base within and outside Australia. We will discuss the marketing strategy undertaken by the brand. Product The brand uses its online store and offers 150 products. The AussieBum product line offers make underwear, swimwear, sportswear, leisurewear, towels, beanies and belts. It can be said that its primary USP product is promoted under the name Aussie cossie swimwear style range of years 1980s. The unique factor of their products is the use of color. It is the belief of Guyon Hollan, the brands co-director that the brand leads other names in the market in relation to use of colors in male underwear designs. Technology has a crucial role to play in the designing, manufacturing and promotion of AussieBum. The brand proudly states to be uses latest polymers and fibres like bamboo fibre based fabrics and the famous Micro Modal beechwood. The banana range promotes eco-friendly use of fibre based fabrics. In this ecofriendly banana range they use 27% banana fibre, 64% of cotton and a minimum of 9% use of Lycra. Some of the other renowned products are Essence which iuses fabrics with vitamin infusion possible in the skin when worn., Wonderjock, an inspiration made from the famous Wonderbra women range of innerwears, Flame, Storm, Classic and Loose. Price There is a cost involved in manufacturing products based in Australia. The primary of such costs is higher than that would be if overseas outsourcing was adopted. However, AussieBum understands the advantages of Australian production. The brand hnce never competes on price but on quality. Their objective is to provide quality products which acts as a value for money for the user. So almost 60% of their price is due to their quality. After years today the brand has a huge pool of happy repeat customers. Place The distribution strategy of AussieBun was simple in the beginning. Only online was the medium through which products were accessed, ordered and were shipped the day following. With the growth of the business and demand today other distribution channels are also used. My Space and Facebook are the two strong social networking medium used by the brand. Today the company has retails in Harrods, Selfridges and House of Fraser in UK, at Universal Gear in NYC and at KaDeWe in Berlin and Harvey Nicholls located in Dibai. ASOS.com is the brands online medium to reach out to the world customers. Promotion The branding tactics has targeted a particular male interest which is their base product range Their iconic images help promote their goods uniquely. Fir example the Shearing the Rams painting promotion of AusseBum. Celebrities and wel known faces promote the product. Daniel Radcliffe, Ewan MrGregor and Bully Connelly are some such names. Australian images and locations are all used for promotion of the brand The brand also sponsors some of the famous surf competitions and events in Australia. (Wiley, 2015) Billabong Marketing Mix Billabong Austrlaian brand was launched in the year 1973. The name of the founders is Gordon and Rena Merchant. The primary idea of these people was to create clothing range for surfers for wearing. Billabong sponsored contests like surfing and several other events like these. Today over 100 countries the brand sells its products. In recent times the brand witnessed some underperformance and has taken up some marketing strategies to overcome it. Product- Clothing range relates to sports at Billabong and these sportswear are extremely comfortable and reasonable. Target customers are of all ages. Every store of Billabong has variety of sports wear collections catering particularly to people from the surfing field. All the genders are catered here. The various products are T-shorts, Caps, Boards shorts, Accessories, Bags, Wallets, Belts, Sunglasses, Slippers etc. Price Prices of Billabong products are kept at an affordable and reasonable rate. The quality of the products is kept in compliance with the international product standards. Place- The product if found in the best store in the world which is the Dubai mall. The Dubai mall is the most unique mall to attract global customers all under the one roof. The brand has chosen widely as it is a place where no one can get lost. The mall is centrally located. The more approachable the shop is the more are the chances of potential sale generation. Promotion-In numerous ways the store promotes its products to the customers. Email registered customers for an example gets offers and latest updates about products in sms of customers. The brand also takes part in events like annual summer festival of Dubai. Such events give the brand an exposure (Lyaliue, 2009). The marketing mix and strategies undertaken by the brands are right and I agree with it. Successful marketing does not happen by chance. Familiarizing with the product even before knowing the customer is of utmost importance. When correctly implemented it makes small investment brands like AussieBum and Billabong rise high and be successful. Clothing is one thing that is bought without a specific occasion in mind. Ladies especially like shopping at any time of the day or any day of the month. Parents can never know when their child might need a new set of clothes for an occasion. Apart from this, clothing indeed offers a number of benefits to the people at large. It has not just become a status symbol today; however, it has also become the maximum used product in the market. It is known for a fact that if a person likes clothes of a particular store, the loyalty factor remains intact for generations together. Lastly, the attitude of the customers towards clothing is always positive in any country and in any industry. References Aayush. (2012). Macro factors affecting business environment. Australian Fashion Chamber. (n.d.). Fashion Law Handbook. Keys to Fashion Industry Success. Larsen, N. (2010). Market Segmentation: A Framework for Determining the Right Target Customers. Aarhus School of Business. Lyaliue,. (2009). Promotion - bu01billabong. Bu01billabong.wikidot.com. Retrieved from: https://bu01billabong.wikidot.com/promotion Nimbalker, G., Mawson, J. and Cremen, C. (2015). The Australian Fashion Report 2015. Baptist World Aid Australia. The Australian, (2012). The Australian fashion industry is adapting to tough times. Retrieved from: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/wish/a-stitch-in-time/story-e6frg8io-1226258017879 Suttle, R. (2014). The Macroenvironmental Factors Affecting the Clothing Industry. Retrieved from:https://smallbusiness.chron.com/macroenvironmental-factors-affecting-clothing-industry-37254.html Webster, K. (2013). Global shift: Australian fashion's coming of age. Available at: https://theconversation.com/global-shift-australian-fashions-coming-of-age-19237 Wiley, J. (2015). Case Study AussieBum. concord-h.schools.nsw.edu.au. Retrieved from: https://www.concord-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/documents/447809/453821/AUSSIE%20BUMS.pdf

Sunday, March 22, 2020

An Argument For Euthanasia Essays - Euthanasia, Medical Ethics

