Gender Roles, Masculinity, And Society - 999 Words

It is accepted in society today that, for domestic disturbances, women are abused by their husbands and boyfriends, not the other way around. The reason for this is that men are conditioned ever since they were even babies to fit into this masculine gender role that hurts them and those who surrounding them. Many who are conditioned since birth to be masculine which can have a massive impact on them later in life to make them emotionally stunted. Media also displays the model that men cannot be abused by women often, which affects their response to the abuse of themselves because that behavior has been normalized. This will be focused on how gender roles, masculinity, and society all have their own roles when it comes to perpetuating stereotypes that deny men or those who were born male (but have transitioned or identify as something else) the aid that they need when they are victims of domestic abuse from their significant other. When considering the lack of response to the abuse o f males, you would have to start at the beginning- when they were born. There are various social expectations for people who were born as a male. The very second that parents are told the gender of their newborn baby they will then impose their own rules of gender onto the child although everyone acts differently and the idea of gender is socially constructed. Then the newborn boys are dressed in blue clothing when held in the incubator by the hospital because blue is the socially acceptedShow MoreRelatedGender Roles In Chuck Palahniuk And David Finchers Fight Club879 Words   |  4 PagesIn today’s society, there is confusion regarding sex, gender, and gender roles. Sex is referring to the biological differences between males and females; whereas gender refers to the normative behaviors of males and females. Gender roles are roles defined by society for each sex. With the world changing, traditional gender roles are being defied. Males are â€Å"acting† and â€Å"dr essing† like females, and vice versa. This utter disregard to traditional gender roles has spun our society into a tizzy. In FightRead MoreTaking a Closer Look at Gender1311 Words   |  5 PagesFrom the beginning of their lives, individuals are associated with a specific gender, influencing behaviour, opportunities and expectations. The basic inequalities and disparities between men and women are generally seen as the result of the innate, essential differences between the two biological sexes. This theory presumes that each and every member of the female gender is identical, and that the same can be said for males but â€Å"not all women are the same, just like all men aren’t the same† (TarrantRead MoreGender Roles And Attitudes Of A Teacher s Practice1189 Words   |  5 PagesThe present essay attempts to demonstrate the stereotypes around gender and and it’s relation to a teacher’s practice. In order for this objective to be met, the theory of gender will be introduced, followed by the stereotypes regarding the gender ‘’roles’’. Moreover the role of culture in the creation of gender roles and how popular culture-media carry stereotypes on children will be presented. This aims to show how a teacher can combat or prevent those stereotypes through her thoughtful, carefulRead MoreEssay on Equal and Alike1158 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween masculinity and femininity is less clear. Aaron H. Devor wrote in his 1989 article, Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender, that due to the structure of American society, â€Å"masculinity thus becomes ‘innately’ valuable and femininity serves a contrapuntal function to delineate and magnify the hierarchical dominance of masculinity† (430). Devor describes the role of femininity in current society as merely a way to put the value and superiority of masculinity into perspectiveRead MoreSocietys Social Construction of Gender1055 Words   |  4 PagesGender is defined as the social arrangements that are built to meet personal traits of being male or female and society has created roles that reflect a gender to act in a certain way in society. Rape culture is seen as normal behavior in society where genders experience violence in social institutions. Society has arranged roles to males and females that have led females to experience violence in society and is seen as a norm rather than a problem, because males need to show their masculinity toRead MoreThe Illusion Of Masculinity And Its Effects On Society1607 Words   |  7 PagesThe Illusion of Masculinity The gender roles for males is a social construct in which sets men in the position to certain behavioral, emotional, and social norms within a society or specific culture in which individuals have to adhere in their social environment. How does that shape ones identity and sense of self? Also, what are the repercussions to ascribing to these roles as a base model for one’s social life? In this abstract I will explore the effects for hyper masculinity in American, theRead MoreHow Gender Operates Within The Setting Of An Olivia Vacation1481 Words   |  6 PagesMinor Essay OPOL216 – Sex and Gender Matters Allysen Stewart 32579398 â€Æ' Assignment 1 – Minor Essay OPOL216 – Sex and Gender Matters This essay will critically discuss how gender operates within the setting of an Olivia Vacation (https://www.olivia.com), drawing from personal experiences from a recent trip to a Hawaiian Resort. The paper will focus on personal observations of the underlying forces involved in the reproduction and disruption of gender relations, and their resultingRead MoreReligion, Religion And Religion Essay1690 Words   |  7 PagesIn Western society, religion plays a vital role in maintaining traditionalism. For instance, growing up as a Christian, I was taught that God loves everyone and forgives us of our sins, but he also condemns homosexuality and gives the consequence for such a lifestyle. Leviticus 20:13 mentions that â€Å"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood {shall be} upon them†. Basically, I believe that the BibleRead MoreGender Is Not So Much Determined By God Nor By Biolo gy Essay1618 Words   |  7 Pagesallocated gender is not biologically processed. Instead it is a result of social modification. In this essay, one particular theme will be used in order to demonstrate that gender is not so much determined by God nor by biology. Firstly the terms ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ will be defined before the relationship between them is explored in relation to the theme chosen. Secondly evidence that shows that gender is socially constructed will be discussed. The theme that shall be investigated is masculinity. To beginRead MoreThe And Its Effect On Their Emotional Health Essay1009 Words   |  5 Pages Without the existence of manliness, the gender itself would lose its identity. The majority of twenty first century society believe that certain traits are linked biologically to male and female genders. There is however, a movement toward ending this way of thinking. A new ideology is spreading that sets out to overcome the way society sees gender. This new way of thinking challenges men and can possibly change the current precedent set on gender roles. The current mainstream belief that certain

