The Color Purple Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Color Purple - Annotated Bibliography Example The paper has been useful in understanding theological aspects of life and how people are confused between being loyal to God and taking actions to free themselves from the bondage. The information there in was very reliable and followed practical problems that bedevil many women. The presentation in the book is in particular important in my quest to understand the theology and how people may misunderstand praising God. The book has been very resourceful in the research about theology of believing and acting toward our own wellness. The novel has been helpful in new understanding of God This book is very explorative in world of theology and based on the female gender. It tries to explain how women are very religious especially when it comes to problems in their matrimonial homes. It compares women in two receiving ends of life: those who were happy in life and those in troubles. The two groups were then critically analyzed in the way they believe in God. In the assessment and evaluation of the book, it proved to be very resourceful to those with interest in theological aspects. Comparing with other sources in my research the book had an edge over the other because it made a comparative and with clear understanding. The information was very reliable and explorative with no biased in the group that were discussed. The goal of this book was to show that mostly people are drawn closer to God because of problem. The book was relevant in reserch work that involves theology of trusting in God. It fit perfectly well in those with interest in understanding way the poor and those who are in troubles end up being over religious This book explains sources of religious inspiration most of people. It explain why some people embrace nature and believe it to have powers to solves there problems while others believe in God in the heaven. In book, the two groups are depicted as having satisfaction in what

George Orwell, 1984 Essay Example for Free

George Orwell, 1984 Essay The introduction of the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four says it all. It cannot be denied that control is present in the society. A few sentences in the first paragraph: â€Å"On each landing, opposite the lift shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran (Orwell 2). † How do you feel when you keep being reminded that someone is looking after you? Or, to be more politically correct, having you under surveillance? The introduction of the book is about Winston Smith who gets inside his London apartment. The tone of the introductory sentences is depressing and dark. The living conditions are undeniably squalid. In this part, it was clear that Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia are the three superpowers that divide the world into pieces. Oceania is where Winston Smith came from (Orwell 1). These superpowers are never in good terms with each other. Because of the wartime conditions that seem constant in the environment and the nature of the countries, the people of Oceania are always repressed. The conditions brought about by war caused the government of Oceania to let its people suffer through repression. The people are always monitored. Surveillance is as common as eating. The party members, however, are not always given enough supply. There is also a private rebellion taking place because the government was no longer humane. In this private rebellion, Winston Smith is a member of the Outer Party. Winston is writing in his diary every single day. Because this decision is crucial, he accepted that what goes with private rebellion is doing some forbidden steps. He has to do forbidden steps because he is serving a party that he did not want to serve (Orwell 2). He buys the diary which was part of the things confiscated during a raid into the proletariats. He meets a young lady outside the shop where he purchased the diary, and he noticed that it is the same girl who keeps on eyeing at him for a few days. Because Winston started feeling that he should be there, and because he felt that the woman was spying on him, he immediately tries to stay away from her (Orwell 2). With this introduction, it clearly shows how totalitarianism has ruled the world. Nineteen Eight-Four is a novel that shows negative utopia. It cannot be denied that totalitarianism was at its most rigid. Totalitarianism was the kind of power used to execute total control of the people (Ellis and Reed, 2008). Orwell had been successful in representing control, in which he introduced through an entity referred to as Big Brother. This has four branches. One is called the Ministry of Love, in which law enforcement is done. The other is called Ministry of Plenty, where economic affairs and issues are handled. The Ministry of Peace is what takes charge of the war taking place in the country and around the world. The Ministry of Truth is the one that manages the dissemination of propaganda. Without the Ministry of Truth, the printed materials and other things needed for administering propaganda won’t be equally distributed. These four ministries make up the government (Ellis and Reed 2). Meanwhile, Winston Smith does not conform to this ideology. This idea is spoon-fed to him, with the concept of Big Brother being used. The government is feeding him with unnecessary things and ideas that he, himself, knows he does not need. Going back to the life of George Orwell, it can be seen that he reflects the character in his novel. George Orwell, like Winston Smith, has the same aesthetic and social characteristics. They both have the same political perceptions. This may be the reason why the novel is undeniably an excellent one, because he could write it as easily as writing his own thoughts, beliefs and feelings. He wrote excellently the representation of control in just simple paragraphs like: â€Å"Behind Winston’s back the voice from the telescreen was still babbling away about pig-iron and the overfulfilment of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it, moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard (Orwell 8). † In the novel, there was clearly no way of being aware about how an individual is being watched. If an individual had to make a sound, someone will always hear it. If an individual is in the dark, then he or she can be safe. But if it is bright out there, then there is no chance that the movement of the individual is monitored and fully observed (Orwell 8). The practice of control as a way of administering power was done through television surveillance in the novel. Security cameras are everywhere. Just about any spot, a speed camera will be seen. The citizens were disturbed, and especially Winston Smith, because the people were not free and they were no longer happy with their lives of what the government was doing to them. In a more physical point of view, George Orwell wrote the following to give the audience a better picture of how the government, in the novel, had controlled and repressed the people (Ellis and Reed 2). The political perceptions of George Orwell are shown through Winston Smith. Aside from Orwell’s perception of politics, he also showed his disbelief, or skepticism, rather, of mass media, through the character of Winston Smith. It is no surprise that George Orwell was skeptic of the media because he has spent some of his time working for BBC, also known as the British Broadcasting Company. By working for BBC, he was able to see how information was distorted before it is distributed to the public (Ellis and Reed 2). The information they got were not presented as is on television. He was aware as he witnessed how propaganda was distorted. Because of his experience in working for a mass media outfit, he knew that whatever the public was getting from the television, the radio and the newspapers were not at all completely true (Ellis and Reed 2). Other information and important facts were omitted before news is aired. Now, he came up with the novel to let the public know what is happening behind authorities, and how much control is being executed before the public gets what it gets (Ellis and Reed 2). Control, in this novel, is clearly represented because it does not state that control is destroying the society just because it is there. The novel Nineteen Eighty-Four clearly suggests that the government, or the state as a whole, is there to manipulate everything. Individuals in the society are being controlled by the state, and control is employed on the information being released to the public. In the novel, the â€Å"telescreen† is a constant object. The telescreen, in the novel, is a tool for control. Everyone needs to have a telescreen. It is a dominant item in any household in London, especially in Airstrip One, the capital city, which used to be referred to as England. Aside from the telescreen, other ways are used to employ power and a quote from the book is here to show it, â€Å"There will be no love, except the love of BIG BROTHER. There will be no laughter, except the laugh of triumph over a defeated enemy. There will be no art, no literature, no science. There will be no distinction between beauty and ugliness. There will be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life† (Orwell 238). Indeed, the state, just like in today’s society, aims to reshape the minds of the people. Whatever is happening in the novel of George Orwell does not end there. It continues and is widely seen in our society today. Out society, through the television, convert our minds into what the government or the media thinks we should think about. The theories of mass media are there to help us understand that for the media to sell, they need to create something interesting for our eyes. We need to see controversies. With all these, we learn to create our sides. Creating our sides is never pure anymore because even before we learn to form our opinion, the media and the state already manipulates the information given to use. The tools we use to shape our minds when it comes to our thoughts on the elections, the issues on war and terror, and economic crisis, are shaped by a higher power by using control.

Materialism in The Great Gatsby Essay -- Great Gatsby Essays

Materialism may be defined as attention to or emphasis on material objects, needs or considerations, with a disinterest in or rejection of spiritual values. The acquisition of material wealth is often equated with happiness in this country. This is true today, and it was true during the 1920's, the setting of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. That the majority of Americans believe that wealth and happiness are the same is a result of our market economy that encourages consumption and conditions us to think that we need material possessions to be happy. According to Andrew Bard Schmookler, "Wealth and human fulfillment have become equated in the predominant ideology of liberal society, even though the great spiritual teachers of humanity have all taught otherwise." (17)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What happened to Gatsby's generation? The 20's were an age of a consumption ethic that was needed to provide markets for the new commodities that streamed from the production lines (Cowley, 53). The same problem exists today ... our materialistic attitudes are a result of the free market economy in this country. Consumers are taught that they need to have all these things that the businesses are trying to sell.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It's true that this desire for things is what drives our economy. The free market has given us great blessings, but it has in some ways also put us on the wrong path -- the path to a selfish, unhappy society. Michael Lerner, who worked as a psychotherapist to middle-income Americans notes that    "The problem is that the deprivation of meaning is a social problem, rooted in part in the dynamics of the competitive marketplace, in part in the materialism and selfishness that receive social sanction.... ...sterlin, Richard A. "Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot?". Nations and Households in Economic Growth:   Essays in Honor of Moses Abramovitz. Eds. Paul A. David and Melvin W. Reder. New York: Academic Press, Inc. 1974 (89-125) Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925. Kasser, Tim, and Richard M. Ryan. "A Dark Side of the American Dream: Correlates of Financial Success as a Central Life Aspiration. " Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 65.2 (1993): 410-13. Lerner, Michael. "Gurus of Cynicism vs. the Politics of Meaning." Houston Chronicle 24 June 1993, 2 star ed.: B11. Montagu, Ashley. Touching.   2nd ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1978. Schmookler, Andrew Bard. "The Insatiable Society: Materialistic Values and Human Needs." The Futurist July 1991: 17-23. J:ofsengclarklcarolyns.doc   

