Infrared spectroscopy structural determination Lab Report

Infrared spectroscopy structural determination - Lab Report Example These regions are named relative to their position on the spectrometer. From the graph, the boiling point is 151Â °C which makes the unknown organic compound to be isopropyl benzene. This works on the basis that molecules tend to take in specific frequencies that can be related to their structure. The type of bond vibrating is directly proportional to the absorption rate. The amount of energy can also be determined by the shape of the molecular potential energy surfaces, the atomic masses and the vibrancy coupling. When laboratory findings are being investigated, gaseous sample are usually taken through various processes in order to be ready for tests. Gaseous materials need samples with a long path length. The long path length is necessary for the diluteness. The path length is then reflected on the graph creating the motions (Soderberg 86). The path length determines the can be used to determine the concentration of the compound under investigation. This technique is widely used both in organic and inorganic chemistry and has proven lots of help to s cientists. The technique has been applied also while checking the level or concentration of gases in green

Race and Racism Essay Example for Free

Race and Racism Essay In comparison to the almighty universe in which people all live in, human beings are merely a speck of dust at the size of it all. Then here are these beings on planet earth, with all 7 billion people under the same moon, divided. No longer are human equals as beings, but separate because of the system of ignorance, exploitation, and power used to oppress people on the basis of ethnicity, culture, mannerisms, and culture (Marable 1). Racism is the issue Americans have swept under the rug; the problem is being ignored, leaving cultures in the dark of their own history causing blame to be shifted on to all sorts of hosts, and it’s time to pick up the rug to dust. Society as a whole seems to have broken down what makes a person unique, dehumanizing them and leaving them susceptible to oppression (Marable 2). One must not be so quick to forget that every single human being is made up of the same genetic material, to forget something so broad is to undermine the gift of thinking itself. Manning Marable writes in Racism and Sexism that stereotypes are at the heart of every form of racism today. Racism is not a topic that sits around at the front of everybody’s brain. Racism does not twist on the tip of your tongue begging to be talked about. Racism is something that is ignored and denied. Shocking statistics from Tim Wise’s On White Privilege were discussed, stating that in 1962, 80% of white folk believed that racism was not even a problem. In the same year, 90% of white folk believed that colored children had equal education opportunities as white children. To believe that racism was not even a problem would be to say that over the 750 race riots 228 people were not actually killed, 12,741 people were not critically injured, and that the 15,000 acts of arson did not leave black urban neighborhoods in ruins, in the same year of 1962 (Postrel). White people are completely unburdened by race; where as colored people constantly feel their capabilities are always being second guessed. However, Charles M. Blow, author of Escaping Slavery, explains to the reader that apparently white people think their actions are justified! And Blow goes as far as to say that â€Å"the idea that progress toward radical harmony would or should be steady and continuous is fraying† (Blow 1). In On White Privilege, the speaker Tim Wise pointed out that white people were asked in 2009 if they believed that racial discrimination is still a problem and only 6% said ‘yes. ’ To put that into perspective: more people would believe that Elvis is still alive than to believe that racial discrimination is still a problem (Wise). Perhaps the density of the universe compromised the carrying capacity of the human brain causing a malfunction making it so the only thing people can think about is them self. Definitely not progress (Blow 2). The white system of ignorance and exploitations is causing the cultures of color to completely lose track of their own histories (Marable). People who are oppressed themselves begin to lose touch with their own traditions of history, community, love, celebrations, struggle, and change (Marable). Tim Wise reminds viewers whose history we are truly learning in school- text books are filled only with white history; people of color are forced to regurgitate white history, white literature, white art, white theater, etc. , while if a white person does not know an ounce of black history, it can go virtually unnoticed in this country (Wise). Actions speak louder than words and people seem to continue to prove their ignorance. As part of the Civil Rights Movement and an effort to create a solution to unlawful discrimination in housing based on race, color, sex, nation origin, or religion, the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 (Russell). Fast forward 38 years later where 2006 showed the highest level of discriminating housing complaints based on race (Wise). 38 whole years later and the only thing society can show on terms of progress is the lack of acceptance being distributed around the country. There is not enough change taking place as a country in order to move forward into truly being the United States of America; home of the Brave but we still fear what we do not know. It is always easier to accuse other forces for a problem than to admit that you are actually making the mess yourself. It has been said that if one is not a part of the solution then one is a part of the problem; however, some people are purely unburdened by race, they don’t know racism because they have never had to experience it- people are completely surrounded by and completely oblivious of the problem. Failure to talk about racism feeds the denial (Wise). The finger can be pointed in any direction, and instead of calling it â€Å"blame† the word â€Å"cause† is used instead because that is more constructive, and let’s face it, we need as much progress as we can get. However, progress seems to be unbearably intangible when Blow points out that the pillars of the institution- the fundamental devaluation of dark skin and stained justifications are for the unconscionable- have proved surprisingly resilient (Blow). The ignorance and lack of education only feeds the pillars’ strength. Completely blinded by utter fear, America seems to be in a standstill of progress towards the issue on racism. Starting with Charles Blow’s work in Escaping Slavery, down to Manning Marable’s Racism and Sexism, and what Tim Wise said in On White Privilege, it can be assumed that progress will always need to be made to bring this country closer to unity. Breaking down racial barriers and stereotypes have proven to be an especially lengthy process, however that does not justify the slothfulness of it all. Open minds and hearts is what it is going to take to shatter the structure that leaves this country divided. Word Count: 1,100 Works Cited Blow, Charles. â€Å"Escaping Slavery. † New York Times 4 January 2013. Marable, Manning. â€Å"Racism and Sexism. † Race, Class, and Gender in the United States, 5th ed. Ed. Paul Rothenberg. New York: Worth Publishers, 2001. 124-129. Pring. Wise, Tim. On White Privilege: Racism, White Denial, and the Costs of Inequality. The Media Education Foundation, 2008. DVD. Postrel, Virginia. The Consequences of the 1960s Race Riots Come Into View. The New York Times. N. p. , 30 Dec. 2004. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.

Bears Beware :: essays research papers

In our world today many animals and plants are loosing their fight against human intervention in their once well-balanced ecosystem. We are all aware of the extinction of the dinosaurs and the dodo birds, however most people do not realize that annually thousands of species of our flora and fauna are now becoming extinct. This on going trend is increasingly threatening our bio diversity and global ecology. To give a specific example of animal depletion I will focus on Canadian bears. The following factors are responsible for their decline. Hunting, loss of habitat, and just plain apathy on part of the public to preserve the bio diversity of our land. During 1994/95, a total of 19,430 bear hunting licenses were issued to both residential and non-residential people. There were 3,790 so-called legal bear kills in BC alone. It is estimated that out of every one legally killed bear be it grizzly or black two are killed illegally by poachers primarily just for their paws, head, gall bladder, and reproductive organs. These body parts are considered by Orientals to increase strength and rejuvenate male potency. Given these facts 11,190 bears were killed last year. Biologist estimate that to keep the bear population at a balanced figure only 4% should be allowed to be harvested annually. The current annual harvest rate it is more like 8-12%. In my opinion this is really outrageous. We are watching it in front of our eyes and little is being done to prevent it. We have already witnessed the rhinos, African elephants and the Siberian tiger go through the same process and now they are on the brink of extinction. Legal hunting and poaching are similar in the sense that they both result in the slaughter of animals be it bears or any creature. Having depleted the animals in their own countries, the rich flock here in the hundreds to go on big game hunting expeditions and kill; anywhere from one to who knows how many bears. I really don't understand what is going on with our government to allow this to happen. Soon grizzlies will be deemed endangered and when this happens the price for their head will skyrocket and encourage further poaching. The typical responses heard from hunters are: "We are the top of the food chain"; "That's why they are here, to satisfy man", "it don't hurt their numbers", "Its just a bear". Their ignorant attitude is very short sighted and self-indulgent. In my opinion if we want these magnificent creatures to be here for us, our children and their children we should not allow foreign game hunters to come

Essay --

My Family Case Study will examine the ‘Nguyen’ family and their current struggle with family finances. I will present the family, their history, and their response to the challenge of dealing with the crisis related to the family finances. I will present the family situation when they were in Vietnam first. In Vietnam, they bought the house and they didn’t have to pay any tax or fee. They were considered as a middle class well-living family in Vietnam. They got their own business over there. Their income per month were enough for them for a good living life. Only the father worked and the mother stayed home and took care the kids. One day they received a letter from the United State Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) said that they got approved to go to America. They got stressful since they got the letter. At that time, they were unsure whether or not to go to the U.S.A or stay back in Vietnam. It was a difficult decision for them because if they went to the U.S.A they had to give up their business which they had built up since they got married. Time went by, they determined to leave everything behind and went to the U.S.A for their kids’ future because they believed that America has a bes t educational system in the world. Until they came to America three years ago, their life had a big changed. Mr.Nguyen was a 45 years old man. He is married to Mrs. Nguyen who was a 40 years old. They were married 16 years ago in Vietnam. They had two children. One named Peter age 5 who was in pre-school and the other one named Mike age 9 who was in intermediate school. One month after they came to the U.S.A, they found a job and got pay minimum wage around 8 dollars per hour. The family lived in an apartment which 2 bedroom. ... ...getting a bad day at work, and feel like he couldn’t make more money to support his family well enough. He sometimes wants to buy electronic things, food, candy, new clothes etc†¦ for his wife and his children but he cannot afford it so whenever the fight starting between him and her, he cannot control all the stress and anxious in his mind and fight back at her even though he doesn’t want to. Mrs. Nguyen wants to help her husband coping with all the stress he has, so she gets some guidelines from the family therapist. Mrs. Nguyen want Mr. Nguyen to spend time with his family on the weekend and not going for a part time job. They will spend their time with their children and planning to have a family vacation, doing activities together or having dinner together in order to maintain a good relationship and not letting financial be a stressful problem in their family.

Mobs, Mobs, Mobs Essay

Mob mentality is a term used to describe a unique behavioral characteristic that develops when people are in a large group. It is often viewed as a negative sense but it can also be a positive sense. When people in our society today hear the word â€Å"mob† they think of an aggressive chaotic group of people fight or doing something with little to no reason. The mobs we have today has the same effect of what people think but it has become thoroughly worse. The factors of mob mentality leaves our society dumbfounded when it acts with alienation and animosity controlling us like a plague. The aspects of mob mentality comes in numbers which leaves us drowning not knowing what and how to react. Two main aspects that play a role in mobs are the overpowering anonymity that exists within a mob and the allotment of responsibility of the group’s behavior. These factors sometimes conceive a person’s belief that they can act a certain way within the group and not have the same consequence as what he or she would of faced if they did it on their own. For instance, if a person is in a mob that is causing havoc in a building, that person might believe that there would be less of a chance that they would get caught if they were alone, because it would be difficult for authorities to identify every person who was involved. They would also feel less guilt because of the many who did the same. Another factor in mob mentality is the greater sense of confusion or panic that would abrupt in a large riot. A perfect example is shown in most disastrous movies like 2012 or I Am Legend when large groups of people suddenly begin running in one direction. Although many people might not know why this would be happening, they see them and abruptly without warning begin running in that direction too. In severe events, the urge to run and panic spreads through everyone’s mind like a pandemic creating some sort of crowd delirium. Even for something that isn’t as chaotic like Black Friday when people see that a 60†³ HD LCD Samsung TV for sale at the price of $400, once they’re released its monkey see monkey do, some guy runs and the rest follows. Everyone has that moment when one of these events happened, threes also the voice in your head leaching adrenaline through your body telling  you run run run! Mob mentality plays a role in plays and concerts that were the â€Å"best.† Three people would stand up applauding and screaming like mad men. Then maybe a few others would join them. Some would look around uncomfortably , scanning the crowd, deciding if it was alright to start clapping. Our brains are wired to follow the crowd which afflicts damage to our society greatly and creating indecisive entities in everyone’s heads. There is a little more insight to show why people will react in ways that rebel against their regular morals and beliefs. â€Å"When people are part of a group they can deindividuate, (lose their self awareness and sense of individuality), and get caught up in the emotional excitement and indulge in behaviors they would not engage in alone† (Page 1). They may not feel that they are the ones responsible for their act of violence as they continue to do so as â€Å"the group’s†. The larger the mob, the more our society can lose self awareness as a whole or one’s self.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics and Ideas