An Argument For Euthanasia An Argument for Euthanasia Euthanasia is defined as, The act or practice of putting to death painlessly a person suffering from an incurable disease. Euthanasia can be traced back as far back as the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. It was sometimes allowed in these civilizations to help others die. Voluntary euthanasia was approved in these ancient societies. Today, the practice of euthanasia causes great controversy. Both pro-life groups and right-to-die groups present arguments for their different sides. Pro-life groups make arguments and present fears against euthanasia. I contend that the case for the right to die is the stronger argument. I will begin my by listing the arguments against euthanasia and my criticism of each argument. 1. Euthanasia is a violation of medical ethics. The American Medical Association has consistently condemned euthanasia as an unethical practice. Today, attitudes may be changing. Recent surveys indicate that a majority of doctors in some areas, (60% in Oregon, 56% in Michigan, and 54% in Great Britain.) favor euthanasia in extreme cases. 2. Euthanasia weakens the trust relationship between the doctor and the patient. We expect doctors to heal and save lives, not to kill. I feel that I should be able to trust my doctor to do what is best for me as an individual in any situation, including ending unbearable suffering, even if it is my choice to die in order to end my suffering. Doctors may lose the trust of their patients by not helping them to end their suffering. 3. Choosing the time and place of a persons death is Gods decision. This argument suggests that we should never intervene in any life-threatening situation. If a person is having a heart attack, should we just stand by and watch them die? If we were to seek medical attention in order to save his life, we would be interfering with Gods will for that person to die. This argument contains nothing that can be rationally argued against because it does not tell us when it is okay to interfere with Gods decisions. 4. The issue of euthanasia is a slippery slope. Pro-life groups contend that if we allow any type of euthanasia, sooner or later, we would begin killing off not only the terminally ill, but also the handicapped, the poor, the elderly and anyone else who becomes troublesome. The view that we should not make a decision because it could lead to other less prudent decisions later is not a reasonable foundation for setting policies, unless later decisions are definite, and are absolutely wrong. I would hope that the virtue of society would lead us to know where to draw the line between going far enough and going too far. At the present time, it is not clear if where the line is drawn now is where it should be drawn. 5. Euthanasia is killing. Most people believe that there are circumstances when killing is allowed, such as self-defense. The only question is whether or not the killing is justified under the circumstances. In the case of self-defense, killing is justified. The same is true of euthanasia. 6. People who request euthanasia may be requesting it because they are depressed and they may change their minds. I believe that psychological evaluation will detect the mental condition of a patient, and depression, if it exists, can be treated. Patients can be given counseling to determine if their decision is what they truly want. We must determine whether or not patients should be able to be in control of their own lives. 7. Euthanasia violates the difference between passive and active and practices. This argument contends that there is a moral difference between letting nature take its course by terminating treatment when death is inevitable, and actively taking steps to make death come quicker. The question that should be asked of this is What is the best thing to do in a worst case scenario? The answer may be to terminate pointless treatment, or to act in order to bring about a merciful, painless death, that brings to an end terrible, needless suffering. The patient may ask for either one and we may morally grant their request. In either case, death occurs and the patients choice is involved

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Free Essays on Aristophanes’ Speech on Love

In this paper I will discuss Aristophanes’ speech on love found in Plato’s Symposium. I will summarize his speech and explain the characteristics of love as Aristophanes thinks of it. I will also explain Aristophanes’ definition of love, and whether or not love is an admirable or good thing. And finally, I will critically discuss the plausibility and implausibility of Aristophanes’ view of love. Aristophanes, being a comic poet, offers an engaging and mythological perspective on the topic of love. Aristophanes’ speech begins by explaining the nature of man and what has become of it. Aristophanes suggests that long ago, the nature of the original human being was very much different from what it is today. He proposes that human beings once were comprised of two halves; that is to say, they were twice the people they are today. According to Aristophanes, this original primeval man had a round body, his back and sides formed into a circle from which two pairs of arms and legs protruded, he had two faces, and most importantly, two sets of genitalia. Aristophanes goes on to say that there were three different kinds of these original human beings, all of which were differentiated by their gender. Not only were there a female and a male, but a third, a unified androgynous creature that possessed both female and male genitalia. Symbolically, these beings were said to be the children of the sun, earth and the moon. The male was the child of the sun, the female of the earth, and the unified androgynous creature was a child of the moon. These beings were extremely powerful, so powerful that at one point they even decided to challenge the gods. The Gods fought back, but fearing that a total annihilation of these beings would leave the world barren with no one to worship them, instead, decided to sever these creatures in half with a bold of lightning. Upon being severed, these beings became obsessed with unifying themselves into their ... Free Essays on Aristophanes’ Speech on Love Free Essays on Aristophanes’ Speech on Love In this paper I will discuss Aristophanes’ speech on love found in Plato’s Symposium. I will summarize his speech and explain the characteristics of love as Aristophanes thinks of it. I will also explain Aristophanes’ definition of love, and whether or not love is an admirable or good thing. And finally, I will critically discuss the plausibility and implausibility of Aristophanes’ view of love. Aristophanes, being a comic poet, offers an engaging and mythological perspective on the topic of love. Aristophanes’ speech begins by explaining the nature of man and what has become of it. Aristophanes suggests that long ago, the nature of the original human being was very much different from what it is today. He proposes that human beings once were comprised of two halves; that is to say, they were twice the people they are today. According to Aristophanes, this original primeval man had a round body, his back and sides formed into a circle from which two pairs of arms and legs protruded, he had two faces, and most importantly, two sets of genitalia. Aristophanes goes on to say that there were three different kinds of these original human beings, all of which were differentiated by their gender. Not only were there a female and a male, but a third, a unified androgynous creature that possessed both female and male genitalia. Symbolically, these beings were said to be the children of the sun, earth and the moon. The male was the child of the sun, the female of the earth, and the unified androgynous creature was a child of the moon. These beings were extremely powerful, so powerful that at one point they even decided to challenge the gods. The Gods fought back, but fearing that a total annihilation of these beings would leave the world barren with no one to worship them, instead, decided to sever these creatures in half with a bold of lightning. Upon being severed, these beings became obsessed with unifying themselves into their ...