Art vs. Poetry :: essays research papers fc

Could I be an artist? I always thought I had some flare for the arts. I’ve always been considered a creative person. I decided to put my creativity to a different use, however. I opted for a career in helping others get the most out of their careers. Tonight will be my testimony to helping the real artists get recognized. Tonight is Gallery Night.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The weather station did not indicate anything about rain this evening. So, of course, I did not prepare for such a downpour. My lack of preparation has left me with matted, soaking wet hair and my old gym sneakers that I keep in my trunk- rather than the cute brown pumps I started out in that blended perfectly with my skirt. Now, I’m just a mess and look completely unprofessional for Gallery Night. My Public Relations firm has been organizing this event for the past month. Tonight is a big deal. I can’t believe how awful I look for such a high-profile and anticipated night.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Regardless of my appearance, I shook hands, exchanged stories, and matched wits with clients and colleagues all evening. Everyone walked around the room observing the various artistic pieces contributed by numerous â€Å"starting-out† artists. People were being drawn to those certain pieces that caught their immediate attention. One painting that I was fascinated by was vibrantly colored - almost like a comic book. It was a bright red heart with a silver and blue sword piercing it from above. There was a hand clenching the sword’s fore grip. The part of this particular painting that really struck me was the faintly illustrated couple dancing on the blade of the sword, as if the blade were a mirror. Overall, I was amazed at the use of color, defined lines, and emotion that this artist conveyed in his painting. The wall adjacent to me was full of photographs; some were full color, some in sepia, and others black and white. I glanced at this middle-aged woman, dripping in pearls and cashmere, who had one hand on her heart, and the other held her complimentary champagne close to her body as she stared at this one photograph, a black and white photo of a single muddy footprint. I was astounded at how in awe she appeared to be, almost as if she could burst into tears at any moment. I had to know what she saw in this photograph that had her so awestricken.

Independent Learning Essay

Why it is important that I understand what independent learning is? Independent learning is a learning method that can be used as a tool by students to help achieve their final goal. It is important for students to understand what independent learning is particularly when planning on pursuing higher education as they will be expected to use their own initiatives while learning a wide range of materials. However, while this essay is to argue the importance of independent learning, it is also important to note that working and sharing learning methods with and from peers also contributes to success. Independent learning can also be described as a method where students acquire a wide range of knowledge. Factors that contribute to this can be self-motivation, keen interest in specific subjects and ability to recognise the importance of success in life. This type of learning could also give students a chance to self-discover themselves and their individual needs as well as their potential s, strengths and weaknesses. Self-discovery is important in a student life specially while attending higher education as it will put things in perspective for the student and helps to set objectives towards improvements that need to be made. The idea of Independent learning should be encouraged more in schools as it could potentially save teachers time as well as give students flexible and more time to catch up on other work activities. In contrast, Independent learning shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a student just working in his/her own at all times (The Higher education academy, 2013). It should be made possible where a situation of group learning is put in place while at the same time individual goals can be reached independently by the students. Typically this way of learning can help students develop a trustful relationship with their mentor. It could also be a way to let the instructor know that his/her student is able to follow the agreed guidance or the type of help the student may require. This is also a complementary way for students to learn how to conduct a research on a specific topic and present their outcome. As a result, students can gain more depth of knowledge in the area of their interest as well as improve in their written and communication skills. Independent learning is also important in developing as well as improving organizational skills. As students are able to self-direct themselves while learning, they should also be able to plot their own path and value their own work in order to compare  themselves to their peers that are on the same level as them (Michie, 2013). Independent learning could also be seen as a way of preparing in advance for lectures or seminars. This as a result could benefit students. For example, it will allow them to focus on any extra or new materials that are covered in sessions as well as gives them the opportunity to ask questions on what they may not be clear about. Some students may argue that Independent learning don†™t work for them. However, it is up to their teachers or mentors to set some guidance to help students understand the importance. Teachers must be able to meet their students half way. It is important to look into their students’ needs and expectation. They should also allow students to perhaps have a trial session of independent study before expecting them to make a direct transition (The Higher education academy, 2013). Developing the habit of Independent learning early on is vital and becomes handy post-higher education. Many employers like to be assured that potential candidates are able to take their own initiatives in completing tasks and confident in working individually without much supervision. From personal experience, I found that Independent learning has been a great tool towards self-discovery and furthermore helped me challenge myself and continue to do so in day to day life; it gave me self-confidence because I found independent learning as a way and guide that puts new experienc e and learning materials into a more transparent setting. It is fair to say that the obvious life skills such as reading, listening, speaking, viewing and presenting are possible to achieve through Independent learning. However it is also possible to gain other personal skills that we could benefit from on day-to-day basis. For instance our social skills, thinking skills and information presenting skills that are vital in our world today. Most of us are able to use our social skills in order to work with others and contribute to our communities in a positive ways. Valuing the way we think is also very important to help us gain understanding and making good judgment and decisions in life. Finally, as an Independent learner it is easily discovered that information skills gained help us in various ways such as the ability to recognise information when needed, ability to ask relevant questions as well as reflect and evaluate our own learning skills. Independent learning simply deduced is learning that is self-directed. In most higher education institutions particularly at university, independent  learning is presumed to be the driving force behind the teaching-learning process (Moore, 1973, pp. 661–679). Students would be expected to dedicate more time studying on their own to get the most out of their learning experience. Furthermore, exemplifying this belief is the growth and success of institutions solely based on independent learning such as the Open University and other distance learning institutions. Thus it is very important to understand and consider this type of approach towards learning when pursuing higher education. Independent learning is also a great option for adult students who may find it difficult to go back to higher education. In today’s world where online courses are available to suite their flexibility and level makes it easier for them to achieve their goal in their own pace (Ictnz.com, 2013). Independent learning is not just limited to pre-lecture preparations or simply being ahead of one’s peers. Learning via this method could potentially help achieve greater academic and social as well as personal successes. These achievements could be in the forms of new research findings or just improving our personal skills while pursuing our passions at a greater level. Reference Ictnz.com. 2013. What are the sklls of an independent learner? [Online] Available at: http://ictnz.com/Inquiry%20Learning/independent%20learning%20skills.htm [Accessed: 25 Sep 2013]. Michie, J. 2013. What is Independent Learning? [Online] Available at: http://jamesmichie.com/blog/2011/10/what-is-independent-learning/ [Accessed: 24 Sep 2013]. Moore, M. 1973. Toward a theory of independent learning and teaching. The Journal of Higher Education, pp. 661–679. The Higher education academy. 2013. Untitled. [Online] Available at: (http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/internationalisation/isl_independent_learning [Accessed: 26 Sep 2013].

Galileo And Church Essays - Copernican Revolution, Galileo Galilei

Galileo And Church Essays - Copernican Revolution, Galileo Galilei Galileo And Church Galileo, Science and the Church, by Jerome J. Langford, are about the trials and tribulations of Galileo with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1600s. The church did not agree with Galileos ideas; mainly theories associated with Copernican astronomy. The primary intention of Langford is to bring the truth of Galileos trials to his readers, and to show that ultimately Galileo was correct in his theories and was not trying to go against the churches belief. Galileo was merely trying to seek truth in science, and wanted to be known as a historical scientific figure. Therefore, Galileo was unjustly accused, ridiculed, and convicted of heresy. In Galileos defense of heresy, Langford writes, This was an unfortunate decision on several accounts. First the Copernican opinion was treated as heretical when, in reality, it was not. (155) Langford goes on to explain that the theological Consultors in 1616 recognized the earths mobility as formally heretical, but this did not make the immobility of the earth a matter of faith. Catholic philosophers and theologians also agree that the decree of the Holy Office did not make the immobility of the earth or the mobility of the sun a matter of faith. These points clearly support the argument of Galileos unjust conviction of heresy. Langford also uses excerpts of other writings to illustrate his main points. The following is one of many excerpts Langford uses: Inasmuch as no dogmatic decision was rendered in this case, either on the part of the Pope or on the part of a Council ruled by the Pope and approved by him, it is not, by virtue of that decree of the Congregation, a doctrine of faith that the sun is moving and the earth standing still. Yet every Catholic is bound by virtue of obedience to conform to the decree of the Congregation, or at least not to teach what is directly opposed to it.(156) This excerpt, as do many others, clearly support Langfords argument. The church disagreed with Galileos thoughts. They actually went as far as telling Galileo that he was to stop preaching his ideas as long as he was involved with the church. Langford writes, Yet, recalling the tone of the prohibition, Urban conceded that so long as Galileo treated the Copernican theory as a hypothesis, he could write all he wanted on the subject. (114) If he would leave the church, he would be able to voice his opinions and ideas freely. I believe Langfords clever use of excerpts; prove that he is not alone in his belief that Galileo was wrongly accused. He also gets his point across by noting that the immobility of the earth is not a matter of faith. This alone demonstrates that Galileo did not commit heresy. My opinion is that the church should have allowed Galileo to voice his opinion of the Copernican theory because he was trying to seek the truth in science, to better educate the world, not trying to go directly against the church. Therefore, Langford has succeeded in his belief that Galileo was unfairly convicted of heresy. Bibliography none