Cause and Effect Essay Topics and Ideas Since every occurrence has reasons to happen and consequences that lead to other events, the ideas for cause and effect essays are endless. Sometimes the visible connection between two objects can be false and can lead to incorrect conclusions. This type of assignment is based on thorough searching and fact-checking, which helps to avoid the mentioned mistake. Cause and effect essays sample requires attention and analytical skills. Here are some cause and effect essay topics to consider for writing a cause and effect essay: Listening to Music Improves Mood and Helps Process Anger This essay may aim to state that music helps in emotion management and causes its improvement. To write an excellent essay on this topic, a student needs to analyze scientific reasons proving the statement as well as estimate the effects of music for emotion management. Resources that can be used for this essay are scientific articles from academic journals and popular psychology magazines. Recommended sources: Leah Sharman and Genevieve A Dingle â€Å"Extreme Metal Music and Anger Processing† Labbà ©, Schmidt, Babin, and Pharr â€Å"Coping with Stress: The Effectiveness of Different Types of Music† Human Resource Management Matters The idea of this topic is to show the influence of proper Human Resource Management (HRM) on the efficiency of the company. The well-written essay includes a detailed exploration of Human Resource Management and its key features. It is important to reveal the relations between those features and processes in the organization. Students can use articles of famous business experts and case studies in HRM. Recommended source: Susan Heathfield â€Å"Learn about the Importance of Human Resources Management for Retention† Influence of Arms Races in the History of Humankind This essay reviews the history of arms races and their impact on social, political, and technological areas. The beginning of the essay tells about the concept of the arms race and then briefly outlines the history of arms races. After this section, a student can focus on major arms races since the end of the 1890s and till nowadays. Each arms race can be described in the context of technological advances and events in political and social areas, which significantly affected human lives. Recommended source: Charles L. Glaser â€Å"The Causes and Consequences of Arms Races† Plastic is a Major Problem for the Planet The paper explains the ways plastic waste generates and spreads in the environment. A student can describe the chemical content of different plastics types, and how the chemicals affect organisms. Next, the student can focus on the cases confirming the significance of the problem with causes, examples, and consequences. At last, all possible solutions developed by governments, scientists, or engineers may be included as well. The information can be found in respected news agencies and scientific articles. Recommended sources: â€Å"Causes, Effects and Solutions of Plastic Pollution† on Conserve Energy Future. â€Å"What Is the Problem with Plastic?† on BBC. Why Are Earthquakes Dangerous? The essay aims to explore why earthquakes can cause massive destructions, and why it is difficult to predict them. First of all, one should describe the nature of earthquakes and their causes, as well as the dangers during the disaster. Further, the methods that scientists use to measure the power of an earthquake should be analyzed too. Also, a student may pay attention to the globally known cases of earthquakes and their outcomes. Recommended sources: James Bullen â€Å"The Science of Earthquakes Explained† Paul Fairclough â€Å"The 10 Most Powerful Recorded Earthquakes† The Effect of Video Games This essay addresses the effects of the video games industry on society. One can discuss the phenomenon of cybersports, which emerged due to the growing popularity of video games. Furthermore, the student can oppose the statement that violent games cause violence in real life. At last, the student should evaluate the reasons why so many people spend their free time playing computer games. Recommended sources: Dennis Relojo â€Å"Psychological Reasons Why Some People Play Video Games† P. M. Markey, C. N. Markey, and French â€Å"Violent Video Games and Real-World Violence: Rhetoric versus Data† The Consequences of Overpopulation Overpopulation is a serious problem that worsens rapidly. Therefore, the essay should explain the causes of the rapid human population growth, and what consequences will humanity experience in the case of critical overpopulation. Additionally, a student should reflect on the possible solutions that governments and activists might consider to start improving the situation. Recommended source: â€Å"Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Solutions† on Conserve Energy Future. Why Is Propaganda Effective? The essay should explain why propaganda can achieve great success and what the mechanisms of propaganda are. A student can start with explaining what propaganda is and what makes it such efficient. Then, the student views the tools and methods of propaganda, which make the phenomenon influential, using the examples from history and discusses the reasons why people believe the propaganda. In the end, the student can provide methods of its revealing and countering. Recommended source: Johnny Manzaria and Jonathan Bruck â€Å"Medias Use of Propaganda to Persuade Peoples Attitude, Beliefs, and Behaviors† Consequences of Biodiversity Decline This essay addresses the extinction of species on our planet, which already has become a critical problem. Firstly, a student can explore the factors causing rapid disappearance followed by the consequences that the environment and humanity may face soon. In parallel, the student can analyze the modern rate of extinction as evidence of problem severity. The final stage is the introduction of both existing and hypothetical ways of problem-solving. Recommended source: Christopher Olver â€Å"Biodiversity Loss and Its Impact on Humanity† The Reason Why Young People Ignore Elections The apathy of young voters is a significant problem nowadays. It has several reasons; the essay should address these factors and propose ways to improve the situation. In this essay, a student can support the reasons with the commentaries of young people, which are available in news articles and analysts’ works. Finally, the student can discuss possible resolutions that are able to increase the involvement of young people. Recommended sources: â€Å"4 Reasons Young People Don’t Vote†¦ and What To Do About It† on Youth Service America. Hanan Esaili â€Å"Why Dont Young People Vote?† Why Using Antibiotics Is Responsibility? Antibiotics are powerful and widely used medicine currently. Nevertheless, the use of antibiotics requires solid knowledge and practice. In this essay, one may reveal why antibiotics are efficient and explain the causes of their efficiency. In parallel, it is important to evaluate the main factors of antibiotic resistance and their inefficiency, and what can be done to avoid these issues. Recommended sources: Leigh Ann Anderson â€Å"Common Side Effects from Antibiotics, and Allergies and Reactions† Why Do Athletes Use Doping? Doping is a serious problem in modern sports. The essay should focus on the reasons leading athletes to use it. Then, the text should focus on the most famous cases of doping and explain the motivation of athletes and the outcomes of the case. Besides, the student should focus on what has been done to fight this phenomenon. Recommended sources: â€Å"About Doping in Sport† on UKAD. â€Å"Doping in Sport: What Is It and How Is It Being Tackled? on the BBC. Why Countries Conflict Each Other? This topic addresses the causes of wars and military conflicts. In the essay, a student should reveal the variety of reasons why wars outbreak, examine possible outcomes and assess the motivations of opposing parties in the conflict. To reveal this topic fully, the student should collect historical information about different wars and analyze the events that lead to military conflicts. Recommended sources: The Economist and John Andrews The World in Conflict Kori Schake â€Å"What Causes War?† Causes of Cancer and Consequences Cancer is a devastating health problem. Unfortunately, many people do not clearly understand the causes and outcomes of the disease. This paper should examine why cancer is dangerous and what provokes it. A student should reveal the mechanisms of cancer formation and its life-threatening consequences. At last, it is worth to mention that cancer can be cured and explore efficient treatment. Recommended source: â€Å"What Is Cancer?† on Cancer Research UK. Why Do People Avoid Vaccines? There a lot of views that provoke anti-vaccination movements; however, the majority of them are false. Therefore, the essay should focus on the idea of busting those ignorant opinions. Another aim of this paper is to show why vaccines are crucial and what the benefits are for both vaccinated people and the whole society. Recommended sources: Angelica LaVito â€Å"Here Are Some Reasons Why People Dont Get the Flu Shot and Why Theyre Wrong.† Marissa Laliberte â€Å"Vaccine Facts: Busting 10 Myths About Vaccination.† Consequences of Plagiarism Plagiarism is a serious problem not only in the scientific area but also in art, business, and everyday life. It is a widespread type of cheating. Thus, it is important to understand why people plagiarize, and what the outcomes of it are. Students may focus on the specific area and analyze all the possible types of plagiarism. Simultaneously, an essay may be dedicated to the famous cases of plagiarism, their causes, and consequences. Recommended source: Michael Donnelly Critical Conversations About Plagiarism Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Society Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a significant breakthrough in modern information technology. This essay covers the history of AI emergence and development. Also, the text provides positive and negative effects of AI for humanity. An additional option is to outline the future of AI and predict possible impacts. Recommended source: Anthony Delgado â€Å"Three Impacts Of Artificial Intelligence On Society† Deforestation: Reasons and Consequences Deforestation is a severe ecological problem caused by several key factors. From this, a student should analyze those reasons and explain the adverse effects. Respectively, the student may propose ways to stop deforestation and restore destroyed forests. To support your reflection, make sure to implement evidence from both scientific journals and magazines about ecology. Recommended source: â€Å"Effects of Deforestation† on The Pachamama Alliance. The Effect of Nuclear Energy on the Modern World Nuclear energy is a significant technological advancement, which has helped to manage the problem of energy shortage. The idea of the essay is to describe both beneficial and detrimental influences of nuclear energy on the environment, economy, politics, and lives of ordinary people. The student should mention what consequences would be if this type of energy is misused as well. Recommended source: Gwyneth Cravens Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century Why Is Global Web Insecure? Today, the problem of cybersecurity is an urgent issue. This topic may focus on the exploration of cases of private information leakage, as well as an explanation of their reasons and consequences for the actors. Besides, a student can evaluate the connection between cybersecurity and cybercrimes on a global scale. Many valuable articles that can support the paper can be found on the sites of credible news agencies. Recommended source: â€Å"Internet Insecurity† on Harvard Business Review The cause and effect essays are simple to write. Nevertheless, it is essential to be attentive and understand the connections between various subjects. The mentioned cause and effect essay topics describe some of the actual ideas for this essay type. They can be a starting point in further research of a particular event and its consequences.

Cal essays

Cal essays Cal: He is a typical 19-year-old Irish boy. He has had a hard life because his mother died when he was 8. Now he is living together with his father Shamie. But the relation between them is not like a father and son relation, they are more like friends. Cal is a person you can persuade very easily and fast. He isnt very self-confident. His friends Crilly and Skeffington boss him around and Cal isnt very happy with this situation, but he doesnt know how to fight back. His friends are strictly catholic and they force him to join the IRA. He starts to become their driver when they commit crimes. Cal is looking for somebody, who loves him. He hasnt been given any real love since his mother died. Fortunately, he finds Marcella who is nine years his senior and he falls in love with her. He met her first in the library where Marcella works as a librarian. Cal starts going there regularly just to meet her. Finally, Marcella, who is more mature and who has already a daughter, falls in love wi th Cal, too. Cal is a very poor boy who doesnt have a lot of luck in his life. He thinks a lot and has many nightmares about the murder of Marcellas husband. He feels guilt about the murder of Marcellas husband who was shot by one of Cals friends when he was the driver. He feels sorry but there is no possibility to show it because Marcellas doesnt know anything about his secret. Marcella: She is a very unhappy woman in her late twenties. She lost her husband in an attack of the IRA. During the story you find out that she didnt love her husband anymore in the end. Now she is living together with the parents of her husband and especially her mother-in-law bosses her around. Marcella doesnt have any friends and she would like to get to know people. She is desperately looking for a job. Eventually, she gets the job in the library. Marcella has very weak personality. Cal is a kind of ...