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Rights of the Contract Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Rights of the Contract - Research Paper Example Nomar shall acquire rightful ownership that will include executive powers to run the gun business upon payment of the principal sum. Henceforth, all legal procedures and requirements shall be based on his adherence to proper business ethics as outlined in their partnership accord. The principal sum will indicate Mia’s willingness of compliance to the business transfer contract. Thus, the sum will be a commitment for her 50% share ownership in the business. Following the first settlement Nomar will achieve executive rights to purchase all the business assets up to and including inventory, fixtures, trade license, and the remaining seven-year lease of the business store. Use and Disclosure; Rights The business partners shall agree on disclosure of rights and business freedoms as required by the law. Following a successful transfer of ownership, business partners shall be required to comply with regulation that regards to the nature of the business. Considering that the couple is involved in a sensitive business and one that is of national concern, the partners shall be expected to comply with confidentiality as required by the court. Unless authorized by a legal procedure, the business partners shall be expected to withhold any sensitive information that pertains to their business. A mutual agreement will be reached in accordance to the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise. Henceforth, the business associate shall be accountable for any form of disclosure that threatens the very existence of the business or any form of security breach related to their business. In this concern, the associates shall agree not to disclose any sensitive information that would otherwise jeopardize the requirements covered in the business entity.... The business partners shall agree on disclosure of rights and business freedoms as required by the law. Following a successful transfer of ownership, business partners shall be required to comply with regulation that regards to the nature of the business. Considering that the couple is involved in a sensitive business and one that is of national concern, the partners shall be expected to comply with confidentiality as required by the court. Unless authorized by a legal procedure, the business partners shall be expected to withhold any sensitive information that pertains to their business. A mutual agreement will be reached in accordance to the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise. Henceforth, the business associate shall be accountable for any form of disclosure that threatens the very existence of the business or any form of security breach related to their business. In this concern, the associates shall agree not to disclose any sensitive information that would otherwise jeopardize the requirements covered in the business entity.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Prove why this merger would be beneficial for the company Essay

Prove why this merger would be beneficial for the company - Essay Example Thus, a company that merges with a competing firm will benefit from economies of scale, market penetration, and diversification. When the two firms come together to form a single firm, the output increases and the average costs reduce. Budgets for activities such as marketing might be lowered. The new company enjoys increased purchasing power, leading to lowering of the costs of raw materials and other things. Consumers, therefore, enjoy the reduced prices due to the reduced costs. One of the different economies of scale that the merger will bring includes the bulk buying: the merged company will enjoy discounts that come with purchasing large quantities of raw materials. The company will also enjoy a better rate of interest and hence boost its financial position. Additionally, the company will enjoy from technical economies especially if the firm has significant fixed costs since the average costs reduce. Furthermore, the merger will reduce organizational costs since they will merge their operational officer (Tejvan, 2014). The companies will quickly access more customers than before since they have merged their marketing, sales and distribution efforts. If the individual firms had demonstrated success in separate markets, the merger would benefit greatly. For instance, the merger of American automaker Chrysler Corp. and the German automaker Daimler-Benz enabled the new firm, Daimler-Benz, to penetrate markets in both North America and Europe. If both companies competed initially in the same market, they might fail to enjoy the benefit of market penetration since the customers will still see them as separate (Reddy, 2011). Thus, merging of companies that operated in various geographic markets may be more beneficial than those that worked in the same market. Merging allows companies to either combine or start producing a variety of goods and services. Businesses that produce the same products or offer similar

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Child Friendly Schools In Kenya Education Essay

Child Friendly Schools In Kenya Education Essay The purpose of this essay is to explore the contribution of Comparative and International Research in the successful implementation of Child Friendly Schools (CFSs) in Kenya. Emphasis will be placed on the background of CFSs, current practices and emerging critics, success stories, problems and pitfalls and what CIR can do to subjugate some of these challenges. I will start by examining the rationale for exploring CFSs, based on literature and my professional experience. Following this background will be literature surrounding the concepts of CIR and CFS in relation to global agendas, exploring how CFS came into existence and the driving forces behind it. I then go on to focus on a case study of CFS in Kenya, discussing the role of CIR in the Kenyas CFS, arguing that CIR is used as a political tool in creating educational policy, rather than a research method or an intellectual inquiry. I will further critically analyze challenges facing CFS and how knowledge on CIR can contribute mo re effectively to successful implementation of CFS. A conclusion based on the literature and authors experience will then be drawn. Throughout the essay, I build a case in favour of CIR arguing that CIR stimulates critical reflections about our educational systems by investigating commonalities and differences across national borders. Background and Rationale Perhaps, one of the growing