Criminal Profile of Serial Killer Joel Rifkin

Criminal Profile of Serial Killer Joel Rifkin For five years, Joel Rifkin avoided capture as he used the city streets across Long Island, New Jersey, and New York City as his hunting ground, but once he was caught, it took little time for police to get him to confess to the murders of 17 women. Joel Rifkins Early Years Joel Rifkin was born on January 20, 1959, and adopted three weeks later by Ben and Jeanne Rifkin. Ben worked as a structural engineer and Jeanne was a homemaker who enjoyed gardening. The family lived in New City, a hamlet of Clarkstown, New York. When Joel was three, the Rifkins adopted their second child, a baby girl who they named Jan. After a few more moves the family settled into  in East Meadow, Long Island, New York. East Meadow was then much like it is today: a community of mostly middle to upper-income families who take pride in their homes and  community. The Rifkins blended quickly into the area and became involved in the local school boards and in 1974, Ben earned a seat for life on the  Board of Trustees at one of the towns main landmarks, The East Meadow Public Library. The Adolescent Years As a child, there was nothing particularly remarkable about Joel Rifkin. He was a  nice child but terribly shy and had a difficult time making friends. Academically he struggled and from the start, Joel felt that he was a disappointment to his father who was very intelligent and actively involved on the school board. Despite his IQ of 128, he received low grades as a result of undiagnosed dyslexia. Also, unlike his father who excelled in sports, Joel proved to be uncoordinated and accident-prone. As Joel entered middle school, making friends did not come easy. He had grown into a clumsy adolescent that appeared uncomfortable in his own skin. He naturally stood hunched over, which, along with his unusually long face and prescription glasses, led to constant teasing and bullying from his schoolmates. He became the kid that even the nerdy kids teased. High School In high school, things got worse for Joel. He was nicknamed Turtle due to his appearance and his slow, unsteady gait. This lead to more bullying, but Rifkin was never confrontational and seemed to take it all in stride, or so it appeared. But as each school year passed, he distanced himself further from his peers and chose instead to spend much of his time alone in his bedroom.   Considered to be an annoying introvert, there were no attempts made from any friends to coax him out of the  house unless it was to pull a mean prank, including hitting him with eggs, pulling down his pants with girls around to see, or submerging his head into a school toilet.   The abuse took its toll and Joel began avoiding other students by showing up late to classes and being the last to leave school. He spent much of his time isolated and alone in his bedroom. There, he began to entertain himself with violent sexual fantasies that had been brewing inside of him for years. Rejection Rifkin enjoyed photography and with the new camera given to him by his parents, he decided to join the yearbook committee. One of his jobs was to submit pictures of the graduating students and activities going on at school. However, like so many of Rifkins attempts to find acceptance among his peers, this idea also failed after his camera was stolen immediately after joining the group. Joel decided to stay on anyway and spent a lot of his spare time working on meeting the yearbook deadlines. When the yearbook was completed, the group held a wrap-up party, but Joel was not invited. He was devastated. Angered and embarrassed, Joel once again retreated to his bedroom and  submerged himself into true crime books about serial killers. He became fixated on the Alfred Hitchcock movie, Frenzy, which he found sexually stimulating, especially the scenes that showed women being strangled. By now his fantasies were always made with a repetitive theme of rape, sadism, and murder, as he incorporated the murders he saw on screen or read in books  into his own fantasy world. College Rifkin was looking forward to college. It meant a new start and new friends, but typically, his expectations turned out to be far greater than reality. He enrolled at Nassau Community College on Long Island and commuted to his classes with a car that was a gift from his parents. But not living in student housing or off-campus with other students had its drawbacks in that it made him even more of an outsider than he already felt. Again, he was facing a  friendless environment and he became miserable and lonely. Trolling for Prostitutes Rifkin began cruising the city streets around areas where prostitutes were known to hang out. Then the shy, slouched-over introvert who found it difficult to make eye contact with girls at school, somehow found the courage to pick up a prostitute and pay her for sex. From that point on, Rifkin lived in two worlds - the one that his parents knew about and the one filled with sex and prostitutes and  consumed his every thought. The prostitutes became a live extension of Rifkins fantasies that had been festering in his mind for years. They also became an inexhaustible addiction that resulted in missed classes, missed work, and cost him whatever money he had in his pocket. For the first time in his life, he had women around who seemed to like him which boosted his self-esteem. Rifkin ended up dropping out of college, then enrolling again at another college only to then drop out again. He was constantly moving out, then back again with his parents each time he flunked out of school. This frustrated his father and he and Joel would often get into big shouting matches about his lack of commitment towards getting a college education. The Death of Ben Rifkin In 1986, Ben Rifkin was diagnosed with cancer and he committed suicide the following year. Joel gave a touching  eulogy, describing the love that his father had given to him throughout his life. In truth, Joel Rifkin felt like a miserable failure who was a major disappointment and embarrassment to his father. But now with his father was gone, he was able to do what he wanted without the constant worry that his dark seedy lifestyle would be discovered. The First Kill After flunking out of his last attempt at college in the spring  of 1989, Rifkin spent all of his free time with prostitutes. His fantasies about murdering the women began to fester. In early March, his mother and sister left on vacation. Rifkin drove into New York City and picked up a prostitute and brought her back to his familys home. Throughout her stay, she slept, shot heroin, then slept more, which irritated Rifkin who had no interest in drugs. Then, without any provocation, he picked up a Howitzer artillery shell and struck her repeatedly on the head with it and then suffocated and strangled her to death. When he was certain that she was dead, he went to bed. After six hours of sleep, Rifkin awoke and went about the task of getting rid of the body. First, he removed her teeth and scraped her fingerprints off of her fingers so that she could not be identified. Then using an X-Acto knife, he managed to dismember the body into six parts which he distributed in different areas throughout Long Island, New York City, and New Jersey. Futile Promises The womans head was discovered inside a paint bucket on a New Jersey golf course, but because Rifkin had removed her teeth, her identity remained a mystery When Rifkin heard on the news about the head being found, he panicked. Terrified that he was about to get caught, he made a promise to himself that it was a one-time thing and that he would never kill again. (In 2013, the victim was identified through DNA as Heidi Balch.) Second Murder The promise not to kill again lasted about 16 months. In 1990, his mother and sister left again to go out of town. Rifkin seized the opportunity of having the house to himself and picked up a prostitute named Julia Blackbird and brought her home. After spending the night together, Rifkin drove to an ATM to get money to pay her and discovered he had a zero balance. He returned to the house and beat Blackbird with a table leg, and murdered her by strangling her to death. In the basement of his home, he dismembered the body and placed the different parts into buckets that he filled with concrete. He then drove into New York City and disposed of the buckets in the East River and the Brooklyn canal. Her remains were never found. The Body Count Climbs After killing the second woman, Rifkin did not make a vow to stop killing  but decided that dismembering the bodies was an unpleasant task that he needed to rethink. He was out of college again and living with his mother and working in lawn care. He tried to open a landscaping company and rented a storage unit for his equipment. He also used it to temporarily hide the bodies of his victims. In early 1991 his company failed and he was in debt. He managed to get a few part-time jobs, which he often lost because the jobs interfered with what he enjoyed most - strangling prostitutes. He also grew more confident about not getting caught. More Victims Beginning in July 1991, Rifkins murders began to come more frequently. Here is the list of his victims: Barbara Jacobs, age 31, killed July 14, 1991. Her body was found inside a plastic bag that had been placed into a cardboard box and put into the Hudson River.Mary Ellen DeLuca, age 22, killed on September 1, 1991, because she complained about having sex after Rifkin bought her crack cocaine.Yun Lee, age 31, killed on September 23, 1991. She was strangled to death and her body was put into the East River.Jane Doe #1, was killed in early December 1991. Rifkin strangled her during sex, put her body into a 55-gallon oil drum and dumped it into the East River.Lorraine Orvieto, age 28, was prostituting in Bayshore, Long Island when Rifkin picked her up and strangled her during sex. He disposed of her body by placing it into an oil drum and into Coney Island River where it was discovered months later.Mary Ann Holloman, 39, was killed on January 2, 1992. Her body was found the following July, stuffed inside an oil drum in Coney Island Creek.Iris Sanchez, age 25, killed on Mothers Day weekend , May 10, 1992. Rifkin put her body under an old mattress in an illegal dump area located near the JFK International Airport. Anna Lopez, age 33, and the mother of three children, was strangled to death on May 25, 1992. Rifkin disposed of her body along I-84 in Putnam County.Jane Doe #2 was murdered mid-winter 1991. On May 13, 1992, parts of her body were found inside an oil drum floating in Newton Creek in Brooklyn, New York.Violet ONeill, age 21, was killed in June 1992 at Rifkins mothers home. There he dismembered her in the bathtub, wrapped the body parts in plastic, and disposed of them in rivers and canals in New York City. Her torso was found floating in the Hudson River and days later other body parts were found inside of a suitcase.Mary Catherine Williams, age 31, was killed at Rifkins mothers home on October 2, 1992. Her remains were found in Yorktown, New York the following December.Jenny Soto, 23, was strangled to death on November 16, 1992. Her body was found the following day floating in Harlem River in New York City.Leah Evens, 28, and the mother of two children  was killed on February 27, 1993. Rifkin buried the corpse in the woods on Long Island. Her body was discovered three months later. Lauren Marquez, 28, was killed on April 2, 1993, and her body was left in the Pine Barrens in Suffolk County, New York, on Long Island.Tiffany Bresciani, 22, was Joel Rifkins final victim. On June 24, 1993, he strangled her and put her body in his mothers garage for three smoldering days before getting the opportunity to dispose of it. Rifkins Crime Is Discovered At around 3 a.m. Monday, June 28, 1993, Rifkin swabbed his nose with Noxzema so that he could tolerate the pungent odor coming from the corpse of Bresciani. He placed it in the bed of his pickup truck and got on Southern State highway headed south to Melvilles Republic Airport, which is where he planned to dispose of it. Also in the area were state troopers, Deborah Spaargaren and Sean Ruane, who noticed Rifkins truck did not have a license plate. They attempted to pull him over, but he ignored them and kept driving. The officers then used the siren and a loudspeaker, but still, Rifkin refused to pull over. Then, just as the officers requested backup, Rifkin tried to correct a missed turn and went straight into a utility light pole. Unhurt, Rifkin emerged from the truck and was promptly placed in handcuffs. Both officers quickly realized why the driver had not pulled over as the distinct odor of a decaying corpse permeated the air. Tiffanys body was found and while questioning Rifkin, he casually explained that she was a  prostitute that he had paid to have sex with and then things went bad and he killed her and that he was headed to the airport so that he could get rid of the body. He then asked the officers if he needed a lawyer. Rifkin was taken to police headquarters in Hempstead, New York, and after a short period of questioning by detectives, he began to reveal that the body they discovered was just the tip of the iceberg and offered up the number, 17. The Search for Rifkins Victims A search of his bedroom in his mothers home turned up a mountain of evidence against Rifkin including womens drivers licenses, womens underwear, jewelry, prescription drug bottles prescribed to women, purses and wallets, photographs of women, makeup, hair accessories, and womens clothing. Many of the items could be matched to victims of unsolved murders. There was also a large collection of books about serial killers and porn movies with themes centered on sadism. In the garage, they found three ounces of human blood in the wheelbarrow, tools coated in blood and a chainsaw that had blood and human flesh stuck in the blades. In the meantime, Joel Rifkin was writing a list for the investigators with the names and dates and locations of the bodies of 17 women he had murdered. His recollection was not perfect, but with his confession, the evidence, missing person reports and unidentified bodies that had turned up over the years, 15 of the 17 victims were identified. The Trial in Nassau County Rifkins mother hired an attorney to represent Joel, but he fired him and hired law partners Michael Soshnick and John Lawrence. Soshnick was a former Nassau County district attorney and had a reputation for being a top-notch criminal lawyer. His partner Lawrence had no experience in criminal law. Rifkin was arraigned in Nassau County for the murder of Tiffany Bresciani, to which he pleaded not guilty. During the suppression hearing which began November 1993, Soshnick tried unsuccessfully to get Rifkins confession and his admission to killing Tiffany Bresciani suppressed, based on the grounds that the state troopers lacked probable cause to search the truck. Two months into the hearing, Rifkin was offered a plea deal of 46 years to life in exchange for a guilty plea of 17 murders, but he turned it down, convinced that his lawyers could get him off by pleading insanity. Throughout the four-month hearing, Soshnick offended the judge by showing up to court late or not at all and often arriving unprepared. This irritated Judge Wexner and by March he pulled the plug on the hearing, announcing that he had seen enough evidence to reject the defense motions and he ordered the trial to begin in April. Infuriated by the news, Rifkin fired Soshnick, but kept Lawrence on, even though it would be his first criminal case. The trial began on April 11, 1994, and Rifkin pleaded not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. The jury disagreed and found him guilty of murder and reckless endangerment. He was sentenced to 25 years to life. The Sentence Rifkin was transferred to Suffolk County to stand trial for the murders of Evans and Marquez. The attempt to have his confession suppressed was again rejected. This time Rifkin pleaded guilty and received an additional two consecutive terms of 25 years to life. Similar scenarios were played out in Queens and in Brooklyn. By the time it was all over, Joel Rifkin, the most prolific serial killer in the history of New York, was found guilty of murdering nine women  and had received a total of 203 years in prison. He is currently housed at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Clinton County, New York.