Cause and Effect of Cell Phone Usage Among High School Students from U.S. and Middle East

Cause and Effect of Cell Phone Usage Among High School Students from U.S. and Middle East Research design The research design for this research study will be the mixed-method research approach (qualitative and quantitative research). According to Mertler Charles, 2011, qualitative research relies on narrative data while quantitative research relies on numerical data.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cause and Effect of Cell Phone Usage Among High School Students from U.S. and Middle East specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The survey research design will generate case-specific data that is necessary to investigate the research objective of this research as outlined above. Survey research designs involve data collection from a specified sample size in order to arrive at an accurate assessment of the whole population regarding specific variables that the study intends to find out. As such survey research study are most suitable in studies that involve investigation of opinions, behaviors, attitudes, perception s, culture orientation and so on which is similar to what we shall be investigating in this research study. Survey research study is especially suited to this type of study since it is possible to customize the research study to focus on key areas of interest. In this case I will use a questionnaire that would be used to collect data of key variables for the research study such as how often students engage with their phone, percentage of students with cell phones and amount of units used on cell phones per student and so on. The idea is to capture all relevant data needed for investigating the research questions for this research study. This information will be analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively and a final report written. Study participants The study will be conducted in Al Ittihad Model School targeting all the male students in the school. A stratified random sampling will be used to divide the classes into strata from which a simple random sample of 20 students will t hen be selected from each class following the respective classes’ register which contains all the population of the study. Thus, because this research study is based on males using cell phones at Al Ittihad Model School the study participants/population are therefore male students at this school. The sample size which is the actual group that will be investigated will be obtained from this study population mentioned above.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Data collected Both primary and secondary data will be used in the study whereby primary data will be obtained through questionnaires administered to the students and observations where applicable. The questionnaires will have both open ended and closed questions. On the other hand, secondary information will be obtained from reports, the internet, journals and magazines. From the data collected, qualitative and quant itative data will be extracted, analyzed and interpreted to answer the research questions of the study as outlined previously. Questionnaires will be used to collect the primary data since the study concerns some variables that cannot be directly observed such as opinions, perceptions and feelings of respondents. Such implicit feelings will only be collected through writing, and questionnaire will be the best tool to collect detailed information. The questionnaire will contain both structured and semi-structured questions. This will allow the respondents to give their own views. The questionnaire will be in two parts. The first part will seek information on the background of the respondents and the next part will obtain specific information on use of cell phones by the respondents under study. The quantitative data will finally be analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data will be done using frequencies and inferential statistics at 5% (0.05) level of significance an d presented using tables, pie charts and graphs. Sampling procedures The study will be conducted at Al Ittihad Model School targeting all the male students in the school. A stratified random sampling will be used to divide the classes into strata from which a simple random sample of 20 students will then be selected from each class following the respective classes’ register. Since we have already determined our population of interest to be male students enrolled in Al Ittihad Model School all that we now need to do is come up with a method that objectively selects required cases from this population.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Cause and Effect of Cell Phone Usage Among High School Students from U.S. and Middle East specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The type of sampling method that is used must be based on a scientific theory backed with a rationale of choosing that particular method which should be releva nt to the type of research study. Therefore for this research study I will use simple random sampling because it is a technique that ensures there is no bias in selecting cases from the population. At the end of this process I intend to have finished selecting the students that I will base this research on who will have been randomly selected from a population of all the students being studied. Simple random sampling is a sampling technique that relies on a simple probability method of choosing desired sample size by random selection (Salant and Dillman, 1994). Ideally, simple random sampling involves assigning all cases of the population with numbers; once this is done the required study cases are then determined. The study population will be the sample size which is randomly picked by selecting cases from a list of numbers that were assigned to the population and then matching these selected numbers to specific cases that would make up the sample population (Newman, 1994). For ins tance, in order to select 100 cases from a population of let’s say 2000 male students enrolled at school Y will require assigning numerical numbers to all the cases as the first step. The second step is randomly selecting 100 numbers from the total list of 2000 numbers which represent the whole population, probably by blindly picking tags with numbers from a basket. The last step is matching the chosen 200 numbers with the population cases which will now be our sample size. Validity and reliability of the data collection tools Content validity will be based on the adequacy with which the items in an instrument will measure the attributes of the study whereas reliability is the extent to which any measuring procedure yields the same results on experiments done several times (Nye and Null, 2001). Questionnaires were administered for pilot study to assess the reliability of the data collecting instrument, however data collected was not part of the study but only to assess the va lidity of the instrument. Apart from pre-test, questionnaires will be submitted to the supervisor for approval before being administered. To ensure there is no misinterpretation, unclear concepts and expressions used will be avoided and structure and sequencing of the questions in the questionnaires will be addressed. Since some of the study respondents are students using cell phone which is against rules of school, the researcher will therefore assure the respondents of confidentiality through anonymity in answering the questionnaires.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Because this research study involves use of questionnaires I intend to guarantee the privacy of respondent and their feedback in accordance with the international standards of research studies. The researcher will also acknowledge the fact that participation in research will be voluntary to those who will be willing to participate in the study. Conclusion This research study will conform with relevant laws that governs all form of research studies in UAE at both local and international levels. I intend to apply for permits and inform relevant authorities on my plan to undertake this research beforehand so as to obtain their consent well on time. References Mertler, C.A. Charles, C.M. (2011). Introduction to Educational Research 7th Ed.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Newman, L. (1994). Social Research Methods. Boston; Allys Bacons. Nye, H. Null, H. (2001). SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Boston; Brown Company. Salant, P. Dillman, A. (1994). How to conduct your own Survey. California; John Wiley Sons.

Business research project proposal--Irish Guinness Beer Proposal

Business project --Irish Guinness Beer - Research Proposal Example h popularity that studying it more closely would make sense as part of discovering other important factors that have contributed to business success of a firm. Guinness is definitely one of the companies with a strong market reputation and was meant to survive before and until today. Guinness remarkably from the start was able to clearly follow the path of consistency. It was remarkable that it started everything with a good marketing strategy and a management system that were passed on from generation to generation. Guinness started with Arthur Guinness and now his bloodline is responsible for continuing the company to be known worldwide. Effective marketing strategies may vary from one company to another. There are many factors that need to be considered in identifying which among the marketing strategies best suited the concerned company. Factors such as people, procedure, and budget played its respective roles in developing an appropriate marketing tool to be utilized. It is of interest now on how certain brands of Guinness can gain certain market share in the future considering a tough competition at present. It is of interest whether there is still a great chance for the new entrants which are willing to take the plunge into competition. Considering that a certain brands and products need to ensure production with quality and a sound management on sales, it is of interest on how can then the new entrants as well as existing company ensure their survival in a very challenging competition. It is also of great concern that to start penetrating the market, the new entrants need to ensure modern high quality of products. It is then the objective of this paper to answer the main research question. The above are all research questions this study is aiming to answer. In doing so, the proponent will take much effort in understanding the four marketing mix such as products, price, promotion and place to understand the process of survival that every entrant and key

High Dropout Rates in the United Sates Research Paper

High Dropout Rates in the United Sates - Research Paper Example In the recent years, California schools in the United States have registered high rates of dropout particularly among African-Americans. As result of many factors, this has raised the concerns of many of the parties involved in the education sector. These parties include government agencies departments, and the non- governmental organizations. The revelation of the high dropouts in schools has led to a research being carried out through cooperation and collaboration of the various agencies to investigate the trends, reasons behind this problem and how this can be curbed and reduced. Government has instituted a four year research to study the trends of the high dropout rates, establish the reasons behind the trend, investigate the efforts to reverse the trend, and come up with amicable recommendations to solve this problem. According to previously carried out research, there is difference in the rates of dropouts among the various races. Race distribution in any Californian school determines the rate of drop out the school will experience over time. High dropout rates are recorded among the minorities with African-American recording the highest rates. Whites and Asians have in the past recorded the lowest rates of dropout from schools. This is because of reasons associated with the background of the students, parental expectations, and faculty expectations. The expectations held of the student by the society at large either demoralize or motivate the students in pursuit of their education.

Porter's short story the grave Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Porter's short story the grave - Essay Example The development of the story from beginning to end is such that it keeps the readers interested in the story at all times. ‘The Grave’ communicates many themes and we will, in this essay, attempt to highlight some of those themes in detail. The story is mainly telling that there is always life after death, and that life is of a cyclical nature. We will attempt to prove this through our analysis of the story. The story is about two siblings Paul and Miranda, and their experience which they gained from a hunting trip. The story has many themes hidden in its portrayal of Miranda. The two siblings found two items, a dove and a ring, from the emptied graves of their grandfather. After this discovery, they went to hunt and Paul was successful in hunting down a rabbit, which turns out to be a pregnant female. This hunt gave Miranda an experience of womanhood that overcomes her innocence forever. The maturation of Miranda, the cyclic nature of life, and death and recovery are th e three major themes dominating the story and each will be discussed in the paper in detail. Maturation of Miranda: From Innocence to Womanhood The character of Miranda is the main focus of the story. She is a nine year old girl that is out on a hunting trip with her brother, but seems to be more interested in firing than hunting. She is out to hunt but actually is fascinated by the sound of gunshot and likes to walk around. Her brother is a hunter and acts as a protector of Miranda. The portrayal of Miranda in the beginning depicts the innocent nature of the girl. She is child that is fascinated by travelling on foot and shooting. She is also keen to discover new things. Overall she is introduced in the story as an innocent child that is free from all defects. The innocence of Miranda is clearly depicted during the hunt when her brother tells her not to fire aimlessly at anything. She is an innocent child that, even tough is on a hunting trip, escapes the brutality we generally ass ociate with hunting of animals. But author only builds up the innocence of Miranda to depict her transformation to womanhood. When Miranda finds a dove in the empty grave of her grandfather she is excited. But what excites her even more is the ring that her brother found in the grave. The mere exchange of the two items beautifully depicts the transformation of Miranda from an innocent child to a woman. The ring makes Miranda feel like a woman as she wears the ring thinking about her inappropriate attire. She immediately felts a need of a fresh bath and changing of clothes, both of which are evidence of her newly found womanhood. The transformation of Miranda is not immediate but it happens in a step by step manner. The last stage of maturation of Miranda from an innocent child to a woman comes when her brother kills a pregnant rabbit. The mere sight of the baby rabbits in the belly of the mother invokes strange discomfort in the mind of Miranda. She becomes aware of the process of r eproduction and how her own body can give birth to other human beings. The sight it seems snatches every bit of innocence from Miranda and marks the beginning of her journey to womanhood. The maturation of Miranda signifies the continuity of life after death. The death of the female rabbits is followed by the realization of Miranda about her own ability to give life. The author attempts to portray that death is followed by life, and both are a continuing process. The dead rabbit