fields in education in the modern age is comparative and international education, judged by the volume of studies reported in the literature. Central to this is that many countries around the world have formulated some of their educational policies based on scholarship in CIR. With the current wave of globalization, researchers and experts, especially in the field of education, are always trying to find ways of streamlining their educational policies with the global trends. According to Giddens (1990:64), globalization is the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distance localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa. Global forces therefore have an impact on shaping local practices at grass root levels. In order to do this tactically and critically, comparative and internal research remains cutting edge in informing people about the realities, the challenges and the possible effects of uncritical transfer of ideas. Interestingly, global agendas in matters related to education are prioritized towards basic education as opposed to adult education or higher education. In Africa, this would be probably because, as Oketch (2004) points out, basic education yields higher rates of returns compared to higher education. This has subsequently caused government and non-governmental organizations to focus more on improving the quality of basic education. Child-friendly schools (CFSs) in Kenya is an example of a initiative sponsored by UNICEF with the aim of not just providing children right to education but the right to the right education. In other words, CFSs are more concerned with the quality of basic education in addition to its access. The emergence of CFSs in Kenya was catapulted by the forces of agendas 1 and 2 of Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) which emphasizes on the provision of basic education. The World Education Forum (2000) agreed on six Education For All (EFA) goals. The sixth goal conce rned Education quality, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦improving all aspects of the quality of education and ensuring excellence of all so that recognised and measurable learning outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills. The term quality in education is dynamic because of the social, political and economic context at which it is used. Because of differences in contexts, it is imperative that knowledge of comparative and international research be used in designing policies and pedagogy in CFS that fit that particular context. Furthermore, with the fear that some countries may lag behind as others move forward, sub-Sahara countries are now engaging in various practices in order to achieve this goal, a race against the 2015 set deadline for attainment of EFA goals. As the clock ticks towards the year 2015, priority goals in education may change for post-2015 and the worry is further elevated. One of the efforts the government of Kenya is doing to improve the quality of education is by integrating CFS model into the basic education system. Two major questions arise here: First, how is CFS realistic considering myriad challenges facing the FPE policy in Kenya? Secondly, if CFS model is the best practice to go by, what is the role of CIR in successful implementation of the CFSs? It is against this background that the purpose of the essay hinges. Literature Review In this section, I will look at the concepts of Comparative and International Research (CIR) and Child Friendly School (CFS) based on the literature and merge them with the global forces that catapulted the emergence of CFS with an attempt to unveil the voices behind the introduction of CFS in Kenya. In addition, I will use an example of PRISM experience in Kenya to reinforce the understanding as to the role of international bodies in promoting quality through well strategized and executed projects, arguing that lessons from PRISM experience can be used as insights to successful implantation of CFSs. Concepts of Comparative and International Research (CIR) and Child Friendly School (CFS) CIR is a fusion of two broad areas of research: Comparative Research and International Research. To understand its full meaning, it is important we define the two areas of research separately. In his definition of comparative research, Mills et al (year) argue that: Comparative research is a broad term that includes both quantitative and qualitative comparison of social entities. Social entities may be based on many lines, such as geographical or political ones in the form of cross-national or regional comparisons. (p. 621) A similar perception was echoed by Noah and Eckstein (1969: 127), who described comparative education as an intersection of the social sciences, education and cross-national study [which] attempts to use cross-national data to test propositions about the relationship between education and society and between teaching practices and learning outcomes. In light of this definition, comparative research in the context of education can be defined as a study of two or more entities or events (Crossley Watson 2003) with the underlying goal of searching for similarity and variance. Cross-national or regional comparisons may include comparing educational policies, pedagogy, educational leadership and so on. According to Mills et al (2006: 621), the search for variance places more emphasis on context and difference in order to understand specificities. International education, on the other hand, can be defined as the application of descriptions, analyses and insights learned in one or more nations to the problems of developing educational systems and institutions in other countries (Wilson 2000a: 116). Thus, international research is concerned with research carried out across two or more countries, often with the purpose of comparing responses between them. This might be done in order to devise strategies that work well across both or all these cultures or to suggest local adjustments to a global strategy There is a close relationship between comparative and international education. Epstein (1994: 918) points out, that international educators use findings derived from comparative education to understand better the processes they examine, and thus, to enhance their ability to make policy. We can therefore draw from the above two definitions that CIR in education as a method of comparing both qualitative and quantitative entities in education across different countries, societies or cultures with the aim of identifying similarities and differences. It is however important to note that not all international research is comparative, and not all comparative research is international or cross-national. According to UNICEF, a child-friendly school is both a child seeking school and a child-centred school: It is child seeking because it actively identifying excluded children to get them enrolled in school. It is a child-centred school because it acts in the best interests of the child leading to the realization of the childs full potential, is concerned about the whole child: her health, nutritional status, and well-being and concerned about what happens to children before they enter school and after they leave school. A CFS system recognizes and respects childrens right and responsibilities; it provides