Ethics And The New Genetics - 1048 Words

Kimberly Huynh Hazlewood English 101-14 September 11, 2014 Long Paper #1: Response Paper Dear Mr. Dalai Lama, In your excerpt, â€Å"Ethics and the New Genetics,† you presented the discovery of the advancement in genetic technology. You mentioned how scientist are able to change the genetic makeup of living things. Another key point presented in your article is the idea of cloning, where one is therapeutic while the other is reproductive. The article discussed that the advancement in technology and genetics should only be used to benefit people. However, you believed that using these advancements in the wrong way can leave a long term consequence to the present and future of the human society. (The Dalai Lama). I agree with your opinion in how genetic technology could leave a negative impact to our society. I believe the idea of genetic engineering is not natural. We have no idea of the harm that could result from this technology. Genetic engineering is another step in giving humans their desires. I believe that altering the DNA of any life form is not just. Genetically manipulating a life form could put an imbalance in nature and society. No one should have the right to manipulate the genetics of other life forms. The idea of genetic engineering is be consider unethical because it is enforcing animal cruelty. Furthermore, I am appalled that some parent choose their child’s appearance, rather than go through the ‘natural’ process, to prevent bullying and discrimination.Show MoreRelatedEthics And The New Genetics1428 Words   |  6 Pagesscience today is slowly leading to the development of cloning and genetic selection. By altering the genetic make-up of a being, scient ists have brought about several questions on how the population would adjust to the â€Å"super-beings,† and what benefits and consequences both human and non-humans would gain with their creations? Authors Francis Fukuyama, who wrote â€Å"Human Dignity,† and The Dalai Lama, writer of â€Å"Ethics and the New Genetics,† has called into question the use of cloning and how it couldRead MoreEthics And The New Genetics1673 Words   |  7 Pageshassles. It has become an essential part of the way that people live and it is very likely that people would be a loss without it. In â€Å"Ethics and the New Genetics,† the Dalai Lama claims that to ethically use new technological advancements we need to develop a â€Å"moral compass†. Peter Singer, in â€Å"Visible Man: Ethics in a World without Secrets,† discusses whether new technology and â€Å"openness† makes our lives better, or if the lack of privacy takes away the rights of individuals. B oth authors discussRead MoreThe, Visible M Ethics And The New Genetics867 Words   |  4 Pagesevolution has outpacing our society expectations. With technological advances’ unfolding right in front of our eyes, the line between what is moral and immoral has been blurred. In Peter Singer’s â€Å"Visible Man: Ethics in a World Without Secrets† and the Dalai Lama’s â€Å"Ethics and the New Genetics† both authors present the potential benefits of today’s advancements but also make it clear that theses advancements have molded our ethical and moral standards. With technological advancements moving at a unfathomedRead MoreVisible M Ethics And The New Genetics1805 Words   |  8 Pageswhen it comes to different aspects of technology. In â€Å"Visible Man: Ethics in a World Without Secrets† Singer talks about how technology and privacy affects democracy in government and how it has used technology to spy on its citizens. Tenzin Gyatso sh ares his opinion about technology in â€Å"Ethics and the New Genetics†, and he explains how the vast majority of people does not have the right knowledge to tamper with genetics and genetic science; thus, leads to the misuse of technology. All these textsRead MoreIslamic and Catholic Views on Genetic Engineering1265 Words   |  6 Pagesis the Catholic view on genetic engineering? - Mary Meets Dolly. 12/ 05/ 2014.) The Catholic Church In 1983, Pope John Paul II mentioned in an address â€Å"genetic enhancement was permissible- indeed, laudable- even from a Catholic point of view, as long as it met certain basic moral rules. Among those rules: that these therapies be available to all. Ensuring equality of care may become inseparable from ensuring equality of opportunity.† (What is the Catholic view on genetic engineering? - Mary MeetsRead MoreEthics And The Field Of Healthcare1542 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Issues Related to Genetics in Nursing Genetic research is imperative to the field of healthcare. Genetic research enables healthcare providers to have a better understanding of many genetic diseases and the components of those diseases. This research aids in early detection, prevention, treatments, and sometimes cures. Without the use of genetic research, healthcare would be at a standstill. Genetic and genome healthcare is a powerful tool. As with anything powerful, it often puts theRead MoreThe Field Of Reproductive Technology1484 Words   |  6 PagesToday’s culture has a growing fascination with biotechnology and genetic engineering. This is especially true within the field of reproductive technology. Advancements in this field has expanded family options significantly with the advent of reproductive technologies such as in vetro fertilization, embryo transplant, and varying genetic testing and screening (Finsterbusch, 2008). However, what drives humanity to want to modify humankind? Should there be lim its placed on these modifications? AndRead MoreThe Controversy Of Genetic Engineering1369 Words   |  6 Pages Genetic Engineering, for most individuals not knowledgeable on the topic, conjures visions of sci-fi movies and humans being grown in a lab far off in the future. What more and more individuals in the early 21st century are coming to realize is that Genetic Engineering has already exceeded our wildest imaginations in a dark corner of a lab, outside of the view of the main stream public. Indeed, in 2017, genetic engineering is in full swing on both plant and animal life. Only from hearingRead MoreA Research On Genetic Engineering1407 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic Engineering is all about genes, which are made of DNA; the chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms. It is a very broad term that covers a range of techniques that allow for the artificial addition, deletion or rearrangement of sequences of ba ses in DNA in order to alter the observable form and function of an organism. (Science Group, 2014). Genetic Engineering was first discovered in the 1970s when scientist discovered how toRead MoreGenetic Engineering : The Field Of Human Biotechnology1490 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is a set of techniques for isolating, transforming, multiplying and recombining genes from different organisms. Simply put, it is the process of manually adding new DNA to an organism. Genetic engineering originated in the 1970s as a result of the discovery of several key techniques in molecular genetics. It is also referred to as recombinant (rDNA) technology. Genetic Engineering enables geneticists to transfer genes between species that belong