Can Warfare be Anything Other than Barbaric Essay

Can Warfare be Anything Other than Barbaric - Essay Example Above all, it is important to define ‘barbarism’. This essay uses the following definition given by R.G. Collingwood (1942): By barbarism I mean hostility towards civilisation; the effort, conscious or unconscious, to become less civilised than you are, either in general or in some special way, and, so far as in you lies, to promote a similar change in others.2 Hence the major question is, is warfare really barbaric? Most people will answer ‘yes’. Human lives are slaughtered, and usually in huge numbers. War is a nightmare. However, it is important to deeply analyse this belief, because people’s thoughts about warfare on the whole and about the actions of combatants rely greatly on how human beings are slaughtered and on who these victims are. In that case, maybe, the most appropriate way to depict the barbarism of warfare is basically to argue that there are no restraints at these thoughts: human beings are butchered with every imaginable cruelty, an d people from all walks of life, regardless of sex, age, or moral state, are slaughtered.3 This image of war is vividly portrayed by Karl von Clausewitz in his book On War. It is his pioneering descriptions that have influenced the thoughts of subsequent scholars. There are some unrealistic individuals who think that morality and war are unable to coexist. War is barbaric, they argue, war is inhuman; in its existence it is bizarre, virtually nonsensical, to evoke morality. The truth is, as most people usually overlook, and at times are not aware of, morality is basically a norm of a culture. It is a set of rules which is in uninterrupted movement. However, in an integral and meaningful way morality represents the actions or behaviour of a society’s majority.4 Hence implicit, it is evident that in the contemporary period warfare still has dealings with morality. That there actually such a thing as morality of warfare, and that almost all enlightened and civilised cultures esse ntially share a particular traditional rule regarding the deeds which may or may not be committed in warfare, has been quite evidently witnessed throughout contemporary wars. This moral rule is generally claimed to be rooted in international policies and agreements. However, is it the common moral rule which is deep-seated, and international rule is simply an effort to put that morality into effect. In view of these arguments, a look at the continuous barbarisation of warfare from the 19th to the 20th century, which modern scholars examined, is important. Evolutions in the conduct of warfare have been erratic, and this relates as well, perhaps mostly, to their impacts and to how these are viewed.5 Perspectives on barbarism in warfare is subjected to cultural standards, and the beliefs based on these, like the total number of deaths caused by war, in relation to deaths caused by other actions. Furthermore, the practice of warfare since the Roman period did not evolve in a single dire ction from crude warfare towards more sophisticated techniques or the larger study of limitations on warfare, or a grander warfare. Rather, the transformation of warfare ebbed and flowed intensely. What the world witnessed after the mayhem that swelled in Europe with the fall of the West Roman Empire and the measured rebuilding and modernisation of an expanded civilisation with recognised rules is primarily lethargic but, since the 19th century, continuous development with ‘

Summary for an article Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary for an article - Assignment Example Amateurism includes playing Hockey in a gentlemanly manner. Players were ejected for violating game rules. Amateurs did not play intensely for pay, but for peaceful fun. 3. The author states Hockey metamorphosed into a modern sport. Hockey, like modern sports, is bound by game rules. Hockey, like modern sports, is highly organized. Hockey, like modern sports, uses standard game equipments. 4. Further, Hockey’s modernization is grounded on the Canadian peacekeeper image. Game rules penalize violence. Rules reduce disorder in the game. Mass rowdiness is reduced to â€Å"peaceful† levels. 5. Further, Lacrosse, similar to Hockey, defies the British bourgeois sensibilities. Hockey defies British sensibilities of refinement. Hockey runs counter to British sensibilities of gentlemanliness. Hockey is a physical sport, not a refined sport. 6. Sports focused on resisting imported sports. Baggataway, a local sport is the national sport. The sport includes speed, skill, and violence. Baggatway was renamed Lacrosse. George Beers formulated the Lacrosse game rules ensure

Can Warfare be Anything Other than Barbaric Essay

Can Warfare be Anything Other than Barbaric - Essay Example Above all, it is important to define ‘barbarism’. This essay uses the following definition given by R.G. Collingwood (1942): By barbarism I mean hostility towards civilisation; the effort, conscious or unconscious, to become less civilised than you are, either in general or in some special way, and, so far as in you lies, to promote a similar change in others.2 Hence the major question is, is warfare really barbaric? Most people will answer ‘yes’. Human lives are slaughtered, and usually in huge numbers. War is a nightmare. However, it is important to deeply analyse this belief, because people’s thoughts about warfare on the whole and about the actions of combatants rely greatly on how human beings are slaughtered and on who these victims are. In that case, maybe, the most appropriate way to depict the barbarism of warfare is basically to argue that there are no restraints at these thoughts: human beings are butchered with every imaginable cruelty, an d people from all walks of life, regardless of sex, age, or moral state, are slaughtered.3 This image of war is vividly portrayed by Karl von Clausewitz in his book On War. It is his pioneering descriptions that have influenced the thoughts of subsequent scholars. There are some unrealistic individuals who think that morality and war are unable to coexist. War is barbaric, they argue, war is inhuman; in its existence it is bizarre, virtually nonsensical, to evoke morality. The truth is, as most people usually overlook, and at times are not aware of, morality is basically a norm of a culture. It is a set of rules which is in uninterrupted movement. However, in an integral and meaningful way morality represents the actions or behaviour of a society’s majority.4 Hence implicit, it is evident that in the contemporary period warfare still has dealings with morality. That there actually such a thing as morality of warfare, and that almost all enlightened and civilised cultures esse ntially share a particular traditional rule regarding the deeds which may or may not be committed in warfare, has been quite evidently witnessed throughout contemporary wars. This moral rule is generally claimed to be rooted in international policies and agreements. However, is it the common moral rule which is deep-seated, and international rule is simply an effort to put that morality into effect. In view of these arguments, a look at the continuous barbarisation of warfare from the 19th to the 20th century, which modern scholars examined, is important. Evolutions in the conduct of warfare have been erratic, and this relates as well, perhaps mostly, to their impacts and to how these are viewed.5 Perspectives on barbarism in warfare is subjected to cultural standards, and the beliefs based on these, like the total number of deaths caused by war, in relation to deaths caused by other actions. Furthermore, the practice of warfare since the Roman period did not evolve in a single dire ction from crude warfare towards more sophisticated techniques or the larger study of limitations on warfare, or a grander warfare. Rather, the transformation of warfare ebbed and flowed intensely. What the world witnessed after the mayhem that swelled in Europe with the fall of the West Roman Empire and the measured rebuilding and modernisation of an expanded civilisation with recognised rules is primarily lethargic but, since the 19th century, continuous development with ‘

Compare Othello and Batman Dark Knight Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Compare Othello and Batman Dark Knight - Essay Example As Shakespeare put it in his novel â€Å"†¦. â€Å"...my ancient; a man he is of honesty and trust. To this conveyance I assign my wife†. (Shakespeare) However, Othello is no God. He is composed of his imperfections and his vulnerabilities. He becomes a victim of these vulnerabilities eventually. Batman on the other hand is someone who is strongly righteous. He cannot be out-smarted and he will stand up for justice no matter what. He doesn’t care if people around him like it or not. He follows his heart even when he is condemned. Othello begins showing how easily he can be manipulated and maneuvered when the character of Iago comes to the fore in the play. This is when the reader is enlightened with Othello’s ability to over-trust and his naivetà © as he places complete faith in Iago. Othello is blinded by his faith in Iago. This shows how a tragic hero’s flaw is not a defect in his character but it is the over-presence of virtue in his nature. Othello’s perilous virtue takes shape of his immense trust in Iago-the same trust that brought his tragic fall. Batman on the other hand on other hand has aims and aspirations of the future. He wants to return Gotham, the glory and power it once commanded. This is the essence of his character. He turns into batman to help the city which was be-it all for him. Batman does not have any confides in the movie except for Alfred and Gordon. He is reserved and he does not believe in over-trusting people. It is just that these two characters are the only back-up support that Batman has. However, he is head strong and does not give in to the vulnerabilities of a situation. Alfred is trust worthy and he is always there to help him. This is also Batman knows who he can trust and who he cannot afford to trust. Othello was so blinded by his faith in Iago, he lost his rationale to think and see logically- a price he had to pay in the end when he realizes how badly he has wronged Desdemona. In one of his last

Argumentative Essay Essay Example for Free

Argumentative Essay Essay Malcolm X expressed the pent up anger, frustration, and bitterness of African Americans during the major phase of the civil rights movement. According to Learning to Read, â€Å"I believe it took me a day. Then, aloud, I read back, to myself, everything I’d written on the tablet. Over and over, aloud, to myself, I read my own handwriting.† (Paragraph 8) This means that he basically read his own handwriting. In Malcolm X’s, Learning to Read, he enhanced his life with reading and comprehension by having to experience his black community being treated wrong and having to go to jail. According to Learning to Read, â€Å"Many who today hear me somewhere in person, or on television, or those who read something I’ve said, will think I went to school far beyond the eighth grade. This impression is due entirely to my prison studies.† (Paragraph 3) This means that he’s known for his famous speech. Either on television or someone who read something that he said. Malcolm X was imprisoned for a long time, and was studying while there. The qualities that he possessed while in prison were phenomenal and not worthy to the white people. But, he didn’t become intelligent in jail for them; he did it for his fellow black community. According to Learning to Read, â€Å"It had really begun back in the Charlestown Prison, when Bimbi first made me feel envy of his stock of knowledge.† (Paragraph 4) This really means that he really didn’t start to read and comprehend until he met Bimbi. However, Bimbi was the first person he met in prison that didn’t use slang language. It was a surprise to Malcolm, because he didn’t know there would ever be anyone learning to read and comprehend like him in jail. On the other hand, how did learning to read aid him to understand the struggle of African Americans in this country? From my understanding, I believe that it aided him by it freeing him physically in his mind. And, it aided him by leading black people in the civil rights movement. According to Learning to Read, â€Å"In my slow, painstaking, ragged handwriting, I copied into my tablet everything printed on that first page, down to the punctuation marks.† (Paragraph 7) This means that he basically was practicing his handwriting while, at the same time, reading the words and comprehending them. Also, how did it enable him to impress people of colors? In my opinion, I believe it enabled him by expanding his knowledge about blacks with the plight they were experiencing. To conclude, the central idea of the text was that reading and comprehension helped him understand the racism in the black community. Malcolm X was basically strong and opinionated. Also, he is ambitious and anxious to get the freedom for his people and for himself. The reason being was because to awaken black people or in other words, spark them.