the enabling environment to realize childrens right not only in schools, but also in childrens home and their communities. These include children from conflict zones, street children and children with disabilities. The Child-Friendly Schools model (see fig 1) is based on simple, rights-based concepts that would have all schools be: Rights Based School: CFS proactively seeks out-of-school children and encourages them to enrol, irrespective of gender, race, ability, social status, etc. Gender Sensitive School: CFS promotes equality and equity in enrolment and achievement among girls and boys. Safe and Protective School: CFS ensures that all children can learn in a safe and inclusive environment. Community Engaged School: CFS encourages partnership among schools, communities, parents and children in all aspects of the education process. Academically Effective School: CFS provides children with relevant knowledge and skills for surviving and thriving in life. Health Promoting School: CFS promotes the physical and emotional health of children by meeting key nutritional and health care needs within schools. (UNICEF, 2007) Fig 1: Model of the Child-Friendly School Source: UNICEF( 2007. The CFS model provides a framework for planning (and monitoring the effectiveness of) strategies for increasing access to quality basic education with the specific focus on the development of strategies to include those children hitherto excluded from education (UNICEF, Global Education Strategy, 2007). It is important to note that there is no one-way to make a school child-friendly. The model may differ from country to country depending on the context. International and Local Pressures and their influences to formation of CFS in Kenya Education in sub-Sahara Africa, and indeed in Kenya, is crafted from both influences by global trends in education and the legacies of colonialism. Chisholm and Leyenderker (2008) observe that: Since 1990, the goals and purpose of education in sub-Sahara Africa has been reshaped by four interconnected developments: globalisation, the changed focus of international aid agencies towards development assistance, the adaptation of sub-Sahara African countries to the new world order with its new political emphases, and the spilling over of new pedagogical ideas from the USA and Europe into sub-Sahara Africa. (p 198) Kenya is a signatory to a number of conventions in education, including the Convention to the Rights of the Child (1989), the World Declaration on Education for All (Jomtien, 1990), the Dakar accord and the Millenium Development Goals (2000). In achievement of education development goals, Kenya is bound to, among other things, quality education by MDGs. The Jomtien call for access for access, equity, quality and democracy in education appeared to promise both social and economic development (Chisholm and Leyenderker, 2008). Social and economic development, and continues to be believed, requires educational change and educational change is necessary for social and economic development (ibid:). Educational change, in turn, is perceived to depend on, amongst other things, the input from relevant development assistance projects. These projects, in the arena of education, are typically formulated with reference to internationally negotiated development agendas (like the MDGs) and priority (Crossley Watson, 2003). An example of these projects in Kenya is CFSs which are supported by United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF). The Education Section of UNICEFs Programme Division introduced the Child Friendly Schools (CFS) framework for schools that serve the whole child in 1999 (Chabbott, 2004). Rationale for introducing CFS framework in Kenya The increased reliance of foreign aid to support education reform in Kenya has been accompanied by a transition, from understanding education as a human right and the general good to viewing it primarily in terms of its contribution to national growth and well-being through the development of the knowledge and skills societies are deemed to need. (Arnove Torres 2007:359). Occasional voices continue insisting that education is liberating, that learning is inherently developmental (ibid: 359). With the global concern that Sub-sahara Africa countries may not achieve Universal Primary Education (UPE) by 2015 unless the progress is accelerated (Carceles et al., 2001; Bennel, 2002), Kenya responded by introducing Free Primary Education (FPE) policy in 2003 with both local and global pressure. The rationale behind introducing FPE was (apart from the pressure from global and international agendas) to alleviate poverty attributed to lack of literacy skills. The success story behind implementation of FPE policy is the increased enrolment at primary schools by nearly 50%, from 5.9 million in 2003 to 9.38 million pupils according to the Kenya Economic Survey 2011. However, there are myriad challenges facing the implantation of FPE policy: there are not enough textbooks, classrooms are overcrowded and the infrastructure in many schools is inadequate for the numbers of pupils attending. Many of the schools do not have sanitation facilities. The teacher-pupil ratio is quite high: accor ding to UNESCO there are more than 40 pupils per teacher, on average. All of these factors militate against the provision of quality teaching. There is no magic wand for fixing this problem of quality in education. In response to this CFS were introduced in Kenya by UNICEF. According to UNICEF (2006:1): The challenge in education is not simply to get children into school, but also to improve the overall quality of schooling and address threats to participation. If both quality and access are tackled, children who are enrolled in primary school are likely to continue, complete the full cycle, and achieve expected learning outcomes and successfully transition to secondary school. The CFS framework (see appendix 3) aims at promoting child-seeking, child-centred, gender-sensitive, inclusive, community-involved, protective and healthy approaches to schooling and out-of-school education with a general goal of improving the quality of learning. Since CFSs are concerned with the quality of learning, it is important we look at the meaning of quality. The national examinations to obtain the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) at the end of primary cycle and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at the end of secondary cycle are designed to evaluate the extent to which the primary and secondary graduates master the curriculum content. In other words, the national test scores are used as the indicators of quality. The limitation of this indicator is that it does not take into account the context at which learning takes place i.e. the learning environment, learners unique characteristics etc. There are many definitions of quality but one of the descriptions of quality which emphasizes on the context was by Tikly (2011:10) who argued that: A good quality education is one that enables all learners to realise the capabilities they require to become economically productive, develop sustainable livelihoods, contribute to peaceful and democratic societies and enhance wellbeing. The learning outcomes that are required vary according to context but at the end of the basic education