The Importance of Characterization Free Essays

Characterization is the process by which the author brings a character to life. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses exceptional characterization throughout the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. There are four methods of characterization which can be revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization. We will write a custom essay sample on The Importance of Characterization or any similar topic only for you Order Now The most common method of characterization is the narrator’s direct description of a character. This is a very important method as it enables the reader to have a vivid picture in their mind. The method of the character’s own words and actions or the method where the character’s reveals their own feelings allows the reader to become engulfed in the novel. The fourth and final method is how the other characters react to him and what they say about him. This allows the reader to interact with the other characters as well. Sir Henry, Mr. Barrymore and Mr. Stapleton are excellently characterized throughout the novel. Characterization is a method used by an author to develop a character. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle explicitly uses characterization to describe Sir Henry Baskerville. The reader can clearly visualize Sir Henry when the author uses the narrator’s direct description. â€Å"The latter was a small, alert, dark-eyed man about thirty years of age, very sturdily built, with thick black eyebrows and a strong, pugnacious face† (Doyle 40). The reader can sense the grief put upon Sir Henry as the author uses characterization to describe the character’s own feelings. â€Å"He walked slowly back the way he had come, his head hanging, the very picture of dejection† (123). The author’s technique of using the method of how other characters react to him and what they say about him enables the reader to understand how others feel about himâ€Å" Our friends title, his fortune, his age, his character, and his appearance are all in his favour, and I know nothing against him, unless it be the dark fate which runs in his family† (126). Sir Henry is thoroughly described using the methods of characterization. Mr. Barrymore is also accurately described using characterization. Mr. Barrymore is a trustworthy individual which is demonstrated by the character’s own words and actions. â€Å"It is my business, and not yours. I will not tell† (131). Mr. Barrymore is vividly described using the narrator’s direct description. â€Å"The man is a striking-looking fellow, very well equipped to steal the heart of a country girl† (118). It is made obvious to the reader how one character reacts to another using the fourth method of cha racterization. â€Å"It seemed to me that the pallid features of the butler turned a shade paler still as he listened to his master’s question† (87). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle described Mr. Barrymore to the exact degree using characterization. Mr. Jack Stapleton is described precisely using many methods of characterization. Mr. Stapleton is a secretive man and kept his opinions to himself. This is demonstrated by using the method of the character’s own feelings. â€Å"Stapleton was guarded in his replies, but it was easy to see that he said less than he might, and he would not express his whole opinion out of consideration for the feelings of the baronet† (109-110). It was evident that Mr. Stapleton was a naturalist using the narrator’s direct description of the man. â€Å"A tin box of botanical specimens hung over his shoulder and he carried a green butterfly-net in one of his hands† (90). The reader can clearly sense Dr. Watson’s reaction to Mr. Stapleton using the reactive characterization. â€Å"The words took away my breath for an instant but a glance at the placid face and steadfast eyes of my companion showed no surprise was intended† (92). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is genuinely able to describe Mr. Stapleton by using characterization. Characterization generates a plot and is revealed by actions, speech, thoughts and other characters’ thoughts. All four distinct characterizations are used throughout the novel. Sir Henry, Mr. Barrymore and Mr. Stapleton are excellently characterized in the novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles. All four methods of characterization are equally important to produce a bestsellin g novel. Characterization is essential in all novels as it aids the reader to visualize a character to their fullest potential. How to cite The Importance of Characterization, Papers

Field Management Report

Question: Explore "Field Management Report". Answer: Introduction Emaar is a construction company heading from UAE established in 1997 in Dubai. Emaar is recognized as the largest real estate company in the region and became the first developer who offered freehold property in Dubai. Emaar adopted a diversification strategy in their business. Emaar is not focused on local projects in UAE but has diversified into international markets in the scope of growth for the company. Emaar is a developing that deals in commercial and residential property project (Huston, 2014). Discussion The competitive strategy that Emaar has adopted focuses on the growth of the company in a highly competitive market in its entire strategic business unit. Cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy, and focus strategy are some of the strategy categorized under the competitive strategy, and Emaar has extensively implemented the differentiation strategy. The strategy allows Emaar to diversify the brand name in different markets and increase the reach of the company and expand its territory through penetrating other countries. The business strategy adopted by the company is to replicate their Dubai business model for their international markets through the maximization of their executive capabilities and competencies in the field of design, distribution, and project management (Vassilopoulou et al., 2015). Emaar does not believe in putting all their eggs in one basket. That indicates that they focus on all the market segments and thus are capable of minimizing their risk factors that are related to asset management. This provides the company with an advantage of the increase in investment and consequently maximized efficiency and effectiveness. The business model implemented by Emaar has a strategic advantage of the expansion of their developing operations worldwide by keeping their focus on their hold on lifestyle project. The strategies of the company are targeted to grab the opportunities that are building across the world and particularly in countries like Egypt, Arabia, Pakistan and Indonesia (Bodolica et al., 2015). Emaar is all set to adopt new ways to attain growth through environmental growth and business subdivision. The focus of the execution of the strategy they ensure the quality of their services like the timely completion of the international and domestic projects and are all set to integrate the recently acquired skills of WL Homes, Turner, and Hamptons. They are still hell bent in the consolidation of the dominant position they enjoy in the domestic market. Emaar has in possession an area of 16.8 million square meters of land for the purpose of their planned construction activities and another 6.5 million square meters of land bank in the region of Dubai via the JV with Bawadi. They have a major impact on the market supply by their magnanimous scale. Emaar is planning to expand in the education and healthcare arena in the MENA and Indian sub-continent region. The drawback Emaar faces is the limitation n the funding by the parent company for the purpose of the land acquisition and the construction related to the infrastructure. This overexposure could prove to be a disadvantage for the company Emaar has reached a saturation point which is indicated by the decline in the operations of their margins cost return equity and specifically limited funding strategy (Migdadi et al., 2014). Emaar has achieved this pinnacle of success through a very rigid bureaucratic style of leadership where the employees have no authority to use their creativity, imagination and ideas and opinions and blind have to follow the stringent guideline or rule or order set by the manager or the management. To avoid the negative impact created by the bureaucratic style of leadership that leads to lack of motivation and diminished job satisfaction, Emaar has adopted a motivational technique that inspires them from their accomplishments that they achieved previously by writing their feelings of accomplishment. This strategy helps the employees to get motivated from what they have already achieved and made them strive to achieve more (Ahmed, 2015). Conclusion The report could be concluded with the fact that the company and its success is highly dependent on the management practices the company has incorporated. The management practices are intricately weaved to enhance the work culture that reflects the fact that the company has achieved success in the country it originates from and now heading towards the international market with the conviction to conquer those markets as well. Emaar has adopted some unique motivational technique to encourage their employees to perform well that would reflect in the success footsteps in the field of real estate. Thus, the management practices adopted by the company have been the foundation stone on which the company is standing upright. References Ahmed, A. Z. E. (2015). The role of diversification strategies in the economic development for oil-depended countries:-The case of UAE.International Journal of Business and Economic Development (IJBED),3(1). Bodolica, V., Spraggon, M., Zaidi, S. (2015). Boundary management strategies for governing family firms: A UAE-based case study.Journal of Business Research,68(3), 684-693. Fouda, A., Shalaby, A., Farid, M. (2015). HEURISTIC MODEL FOR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT USING VALUE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES. Open House International, 40(1). Huston, S. (2014).Real Estate Environment: Intelligence, analytics and strategy(Vol. 1). Simon Huston. Migdadi, M., Habib, T., Zumot, G. (2014). Real estate market online consolidation.International Journal of Business Information Systems,17(2), 153-197. Vassilopoulou, J., Tatli, A., Ozbilgin, M., Pinnington, A. H., Alshamsi, A. M. (2015). Identifying Effective Talent Management Policies and Practices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Comparative Political and Economic Perspectives on the MENA Region, 292.