Solar Heating †Converted Energy From the Sun

Solar Heating – Converted Energy From the Sun Free Online Research Papers Solar Heating Converted Energy From the Sun Solar heating is energy from the sun that is converted into either thermal energy or electricity. It is a renewable resource that is environmentally friendly. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy is available just about everywhere on earth. This type of energy is free, and cannot be raised in price. Solar energy is also one of the major sources of the world’s power. It is used to provide lighting, mechanical power, and electricity in cities all around the world. Energy from the sun in the form of heat can be utilized either passively or actively to replace traditional energy sources in commercial and residential buildings and homes. This type of energy can also be used to keep a person warm and may also assist in the warming up of food. Passive solar energy is one form of solar energy. This kind of energy represents an important strategy for replacing traditional energy sources in buildings. Anyone who has sat by a sunny window on a cold winter day has felt the effects of passive solar energy. All passive techniques use walls, windows, floors and roofs, in addition to exterior building elements and landscaping, to control the heat generated by solar radiation. The term passive means that no extra mechanical equipment is used, other than the normal building elements. Passive solar heating of buildings happens when sunlight passes through a window, hits something, is absorbed by that object and is converted to heat. Once the heat has entered the building, many different methods are used to keep and scatter it. A well-insulated and airtight building helps prevent heat loss and allows solar heat to provide more of the heating needed. Approximately 25 percent of a buildings heating requirement can be gained with passive solar techniques. Active heating of buildings is one of the major uses of the suns energy. In some cases, the cost is almost as high as that of non-renewable energy sources. One way of actively heating a building is by using solar energy to heat water in solar collectors, then transferring the heat to the rest of the house by liquid or air. Another way to actively heat a building is to heat air and send the heated air throughout the rest of the building. In addition to those methods, a building can be heated by using the solar energy found in the environment in the form of heat through heat pumps. The amount of heat that these techniques can generate is dependent on the strength of the sun’s rays. Solar energy can be used to warm up food in numerous ways. The Solar Oven is one way to cook food using solar energy. This product’s energy source is the sun, which is absolutely free. It also provides food without the taste of smoke or gas and does not need to be preheated with charcoal or wood. Solar energy can also be used to keep people and animals warm. Radiant Space Heating is a strategy that conserves a lot of energy and brings warmth to many areas in a house or building. Radiant heating works basically with different kinds of forced air. It controls the heat loss from a person’s body. Heat leaves the body in three ways, through breathing, airflow, and radiation. However, half of all the bodys heat loss occurs through radiation. Therefore, if the air surrounding a person is heated using solar energy then the amount of heat loss through radiation is reduced and the person stays warm longer. Solar energy in the form of heat is the least polluting of all known energy sources. Today, we are just beginning to discover its ultimate potential. While solar energy has been available to mankind since prehistoric times, it has not been as effectively used as other sources of energy. The challenge that today’s society faces is creating a system that provides a reliable energy supply using solar heat. Definitions Solar collectors- any of various devices for the absorption of solar radiation for the heating of water or buildings or the production of electricity. Solar energy- energy obtained from radiation emitted by the Sun. Passive solar heating system- relies on natural methods of collecting and distributing heat from the sun. Active solar heating system- collects heat from the sun and circulates it through a hot water or heating system. Radiant heating- A system to heat and cool buildings that relies primarily on radiation heat transfer. Typically, heated or chilled water is circulated though floor or ceiling panels to condition the space. Non-renewable resource- an energy resource that is not replaced or is replaced only very slowly by natural processes. Primary examples of non-renewable energy resources are the fossil fuels: oil, natural gas, and coal. â€Å"Glossary of Solar Heating†. Graylab 1995. 17 November 2001. . McLaughlin, Charles W., Thompson, Marilyn. Physical Science. New York City: McGraw- Hill Companies, Inc., 1999. 163- 165. â€Å"Solar Heating†. ACRE 1997. 12 November 2001. . â€Å"Solar Heating and You†. Consumer Energy Information 1998. 14 November 2001. ddddd . Sun (astronomy). Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2001. 14 November 2001. . Research Papers on Solar Heating - Converted Energy From the SunPETSTEL analysis of IndiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfMind TravelThe Spring and AutumnThe Project Managment Office SystemOpen Architechture a white paperGenetic EngineeringQuebec and CanadaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Ten-Year History on Merck (MRK) and Eli Lily (LLY) Essay

Ten-Year History on Merck (MRK) and Eli Lily (LLY) - Essay Example Eli Lily and Company emerged in 1876 and currently has over $20 billion in annual revenue. This report constitutes a broad ranging analysis on these companies over the last ten years and provides a recommendation of which company would be a more desirable acquisition. Qualitative, Cultural, Social There are a number of notable incidents that have occurred in the last ten years of these companies’ histories. While the 2008 economic recession is a prominent consideration that had a detrimental impact on both organizations, there are other problems that have been encountered. For Merck perhaps the most prominent such issue is the 2007 price fixing settlement the company reached, as the company had to pay over $20 million dollar out-of-court settlement with the Department of Health over oligopolistic price fixing in terms of its pharmaceutical drugs (Bowers 2005). Eli Lilly found similar legal troubles as they had to pay a reported $1.42 billion in fines levied by the United State s Justice Department for improper marketing techniques in relation to the company’s anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa. ... From this period the equity valuation went on a steady decline until its November 16th, 2004 trading price of $26.41. While the stock is dividend driven, it’s clear that during this three years period there was a substantial market correction. From the November 16th, 2004 trading price made a steady climb and three years later on November 16th, 2007 the equity had largely regained its equity valuation and was trading at $58.38 ("Financial statement," 2011). The subsequent economic recession and the company price crashed to a ten year low of $25.43 by December 28th, 2009. Since then the stock has slowly climbed and is not trading at $35.67 ("Financial statement," 2011). The clear implication is that the company has demonstrated a past top over $60.00 and that there is strong historical precedent for the current $35 trading price to continue to grow. The Merck equity financials can be compared to those of Eli Lily in an attempt to determine both companies’ financial stren gths in relation to each other as market as macro-concerns within the health care sector. In this context of understanding it’s demonstrated that both companies share slightly similar trends in terms of equity valuation. In November 16th, 2001 Eli Lilly was trading at $79.02. The company witnessed a steady decline in this market price that was topped off by the 2008 recession. By November 16th 2009 the company was trading at $35.36, greatly similar to its current market price of $37.65 ("Financial statement," 2011). While both companies are dividend driven and currently share a similar market valuation, one of the prominent concerns is that while Merck experienced significant ups and downs in valuation, Eli Lilly has demonstrated a steady