cycle must include threshold levels of literacy and numeracy and life skills including awareness and prevention of disease. In his description, Tikly believes that a good quality education arises from interactions between three overlapping environments, namely the policy, the school and the home/community environments. In his perception of quality education, Tikly puts context into consideration i.e. needs of the learner, cultural and political contexts. In addition, he emphasizes on the relevance of what is taught and learned and how it fits the nature of particular learners in question. This encourages policy makers to take cognisance of changing national development needs, the kinds of schools that different learners attend and the forms of educational disadvantage faced by different groups of learners when considering policy options'(ibid:11). The fact that CFS emphasizes on learner-centered pedagogy and puts the child at the centre or focal point in the learning process raises the idea of what is regarded as valuable knowledge and how this knowledge is acquired in this particular context. This leads us to the inquiry on the school of thought or paradigm behind introducing a contextualized CFS framework. CFS as an approach to education is premised on constructivism, a theory of knowledge arguing that humans generate knowledge and meaning from interaction between ideas and real experiences. According to constructivists, the notions of reality and truth are socially constructed and in different context with the understanding that knowledge is subjective and embedded in multiple realities. Thus, quality of learning should be viewed in the context in which it is occurs. Towards Quality Basic Education In Kenya: Developing Research Capacity and Evaluation Before we acknowledge the contribution of CFS in providing quality education to the children at Primary school level, it will be prudent to review some of other contributions that has been made by international organizations in collaborations with the local governmet in promoting quality of education at grassroot levels by building research capacity. Kenya has had a history of benefiting from international assistance in its education sector. One of the programmes is the Primary Schools Management (PRISM), an initiative of DfID through the Ministry of Education, which places a lot of emphasis on participatory approaches and emphasis on mobilising community support, resource management and utilisation, supporting learning of pupils and developing action plans. It targeted teacher training and management and the impact of this is overall effectiveness of an education system which has a direct bearing on quality of education. According to Otieno Colclough (2009:26), PRISM is regarded as one of donor-funded programmes which had most positive impact on quality of basic education and CFS can learn from it. As Crossley et al notes, the main objective of PRISM was to improve the quality of primary education through the training and support of head teachers in practical management skills. Borrowing from the PRISM experience it is worthy l earning that well planned and organized CFSs projects involving community participation at grass root level could help tap local voices and lead to successful implementation of educational policies not only in Kenya but also other parts of African contexts. Challenges in implementing CFS in Kenya In this section I will explore common challenges associated with the CFSs concept with an aim of illuminating and critiquing the gap between policy and practice in CFSs. Access and Quality Dilemma: Which one should be first priority? As I mentioned earlier, one of the role of CFS in Kenya is to improve the quality of learning. But the access to education is still a challenge in Kenya and there is fear that Kenya will not have achieved EFA goals 1 and 2 by the year 2015. As we near the 2015 set deadline for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, at a time when hopes should be high, universal access to primary education in Kenya seems to be slipping away. Many comparative researchers argue that different countries have different educational problems and it is the countrys obligation to identify what should be the priority and why. Aksoy (2008: 218) observes that: While developed countries are mainly engaged in activities to increase the quality of education, or they practice and seek new techniques and methods of learning and teaching, developing countries struggle to provide equal opportunities for education, trying to increase the rate of participation of all citizens in basic education, which is actually compulsory. To deal with its educational problems, each country works out countrywide or local solutions, depending on the nature of the problem. The tone of such statement is more closely allied to the question of priority. Priority in one country may not be a priority in another. In Kenya, the major problem basic education is facing is of access while higher education is facing the problem of quality. CFS focus more on quality, but in the Kenyan context, access to education is still a problem in basic education even after the introduction of FPE. The CFS concept of quality can however suit very well in small state commonwealth countries which have almost universal access to basic education. It has been noted that small sates have now shifted education priorities towards focus in school effectiveness, quality and inclusion (Crossley Watson 2003) and CFS in Kenya should learn from small states that the priority should now be on access to basic education before shifting to quality. Atomizing the child: is child-centred the solution to quality CFS? A key feature of a right-based, CFS system is that it is linked tightly to the child-centred learning process. CFS advocates for child-centred learning where a child is treated as a single entity or an atom in learning processes. The idea of atomizing a child has its drawbacks derived from child-centred learning. First, there is an oversight on early year development behaviour of the child. Psychologists believe children undergo various levels of development and their learning behaviours are different at each level. For instant, Vygotskys (1978) concept of the zone of proximal development (ZPD) implies that a child cannot ordinary create ZPD by himself; he needs the more expert individual to bridge the gap between his current development level and his proximal level of development. Secondly, a child-friendly, democratic learning environment may not work successful in overcrowded classrooms and school with limited resources like it is the case in Kenya. Thirdly, child-centred learning weakens the role of the teacher. The idea that a child must be active in construction of knowledge is often understood to imply a diminishing role for the teacher in learning process who now becomes a coach or a facilitator. A call for paradigm renovation, from an exclusively child-centred learning to a combination of both child-centred learning and teacher-centred learning approach is important so that the weakness of one method is complemented by the other method. What Lessons can Kenya learn from other Countries in Implementing CFS? A Review on the Contribution of Comparative Research Kings (2007) emphasizes