Macro Analysis Essay Example

Macro Analysis Essay The star of the film is Keanu Reeves who plays a hero called Neyo and it was directed by the Wachowski Brothers. The Wachowski Brothers set out to devise a film with action that had never been produced before. There are certain film narratives that the audience expects when they go see The Matrix, they expect special effects, lots of action, an engaging storyline, futuristic elements and relationships formed within characters. These narratives are met in The Matrix, which satisfy the audience when they go to watch it. Their are however disruptive narrative elements throughout the film which cause problems for Neyo however when he defeats his enemy Agent Smith they are destroyed. This happens in the scene with a fight between Neyo (the main protagonist) and Agent Smith (the main antagonist). At the start of this scene Neyo has still not solved how to use his powers effectively and he is unsure of whether he is the one. In the film being the one means that he is prophesized to have great powers that will lead the humans to overthrow the machines and reclaim the earth. We will write a custom essay sample on Macro Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Macro Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Macro Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The genre is an action/sci-fi film, in the majority of action films they are confronted with their enemy at the end and Neyo was put in a situation where he had to confront his enemy. Other action films where this happens are Rambo, James Bond, other action/sci-fi films include this are Star Wars and The Chronicles of Riddick. It is a sci-fi because it is based in an alternative world showing what the future is like. Luke Skywalker (from Star Wars) and Neyo have many similarities in the fact they both struggled at first adapting to their newfound powers and both lose close friends that have guided them. Neyos narrative quest starts as to destroy the machines however his leader Morpheus is kidnapped. Like many action films there is always a damsel in distress that needs rescuing. When Neyo battles agent Smith the scene is highly choreographed and contains CGI. The use of the stunts shows powerful abnormal human abilities, which create excitement and engagement from the audience. Action/sci-fi films usually have an action scene where the main character performs a spectacular stunt. There are many in The Matrix however there is a key one during this battle. With the help of special effects Neyo does a backward somersault out of a railway track leaving Agent Smith their in an attempt to try and defeat him. Neyo is unsuccessful in defeating Agent Smith because of his ability to shape-shift. As with many climatic sequences in action films, the action hero is not always in control, Neyo realizes he is no match for Agent Smith so he has no choice other than run from him and his other agents. Neyo runs through an unspecified (known as the matrix) city looking for a telephone that will take him back to the real world (the future world). However the Agents are shooting at him with guns and are not far behind him. The huge jumps, gunshots and fast pace are what the audience expects in a climatic sequence of an action film. There is another battle going on in the real world (the future world), Neyos crew are in danger. The crews spaceship is on the verge of being attacked by the machines. Therefore there is a battle between Neyo versus the Agents and the rest of the crew versus the machines. This idea is shown in many other sci-fi films including Gattica where there is a battle between freedom of individuality versus control by the government and brother versus brother. Sci-fi films are usually set in unrecognizable locations. In The Matrix they do not show any landmarks of a present day city. This is used to show that it is in a world that we are in but to convey it is not real. In the real world (the future world) it is totally unrecognizable because its in the future and everything is futuristic which is shown in all sci-fi films. Neyo is eventually caught by the Agents and Agent Smith shoots him 4 times. In many action films there is a moment where you think that our action hero is defeated. For instance in the Fifth Element where Corbin (action hero) cannot figure out how to light the stones to save the world from destruction. When Neyo is shot the camera shows a close-up shot of Neyo realizing that he is dead but then he comes back to life because he really is the one. The Agents try shooting at him again but he stops the bullets. He then fights Agent Smith and destroys him so the other two Agents flee. This sequence shows a narrative and genre that are similar in many other action/sci-fi films that are recognizable to an audience.

Prescription Drugs - Against essays

Prescription Drugs - Against essays All Medicines, whether obtained over the counter, or on prescription, are drugs. The fact that they are legally and freely available doesn't mean that they are always beneficial to health. One of the major drug problems in our community today is the misuse of prescribed and over the counter medicines. Non-prescription pain relievers are analgesics that can be bought without a doctor's order (prescription). Non-prescription medicines can be dangerous if misused. Because non-prescription medicines like many analgesics, antihistamines and cold and flu remedies are easy to obtain, people don't usually think of them as drugs. But anyone who regularly takes non-prescription medicines is regularly taking a drug. Analgesics are medicines that help to control pain and reduce fever. Examples of analgesics that are available over the counter are: aspirin, paracetamol, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen sodium. These medicines are generally safe when taken as directed. However, their heavy or long-term use can be dangerous, even fatal. The use of analgesics over a long period of time can lead to a variety of health problems, including kidney and liver disorders, anaemia and gastric ulcers. It is important to realize that, while helpful, these medicines are not completely without risk, and they should be used carefully. Analgesics will not cure whatever is causing the pain; prevent a headache; stimulate you when you feel short of energy; calm you down when you feel upset; or help you to sleep. Prescription drugs can be very dangerous if misused. A significant number of commonly prescribed medications are addictive. When a doctor prescribes a drug, it is the patients responsibility to use it as advised, and tell the doctor about any side-effects experienced. Prescriptive medicines include drugs or substances used to prevent, treat or diagnose a disease or disabling condition that can only be bought from a pharmacy after a doctor ...

Human Sexuality Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Sexuality - Research Paper Example Educating students primarily lead to self development. At an extensive level it results in social welfare (Williams, 1968, p.51). On such grounds of immense scope, the topic of Sex Education has been chosen. Many preconceptions are responsible for a generally negative attitude towards sex education in schools. One such preconception advocates that sex education at an early stage increases the curiosity of young students thereby leading to an early sexual experimentation. Contrary to this misconception, a research on sex education reveals that educating students about human sexuality and their moral implications discourages instances of premature practices (Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2000, p.4). The concept of educating pupils about sex at school pertains to two major reasons. Firstly, learning at an early level is more profound (Wetzstein, 2007, p. A07). Secondly, inculcating among their peers establishes a collaborative understanding of the concepts. Often misperceived as a way of ameliorating their physical lives only, sex education also develops the children emotionally and morally (Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2000, p.3). Owing to the effectiveness of sex education, its practice in schools has increased at a fast pace over the last few decades. According to the studies of Oettinger, from 1979 to 1994 the percentage of sex educated students augmented from 47 to 90 percent (Sabia, 2006, p.783) thereby implying the success of the program. ‘LSBE refers to an interactive process of teaching and learning which enables learners to acquire knowledge and to develop attitudes and skills which support the adoption of healthy behaviours’ (UNICEF).