The Importance Of Sexual Intimacy In Marriage

The Importance Of Sexual Intimacy In Marriage From the very beginning martial union and physical union were intertwined together. Genesis 2:24 (King James Version) states Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Marriage is a one flesh relationship. Sex is not peripheral to marriage but is delicately woven into its very fabric (Weiner-Davis, 2008). Sexual intimacy in marriage is Gods gift to mankind. Gods gift of sexual intimacy in marriage serves four purposes: consummation of marriage, procreation, love, and pleasure (Hollinger, 2009). Human imperfection is the result of sin entering the world. Different sex drives and unresolved marital conflicts are human imperfections that cause dissatisfaction and diminished sexual intimacy in a marriage that can trigger emotional disconnect, infidelity, or divorce. In order for a couple to revive sexual intimacy in their marriage they have to be willing to understand their differences and forgive past mistakes. God , the creator of sexual intimacy chose to relate to mankind through sexual intimacy in a marriage. The four purposes of Gods gift of sexual intimacy in marriage are: consummation of marriage, procreation, love, and pleasure. The first purpose of sexual intimacy is for the consummation of marriage. Consummation of marriage happens when a married couple has sexual intercourse for the first time. The biblical term to know means that a couple becomes literally one flesh at the moment of intercourse (Janssen, 2001). At that moment, something dynamic transpires between the two when they become one flesh their relationship is now different, set apart and made distinct (Hollinger). The second purpose of sexual intimacy is procreation. In Genesis 1:28 God reveals his plan for procreation when he blessed Adam and Eve and said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it (KJV). Sexual intercourse is the means by which human life on earth continues and the means by which every human life begins (Hollinger). Procreation was Gods plan for mankind to populate the earth. The third purpose of sexual intimacy is love. Covenantal love is found in a marriage. Covenantal love is forever and accepts the responsibility to bear children from sexual intercourse (Hollinger). Love is so exquisitely defined in I Corinthians chapter 13. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails (New International Version). Sexual intimacy in a marriage is sacred and creates a love bond between husband and wife that is not easily broken. The fourth purpose of sexual intimacy is pleasure. C.S. Lewis rightfully connects legitimate pleasure with God when he penned the following words: God gives good gifts to human beings for their enjoyment. In our fallen state we often turn these good gifts in to gods, demanding more of them than they can yield and replacing God, the ultimate good with created goodsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The very fact that the psalmist can speak of eternal pleasures at Gods right hand shows that he is a God of pleasure (Lewis, 2001). God created sexual intimacy that was pure and undefiled for marital pleasure but sin when it was conceived defiled sexual intimacy and took it outside the confines of marriage. As long as sexual intimacy is kept in the confines of marriage it can be pleasurable and still remain pure and undefiled. According to sex therapists, Rosenau and Sytsma it has been our clinical experience that couples who desire deep connections and fantastic sexual intimacy, must learn to laugh and play in a way the Creator designed as part of the experience of intimacy (Rosenau, 2004). God created sexual intimacy for marital pleasure and he intended for husbands and wives to enjoy each other sexually. Sexual intimacy is vital in a marriage and that is how God created marriage. Unfortunately, with the fall of man came human imperfection. Human imperfection causes flaws in all of Gods creation and marriage is not exempt from this demise. Human imperfection in a marriage manifests itself through various venues that results in dissatisfaction and a decline of sexual intimacy in a marriage. One venue is differences in sex drives and another venue is unresolved marital conflicts. Differences in sex drives can have a negative effect on sexual intimacy in a marriage. In a lot of marriages one spouse will have a high sex drive and the other spouse will have a low sex drive. The spouse with the lower sex drive controls the sexual relationship. They dictate the frequency of sex, the time for sex, and the type of sexual activities and techniques that will be used during sex. The spouse with the higher sex drive begins to feel powerless, rejected, hurt, lonely and unloved. As a result sexual intimacy diminishes and dissatisfaction manifests itself in the marriage (Weiner-Davis, 2008). Unresolved marital conflicts can also cause dissatisfaction and diminished sexual intimacy in a marriage. Conflicts over finances, parenting issues, a controlling spouse, infidelity, individual preferences, unintended emotional injury, flaws and weaknesses are typical marital conflicts. Conflicts when they arise need to be confronted and a compromise reached. Ephesians 4:26 admonishes man let not the sun go down upon your wrath (KJV). Couples should make it a priority in their marriage to resolve conflicts. Unresolved conflicts in a marriage begin to build barriers between the husband and the wife. If unresolved martial conflicts persist in a marriage, the marriage is headed for failure. Differences in sex drive and unresolved marital conflicts have the ability to spawn emotional disconnect, infidelity, or divorce in a marriage. Emotional disconnect occurs when a couple is no longer emotionally intimate with each other. Emotional disconnect is caused by feelings of resentment and rejection. Infidelity is when one spouse is physically or mentally unfaithful to the other spouse. Lust and pornography are types of mental infidelity that usually precede physical infidelity. Divorce is inevitable if emotional disconnect and infidelity are not resolved in the marriage. Sins curse to marriage is divorce. God hates divorce and he did not intend for marriage to end in divorce but he understands that sometimes divorce is the only viable option (Christian Marriage Today, 2012). Rekindling the spark of sexual intimacy in a marriage requires learning to understand each others differences and the ability to forgive past mistakes. There has to be an understanding that God made every individual different and the willingness to accept those differences. Past mistakes that still linger in the marriage need to be relinquished and forgiven (Christian Marriage Today). Marriages are not perfect and sometimes outside intervention such as prayer, counseling and marriage seminars are necessary. Counseling and marriage seminars can strengthen or reconnect marital relationships. Most importantly, seeking God for guidance and understanding through prayer will help build, maintain, or renew intimacy in a marriage (Weiner-Davis). God created man in his own image and he desired to be close to man. God chose sexual intimacy in marriage as a way relate to man. Sex is his self-disclosing picture window into the Almighty ­Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ­Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ­Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ­Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ­Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ­-His grand metaphor to teach the value he places on intimate relationships. God is love and sexuality gives us ways to understand this (Rosenau). Sin mars, distorts or even erases evidence of our creator in sex acts. Often sex bears no resemblance to Gods image as was his original design and intent. Sexual intimacy gives man insights into Gods character and the way he interacts with man (Rosenau). Research on the topic of the importance of sexual intimacy in marriage revealed the importance that God places on sexual intimacy. If God believes that sexual intimacy in a marriage is important then man should make sexual intimacy in marriage a priority. If man would make it a priority there would be less divorce in the world. God desires his children to live happy and fulfilled lives. It is his good pleasure for couples to experience sexual intimacy. Sexual intimacy does not create marriage, but sexual intimacy cannot be divorced from marriage. God, the creator of marriage would have it no other way (Weiner-Davis).

Credit Bureau Fraud Letter :: essays research papers

Attention: Consumer Relations; Complaint/Information Services I recently obtained a copy of my credit report from your service and have found the following items to be in error. Item #1: I dispute visa account #4778522641258665, being held in collection with enter company name. I have settled this account with this firm and would like my records adjusted accordingly. Item #2: I dispute mastercard account #5421234565128754. My credit limit was only $300. I have no idea how it is possible for me to be in collections for over $1500.My account was closed way before an amount of that nature to accrue. Item #3: I dispute Smith, Robert MD 2140 16th ST N, New York, NY 02451 Ph.# (618) 845-2547 patient # 74586 held in collections with Collection Services 1-800-278-6886 account # 74586. I went for an initial visit to discuss a problem, which was covered by my insurance. A deductible of $250 was charged for services never rendered and late fees to a total of over $500. This requested payment is false and I dispute its validity. Item #4: I dispute Department Card showing account is inactive I was told it was closed and request all information removed about payment history etc. According to Section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I am requesting that you investigate those items indicated, and promptly delete any unverifiable, inaccurate, or outdated information from my credit report. In addition, I am requesting a description of how the investigation was conducted along with the name, address, and telephone number of anyone contacted for information. Furthermore, if there is a change in my credit history resulting from your investigation, I am requesting that an updated report be sent to those who received my report, within the last two years for employment purposes, or

Essay --

Service delivery is one of the most challenging tasks that face many organizations today. This is even worse in cases where factors such modality of fulfillment of a given service, challenges inherent in it and productivity measurements are not properly understood. My company deals with a complaint resolution service. This is a service product that is delivered directly to clients who depend on it for the purpose of redress concerning misunderstanding or disagreements as far as the company’s products are concerned. Customer dissatisfaction is highly dangerous for the existence and prosperity of any given business as it may make the business to collapse so easily. It is upon this concept that the company operates with a view to ensuring that all customer related misunderstandings are dealt with swiftly and compassionately so that clients do not feel neglected or misunderstood. Complaint resolution, as hard as it is, is a very delicate interaction between the client and the company agents. This means that it should be handled carefully by taking into account the key requirements that it deserves. The requirements for complaint resolution are many and generic. They include patient and credence, feedback and time, customer inclusion and respect, record and documentation among others. First, and most obviously, patient of the highest level is needed. This is recommended in the cases where an agent is involved in a complicated case that may need more time to handle in one hand, and urgency on the other. In addition, any company agent is required to be patient with controversial clients who may not give room for explanations as to what could be the remedy of a given misunderstanding. Patient is also recommended as the best way of... ...ining and continual financial support. Even though it is difficult to measure the productivity of this service product, customer complaint resolution, parameters like increase and decline in customer-related claims is a perfect gauge of its performance. Concisely, it is suffice to say that customer complaint resolution is highly necessary for any business. This is because any customer dissatisfaction may of consequences to the survival and prosperity of the company. As a result, all customer-related complaints should be dealt with swiftly and compassionately by taking into account all the key requirements that underpin the exercise lest any deviation cost the company dearly. On the same note, this service should be carried procedurally by taking into account all the recommended steps involved in order to ensure quality customer service delivery in the company.

Manager Vs. Leader

Effective leaders continually ask questions, probing all levels of the organization for information, testing their own perceptions, and rechecking the facts. They talk to their constituents. They want to know what is working and what is not. They keep an open mind for serendipity to bring them the knowledge they need to know what is true. An important source of information for this sort of leader is knowledge of the failures and mistakes that are being made in their organization. To survive in the twenty-first century, we are going to need a new generation of leaders, ot managers.The distinction is an important one. Leaders conquer the context, the turbulent, ambiguous surroundings that sometimes seem to conspire against us and will surely suffocate us if we let them while managers surrender to it. Leaders investigate reality, taking in the pertinent factors and analyzing them carefully. On this basis they produce visions, concepts, plans, and programs. Managers adopt the truth from others and implement it without probing for the facts that reveal reality. There is profound difference a chasm between leaders and managers. A good anager does things right.A leader does the right things. Doing the right things implies a goal, a direction, an objective, a vision, a dream, a path, a reach. Lots of people spend their lives climbing a ladder and then they get to the top of the wrong wall. Most losing organizations are over-managed and under-led. Their managers accomplish the wrong things beautifully and efficiently. They climb the wrong wall. Managing is about efficiency. Leading is about effectiveness. Managing is about how. Leading is about what and why. Management is about systems, controls, procedures, olicies, and structure.Leadership is about trust † about people. Leadership is about innovating and initiating. Management is about copying, about managing the status quo. Leadership is creative, adaptive, and agile. Leadership looks at the horizon, not Just t he bottom line. Leaders base their vision, their appeal to others, and their integrity on reality, on the facts, on a careful estimate of the forces at play, and on the trends and contradictions. They develop the means for changing the original balance of forces so that their vision can be realized.A leader is someone who has the capacity to create a compelling vision that takes people to a new place, and to translate that vision into action. Leaders draw other people to them by enrolling them in their vision. What leaders do is inspire people, empower them. They pull rather than push. This â€Å"pull† style of leadership attracts and energizes people to enroll in a vision of the future. It motivates people by helping them identify with the task and the goal rather than by rewarding or punishing them. Managers difference may be summarized as activities of vision and Judgment ffectiveness versus activities of mastering routines efficiency

Dangers and Hazards of Nuclear Power

Dangers and hazards of nuclear power When the term Nuclear Power or Nuclear Energy gets used usually the first things that come to mind for most people are bombs, destruction, war, and deformed humans. Which in fact are four things that occur the least in the nuclear power field. Nuclear power is much more than just bombs and destruction, bombs barely even take up a percentage of the total amount of nuclear energy used in the world today. Most all of the nuclear energy used today comes in the form of production of electricity.Nuclear power plants are responsible for 16% of all of the world’s electricity production; which really may not sound like a lot, but when you think of the amount of electricity used in the world it really puts it into prospective how vital nuclear power is to us all. These days, nuclear technology is used in several applications. Some of these include: medicinal, power and of course military. Out of these, nuclear energy based power is getting popular.In any case, because of growth in applications, based on nuclear technology, there are several nuclear installations being found at industrial scale. In general, nuclear installations are highly sophisticated, and, have lots of control measures in place to prevent any major hazard. Still, it’s a fact, that inspite of all these sophistications etc. accidents could still occur. The problem with nuclear accidents is – though, less frequent (due to high degree of sophistication and control measures), but, once an accident occurs, the impact is severe.