Employment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Employment Law - Essay Example ee is used to make employment decisions that affects that particular individual; or, submission to sexual nature conduct is made implicitly or explicitly a condition or a term of employment of an individual (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). From the facts of the case, it is evidently clear that the conduct of Mr. Clark, the V.P towards Ms. Jensen amounts to sexual harassment. He requests her to spend a weekend at his cabin in Yosemite so as to discuss the details of him offering her a V.P position. While there, he tells her how lovely she is and that he had his eye on her from the first interview. He goes ahead and leans over to take a kiss, but she moves away. It is at that point that point that Mr. Clarke reacts and then relates: â€Å"why did you think I would offer you such position at your age†? Don’t you realize that unless you are my girl, you will never amount to anything in this company?† Ms. Jensen agrees at that point but realizes the next day that it was a mistake, and tells him she does not want the position with his condition. This scenario clearly amounts to sexual harassment, and as such, sexual harassment law should be applied. Majorly, there are two areas of sexual harassment, namely: Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment. Quid Pro Quo harassment is that which employment decisions for a particular employee are based on rejection of or submission to unwelcome sexual behavior. A good example for this type of harassment is when a supervisor fires an employee because of rejecting his sexual advances. On the other hand, Hostile Work Environment harassment happens when working environment creates unwelcome sexual behavior directed at an employee because of his or her sex that is intimidating, hostile, and/or offensive and therefore adversely affects performance of an employee (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). Ms. Jensen’s case falls under Quid Pro Quo harassment because it comes from her supervisor. As such, the company

Sickle cell disease Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Sickle cell disease - Research Proposal Example Pain treatment among SCD patients reflects not only the access and availability of health care but also prevailing practices and knowledge about the disease, its prognosis and pathology. This paper will determine the various methods employed in nursing interventions for the treatment, control, and reduction of pain among SCD patients in a Kendall Regional Hospital in-patient section from January 2009 to January 2010. It will also determine the immediate effect of employing such methods. By determining these methods and their frequency of use, it will be able to highlight available options for the underserved patients as well as provide an understanding to best practices, knowledge about the control of pain on SCD patients, what, and how or why a certain method is most or least frequently used. -Introduction Sickle cell disease or SCD has been seen as one of the diseases identified with minority groups or those with less access to health care services. ... It is characterized by the failure of the spleen to function optimally even in the first months of birth that usually leads to overwhelming pneumococcal infection, usually at 20% mortality rate for patients under 5 years old (Overturf, 1999). Since access to health care is seen as one of the main problems for SCD patients, it becomes important to identify ways to mitigate its most immediate or important effect on patient which is pain described as chronic, acute or both. Pain management is an important element of care for SCD patients. It is with the related goal to identify pain treatment, control or reduction that this study will proceed. Quality of life is an overarching goal for patients even with those genetic disorders. Pain reduction is usually related to increased patient satisfaction and improved quality of life even in conditions of disease and chronic pain. Chronic pain has been reported by people with SCD even when they now have chances of living a longer life. Use of pai n relieving, controlling and treatment method for patients with SCD is then important for the determination of quality delivery of health care services. Various methods are employed in HMO settings to treat SCD patients in reducing, controlling, and treating pain. These are influenced by the pain assessor, patient access, affordability, availability, knowledge and orientation of administrator, and other factors that may be present during prescription or administration. This research will identify the methods used at Kendall Regional Hospital in-patient section, their frequency of use, what is the most popular method preferred, and determine the immediate effect of employing such methods. -Purpose of the study The purpose of this study is to

Article Critique Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Article Critique - Research Paper Example The model was measured as the best. Question 3: The key aspects noted on the article is that social disparities may have been a factor in the study since the community would not allow an individual who is sick and needs blood not to be given since this will cause problems in the community between the patients family and the entire community. Question 4: The study of Jehovah Witness can be used for future research on behavioral change within this population group to deriver to the society and culture more information that are not applicable and thus able to curb the ones may cause death to an individual. Question 5: According to the article the limitation of this study is that behavioral changes theories are not universally accepted and thus they are criticized by the community. Transtheoretical theory may be affected since it emphasizes change model for it to be applicable since the community is on there

Two Concept on Liberty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Two Concept on Liberty - Essay Example Similarly, positive liberty may entail what a person would do in order to withdraw from the world around him or her and the injustices of the tyranny of the many and tyrant. This paper therefore seeks to explain how the concern for positive freedom and autonomy can lead to tyranny ultimately according to Isaiah Berlin and also evaluate his arguments critically. The notion of the positive liberty is derived from an aspiration on the side of a person to his or her own master. It is actually the freedom to live as one sees fit and not freedom from the same. The freedoms may seem not to be apart, but according to Berlin, the ideas of freedom are historically developed in the different directions which ended up getting into direct conflict with each other. This may be illustrated by analyzing the question of what it is to be your own master. In his view, Berlin asserts that we can be spiritual slaves or slaves to the nature as well as we can be physical slaves. He also says we can justify coercion through claiming that we act in the interest of those we are coercing, and if only they could have self awareness, they would realize the probity of those our actions. Isaiah Berlin states that the conceptions of the freedom and liberty are directly derived from the conceptions that constitute a person. If one manipulates the definition of a man, the definition of freedom as one deems fit. These give one authorities which might lead to tyranny in the end. Due to the fact that positive liberty is the freedom to realize the best good in history, Berlin was indomitable to apply political power to set human beings free to realize some end of history. That determination that Berlin argued led to repression inevitably. This could possibly result into tyranny as individuals would do what they deem fit in their own eyes. It is the same positive liberty according to Berlin that brings a notion that any enslaved man cannot be able to make decisions that encompass his freedom. This i s due to the loss of ability to choose as a wish; hence one cannot say rightly that he or she can choose to make a decision if that particular decision has intrinsic weight on it from the authoritarian slaveholder. Isaiah Berlin derived positive liberty from the theories that focused on the capacity of an individual to rule himself or herself, autonomy of the agent. In his account, he realized that Rousseau equated freedom to self rule and obedience to self rule which he considered dangerous. With this equation, he alleged that Rousseau meant that a public or common interest, that which is best for all citizens. The general will of people would be at odds with the individual’s selfish wills. This would ultimately lead to tyranny if critically looked into as everyone would be doing only what interest them. Other theorists of the positive freedom gnaw the bullet and assert that the satisfied slave is free indeed and that in order to gain freedom, an individual must first learn not to dominate so much certain empirical desires and get rid of them, in other words, one must remove as many of his or her desires as possible in order to be free. As Berlin states it, if I got a wounded leg â€Å"there are two ways of freeing myself from pain. One is to heal the wound. Another is to get rid of the wound by cutting off my leg†

Article Critique Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Article Critique - Research Paper Example The model was measured as the best. Question 3: The key aspects noted on the article is that social disparities may have been a factor in the study since the community would not allow an individual who is sick and needs blood not to be given since this will cause problems in the community between the patients family and the entire community. Question 4: The study of Jehovah Witness can be used for future research on behavioral change within this population group to deriver to the society and culture more information that are not applicable and thus able to curb the ones may cause death to an individual. Question 5: According to the article the limitation of this study is that behavioral changes theories are not universally accepted and thus they are criticized by the community. Transtheoretical theory may be affected since it emphasizes change model for it to be applicable since the community is on there

Organisational Behaviour AEGON Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Organisational Behaviour AEGON - Assignment Example This was carried out through a launch of new products in the UK that were innovative and they captured the different financial status of the customers. Every customer, therefore, had a product they could associate with and which they could afford. The brand promotion was also carried out through changing the name of their other companies to include the name AEGON in them such as was the case for AEGON Scottish Equitable. The brand promotion also involved endorsing a British female athlete as a way to create a closer association with the same people it was trying to promote their products to. Internal forces for change The most important internal forces of change that AEGON undertook were to develop its workforce. They developed the skills of its workers to match the needs of the customers. This way, the employees were well equipped to handle the customers’ needs as well as the new products that were developed. The organization in the other successful nations such as in the US is renowned for its employees that are experts, innovative and have good communication skills. This was what the organization wanted its UK-based employees to be renowned for as another way to attract more customers hence increasing their skills. AEGON could not expect to make any changes externally without having to change their culture which was making them fail to get established in the UK in the first place. Culture change involved the employees and managers changing their attitude, behavior, values as well as belief.

George Washington Essay Example for Free

George Washington Essay George Washington faced many challenges during his presidency. Some of these challenges were difficulty of setting up a new government, domestic difficulties, and foreign affairs. He had a hard eight years of presidency but he mostly resolved all the problems. One of his challenges was setting up a new government. This was hard because people just revolted against their last form of government. They revolted against their last government because taxation was a major issue. Collecting federal taxes as a tricky issue. The whiskey rebellion was a rebellion over the tax on alcoholic beverages such as whiskey. Washington wanted to stop the rebellion by establishing power of the federal government to keep order and collect taxes. Another issue that relates to this is paying off war caused by most colonies. Another challenge was Domestic difficulties. Years of war had not whatsoever helped the US economy. Most of these people were facing very hard times. The Constitution did not receive accepted support. And the Colonies were used to dealing with their own affairs. The conflict between colonies rights and the Federal governments power was more legit and significant than ever. There was a lot of fear about a new Revolution which formed more circumscriptions on personal freedom than ever. Two political factions appeared even within Washington’s cabinet. One last issue was foreign affairs. There were potential problems with France and Great Britain on top of gaining respect from Europe for the beginning of a new government. Also, the British had not removed there soldiers from the northwest of the United States. They also supplied weapons and support to the Indians in their resistance to the settlers. Louisiana and Florida were controlled by the French and British along with all of the land west and south. Spain and Britain wanted to colonize North America and they made no effort to secretize it. George Washington had many challenges during his Presidency such as, difficulty of setting up a new government, domestic difficulties, and foreign affairs. Although this was hard George Washington managed to take care of it. George Washington clearly faced many challenges.