Depression and Anxiety in PEG Feeding Dissertation - 1

Depression and Anxiety in PEG Feeding - Dissertation Example Expand a few lines†¦ TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 LIST OF FIGURES Abstract This dissertation is about the social and psychological impact, including anxiety and depressed moods, on people who are artificially fed via a tube based on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). The analysis is based on a framework that highlights two sides of sickness, â€Å"disease† underlying the placement of a feeding tube (biological malfunctions recorded as particular disease categories, e.g., cancer, neurological disorders, cardiac diseases, palsy) and the response to this by patients and their carers. This distinction between â€Å"disease† and â€Å"illness† provides a view of the social and psychological complexities involved. These are often overlooked when artificial feeding is adopted. The dissertation proceeds via a description of the literature search on PEG. The primary tools used in this search is the topical search (e.g., â€Å"socio-psychological imp acts of PEG feeding†) on the internet and the exploration of various databases, such as Cinahl, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane and Google Scholar. The literature used refers to reports of â€Å"new† (i.e. past decade) findings. In a very few cases only, when outlining â€Å"illness responses† to â€Å"disease† and the ensuing person-oriented framework, a few basic sources pre-dating 2000, are drawn upon. The accompanying review of relevant sources attempts to bring out the emphasis of â€Å"disease† and the omission of efforts to develop a framework or model and conceptual tools to grasp the social and psychological implications of artificial feeding due to disability. Such a model can, however, be of great value to nursing care and operating practice. Such a framework is available to us via a number of qualitative studies and a â€Å"narrative understanding of the illness experience†. The usefulness of this body of literature will be examined in the ensuing discussion. In the conclusion I will stress the value of a qualitative, person-oriented perspective (the â€Å"illness experience†) for a humanistic medical and nursing practice. Introduction This dissertation is based on a lengthy review of available literature on the social and psychological impact, including anxiety and depressed moods, on people who are artificially fed via a tube based on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) This review allows me to examine the emotional costs involved in PEG tube feeding, especially with regard to experiences and the coping with the emotional (anxiety, depressed mood) and social costs of tube feeding before, during and after the placement of a PEG tube. This dissertation takes the patient’s point of view and reviews two groups of literature in depth: one of the two is person-and qualitatively-oriented and proposes a meaning-centred, qualitative and humanistic method/perspective. At the same time, one realizes tha t patients are found in a larger health care context where medical and health care professionals operate. Their and the perspective of medicine must be understood as well. Byron Good’s (2008) book on Medicine, Rationality and Experience provides a good introduction to their and the patient’s perspective. It is therefore meaningful to compare and contrast the views and perspectives of these professionals and the views that patients express, their way of coping with PEG tube feeding, their modes of reasoning, their various feeling-states (anxiety, depression) and the lives they live. I have chosen

Race relations Act 1976. (Amended 2000) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Race relations Act 1976. (Amended 2000) - Essay Example which are equivalent to those in his/her special group (Cross, 1989, p. 85). It is believed that equal opportunity in the UK may be taken in the context of the third meaning given. The Race Relations Act of 1976 changed the general concept of racial discrimination in the United Kingdom. Firstly, the Act widened its scope of discrimination by including indirect and unintentional forms of discrimination. Secondly, the Act also fortified the implementation of the law. As stipulated in its provisions, the Race Relations Act of 1976 created the Commission on Racial Equality (CRE), replacing the Race (RRB) Relations Board. In terms of substance, the CRE is endowed greater power than the RRB or the Community Relations Commission. The CRE was mandated to enforce the law in England, Scotland and Wales (Bolaffi, 2001, p. 42). A separate institution, the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland, is tasked with the implementation of the law on discrimination in Northern Ireland. By virtue of an Order in Council, the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 was enacted to provide protection against race-related discrimination in 1995 (Rogers, 1999). The Race Relations Act of 1976 was passed on November 22, 1976. The legislation was enacted to intensify existing regulations against race-related discrimination and to guide relations between individual of different ethnic origins. The Act also introduced amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 by instituting provisions aimed towards consistency in the supervision and implementation of such amendments (Ministry of Justice 1991). The Race Relations Act of 1976 was revised by virtue of the provisions of the Race Relations (Amendment ) Act of 2000 on November 30, 2000. This 2000 amendment broadened the application of the Race Relations Act of 1976 to the police and other public authorities. The amendment also altered the stipulations for exemption under the 1976 Act