Ethic and Morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethic and Morality - Essay Example To fully define the anti-nature concept, Nietzsche makes it clear that when one denies his own passion, then he is denying the reality. To him, the greatest and best moralities are those, which accommodate nature while the weakest are those who deny it. Particular, the philosopher state that an individual should have a free will to choose what he or she wants and nothing should control or trigger him to do something. In his concept of morality as anti-nature, Nietzsche stated how the extensiveness of morality and religion alter the human nature. Even though many people believe that religion provides a sense of direction in life, the philosopher strongly disagreed. According to him, following a religion means ignoring the nature of humanity since an individual is forced to act in a certain way that pleases the Maker. I disagree with Nietzsche since his argument opposes the religion and thus, discourages most Christians from reading. This essay supports Irish Murdoch’s philosoph y since he captivates readers’ attention with her adequate knowledge in literature and philosophy. Although both Nietzsche and Murdoch deal with the concept of morality in a similar way, there are differences on how the two present their argument. Nietzsche based his argument on a naturalistic perspective of how religion contradicts how humanity is responsible for controlling their given passions and nature. However, Murdoch includes religion in the equation of morality. He based his argument on morality without and with God thus allowing readers to understand his point of views (Jacobus 55). Unlike Nietzsche, Murdoch engages other people’s philosophies in great depth and further incorporates them in her discussion. Nietzsche uses deists’ intellectuals and gives no or little credibility to their experiences and beliefs. While researchers, scholars, and deists can think about other philosophers’ argument on the subject while reading Murdoch argument, Murdo ch creates a platform where readers can decline or accept her argument at any point. Based on how Murdoch presents her arguments, readers can think that the author has not yet concluded her argument but given her readers a free will to choose what they believe. Nietzsche does not take a psychological path to examine the virtue of duty or responsibility (Friedrich 405). Although both Murdoch and Nietzsche derive their beliefs about morality from nature, Nietzsche quoted that â€Å"each individual has the duty to carry out his passions. Just as modern moral philosophers were rediscovering the virtues, social psychologists were uncovering evidence of the church being hostile to human nature † (Friedrich 404). The moralities of being weak in life are discussed in the religious cloak and in this case, Nietzsche believes that the church is hostile to human nature. From Nietzsche’s argument, one can derive the fact that the greatest moralities are those that embrace nature wh ile the weakest deny it. At this point, Nietzsche provides readers with a system that can benefit human beings in life especially on love and hostility. However, Murdoch takes a psychological path and examines the virtue of responsibility or duty. At this point, Murdoch believes that fulfilling one’s duty towards nations, institutions, and others is virtuous deed outside religion. Murdoch continues to argue that dutifulness is in our human nature. It is crucial

Quorum sensing in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium Essay

Quorum sensing in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium - Essay Example The influence of environmental factors on quorum sensing as seen by the influence of glucose metabolism on the production and degradation of the signal shows that through quorum sensing the cells communicate their growth phase as well as the metabolic potential of their environment. Strain AB 1157 of E. coli and strain LT2 of S. typhimurium grown in 0.5% glucose containing LB broth for the assay was removed from the medium and checked for activity that resulted in expression of luminescence in V. harveyi. 10% cell-free culture fluids from the two strains demonstrated maximal induction of luminescence in the V. Harveyi reporter strain BB170 which has the phenotype for quorum sensing, sensor 1-, sensor 2+ which induces luminescence exclusively through the signaling system 2 detector. The response was similar to that from V. harveyi BB152 culture fluid with E. Coli showing 106% and S. typhimurium showing 237% activity of the control activity. The signaling factor was not produced and the luminescence expression not induced when the bacterial strains were cultured in LB broth without added glucose and substitution of 10% LB medium containing glucose respectively. Candidates for signal including glucose, cAMP, amino acids, acetate, ÃŽ ±-ketogluterate, homoserine lac tone and other keto acids also produced no activity suggesting V. Harveyi BB170 respond to some signaling substance secreted by E. coli AB1157 and S. typhimurium LT2 grown on glucose containing LB medium. An analogous experiment performed with V. Harveyi reporter strain BB886 (sensor 1+ , sensor 2-) which is a wild type strain that do not act in response to signaling molecules that function through the signaling system 2 detector. Addition of E. coli AB1157 and S. typhimurium LT2 cell-free culture fluids showed only a respective 1% and 5% increase above control level (control used V. harveyi BB120 spent cultures which produces system 1 autoinducer).These results shows that E. coli AB1157 and

Fair Value of Accounting Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Fair Value of Accounting - Research Paper Example Fair value accounting has cemented its place really well in the world of accounting on the grounds that it gives more relevant information to users. This method is a realistic approach that gives the actual worth of an entity. According to Patricia McConnell1, fair value accounting method requires the preparers of financial statements to adjust them according to the fair values. This requirement helps the investors to make a better analysis of financial statements. The primary objective of financial statement analysis is the comparative measure of risk and return. General purpose financial statements do not provide the required data for this comparative analysis without significant adjustments. A clearer picture of financial statements provides the investors with a chance to make good decisions. â€Å"†¦fair value accounting method gives fair value estimates and discloses a range of possible outcomes which may help a sophisticated investor but at the same may plague the unsophisticated investor with ambiguity and information overload.† Fair value’s biggest drawback, and the major reason of its opposition, is the lack of reliability. It is because unless an asset is exchangeable in an arm’s length transaction, its value would always be an estimate. According to a study by Avinash, Arvi & Alan Reinstein3, critics have argued that fair value accounting method aggravated the recent crisis by requiring significant write-down of assets and hence resulting in sharp decreases in regulatory capital of banks and other financial institutions. Fair values tend to fluctuate vastly in a short period at times. According to Michael Power4, there are many arguments against the fair value accounting method but they don’t automatically become arguments in favor of historical cost accounting method. The definition of fair value shows that it is the amount which might be obtained in a market. Various commentators have argued about

Employing Strategy in a Competitive Environment Research Paper

Employing Strategy in a Competitive Environment - Research Paper Example These factors include income, education, geographic location, and age. Technological changes, which are arising might or might not support the activities of our business as well. This will be the supreme important trend, which could affect the ability of the company to stay competitive within the market. As the company provides the customers with quality information materials, which will permit them to sell to the end user clients more ably at a lesser charge, the company has to be aware of the datum that fresh technologies are emerging every day (Stigler 2008). The company must ensure that the products are continually updated to meet the clients’ needs. The company has to be aware of these emerging changes, as they occur to continue to anticipating the customers’ needs, and tackle them afore they essentially request it. This is how the company can capitalize on these changes in technology, by ensuring the clients have available information resources at all time to meet their end user consumer needs. The company can achieve this by constantly researching fresh and innovative technologies, as they emerge hence staying ahead of clients' requirements. New entrants to the market can also present a threat to the company. If the company is successful in attaining market share as well as being lucrative, this could draw new comers who may pull clients from the company. The company can combat this through being the low cost spearhead. Moreover, the company must keep on providing quality products, which the company’s clients trust. Establishing such reliability will be a basis in guaranteeing the company’s stand within the market (Wisma, 2012). To address the sustainable mobility’s challenges, while getting on a fresh stage of dynamic development and consolidating its presence within the international marketplace, the company can rely on its fundamental strengths. These strengths include knowhow of the inner operation of the informatio n industry; capacity to afford quality products, virtual firm can be easily be accessed online to generate a competitive benefit within the marketplace. The company can achieve this through effective communication with core clients. Increased sales do not necessarily mean increased returns; therefore, the company needs to evaluate the efficacy of the firm’s communications (Karakaya, 2005). This strategy will provide the company the understanding of the inner operation of the information sector to be cognizant of the clients’ needs. Furthermore, all staff must have some experience about book to fortify the company’s most crucial asset. Through keeping a close watch on changes in technology, the company will be capable of offering relevant products that the end users can benefit from them. Working online will make the company mobile and effortlessly accessed by either the company’s clients or their clienteles. This eases on the travel costs that would other wise be incurred if need for assistance or service arises (Wisma, 2012). Considering that the market share is minimal, I find that the company’s core competitor is the established publishers. The challenge is how the company can obtain and retain customers. The company has to create information materials, which clients can differentiate from those of the competitors’ products owing to their good quality. The company must employ proficient writers and

Personal and Professional Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal and Professional Practice - Essay Example People plagiarize because it looks like the easiest and quick thing to do when writing a project or even assignments. Author Ian Fleming wrote a novel with two of his colleagues, but he never mentioned them as co writers, he got sued by his colleagues and fined for plagiarism (Wainwright 2008, p.18). This amounted to plagiarism as he did not involve his counterparts in the final edition of the book yet they participated in its writing. Copying someone else’s work without their permission is plagiarism. A number of famous authors have become dodged with a number of controversies dealing with their books. Authors like Dan Brown and Lynda l Plante are just but examples of leading authors, who have battled court cases related to plagiarism (Arnold 2008). In order to avoid plagiarism in any of the work, one should be able to reference correctly all the ideas, materials, and theories that have been applied (Braniac 2012, p.6). Any individual reading your work should have the ability of telling exactly where the information is from. Read your work over and over again to  ensure that there is no plagiarism before handing in your assignment (Cottrell 2008, p. 41). . One should be able to reference directly, for example and also indirectly (Arnold 2008). One should be able to posses the knowledge of putting his or her own ideas in their assessment. In order to avoid plagiarism, one should use quotation marks, indirect referencing or at the same time, placing different ideas into your own personal words and including a reference at the end of each sentence (Cottrell 2008, p. 54). Referencing your work effectively and properly will prevent plagiarism from happening (Braniac 2012, p.6). Another way of avoiding plagiarism is by educating the students of the issue. Teachers should not assume that the students know what plagiarism is, even if they pretend to know what it is. The students should be provided with an explicit definition of plagiarism (Arnold 2008). Even when revising or paraphrasing another person’s words, or even just using their ideas, the author must still be given credit in a note (Wolff 2012, p.3). Ignoring crediting the appropriate authors, amount to lying. Students should include an annotated bibliography in their works. This should include a brief summary of the source, its location and also an evaluation about the importance of the source (Braniac 2012, p.6). Writers should be aware of the sources of the papers. Plagiarism detector should be used to check the levels of plagiarism (Wolff 2012, p.1). These detectors will enable the students prevent issues of plagiarism in their work or reports (Cottrell 2008, p. 28). Plagiarism is an offence; anyone doing it will be heavily punished. Bibliography Arnold, B, 2008, Caslon Analytics plagiarism incidents, Retrieved August 13, 2012, from http://www.caslon.com.au/plagiarismcasesnote.htm Braniac, A, 2012, How to Prevent Plagiarism, eHow, 6. Cottrell, S, 2008, The Study Skill s Handbook, New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Wainwright, M, 2008, Persaud suspended from practice for three months over plagiarism, The Guardian, 18. Wolff, J, 2012, Does plagiarism matter? Answer in your own words, The Guardian, 2-4. Personal and Professional Practice Name: Institution: Why is plagiarism viewed to be such a grave offence? Plagiarism is duplicating someone’s work claiming to be yours. People who commit plagiarism steal other

Arthur Millar Essay Example for Free

Arthur Millar Essay In this essay I am going to analyse the dramatic techniques that Arthur Millar uses in his 20th century drama called, A View From The Bridge. The play is set in Brooklyn in the 1940s when the Italians were immigrating to America to find work as they were poor and they needed to get away from Italy to find work to feed their families in Italy. Many of these immigrants entered America Illegally. The play is about a skilled docks worker in Brooklyn named Eddie Carbone. Eddie lives with his wife Beatrice and their niece, Catherine. Beatrices cousins named Marco and Rodolfo come to America from Italy to find work to feed Marcos family in Italy, as they are very poor. They plan to enter illegally. Eddie has feelings for his niece Catherine that he should not have. Meanwhile Catherine falls in love with Rodolfo and Eddie hates him because he is jealous as he loves her and he cannot stand any other man looking at her and touching her. As a result Eddie decides to let the Immigration Bureau know that there are illegal immigrants in his building. In the play, Arthur Miller uses a number of dramatic devices many of which are seen in the first act but their significance only becomes apparent to the audience in the second act. These dramatic devices are: use of language, dialogue and its sub textual meanings, stage directions, characters actions, props and lighting. The first dramatic technique I am going to analyse is the use of language in Alfieris speech at the start of the play. Miller has put this at the start of the play to prepare the audience for what will happen later on in the play. The speech starts to develop tension because there are a lot of negative and violent words used. For example, Alfieri uses terms such as Machine Gun. The effect of using a term like this is to create tension for the audience, as they now know that something bad is going to happen later on in the play. As the play progresses the audience realise that this is the only time when Alfieri uses negative and violent language. So his words take on a deeper meaning when the audience realises this. I am now going to look at Eddies language in the first act. His speech is simple but at the start of the play his words are more vibrant towards Catherine as he tells he that she is walking wavy. At the same time he also refers to her as a Madonna. This gives the audience the idea that she is pure and she is a virgin and Eddie wants her to stay as she is. Listen, B. , shell be with a lot of plumbers? And sailors up and down the street? This illustrates Eddies feelings for Catherine and it can also mean that he does not want any other men looking at Catherine or marrying her. Eddies dialogue changes when the cousins arrive. He uses working class American colloquial words, such as Yiz have a nice trip? when he asks the cousins Marco and Rodolfo about their journey. Eddie wants to make it clear that he is the man of the house and that he is in charge. These expressions are only used in the first act when he is speaking to Marco and Rodolfo. This builds tension because the audience know that Eddie is going to start trouble with Marco and Rodolfo later on.