Conflicts Among Co Workers Cultural Studies Essay

Conflicts Among Co Workers Cultural Studies Essay Abstract Due to globalization, more interaction among Mauritian from diverse cultures, beliefs and backgrounds are increasing more than ever before in the working environment. Most people and companies are facing the need to communicate cross-culturally. Therefore, maximizing and capitalizing on workplace diversity has become an important issue for management today. Unfortunately, due to cultural prejudices and ethnocentrism of some co-workers, most employees form culturally diverse workgroups are unable to cooperate and work together in an organization. Thus, it consequently creates conflicts and barrier to communication resulting in an improper business environment. Acknowledgement Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction of the project The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that cause conflicts among co-workers from culturally diverse workgroups. The link has to be established between those two factors conflicts and culture. This study target the whole Mauritian population as potential respondents, being a multi cultural country most of us have experienced at least once the impact that our culture may have on our relationship with colleagues, on our work and people reactions towards us. Communication and mutual understanding among us is sometimes the root to conflict resolution. Thats why throughout the researches and analysis of data much focus would be laid on sources of conflicts, culture impacts, double effects of diversity and communication as a solution to bridge the gap. Problem Statement In a multi-cultural country like Mauritius Island, increased cultural diversity in work places has aroused considerable attention to conflict management and intercultural sensitivity. Diverse workgroups pose several challenges (Egan and Tsui, 1992; Ayoko and Hartel, 2002). However, few studies have investigated these two concepts conflict and culturally diverse workgroups (CDWS) together. The present study aim to bridge the gap in this line of research with an examination between those two concepts situations stated below. Some studies in this area shows that diverse workgroups are hampered by process loss (Milliken and Martins, 1996), high levels of conflict (Egan and Tsui, 1992) and low levels of cohesion and social integration (Hambrick, 1994). Although conflict is not limited to culturally diverse workgroups (CDWs), (see Jehn, 1997; Tjosvold, 1991a, b, c), the potential for conflict in Mauritian companies for CDWs is greater than culturally homogeneous workgroups because of the operation of cultural prejudices, biases and stereotypes as well as value differences (Harrison et al., 1998). These factors are proposed to affect processes such as communication in CDWs (see Larkey, 1996). Previous studies also suggest that a groups demographic composition influences communication between group members because people tend to communicate with those who are similar to themselves (Zenger and Lawrence, 1989). Group members, who perceive themselves as similar, tend to communicate with each other more openly. When group members perceive themselves as dissimilar, communication is impacted negatively. Specifically, demographic diversity is associated with increased problems with communication, co-ordination, dysfunctional conflict and a potential for decreased performance (Pelled et al., 1999). It is argued that communication openness is antecedent to the differing group members reactions to conflict events, which, in turn, are proposed to impact groups task and social outcomes. Aim of Study The aim of this study is to determine whether employees from culturally diverse workgroups are ground for organizational conflicts among co-workers. The present study also aims to assess the role and impact of communication openness as a conflict resolution method among work groups of different cultural backgrounds. Objectives of Study To establish the link that relates conflict to cultural backgrounds in the working environment. (or To establish the factors that leads to cross-cultural conflict in the working environment) Analyzing people mindset towards colleagues from other cultures. Assessing sources of conflict that may arise and its impact within employees from culturally diverse workgroups. Assessing communication openness impact as a conflict resolution method for multi cultural interaction among employees. Outline of Study Chapter 2: Review of Literature Introduction Conflict Nature of Conflict For long conflict has been considered as one of the most important aspect of modern management (Wilson Jerrell, 1981). Augsburger (1992:11) defined conflict as a crisis that forces us to recognize explicitly that we live with multiple realities and must negotiate a common reality; that we bring to each situation differing frequently and must negotiate a common reality; that we bring to each differing- frequently contrasting- stories and must create together a single shared story with a role for each and for both. Commonly, conflict may be understand as a feeling, a disagreement, a real or perceived incompatibility of interests, inconsistent worldviews, or a set of behaviors (Mayer, 2000:3). In todays organizations conflict is viewed as unavoidable in organizations and groups of people due to the complexity and interdependence of organizational life. Theorists are still debating throughout the researches to know whether it is beneficial or harmful to companies. Organizational conflict theorists such as Pondy (1967) and Brown (1984) suggested that conflict is of uttermost importance to the good functioning of an organization; moreover they suggest that much more attention must be focus on the causes and resolution of these conflicts (Schmidt and Kochan, 1972; Brown, 1983). Sources of conflict/Contributors to conflict at the Workplace The possible sources of conflict are poor communication, competition for common but scarce resources, incompatible goals and the like14. Fisher (1997) notes, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦both individuals and groups have undeniable needs for identity, dignity, security, equity, participation in decisions that affect them. Frustration of these basic needsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.becomes a source of social conflict According to Plunkett and Attner (1989), the sources of conflict include; shared resources, differences in goals, difference in perceptions and values, disagreements in the role requirements, nature of work activities, individual approaches, and the stage of organizational development. Gray and Stark (1984) suggested that there are six sources of conflict. These are: 1) Limited resources; 2) Interdependent work activities; 3) Differentiation of activities; 4) Communication problems; 5) Differences in perceptions; 6) The environment of the organization. According to these writers, conflict can also arise from a number of other sources, such as: 1) Individual differences (some people enjoy conflict while others dont); 2) Unclear authority structures (people dont know how far their authority extends); 3) Differences in attitudes; 4) Task symmetries (one group is more powerful than another and the weaker group tries to change the situation; 5) Difference in time horizons (some departments have a long-run view and others have a short -run view). Another author Deutch in camp bell et-al (1983:187) identified a list of sources of conflict. These are; control over resources, preferences and nuisances, values, beliefs, and the nature of relationships between the parties. The classification of conflict is often made on the basis of the antecedent conditions that lead to conflict. Conflict may originate from a number of sources, such as tasks, values, goals, and so on. It has been found appropriate to classify conflict on the basis of these sources for proper understanding of its nature and implications. Dealing with conflict/ Conflicts Resolution Methods/ Conflict Management Styles (techniques) Researchers have identified several modes or styles people use to deal with conflict. While the most widely-understood paradigm for resolving conflict may be that of fight (i.e. to compete and win the conflict) or flight (i.e. to avoid people with whom one is in conflict), it is also common to find managers who have other styles of dealing with workplace conflict. Follett, a classical management theorist, was many decades ahead of her time when she conceptualized three styles of handling conflict domination, compromise, and integration and argued for an integrative approach to conflict resolution (Metcalf and Urwick, 1940). Schmidt and Tannenbaum (1960) discuss four approaches to conflict resolution avoidance, repression, competitive and collaborative with the most appropriate approach depending on informational, perceptual, role, and other factors. Types and levels of Conflicts Thomas (1976) is generally credited for popularizing five general styles or strategies for managing conflict avoiding, obliging/accommodating, dominating, compromising, and collaborating/integrating. He also categorized these styles by two key dimensions: (1) The degree of concern for self, which can also be viewed as assertiveness or how assertive one is likely to be in pursuing ones interests; and (2) The degree of concern for others, or how cooperatively one is willing to engage the other party. Conflict management styles/modes Research on conflict styles suggests that managers tend to use one or two styles regardless of whether those styles are most appropriate for the situation, and that managers respond to a conflict situation based on the way they feel instead of the way they should respond (Aldag and Kzuhara, 2002; Hellriegel et al., 2001; Whetten and Cameron, 2002). Several scholars (e.g. Thomas and Kilmann, 1974) have developed questionnaires to help managers gain a deeper understanding of their dominant style of conflict-resolution behavior and help them determine whether changes in their style could increase their effectiveness in resolving conflicts. The literature suggests that: . Variations of these styles may be appropriate under certain conditions; . Managers should be aware of their dominant style; and . Managers should make a conscious effort to choose the best style for each situation. Based on an extensive review of scientific studies, Rahim (2001) concluded that there appears to be agreement among scholars that the collaborative or integrative style is the superior approach to handling workplace conflicts because it promotes creative problem solving and fosters mutual respect and rapport. They point out that a consistent application of this style offers the greatest probability of producing win-win results for both involved parties. Consequently, in an attempt to achieve win-win outcomes, many scholars (e.g. Fisher and Ury, 1982; Dana, 2001; Cloke and Goldsmith, 2000; Rahim, 2001) have offered specific to do lists or steps. A review of these approaches to conflict resolution suggests that although there is general consensus regarding the basic principles of developing a win-win strategy (see following list), there is no structured, systematic approach to developing win-win solutions to organizational conflicts. The four points of principled negotiation (Adapted from Fisher and Ury, 1982) are as follows: (1) Separate the people from the problem. (2) Focus on interests, not positions. (3) Generate a variety of possibilities before deciding what to do. (4) Insist that the result be based on some objective standard. Recently, Hoffman (2005, 2007) argued that diagrammatic reasoning is useful for bringing hidden knowledge to the surface so it can be explicitly considered by participants in a negotiation or conflict. Hoffman proposes a system referred to logical argument mapping to make such knowledge explicit and makes a strong case for the benefits of diagrammatic approaches in general in communicating and resolving conflicts. We believe Goldratts evaporating cloud provides a structured, systematic way to resolve conflicts while it provides the benefits of the collaborative/integrative conflict resolution style. In addition, the EC is a logical diagramming approach that we believe provides the significant benefits enumerated by Hoffmann (2005). In essence, it provides managers and co-workers a mechanism to effectively manage their reaction to conflict and be a part of the solution to difficult situations. Another conflict resolution method used today is Mediation is another way of conflict management. Bentley (1996) describes mediation as a form of problem solving process where a neutral third party assists disputants to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Culture and Conflict / Cross-Cultural Conflict Culture refers to systems of meaning values, beliefs, expectation, and goals shared by a particular group of people distinguishing them from members of other groups (Gooderham and Nordhaug 2003 pg 131; Schneider and Barsoux 2003, cited in Martin G. 2006). People in different cultures quite often have different ideologies, and such differences are important to decide the way they respond and react in a conflicting situation. Throughout this study, researchers would determine the link that exists between culture and conflict. Culture Culture Background Culture is the manifold ways of perceiving and organizing the world that are held in common by a group of people and passed on interpersonally and intergenerationally (Yuan, 2006, p. 5). According to David Victor, it is the part of behavior that is at once learned and collective, and is therefore, taught rather than instinctive or innate (2001, p. 30). Starting at birth, the infant mind is somewhat like a blank tape, waiting to be filled, culture plays a large part in the recording process (Fisher, 1988, p. 45). Handed down from members within the larger community, it is gradually reinforced and imprinted into individuals mind as time progresses. Culture directly influences the way in which people within the context communicate, and the way in which they perceive each other (Victor, 2001). As a result, one organizations conduct, developed in a particular environment and reflecting the local staffs cultural identity, may not be applicable to another culture. People around the world are similar as well as different, they are similar since they share common characteristics, and at the same time they are different since each one of them have been born and brought up in different cultures having different set of values. According to Naylor (1997), all human beings are fundamentally the same, but culture makes them different and distinguishes them from other groups by creating and developing their own version of culture to meet their needs, desires and goals. In other words, culture serves as an element that helps humans to identify and define themselves. Therefore, Naylor (1997) defined culture as the learned way (or ways) of belief, behavior, and the products of these (both physically and socially) that is shared (at least to some degree) within human groups and serves to distinguish that culture group from another learning different beliefs and behaviors (p. 1). Ting Toomey (1999) also made a similar definition of culture. She defined culture as a learned meaning system that consists of patterns of traditions, beliefs, values, norms, and symbols that are passed on from one generation to the next and are shared to varying degrees by interacting members of a community (Ting Toomey, 1999, p. 10). Cultural Stereotype and Preconceptions Stereotype refers to the simplified viewpoint that one social group holds for the other. Cultural stereotype is attributed to over-generalization, which claims that the cultural characteristic of one individual can also be applied to the group, and ignores the mobile and changeable nature of culture as a whole (Beamer Varner, 2009). Considering mankinds limited capacity to process messages, and todays overwhelming volume of information, it may be helpful for people to try to summarize cultural differences, and establish