the need to explore the tension between the national and the international policy agendas in Kenya in order to make informed decisions when crafting educational policies. Clearly, this is a view that underscores the contribution of CIR researchers in bridging theories, policies and practices with both local and global minds (Crossley, 2000) in trying to identify betters grounds to critically reflect and determine appropriate course of action. Apparently, the term that is commonly used in Kenya and indeed many Africa countries in the initial processes of designing an educational policy is benchmarking. Essentially, this is usually a comparative study which is carried out either locally and/or internationally in trying to compare different models of policy framework with the aim of critical adaption or adoption. Lessons are well learnt when a comparisons are made, and this underscores the strength and significance of comparative research. Moreover, since problems transcend national borders, it is prudent to seek possible solutions from a similar experience in another country, and this explains why international research is important. Kenya can learn from other countries that are either progressing or failing to implement CFS because lessons can either identify opportunities or gaps, based on comparative analysis. In these respect therefore, I have identified two key elements of CIR which could help implementation of CFS. The first element is on identification of the gap between policy and practice. Documenting the emerging good practices and lessons learned within the regions is useful in informing evidence based programming and advocacy to enable us to achieve better results. For example, a Global Evaluation Report published by UNICEF in 2009 on comparative studies of how to six countries (Guyana, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand) with different experiences implementing CFS, demonstrated the following: CFSs in varying contexts successfully apply the three key principles of CFS models-inclusiveness, child-centredness and democratic participation. Schools operating in very different national contexts, with different levels of resources and serving populations with different needs have succeeded in being child-centred, promoting democratic participation, and being inclusive. Schools that had high levels of family and community participation and use of child-centred pedagogical approaches had stronger conditions for learning, that is, students felt safer, supported and engaged, and believed that the adults in the school supported the inclusion and success of each student. (UNESCO, 2009) Kenya can use this success report to assist in providing a broader perspective on the ways in which CFSs can contribute to quality in the countrys unique context. The caution should however be that any steps taken should have hindsight of the current context in the country to avoid uncritical transfer of practice which may end up opening a Pandoras box. Secondly, through CIR, studies of educational systems that share similar problems can provide information for learning possible consequences. A recent comparative evaluation research conducted by UNESCO in Nigeria, Gunaya, Thailand and the Philippines on CFS pedagogy gave different findings. While teachers in Nigeria and Guyana mainly focused on meeting basic instructional material needs (textbooks, paper), many teachers in Thailand and the Philippines focused on having greater access to information and communication technology (UNESCO 2009). Kenya experiences the same challenge as Nigeria and Gunaya, and data from these countries can be used to learn how they coping with inadequate basic instructional material. The caution here should be, that common problems may prevail in different countries, but common model cannot be applied because each country has different culture/context (Crossley Watson, 2003:39). This provides invaluable information of what to adopt, modify or avoid. Conclusion It is worthy reiterating Crossley'(2003) emphasis that context matters and different countries have different needs and priorities even if they are faced with the same challenges. The value of CIR is studying foreign systems of education in order to become better fitted to study and understand our own (Sadler 1900, reprinted 1964:310) and CIR can be used as a lense to focus on adaptable or adoptable practices. UNICEF repeatedly emphasises that CFS is a pathway to educational quality rather than a blueprint and that it is counterproductive to regard the CFS model as rigid, with a present number of defining characteristics or key components (2009c, Ch. 1, p. 9). Thus, the essay sought to present an overview in favour of the contribution of CIR in improving successful implementation of CFSs in the Kenyan context. As such, the essay acknowledges the role of CIR in stimulating critical thinking and reflections about CFSs system by evaluating its success and failures, strengths and weaknes ses. This critical reflection facilitates self evaluation in our own context and the basis for determining appropriate courses of action. The article also hints that CIR helps us understand global agendas and how they shape educational development projects from organizations and development agencies.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Compare and contrast two approaches Essay

Psychology is a huge science area with many variations on approach. Over many years Psychologists such as Freud, Skinner, Rogers and Watson, just to name a few, have contributed, providing us with invaluable tools to evaluate and treat mental illness, understand and treat phobias and indeed provide us with a window into the unconscious mind. In particular, two areas of study have intrigued me, so I believe it would be useful to compare and contrast these two very different approaches. Not only will I compare the methods of research used but also will note any similarities or differences they may have and indeed the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. My chosen approaches to evaluate are Behaviourist V Psychoanalytic. In 1913 John Watson published ‘ Psychology as the behaviourist view it’, in it he outlined his new ideas. These ideas were considered ‘new’ because Watson disagreed with Freud’s view of human behaviour; he dismissed it as ‘ philosophical to the point of mysticism’ (Watson 1913, citied by Christopher D. Green, York University). Watson also dismissed heredity as an important factor in human behaviour shaping. Watson stated that ‘The traditional methods of animal psychology are indeed the true method of scientific psychology’. (Watson 1913, citied by Christopher D. Green, York University). In this article Watson said ‘ The time seems to have come when psychology must discard all reference to consciousness; when it need no longer delude itself into thinking that it is making mental states the object of observation ‘ (‘Psychology as the behaviourist views it’ John Watson, Psychological review, 1913}. By saying this Watson meant that Freud and other Psychoanalysts could not prove their theories and therefore were not scientific. Also they studied abnormal patients (mental patients) so therefore they could not have a true picture. This publication did in fact establish ‘a new school of psychology, the School of Behaviourism’. The essential theories, which stand Watson out from the rest, are that he believed psychologists should look to the relationship between the environment and the behaviour, rather than the presumed contents of the consciousness. The principles that govern behaviour in animals and in  humans are virtually identical. Watson’s aim was to predict and control behaviour. He was able to provide evidence to his theories unlike other unreliable and unverifiable conscious experience studies. A behaviourist believes that the environment motivates behaviour and that a stimulus will create a response, therefore, ‘humans are merely passive respondents.’ This approach rejects the unconscious mind and believes that only behaviour that can be observed should be studied. There are three main areas of study Classical conditioning (Pavlov), Operant conditioning (Skinner) and Observational learning (Bandura). Classical conditioning uses a stimulus response, Pavlov when experimenting with the dog and salivation, conditioned the dog to know when a treat was inevitable by using a bell as the stimulus. He proved that the dog would salivate at the mere thought of food and therefore his learning was by association. In the Skinner experiment he used positive and negative reinforcement as forms of rewards or punishments, this was called Operant conditioning. Finally when using Observational learning (Bandura 1960) its proven to be far more scientific using laboratory for studies and experiments. This seems to be a far more objective approach. The behaviourist approach has a more scientific and objective view and provides a counter argument to the nature theory. By using a few basic principles, behaviourism can explain many characteristics in both human and animal behaviours and has many practical applications. However, on a more negative note it can be said that behaviourism rejects the conscious mental experiences and assumes that individuals are not responsible for their own actions. In addition it over simplifies the explanations for behaviour and experiences. The psychoanalytic approach was started and mainly developed by Sigmund Freud. He became interested in hysteria and was convinced that unconscious mental causes were responsible for all disorders and even ‘normal’ personalities. Freud’s approach and theory were greatly influenced by the  technology of the time (locomotives) along with the work of hypnotist Charcot. Whilst talking to Charcot, Freud realized how talking about traumatic experiences relieved the symptoms of hysteria. He also made a connection between the role of sex and hysterical behaviour. Freud saw sex as a potential cause of emotional stress. Another great influence was Breuer who pioneered cathartic therapy. This therapy was known as the ‘Talking cure’. Freud’s major technique was free association, were a patient would be encouraged to relax and express a free flow of thoughts entering their mind. Another popular therapy of Freud’s was Dream analysis where he would attempt to decode the symbols of a dream. His approach had a huge impact on psychology and psychiatry. Freud’s theory was developed further by Jung, Adler and Anna Freud (his daughter) The Psychoanalyst believed that behaviour was influenced mainly by a part of the mind which we have no awareness of; this was called the Unconscious process. They also believed in Psychic determinism, which dictates whatever we say or do has a cause. Hydraulic drives were believed to create psychic energy which if not released would create tension and anxiety. The two basic drives, which this refers to, are the Sex drive and the aggressive drive. Apparently according to Freud, different parts of the unconscious mind were in constant struggle with each other called the Psychodynamic conflict.. He along with others believed that the personality was shaped as we entered different stages of development. It has become apparent that the only similarity between these two approaches is that both Watson and Freud believed their theory could explain all concepts of human behaviour. They allowed no room for any other explanation. This in its self has causes doubt for both sides of the argument. It is obvious to the reader that there a very few similarities between these approaches, however it seems that both the pioneers solely thought their way was the only way. Both these men used their own theories to explain the same topics, such as: moral development, Aggression and Abnormalities. There are strengths and weakness to all arguments and this one is no exception. Freud’s ideas made a large impact on psychology; however, his theories had little experimental support except on repression and fixation. The psychoanalytic approach has huge explanatory of power on a variety of subjects. His methods were regarded as ‘unscientific’ and incapable of being proved wrong. Many experiments carried out using this theory have failed to support Freud. Psychoanalyst therapy has been widely criticised. Behaviourism was scientific and experimental and left a lasting effect on its subjects. It also provides a strong counter argument on the nature rather than nurture argument. Using simple principles, behaviourism can explain a great variety of phenomena and has many practical implications. So what, if any gain has been made by society by these theories? Far more has been gained from the Behaviour theories than that of the psychoanalyst. This is mainly due to the practical implications applied in today’s terms. The behaviourist approach has produced many practical implications such as education (programmed learning) also the treatment of those with behavioural disturbances such as phobias and behaviour shaping in autism. The Operant conditioning principles are used to train animals to do tasks. This approach has also been used in advertising and in child rearing. The only gain I can acknowledge from Freud and his theories is that of a therapy to help treat mental disorders. I find little evidence, however, that this theory actually works or indeed if the principles explain everything, I find it difficult to find any outcome in this theory. I find the Freudian theory (Psychoanalytic) to be inadequate and non scientific. The behaviourist view seems to be a far more objective approach. It has a more scientific and objective view and provides a counter argument to the nature theory. By using a few basic principles, behaviourism can explain many characteristics in both human and animal behaviours and has many practical applications. However, on a more negative note it can be said that behaviourism rejects the conscious mental experiences and assumes that individuals are not responsible for their own actions. In addition it over  simplifies the explanations for behaviour and experiences. Bibliography Watson, J.B, (1913) Psychology as the behaviour views it. Psychological Review, 20, 158-177 Thomas, R.K. (1997) American journal of psychology, 110, 115-125 Watson J.B (1914). Behaviour: An introduction to Comparative Psychology. New York: Holt. Tony Malim & Ann Birch ‘Introduction to Psychology’ (1998) Graham Hill ‘Psychology through Diagrams’ (1998) www.psychclassics.yorku.ca/Watson/intro.htm www.sntp.net/behaviourism/behaviourism-main.htm www.psych.utah.edu/gordon/Classes/Psy4905Docs.htm