Introduction to E-learning: Types, Benefits and Strategies

Introduction to E-learning: Types, Benefits and Strategies Chapter 2. Background and Related Work Introduction During the last decade the amount of literature published in the field of eLearning has grown noticeably, as has the diversity in attitudes and viewpoints of people who work on this subject. The general background presented here with regard to eLearning includes the definition, details of different types and the concept of quality. Information quality within information systems (IS), web mining and information extracting techniques are the main areas on which supporting literature is primarily focused. However, an in-depth explanation of each branch of these research fields is outside the scope of this literature review. The literature presented here is particularly focused on the subtopics of these large research areas which are directly applicable to this research. The structure of this chapter is divided into three main parts: a general view of eLearning including definitions of eLearning, an overview of eLearning types and the concept of quality in eLearning; information quality (IQ) within ISs; and information extraction methods. Each section includes a number of subsections which address the factors that are relevant to this research. ELearning In this part of the literature review, we focus on eLearning by providing a discussion about the definitions of eLearning, eLearning types and the concept of quality in eLearning. Moreover, in this section we lay the foundation for the general concept of quality in eLearning upon which the research will be based. This section also presents a discussion about the relationships between technology, users and content in an eLearning context. ELearning Definition The term eLearning is used in the literature and in business to describe many fields, such as online learning, web-based training, distance learning, distributed learning, virtual learning, or technology-based training. During recent decades, eLearning has been defined in several instances in different ways. In any publication in the field of eLearning, it is important to ensure that the authors understanding exactly matches that of the majority of the readers, therefore, the specific definition used should be stated first. Moreover, to reach a clearer understanding of what eLearning is, in this part of the thesis we present numerous definitions of eLearning as mentioned in the literature. In general, most of the definitions of the term eLearning are used to express the exploitation of technologies which can be used to deliver learning (or learning materials) in an electronic format, most likely via the World Wide Web (WWW). Psaromiligkos and Retalis consider eLearning to be the systems which utilise the WWW as a delivery medium for static learning resources, such as instructional files, or as an interface onto interactive The previous definitions look at eLearning in general; in more detail, eLearning can be in the form of courses or in the form of modules and smaller learning materials it also could take various forms. Romiszowski takes these details into account and summarises the definitions encountered in the literature in a way that emphasises that eLearning can be a solitary, individual activity, or a collaborative group activity. It also suggests that both synchronous and asynchronous interactive forms can be engaged. Naidu also takes into consideration the differences in the forms of interaction when trying to formulate a general definition of eLearning: educational processes that utilize information and communications technology to mediate asynchronous as well as synchronous learning and teaching activities. The position adopted in this research is that eLearning entails the technology used to distribute the learning materials, the quality of these materials, and the interaction with learners. The definition of eLearning used in this research addresses these dimensions in terms of: the use of new multimedia technologies and the Internet to improve the quality of learning by facilitating access to resources and services as well as remote exchange and collaborations ELearning Types As mention earlier, eLearning takes many different forms and includes numerous types of systems. In the extant literature eLearning types are defined following two main axes: the user context (individuals, groups or a community of users) and users engagement and interactivity. Romiszowski takes these details into account and summarises the definitions encountered in the following table, which emphasises that eLearning can be a solitary, individual activity, or a collaborative group activity. It also suggests that both synchronous and asynchronous interactive forms can be engaged. Looking more deeply at the division of the forms of interactivity used in eLearning systems, there are two main types of eLearning: asynchronous and synchronous, depending on learning and teaching activities. Synchronous eLearning environments require tutors and learners, or the online classmates, to be online at the same time, where live interactions take place between them. In this context, Doherty describes an Asynchronous Learning Network (ALN) as a variety of eLearning systems which distribute learning materials and concepts in one direction at a time. Moreover, Spencer and Hiltz express ALN as a place where learners can interact with learning materials, tutors and other learners, through the WWW at different times and from different places. The focus of this research will be on a case where students log-in to and use the system independently of other students and staff members, as well as using asynchronous methods regarding learning content, quality management and delivery which fit firmly into the general definition of the asynchronous eLearning environment. Quality Concept in ELearning The definition of eLearning adopted in this thesis represents three fundamental dimensions: technology, access and quality. The focus in this research will be on quality, which is considered a crucial issue for education in general, and for eLearning in particular. This section of the literature review will discuss concepts of quality in eLearning generally, and highlight the importance of content as the most critical factor for the overall quality. Currently, there are two recognised challenges in eLearning: the demand for overall interoperability and the request for (high) quality. However, quality cannot be expressed and set by a simple definition, since in itself quality is a very abstract notion. In fact, it is much easier to notice the absence of quality than its presence. Despite efforts to reach a comprehensive, universal definition of quality in eLearning, there is still a fundamental ambiguity surrounding the issue. One position is to consider quality as an evaluation of excellence, a stance which is primarily adopted by universities and education institutions. For example, in universities quality teaching and learning are promoted as the top priority, giving less attention to criteria or measurements regarding teaching input into courses, the learning outcomes, and the interactivity with the system. Another trend is to consider the improvement in quality, where quality is improved by moving beyond the set conceptions applied, and generally moving in the direction of a flexible process of negotiation, which needs a very high level of quality capability from those involved. Furthermore, quality can be viewed and considered from different aspects. Here, the SunTrust Equitable report illustrates what they perceive to be the value chain in eLearning in the form of a pyramid. The content is the most critical factor of eLearning. Indeed, to be able to use the internet as a tool to improve learning, the content should not distract learners, but increase their interest for learning. Learning tools and enablers are also important in the learning procedure. In reality, providers of learning platforms and knowledge management systems are key in the successful delivery of content. These companies provide the necessary infrastructure to deliver learning content. Moreover, learning service providers (LSP) are the distribution channels for content providers. One of the challenges facing these knowledge hubs and LSPs is to ensure that the learners are receiving fresh content. Companies focused on educational e-tailing then complete the value pyramid of eLearning. Looking at the pyramid it can be clearly observed that content is the most critical component of learning through the internet. In a similar manner, Henry stated that eLearning is composed of three main aspects: content, technology and services, he also emphasised that content is the most significant factor. Although this thesis will focus on the quality of content delivered by eLearning as the most important criteria and the most influential in the overall level of learning quality, the specified context and the perspectives of users also need to be taken into account when defining quality in eLearning. It is also essential to classify suitable criteria to address this quality. ELearning Technology, Users and Content Although most eLearning explanations focus on the technology and not on the learning, it is important to keep the people eLearning is designed for in mind. Moreover, individual learning styles and required learning materials should be addressed first. Then a suitable electronic delivery method can be adopted. On their website (agelesslearner.com), Karl and Marcia Conner commented, in this regard, that Maybe the e should actually follow the word learning'. Henry describes the content in a way that includes all delivered materials, including the materials which are usually offered in classroom-based learning and that are tailored for eLearning, in addition to any other knowledge the developer might offer. In fact, eLearning systems are considered to be user-adaptive systems, where systems are designed to react with user performance and choices. Webber, Pesty and Balacheff express user modelling as a central issue in the development of user-adaptive systems, whose behaviour is usually based on the users preferences, goals, interests and knowledge. Moreover, they declare that a system can be considered user-adaptive when changes in its functionality, structure or interface can be monitored, in order to consider the different needs of users and, ultimately, their changing needs. In the area of eLearning Heift and Nicholson believe that eLearning systems as adaptive systems are designed to meet the diverse requirements of students who have different levels of knowledge and backgrounds [19]. There is a significant base of literature and research in the area of adaptive systems, which usually base their behaviour on user models. In more detail, Kobsa explained that the user model often depends on one user or a group of users sharing the same profile and it characterises users preferences, goals, interests and knowledge. Webber, Pesty and Balacheff notice that with regard to this point there are two main problems relating to user modelling: to identify the relevant information to be modelled and to decide which method is more suitable to apply in order to determine the relevant information about the user. In fact, personalisation plays an important role in all areas of the e-era, especially in eLearning, as stated by Esposito, Licchelli and Semeraro, where the main issue is student modelling. This is the analysis of student behaviour and the prediction of future activities and learning performance . Furthermore, Ong and Ramachandran perceive that the literature on adaptive systems shows that by modelling the learner, the human tutor and the knowledge domain of instructional content, powerful pedagogical outcomes can be obtained. Although eLearning systems are considered types of adaptive systems, the difference between the concept of the user and the concept of the student creates a fundamental problem in the eLearning area. In this context, Esposito, Licchelli and Semeraro believe that in a general web system the user is free to surf and the system attempts to predict future user steps using the user model in order to improve the interaction between the user and the system, while in the eLearning system the modelling has to improve the educational route, adapting it to the model of the student. As a result it is essential to control and to assess student browsing. The systems should not give the students absolute freedom to decide their way through the content and learning materials, rather, the system should provide a specific educational path and offer a continuous evaluation activity of student performance, towards a defined pedagogical goal. Although delivering web-based educational materials can be very useful as the same content is distributed to a number of students and can be accessed regardless of time and place, this delivery would not be beneficial from a pedagogical point of view if the students, their level of knowledge and their learning style was not known. In fact, Sanatally and Senteni observe that the widely held principle of using the web simply as a form of distributed medium for learning materials does not add significant value to the learning process. This argument leads to the conviction of the importance of developing adaptive eLearning systems. Even if adaptive systems are focused on the interaction with users and changing the course and the content dynamically with their needs, and not on controlling the set sequence of a course, eLearning can exploit adaptive technologies to build learning environments that form user-specific sequencing. Tang and McCalla use the example of the Paper Recommender Sys tem as a good example of this exploitation: the system was designed to give recommendations to students about what conference or journal papers to read, based on their level of understanding and knowledge. We can see more clearly, as suggested by Conati and VanLehn, that the aim of adaptive systems is to build precise, interactively changing models of individual student learning, in order to use them as representations of how learners are progressing within the content of the course. Moreover, Papanikolaou et al. describe adaptivity as being system-controlled and in most cases assists in: planning the content, planning the delivery and presentation of the learning materials, supporting student navigation throughout the field of knowledge and problem solving. From this, it can be deduced that learner models generally characterise learner knowledge levels on the concepts of domain knowledge, pedagogical goals and learning preferences towards diverse styles of learning materials. In this context, they suggest that the domain model should be used in parallel with the learner model to provide a structure for the representation of learner knowledge of the defined domain. Using this procedure , tailored learning materials can be distributed to specific learners to be consistent with their requirements. This corresponds with the vision of Mittal et al., who realised that by creating several broad groups into which it is possible to segment target learners, it can be ensured that the content of learning materials for an absolute beginner student is not the same for that of a student getting ready for an exam. Nowadays, most student modelling systems follow the same method, in which the systems starting point is to create a reference template for a student, thus, the expertise or intelligence encoded into the system can adapt the course organisation and content to the individual student. The use of this method to decide the style and level of content that a student should be offered, according to how students interact with the