cultural models. In this sense, some extent of qualified stereotype could be instrumental for it facilitates mutual understanding and learning between cultures. However, when this strategy is adopted generally, undesired effects arise. Generally, because of the stereotyped preconception in our mind, we want to see what we think we will see. Ones cultural belief system learned during socialization, ones experiences, and ones currently salient roles all contribute to the composition of what Bruner has called the individuals expectancy set; what he is set for perceiving in a situation and in other people (Simmons and McCall, 1966, p. 63). Furthermore, due to this mentality, we are not only attracted to things that we anticipate seeing and try to interpret them based on our limited knowledge, but we also disregard or belittle things that deviate from expectations. Cultural Prejudices, Ethnocentrism and Bullying When dealing with cultural aspects there are two aspects that we need to keep in mind, cultural prejudice and ethnocentrism. Cultural prejudice refers to the formation of opinion on certain members of the group grounded on the previous perception, attitude, and viewpoint of the group, heedless of the particular characteristic of the individual (Zhang and Xu, 2007). In cross-cultural communication, people often rely on their first impressions and assumptions, drawing on previous knowledge of the common features of a culture to make conclusions about an individual instead of analyzing behaviors specifically. Ethnocentrism means that a tendency exists within every individual to view his or her own culture as intrinsically better than other cultures (Victor, 2001, p. 36). When we grow up in a particular culture, not only does it shape our disposition and insert certain values and beliefs into our minds, but it also teaches us how to navigate within the environment. The older we grow and the deeper we immerse ourselves in one culture, the more likely we will see the world through a stained-glass window. Thus, it is natural for people to establish a sense of superiority regarding ones own culture over the other, generating a comfort zone in which we live and with which we are familiar. Moreover, self-reference criterion is employed in evaluating the surroundings. Nevertheless, this subconscious sense of cultural supremacy acts like a stumbling block in cross-cultural communication in that it forms a narrow-minded and defensive cultural identity that affects meaningful cultural exchange. In addition, it trains people into the mindset of drawing on a finalized conception to perceive other cultures. Just as cultural scholar and organizational sociologist Geert Hofstede, once said, Everyone is used to seeing the world from their own living rooms window; everyone has the tendency to view foreign cultures as strange while consider their own features as standard. This narrow mentality opens the door for future cultural imperialism, abasement, isolation and dependence which disrupts cross-cultural communication (Yang and Yi, 2006, p. 77). Consequently, with workers mindset of cultural prejudices and ethnocentrism there is a tendency that the employee who is culturally different suffers most of the time from bullying. Einarsen (1999) defines bullying as deliberate or unconsciously repeated actions and practices directed to one or more workers (victims) with the result of causing humiliation, offence, distress, and interference with performance on the job. Especially, bullying behaviors include: aggressive eye contact (glaring or meaningful glances), intimidating physical gestures (including finger pointing, slamming or throwing objects), yelling or screaming at the target, angry outbursts and temper tantrums, rude or hostile behavior toward the target, accusations of wrongdoing, spreading false rumors about the victim, breaching the victims confidentiality, and making unreasonable work demands on the target (Keashly, 1998). Einarsen (2000) identified two general types of bullying behaviors. Predatory bullying occurs where the victim has personally done nothing provocative to justify the bullying behaviors. In this case, the victim is an accident of a bullys demonstration of power. In contrast, conflict-related bullying occurs as result of highly escalated conflict (Einarsen, 2000). In some instances, the social climate at work creates conflict that escalates into harsh highly personified conflicts where the total destruction of the opponent is seen as the ultimate goal to be gained by parties (Van de Vliert, 1998). In such highly escalated conflict, aggressive behavior is a common tactic used to show resentment about perceived wrongdoings by ones opponents. Although many interpersonal struggles and conflicts are a natural part of human interactions, there is a thin line between interpersonal personal conflict and the aggressive behaviors that are labeled as bullying. In conflict-related bullying, oppone nts value as a person is denied leading to manipulation, retaliation elimination and destruction (Einarsen, 2000). Cultural Diversity Concept of Diversity The issue of addressing diversity is still a difficulty for organizations in this 21st century (Jackson Aparna 2010). Previously, diversity was defined as a characteristic of groups of two or more people and that commonly relates to demographic differences of one sort or another among members of a working team (McGrath, Berdahl, and Arrow, 1995).Van Knippenberg and Schippers (2007) define diversity as a characteristic of social grouping that reflects the degree to which objective or subjective differences exist between group members. Research in workplace diversity has quadrupled in the last few decades, yet, most of the outcomes demonstrate that diversity has paradoxical effects on team processes and outcomes (Joshi, Liao Roh, 2011, Jackson, Joshi and Erhardt, 2003, Milliken Martins 1996, Williams OReilly 1998). Diverse teams have been found to experience process and performance losses, as evidenced by less positive attitudes, reduced communication, and a higher likelihood of leaving a working team (Riordan Shore, 1997). Recent works have also identified the conditions, such as employee involvement that must be in place for diversity to generate organizational benefits (e.g. Yang Konrad, 2011). Cultural Diversity Double Effect and Dimensions Diversity is a subjective phenomenon, created by group members themselves who on the basis of their different social identities categorize others as similar or dissimilar: A group is diverse if it is composed of individuals who differ on a characteristic on which they base their own social identity [OReilly, Williams, Barsade 1998, p. 186]. Loden Rosener [1991] define diversity as characteristics which differentiate one group of people from another along with primary, secondary and tertiary dimensions as shown in the table below Table 1. Dimensions of Diversity Primary dimensions Secondary dimensions Tertiary dimensions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Race à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Ethnicity à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Gender à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Age à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Disability à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Religion à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Culture à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sexual orientation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Thinking style à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Geographic origin à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Family status à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Lifestyle à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Economic status à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Political orientation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Work experience à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Education à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Language à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Nationality à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Beliefs à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Assumptions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Perceptions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Attitudes à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Feelings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Values à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Group norms Source: based on R. Rijamampinina, T. Carmichael, A Pragmatic and Holistic Approach to Managing Diversity. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 1/2005, p. 109. In sum, the presented above research debates that diversity might have positive and negative contributions to organizational functioning depending on its level. The most negative outcome of cultural and workplace diversity was found to be conflict (Jehn, Northcraft, Neale, 1999; Pelled, 1996; Olson, Parayitam Bao, 2007). Workgroup diversity is associated with conflict in teams, both task conflict and relationship conflict (Ayoko, Hartel, Callan, 2002, Chatman Flynn, 2001; Jehn, Chadwick, Thatcher, 1997; Jehn et al, 1999; Pelled, 1996; Pelled, Xin, Weiss, 2001). The conflict resulting from workgroup diversity has the potential to benefit performance if it generates the elaboration of more possibilities and perspectives in problem-solving discussions (van Knippenberg, De Dreu, Homan, 2004). The Meta-analytic research linking both task and relationship conflict to poorer performance have demonstrated that workgroup conflicts often do not result in positive outcomes (De Dreu Weingart, 2003). Additionally, new evidence emerging from another meta-analytical study (de Wit, Greer Jehn, 2011) suggests that while relationship and process conflict are negatively linked with performance, the effect of task conflict on outcomes is even more complex indicating that task conflict is only associated with positive outcomes when the link between task and relationship conflict is weak. There is substantial literature which argues that diversity has performance advantages over homogenous work structures [Cox, Lobel and MacLeod 1991]. First, multicultural organizations have an advantage in attracting and retaining the best talent. The capabilities of women and minorities offer a wider labor pool. Organizations that is able to attract and retain qualified minority group members and keep faith with them through fair and equitable career advancement treatments, gain competitive advantage and derive high quality human resources dividends. Second, a multicultural organization is better suited to serve a diverse external clientele in a more increasingly global market. Such organizations have a better understanding of the requirements of the legal, political, social, economic and cultural environments of foreign nations [Adler 1991]. Third, in research-oriented and hi-tech industries, the broad base of talents generated by a gender-and ethnic-diverse organization becomes a priceless advantage. Creativity thrives on diversity [Morgan 1989]. Fourth, multicultural organizations are found to be better at problem solving, possess better ability to extract expanded meanings, and are more likely to display multiple perspectives and interpretations in dealing with complex issues. Such organizations are less susceptible to groupthink. Fifth, multicultural organizations tend to possess more organizational flexibility, and are better able to adapt to changes. Women, for instance, are said to have higher tolerance for ambiguity than men [Rotter OConnell 1982]. Diversity has some drawbacks which moderate its significant advantages. In problem-solving situations, extraordinary costs in time and financial resources can negate the benefits of synergy, and can even degenerate into dysfunctional conflicts. Diversity does not fare as well under conditions of uncertainty and complexity which may lead to confusion and frustration. Diversity can make it harder to arrive at an agreement on a particular course of action, and can result in negative dynamics and cultural clashes that can create work disadvantages for women and minorities. Traditionally, cultural conflicts between majority and minority group members are usually resolved in favor of the majority groups. This, in turn, creates significant barriers to full participation by minority members in potentially conflict situations. In an analysis of 151 work groups, Tsui, Egan and OReilly [1992] found diversity to be associated with lower levels of psychological identification with group members w hich would tend to detract from overall performance and result in adverse effects on organizational measures of productivity, absenteeism and turnover. Homogenous groups have been reported to outperform culturally diverse groups especially where there are serious communication issues which make it more difficult for everybody to make optimal contributions to the group effort. Higher turnover and absenteeism are special problems identified with multi-cultural organizations. Several research studies since the 1960s have found women and other minorities to be consistently higher on absenteeism and turnover than their majority-member counterparts. In a study of twenty work units, OReilly, Caldwell and Barnett [1989] concluded that heterogeneity in groups was associated with lower levels of group social integration which resulted in higher individual turnover. They concluded that out-group members were more likely to leave the organization. Using a hypothetical company of 10,000 employees, Cox estimated that absentee differences attributable to multiculturalism would cost a company an average of three million dollars per year [Cox 1993, p. 25]. Milliken and Martins [1996] argued that diversity can affect an organizations functioning through four types of mediating variables. First, diversity can have affective consequences, such as lower organizational commitment or lower satisfaction, because people prefer interactions with similar others. Second, cognitive outcomes refer to an increase in creativity and innovation. Diversity can enhance a groups ability to gather and process information and therefore it could result in a greater creativity. Third, a diverse organizational workforce is a symbol of equality. These symbolic effects are important for an organizations reputation. And last, diversity also has clear implications on the communication process within a group or organization, i.e. communication effects. Milliken and Martins typology takes into account the fact the diversity can have both positive and negative effects on the functioning of organizations. Also Benschop [1999] argued that their typology provides a clea r view on the effects of diversity on an organizations functioning. Communication Role of Communication Openness Stuart Sillars(1998: pg 21) define communication as the giving, receiving or exchanging of information, opinions or ideas by writing, speech or visual means or any combination of the three so that the material communicated is completely understand by everyone concerned. Communication has been seen to assist organizations undergoing change by breaking down the resistance among workers and increasing their trust in the impending changes (Graham and LeBaron, 1994). Communication is also considered to be a means of resolving conflicts. When a group is meeting a goal, there are internal and external problems and one of the only ways to resolve the problem is via communication (Appelbaum et al., 1999). Communication is considered to be particularly beneficial when new recruits enter a work place. To make sense and to settle into the new environment, communication is considered to be particularly important (Jablin and Krone, 1987). Communication openness is defined as the ease of talking to each other in the group and the extent of understanding gained when people talk to other group members. According to Pelled et al. (1999), demographic diversity is linked with increased difficulties i