Factors Influencing Calprotectin Levels

Factors Influencing Calprotectin Levels Several factors have been reported to affect faecal calprotectin levels. Some of these factors have been investigated in this study through the survey. Referring to Figure 3.1, 34% participant are aged between 50-59 years. From this study, a correlation between age and calprotectin level is positive, meaning that, as age of participant increases, calprotectin level increases (p Socioeconomic status is another factor which is thought to impact on calprotectin level. Figure 3.2 shows that 48.86% participants were from medium socioeconomic status. From Table 3.7, the correlation between socioeconomic status and calprotectin level was statistically significant (p The health status of participants was divided in 3 subcategories: healthy, unhealthy, and quite healthy. From Figure 3.3, 66% participants stated that they are healthy while 20% were unhealthy. Referring to Table 3.8, no positive correlation exists between health status and calprotectin level (p>0.05). This implies that health status of the individual does not affect calprotectin level. 47 % participants judged that they were moderately stressed (Figure 3.6). Stress has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of several GI conditions. Stress profile is known to contribute to GI inflammation. From this study, a statistically significant correlation does not exist between calprotectin and stress level (p>0.05) (Table 3.10). This demonstrates that as stress level rises; calprotectin does not increase accordingly, implying that according to the test, GI inflammation is not observed accordingly. This is refuted by findings of another study, reporting that stress is a potent modulator of the inflammatory response in the gut [104]. Among other lifestyle factors which can affect calprotectin level and thus GI inflammation is undoubtedly alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption often results in intestinal damage, mediated by inflammatory processes [105]. Figure 3.7 shows that only 4.55% participants consumed alcohol regularly. Statistical analysis demonstrates no correlation between alcohol consumption and calprotectin level (p> 0.05; Table 3.11). Another study also reported that faecal calprotectin level in active-drinking alcoholics are not significantly different, compared with controls. These results may suggest the absence of a subclinical intestinal inflammation involving neutrophils in the alcoholics [105]. Cigarette smoking is another factor likely to cause GI inflammation and thus, affecting calprotectin level. With reference to Figure 3.8, 20.45% participants smoke. Table 3.12 shows that the correlation coefficient is 0.073, however, it is not significant (p>0.05). There is no linear relationship between smoking and calprotectin level. However, literature suggests that smoking modifies pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines, which can contribute to inflammation [78]. Cigarette smoke and nicotine can aggravate colon and stomach inflammation [79]. However, this study concludes that no correlation exists between cigarette smoking and calprotectin level. Genetic influences can also alter the probability of suffering from GI inflammation. The study reveals that 40.91% participants (Figure 3.9) have family history of GI inflammation. Using the Mann Whitney test, a statistically significant correlation is seen between calprotectin level and family history of GI inflammation (p Literature suggests that GI surgery may have a protective or detrimental effect on GI inflammation. From Figure 3.11, 12.50% participants had undergone different types of GI surgery. The R2 value for GI surgery and calprotectin level is 0.037 (Table 3.16), implying that no linear relationship exists between calprotectin level and GI surgery. There is only 3.7% chance of having a linear relationship between calprotectin concentration and GI surgery. With reference to Table 3.15, it can be depicted that the correlation between calprotectin concentration and GI surgery is not statistically significant (p>0.05). Consumption of different types of food may have different types of outcome on the GIT. Some food can have a protective role on the GIT while others have detrimental effects. Table 3.2 shows that 62.5% participants consume fruits vegetables daily while 50% consume meat dairy products every day. A correlation between consumption of fruit vegetables and calprotectin level is statistically significant (R=0.236, p Referring to Figure 3.12, it can be seen that 65.91% participants took antibiotics in the last 6 months while 34.09% did not. The Mann Whitney test suggests that there is no correlation between antibiotic intake and calprotectin level (p>0.05) (Table 3.18). 4.2 Central obesity and GI inflammation One aim of this study is to determine whether centrally obese males are more susceptible to GI inflammation or not. 44 participants (50%) were centrally obese while 44 (50%) had a normal waistline (Figure 3.4). The BMI of participants was also assessed. From Figure 3.5, it can be concluded that 56.82% participants had normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), 36.36% were overweight (25.0à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤BMIà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤29.9) and 6.82% participants were obese (BMIà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥30.0). It should be noted that an individual with central obesity does not necessarily mean that he is obese. Centrally obese participants can have normal BMI as well. Using the Spearmans correlation, a statistically significant correlation between central obesity and calprotectin level was not found (p> 0.05) (Table 3.9). Moreover, there is no statistically significant correlation between BMI and GI inflammation (Table 3.9). Calprotectin is described as a novel marker of obesity [106]. Literature suggests that central obesity correlates more strongly with disease states compared with total body fat [7]. Another study reported that faecal calprotectin level is normally elevated in individuals with increased BMI [107]. In addition, obesity-relaed systemic changes can create conditions predisposing to gut inflammation [108]. One study reported that though patients have high faecal calprotectin level, which is characteristic of GI inflammation, they may not necessarily have associated symptoms [7]. This provides evidence that there can be increased inflammatory activity in normal subjects associated with obesity. 4.3 Drug use and GI inflammation The main objective of this study is to investigate drug use and GI inflammation. Referring to Table 3.21, a statistically significant correlation was not noted between drug use and calprotectin level (p>0.05). It should be noted that in this study, none of the participants had calprotectin levels higher than 620 pg/ mL, which is the cut off point for this ELISA kit. This implies that no participant suffered from GI inflammation. With reference to Table 3.5, the maximum calprotectin level recorded is 300pg/mL. The mean calprotectin level is 97.3 pg/mL. Referring to Table 3.4, 10.2% participants consume hypoglycaemic drugs while 9.1% use both hypoglycaemic and antihypertensive drugs. Yet, no correlation was found between drug use and GI inflammation (Table 3.21). With reference to Figure 3.19, 39.77% participants use drugs daily. However, no statistically significant correlation was noted between duration of therapy and calprotectin level (p > 0.05) (Table 3.22). This suggests that duration of drug therapy does not influence calprotectin level and hence GI inflammation. Other factors such as frequency of therapy with a given drug or whether the drug is brand or generic also do not affect calprotectin levels (Table 3.22). One study reported that low-dose aspirin treatment does not increase faecal calprotectin levels, although the use of NSAIDs might cause a rise in calprotectin concentrations due to NSAID-induced enteropathy in patients without IBD [39]. This study shows that aspirin does not increase calprotectin level; however, it also demonstrates that NSAIDs do not increase calprotectin level as no participant taking NSAIDs had calprotectin level above the cut off value. 4.4 Signs and symptoms of GI inflammation and calprotectin level With reference to Figure 3.13, 37.50% of the participants stated that they have suffered from GI inflammation in the past. Among those who have suffered from inflammation in the past, 17.05% suffered from gastritis while 11.36% suffered from inflammation of the intestine (Figure 3.14). Some participants have recently suffered from signs and symptoms of GI inflammation such as abdominal pain. Referring to Table 3.3, it can be seen that 27.3% participants suffered from no signs and symptoms of GI inflammation. Another 27.3% stated that they suffered from diarrhoea, abdominal pain and flatulence recently. These are clinical symptoms of GI inflammation. However, despite this fact, no statistically significant correlation was noted between signs symptoms of GI inflammation and calprotectin level (p>0.05) (Table 3.20). Despite this fact that participants clinically suffered from signs and symptoms of GI inflammation, no calprotectin level above the cut-off point of 620 g/mL (Table 3.5) was detected. Although clinical signs symptoms of GI inflammation were present, the calprotectin level might not have risen to a concentration high enough to be detected by the ELISA kit. This may account for calprotectin levels below the cut-off value. In addition, among those suffering from signs and symptoms of GI inflammation, 29.55% of them ultimately took drugs to alleviate these symptoms (Figure 3.15). Furthermore, Figure 3.16 depicts that among those suffering from signs symptoms of GI inflammation, in 57.95% cases, they were acute while in 13.64% cases, these signs and symptoms were chronic. These two factors might have contributed to the fact that no correlation is seen between calprotectin level and signs of GI inflammation as these drugs might have attenuated the inflammation, if ever present, which could have resulted in calprotectin levels below the cut-off point. Moreover, since the inflammation they suffered from was mostly acute, this might imply that the calprotectin level might not have reached a concentration high enough to be detected by the ELISA kit. 4.5 Calprotectin level With reference to Table 3.5, it can be seen that the minimum calprotectin level recorded was 20pg/mL while the maximum level recorded is 300pg/mL. The table also demonstrates that 15.9% of participants had calprotectin level of 80pg/mL. However, we can conclude that none of the participants suffered from GI inflammation because in no case, the calprotectin level exceeded 620pg/mL, which is the cut-off point for this ELISA kit. Only values above 620pg/mL indicate that GI inflammation is detected. Otherwise for all values below 620pg/mL, it suggests that GI inflammation is absent. Another study reported that the normal range for calprotectin is 52.8-352.9 ÃŽÂ ¼g/mL, meaning that levels of calprotectin above 352.9 ÃŽÂ ¼g/ mL should be considered positive for GI inflammation [109]. This shows that there is inter-kit variation for cut-off points for calprotectin level.