system, will lead to a more personalised learning experience. In the case of this research, the student and domain model did not entail the complexity of those built in adaptive systems; however, several of the underlying principles of available student and domain modelling techniques proved to be useful. The key issue in most adaptive systems that feature student and domain modelling is a sequence of complex data repositories that give highly precise values about student performance and completion against learning materials. The focus in this research will be on measuring the quality of the content of learning materials distributed via eLearning systems, and establishing how the student will interact with the materials, how they will be able to extract the relevant information from the content and how the context of the online materials will help students to recognise the underlying structure of the content and easily access the parts in which they are interested. This research will gather empirical evidence using online questionnaires, which can be used to directly ask students about their preferences and perspectives. Summary This part of the literature review provided a general overview of eLearning, including definitions of eLearning, a note of eLearning types and consideration of the concept of quality in eLearning. It also identified the definition adopted for eLearning in this study and considered the type upon which this research will focus. Moreover, in this section we laid the foundation for the general concept of quality in eLearning upon which the research will be based. Finally, it presented a brief discussion about the relationships between technology, users and content in an eLearning context. The next part of this chapter will discuss the concept of IQ within ISs; this will be used later on to set standards for IQ in the context of eLearning systems. Information Quality in Information Systems In this part of the literature review we will start with a brief discussion of the terms data quality and information quality, and will shed some light on the concept of IQ within ISs and how it could be defined. We will also provide a comprehensive review of the major historical developments of IQ frameworks. Data Quality(DQ) vs. Information Quality During recent years, much work has been done to build quality frameworks for IQ dimensions. In the past, research focused on DQ, but due to the recent development of internet technologies, ISs today are providing users with information, not only data. Therefore, research attention has shifted to focus on IQ frameworks. While, some researchers explicitly distinguish between the terms data and information and explain information as data which has been processed in some way, sometimes, it may be difficult to discriminate between them in practice . Still, in some studies the term information is interchangeable with data. Likewise, the term data quality is often used synonymously with information quality. Consequently, in this study, the concept of information will be used in a broad sense, which covers the concept of data. Before reviewing the researches that were conducted to formulate (data/information) quality frameworks within ISs, first we will discuss the meaning of IQ and how it could be defined. How Information Quality Could be Defined Although it is important to set standards for IQ, it is a difficult and complex issue, particularly in the area of ISs, because there is no formal definition of IQ, as quality is dependent on the criteria applied to it. Furthermore, it is dependent on the targets, the environment and from which viewpoint we look at the IQ, that is, from the provider or the consumer perspective. Moreover, IQ is both a task-dependent and a subjective concept. Juran summarises these aspects of quality in his quality definition as fitness for use. Similarly, Wang described DQ (which could apply to IQ) as data that is fit-for-use. This description has been adopted by researchers because it brings to light the fact that IQ cannot be defined and evaluated without knowing its context. Defining IQ in a contextual approach seems to be logical because quality criteria, which could be used to assess IQ, can differ according to the context. In fact, IQ is expressed in the literature to be a multi-dimensional concept with varying attributed characteristics depending on the context of the information. However, taking into account the complexity of the IQ concept and that its measurement is expected to be multi-dimensional in nature, the prime issue in defining the quality of any IS is identifying the criteria by which the quality is determined. The criteria result from the multi-dimensional and interdependent nature of quality in ISs, and are dependent on the objectives and the context of the system. Thus, it is common to define IQ on the internet by identifying the main dimensions of the quality, for that purpose IQ fr ameworks are widely used to identify the important quality dimensions in a specific context, these dimensions can be used as benchmark to improve the effectiveness of information systems, as described by Porter. Information Quality Frameworks Today, for any IS to be judged successfully it has first to satisfy additional predefined quality criteria. An eLearning system is a special type of IS so it is important to examine the literature relating to the traditional IS success models and the proposed quality frameworks, in order to test the possibility of extending these success models to identify eLearning content quality criteria in an eLearning context. Much of the work done in IS success has its origins in the well-known DeLone and McLean (DM) IS Success Model.This model provided a comprehensive taxonomy on IS success based on the analysis of more than 180 studies on IS success and it identified over 100 IS success measures during the analysis. It established that system quality, IQ, use, user satisfaction, individual and organisational impact were the most distinct elements of the IS success equation. In a later work, the authors confirmed the original taxonomy and their conclusion, namely that IS success was a multidimensional and interdependent construct. Their model makes two important contributions to the understanding of IS success. First, it provides a scheme for categorising the multitude of IS success measures that have been used in the literature. Second, it suggests a model of temporal and causal interdependencies between the categories. The updated model, which was proposed in 2003, consists of six dimensions: Information quality, which concerns the system content issue. Web content should be personalised, complete, relevant, easy to understand and secure. System quality, which measures the desired characteristics of a web based system such as usability, availability, reliability and adaptability. Service quality Usage, which measures visits to a website, navigation within the site and information retrieval. User satisfaction, which measures users opinions of the system and should cover the entire user experience cycle. Net benefits, which capture the balance of positive and negative impacts of the system on the users. Although this success measure is very important, it cannot be analysed and understood without system quality and IQ measurements. In their model, DeLone and McLean defined three main dimensions for the quality: IQ, systems quality and service quality. Each one has to be measured separately, because singularly or jointly, they will affect subsequent system usage and user satisfaction. In 1996, Wang and Strong proposed their DQ framework, which will be discussed in more detail in the following section. In their framework they categorised characteristics/attributes in to four main types/factors: intrinsic, accessibility, contextual and representational. This method of categorising IQ factors and attributes proved to be a valuable methodology for defining IQ. Lately, several quality management projects in business and government have successfully used this framework. After Wang Strong DQ framework, diverse research efforts were spent in order to identify IQ dimensions in deference contexts. Although these frameworks varied in their approach and application, they shared some of the same characteristics concerning their classifications of the dimensions of quality. In 1996, Gertz focused on finding possible solutions for the problems regarding modeling and managing data quality and integrity of integrated data. H proposed a taxonomy of data quality characteristics that includes important attributes such as timeliness and completeness of local information sources. While Redmans work aimed to set up practical guidelines to analyze and improve information quality within business processes, h proposed a number of quality attributes grouped into six categories: Privacy, Content, Quality of Values, Presentation, Improvement and Commitment. In the same year, Zeist Hendricks identified 32 IQ sub-characteristics grouped in 6 main IQ characteristics which covered functionality, reliability, efficiency, usability, maintainability and portability. Unlike general purpose IQ framework, in 1997 Jarke proposed a special purpose framework where he used the same hierarchical design established by Wang Strong. He defined IQ criteria depending on the context and requirements for specific application; Data Warehouse Quality (DWQ). In his framework, Jarke linked each operational quality goals for data warehouses to the criteria which describe this goal. The main defined criteria are accessibility, interpretability, usefulness, believability, and validation. In 1998, Chen gave a list of IQ criteria with no special taxonomy. He, however, proposed a goal-oriented framework focusing mainly on time-oriented criteria such as response time and network delay. One year later, Alexander Tate proposed their framework for IQ IN Web environment. This framework consisted of 6 main criteria; authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, orientation and navigation. In the same year, Katerattanakul Siau adapted Wang Strong DQ framework to propose their four categories IQ framework of individual websites. Furthermore, Shanks Corbitt recommended a semiotic-based quality framework for information on the Web. This framework includes four semiotic levels. Syntactic level to insure that information is consistent whiles the Semantic level focuses on the information completion and accuracy. Pragmatic level is the third level which covers the usability and the usefulness of the information. The forth level is the social level ensures information understandabil ity. Within their framework there are 11 quality dimension distributed within the identified levels. Dedeke in 2000 developed a conceptual IS quality framework that includes 5 categories; ergonomic, accessible, transactional, contextual and representational quality. Each category consists of number of quality dimensions such as; availability, relevancy and conciseness. Whilst Zhu Gauch described 6 quality metrics for information retrieval on the web; these are availability, authority, currency, information-to-noise ratio and cohesiveness. Leung adapted Zeist Hendrickss quality framework in 2001 and applied it to Intranet applications. He defined 6 main IQ characteristics; functionality, reliability, usability, efficiency, maintainability and portability. Each quality characteristic in the proposed framework includes numbers of sub-characteristics. Several research in IS quality were undertaken in 2002, Eppler Muenzenmayer suggested two main manifestations for their proposed framework; content quality and media quality. The content quality is focused on the quality of the presented information and it consists of two categories; relevant information and sound information. Whereas media quality is focused on the quality of the medium used to deliver the information and it includes optimized process category and reliable infrastructure category. Each category in the framework contains number of quality dimensions. Khan categorised IQ depending on the context of the system. The framework divided IQ into two main quality types; product and service quality. Moreover, it divided these two types into 4 quality classifications and each classification into number of quality dimensions. The quality classifications are sound information, useful information, dependable information and usable information. In addition, Klein conducted a research in the same year to identify five IQ dimensions chosen Wang Strongs DQ framework to measure IQ in Web context; accuracy, completeness, relevance, timeliness and amount of data. Mecella also proposed an initial framework for quality management in Cooperative Information System (CIS). This framework includes a model for quality data exported by cooperating organizations and the design of an infrastructure service and improving quality. More recent, in 2005 Liu Huang mentioned 6 key dimensions for IQ; source (focused on information availability), content (focused on information completeness), format and presentation (focused on information consistency), currency (focused on information currency and timeliness), accuracy (focused on information accuracy and reliability) and speed (focused on how easily information is downloadable). Besiki et all introduced in 2007 a general framework for IQ assessment. This framework consists of a comprehensive taxonomy of IQ dimensions, and provides a straightforward and powerful predictive method to study IQ problems and reason through them in a systematic and meaningful way. Lately, Kimberly et all presented in 2009 a model for how to think about IQ depending on the application context; they identified number of common IQ metrics. Kargar Azimzadeh also presented an original experimental framework for ranking IQ on the Web log. The results of their research revealed 7 IQ dimensions for IQ in Web log. For each quality dimension, quality variables associated coefficients were calculated and used so that the proposed framework is able to automatically assess IQ of Web logs. In the same year Thi Helfert conducted a research aimed to propose a quality framework based on IS architecture. In their research they identified quality factors for different construct levels of IS architecture. Moreover, they also presented impacts amongst different quality factors which help to analyze the cause of IS defects. In this part we gave a brief review of the researches conducted to formulate (data/information) quality frameworks within ISs. However in the next section we will focus on Wang and Strongs DQ framework as we will use it as a base for this research to measure IQ in eLearning systems along the dimensions of the framework. Wang and Strongs Data Quality Framework Wang Strongs DQ framework, one of the most comprehensive, popular, remarkable and cited DQ frameworks, was established by Richard Wang and Diana Strong in 1996. Their framework was designed empirically by asking users to give their viewpoints about the relevance of the IQ dimensions to capture the most important aspects of DQ to the data consumer. In their framework, Wang and Strong classified quality dimensions into four groups: Intrinsic DQ: refers to the quality dimensions originating from the data on its own. This aspect of quality is independent of the users perspective and context. Contextual DQ: focuses on the aspect of IQ within the context of the task at hand. In this group, the quality dimensions are subjective preferences of the user. Contrary to the first group, DQ dimensions cannot be assessed without considering the users viewpoint about their use of provided information. Representational DQ: is related to the representation of information within the systems. Accessibility DQ: refers