time management Essay -- essays research papers

Time Management   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The way a person manages time effects the efficiency of their life. There are many ways that will help in time management. College students for example have many responsibilities. The top priority being school. Students must have time to go to class and show their best of their abilities to finish all work that needed to be done. Some students may have to fit work into their daily schedule. As Rock-Richardson describes,  ¡Ã‚ §As an undergrad, I put my self through two solid years of full-tuition college by working as a daycare provider [ ¡K] ¡Ã‚ ¨ (Rock-Richardson 12). In order to be successful at the tasks the student must eat properly and get enough sleep. The one thing that should be learned is motivation and the famous saying  ¡Ã‚ §Never give up. ¡Ã‚ ¨ If a task must be done and it is felt that there is no time, that is just the misunderstanding of time. The first step in beginning better time management is to write it into an organizer. An organizer is the most helpful notebook a student can purchase. Carol Kanar says,  ¡Ã‚ §Your schedule is the result of the inward decision you make to control events instead of letting events control you ¡Ã‚ ¨ (Kanar 93). For a student to remember important dates such as test dates they must be written down and observed. Major dates to remember are exam dates. There will be numerous tests and assignments during one quarter, which cannot be memorized. This organizing will help in figuring out how much study time the...

Exploring Research Methodologies: Positivism and Interpretivism Essay

Exploring Research Methodologies: Positivism and Interpretivism Before a researcher can initiate a research project, they face the confusion and the range of theoretical perspectives, methodologies, methods, and the philosophical basis that encompasses them all. This seemingly meticulous structure for the research process is in fact aimed toward providing the researcher with a ‘scaffolding’, or a direction which they can go on to develop themselves to coincide with their particular research purposes. (Crotty, 1998) Once a researcher has developed a research question they are seeking to answer, they must consider what methodologies and methods they will employ in the research; what theoretical perspective lies behind the methodology; and what epistemology informs this theoretical perspective. (Crotty, 1998) Before continuing it is important to explain these key terms: Epistemology is ‘the branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge, which seeks to inform us how we can know the world.’ (Jary and Jary: Dictionary of Sociology, 1991) In the context of social research, epistemology is the form of proof one requires to justify a claim to knowledge about the social world. This will have a salient impact on the kind of data one can collect in order to validate their arguments concerning the social world (methodology), as well as the methods one considers in collecting valid data (methods). A researcher’s choice of methods will be conditioned by theoretical perspectives, the way one sees the social world. (Livesey) Researchers of social science use a wide variety of research methods to gain and enhance knowledge and theory. The different types of research methodologies, quantitative and qualitative, are associated with the epistemological and theoretical perspectives the researcher wishes to adopt. This choice the researcher makes determines the way in which research should be conducted. This paper will discuss, critically analyse and compare the epistemological and theoretical perspectives of two research methodologies used for social research: positivism and interpretivism. The various research methods used within the frameworks of each of these will then be discussed. Positivism There are two main types of epistemologies: positivist and anti-positivist. â€Å"Positivist research is an approach which combines a deductive approach w... ... 12.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Love, T. (1998). Value Role in Computer-assisted Designing. Western Australia: Dept of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. 13.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neuman, L.W. (2000). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Sydney: Allyn and Bacon. 14.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Orlikowski, W. J. & Baroudi, J. J. (1991). Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions. Information Systems Research, pg 1-28. 15.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pawson, R. & Tilley, N. (1997). Realistic Evaluation. London: Sage. 16.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sarantakos, S. (1998). Social Research. Melbourne: Macmillan. 17.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sharma, B.A.V., Ravindra Prasad, D. & Satyanarayana. (1984). Research Methods in Social Sciences. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Private Ltd. 18.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Silverman, D. (2000). Doing Qualitative Research. London: Sage. 19.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vrasidas, C. (2001). Interpretivism and Symbolic Interactionism: â€Å"Making the Familiar Strange and Interesting Again† in Educational Technology Research. In Heinecke, W. & Willis, J. (Ed.), Research Methods in Educational Technology. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing, Inc. 20.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wainwright, S. P. (2000). For Bourdieu in Realist Social Science. London.