The FLSA: Exempt Vs. Non-exempt Employees Essay -- Labor Compare Contr

The FLSA: Exempt Vs. Non-exempt Employees President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the FLSA on June 25, 1938. It was signed in as a federal labor law to provide criteria for governing general labor practices such as overtime, minimum wages, child labor protections and equal pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act is a long and extensive document in and of itself. It defines many exceptions and exemptions. For purposes of this paper the portion of the FLSA that will be concentrated on is the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Let’s begin by defining exempt and non-exempt. Non-exempt employees are those that are paid on an hourly basis and receive overtime compensation at one and one-half times their base pay for all hours worked in excess of some standard threshold. In most cases this â€Å"threshold† is 40 hours, but that is not always the case. Dividing the annual salary by 2080 to give a base hourly amount can derive the base pay for most, not all but most, employees. Exempt employees are those that do not receive compensation of any kind for hours worked in excess of whatever the threshold maybe. By definition of law exempt employees must be paid on a salary basis and job duties performed by said employee must be high-level such as executive, administrative or professional. To decide whether an employee meets the criteria for being exempt, there are two tests – the duties test and the salary basis test.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the salary basis test, employees ...

Unit 18 Babies Development

E1-Summarise the factors which may influence the health and -development of babies in the first year of their lives There are many factors that affect health and development such as environmental factors, for example, a lack of space in the garden or outside play area will limit their gross motor and fine motor skills. â€Å"Generally, people with a high level of earnings enjoy a better lifestyle, with better housing, better food, warm clothes and own transport. † Meggit 2001 page 9 Genetics are also a major factor which may influence the health and development of the baby as some illnesses are inherited through genes.For example babies with Down's syndrome suffer due to a chromosomal abnormality which lead to problems such as heart defects and chest infections. Illness's in general can cause detrimental damage to a babies development, for example a baby may have asthma which is long term and is potentially life threatening in circumstances other illness's like meningitis can lead to many extreme conditions. The babies weight and height may be below average if they have not been developing correctly due to illness.Antenatal factors are also important to the baby such as certain foods like Camembert cheese can severely harm the baby, other illnesses like rubella can be detrimental to the unborn child’s health in the first 12-16 weeks as it can cause a miscarriage, still birth and defects such as brain damage, hearing loss and cataracts. Narcotics and alcohol can damage the child’s development during pregnancy, When the baby is being delivered, there may be complications which can affect the baby's health such as lack of oxygen, birth asphyxia, can be caused by the umbilical cord becoming entangled.Asphyxia can cause the baby permanent brain damage. E2-Describe how indoor and outdoor environments can be made safe, reassuring and stimulating By keeping to the adult to child ratio (1:3) and constantly supervising them, both indoor and outdoor e nvironments can be safe for babies. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is something that practitioners must be aware of when babies are sleeping and should check on the babies every 5 minutes while under supervision. To reduce SIDS babies should be placed at the bottom of the cot with a maximum of two blankets. Risk assessments should also be made for both inside and outside play. â€Å"It is important that the environment children are playing in is regularly checked, before and during activities. † Tassoni et al 2007 page 193 Practitioners must make sure they follow the correct policies and procedures and make sure all gates are locked to keep the children safe from possible threats. The indoor environment can be reassuring by having a key person in which the baby will form a bond with.The key person can ensure that the baby will have a routine that tailors for the individual needs by working with the parents. The baby can also be reassured with a comforter, a much loved object fr om home, being brought into the setting to help them feel more ‘at home' and settled. The environments can be made stimulating by having a range of activities to promote different areas of development, for example, a treasure basket which will contain different natural items inside to promote the use of senses.Visual displays and posters can be put low down so that babies can look and investigate them. Whilst outside the practitioner can take the babies out on walks to see nature or just a stroll around the town, in my current setting we take the babies on walks as our environment is quite colourful. A trip to the park is also good as it provides opportunities for those who walk early to be able to run and explore. E3-Describe the expected stage of development of babies at 7 months and how they can be expected to develop in the next 2 months of life.I have chosen 7 months as this is a busy time in development for babies, for example this is when a baby may be able to sit unaid ed for a short period of time whereas at 9 months the baby could sit unsupported for 10 minutes as their gross motor skills has developed more which has improve their balance. At 7 months the baby will have recently mastered how to swap objects in their hands â€Å"can move a toy from one hand to another. † Tassoni. P 2007 page40. whereas at 9 months the baby will bee attempting to use the pincer grip. as their fine motor skills have progressed as the child â€Å"can deliberately release objects by dropping them. Tassoni wt al 2007 page41. At 7 months babies pay attention to objects within their visual field, this progresses at 9 months to watching an object fall, for example building blocks, this is known as object permanence and is a result of their intellectual development. Language development is also improved drastically within this range: from babbling in tune at 7 months to repetition and imitation at 9 months. â€Å"babbles and starts to understand words such as â⠂¬Ëœbye-bye' and ‘no'. † Tassoni et al page 570. E4 -Explain how 2 different play activities/experiences can support the overall development of the baby described in E3.An activity which supports overall development of a 7 month old is musical instruments is the use of musical instruments, for example a drum, xylophone, rattle or bells. the babies sensory skills as a whole will be used and further developed from physically shaking the rattle, hearing the sound and seeing the colours of the instrument. The fine motor skills will also develop in different ways depending on the instrument, for example beating the drum or shaking the rattle, alongside developing concentration and hand-eye co-ordination.Musical instruments can also be used to extend and bring out the babies language as they may babble along with the music or repeat certain words. This type of activity can help with emotional development as a child could feel frustrated or agitated and being able to just make sounds with instruments can calm them down as they beat in tune. â€Å"Music is the transition of sharing ones emotions of any age to any person. † Loosely translated from Japanese from an interview of One OK Rock's lead singer Morita Takahiro . This also aids their social development as they play along and bond with the practitioner or parent. Music is an easy way for parents to relate to their children. When an infant hears you sing to them, you are connecting with them, and they are connecting to you. † http://www. halilit. co. uko. uk/hal_playsound. html Playing with building blocks is another fun activity that supports babies development. Building blocks helps the 7 month old start the process of learning the pincer grip by developing its fine motor skills by picking the blocks up also aiding the gross motor skills by moving around their arms gradually getting quicker.The baby will also start to develop the skills and strength to sit unaided for longer gaining bett er balance while playing. other benefit from this activity is better hand-eye co-ordination with carefully placing the blocks on top of each other and colour recognition. The baby may babble while playing with the adult in which furthering their language skills. E5- Describe the role of the practitioner in meeting the particular needs of babies in a group care setting. The practitioners role in meeting particular needs is demonstrated and performed in different ways, for example welcoming the parents and the baby to the setting.The practitioner needs to build trust with the parents and in turn will make the baby feel more at ease seeing their parents engage with the practitioner. The practitioner will plan the daily routine to cater for individual needs of all the babies such as likes and dislikes or any special requirements for the babies such as dietary needs. â€Å"In people with coeliac disease this immune reaction is triggered by gluten†¦ † www. coeliac. org. uk/coe liac-disease The care routine will cater to the babies, physical, intellectual, social and emotional development therefore before planning the practitioner needs to assess each babies individual needs.It is also important for the key worker to give one to one attention to the baby, as they will form a bond which will make the baby feel secure. The practitioner must also keep accurate records whilst there is a high level of supervision. They must also provide a safe stimulating environment by selecting suitable resources. E6 – Show how the child protection policies and procedures in the setting protect and safeguard the babies. There are many policies and procedures that protect and safeguard babies, for example can help identify any area's the baby needs help with.These observations must also be kept secure on a password protected computer or in a locked cupboard due to the Data Protection Act 1998. Keeping these records secure is a policy that is not only backed by legislati on but is important to safeguard babies as these records have personal information on the baby and its family. This would also tie in to the settings confidentiality policy as only the practitioners involved and parents have the right to access these files. † This act is concerned with the protection of personal information. † Tassoni et al page 224 The Every Child Matters nitiative brought from the Children Act 2004 has brought in the need of a delegated Safeguarding officer which any signs of abuse on a baby would be reported to as the baby itself cannot talk nor know what is happening to them. This policy is put in place to elect the member of staff mediately to prevent or stop child abuse from taking place. Their would be a policy in place to recruit staff safely so the parents, other members of staff and babies are not harmed and feel safe. † When they first join a setting they should undergo a CRB check.It is important that all staff read the child protection policies and procedures of the setting. † Tassoni et al 2007 page 128 â€Å"adult to child ratio in rooms, the qualification levels of staff. † Tassoni. et al 2007 page 117 There would also be a policy in place of which the staff are at the correct staff to baby ration of 1:3 to ensure the babies are thoroughly looked after and to be kept safe from accidents. E7 & D1- Explain the importance of well-planned care routines and the key worker system & Consider how care routines can enhance the overall development of babies from birth to 12 monthsBabies need well planned care routines to meet their individual needs, it is important as it promotes security and stability for the baby. An example of this is a well planned feeding routine that caters to all the babies needs that will make sure they get the right type and amount of milk throughout the day and keeping with the routine from home. This routine can help the child develop in multiple ways, such as their fine motor sk ills when gripping the bottle or simply sitting in a high chair developing their posture.This will also stimulate the muscles in the mouth and around the jaw which helps with the transition to solids and also aids speech, emotionally this helps with independence and will give the baby the confidence to hold the bottle themselves to feed. The adult will be able to talk to the baby whilst sitting in front of the high chair aiding the child’s social skills. once the transition to solids take place the child may improve their senses as they are able to touch, see, taste and smell the food, aiding this is the cold spaghetti activity. The babies bathing routine, if the setting requires this, should be also planned efficiently.It is important as it requires one to one time with the adult, this helps the baby feel secure. Bathing will also help the baby emotionally as it is a good experience in which the baby can relax in the warm water and calm down alongside this adding toys into t he bath adds both fine motor and gross motor development as the baby tries to grasp the slippery toy whilst kicking their legs with joy. Social development will also improve as the adult would sing and talk to the baby, asking questions to stimulate the babies intellectual development, these questions could benefit the sensory skills such as asking the baby to â€Å"touch the red fish†.Nappy changing is another routine which must be well planned. The baby's physical development will increase as they are able to kick their legs. This will also help prevent nappy rash as they are not wearing a nappy. Intellectually they will develop as they are learning opportunities, for example when the adult asks them questions. There will be opportunities to express their emotions which will help their emotional development. This also allows them to be aware of their care routine. Socially they will develop as they have a one on one with their key person.The key person can sing to the baby which will help language development. The key person works closely with a baby to build an attachment and a close relationship with their parents. They have many responsibilities, for instance settling the baby in the setting and observing and assessing their development. Also â€Å"helping to ensure that the care of the child meets with the parents' wishes. † Tassoni. et al 2007 page 219 This can benefit the babies in early years settings as the baby will be able to feel safe and secure. This means that they may be able to have a stable development.The key person has partnership with parents, which means that the parents can trust and respect them, which will ensure the care routine is planned effectively. They can also find out the individual needs of the baby, and meet the parent's needs. C1 -Discuss the importance of an environment that is safe, reassuring and stimulating It is important for the environment to be safe as it is a government and legal requirement. This is b ecause the Childcare Act 2006 affects the â€Å"adult to child ratio in rooms, the qualification levels of staff. † Tassoni. t al 2007 page 117 These are embedded in the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. A safe environment is also necessary to prevent babies from having accidents and coming into harm. The parents will feel reassured if they feel their baby is in a safe environment which in turn the baby will continue attending the setting. It will also help the baby's development, as they will have the opportunities to learn. If not the baby may not develop skills such as fine and gross. A reassuring environment will make the baby feel secure and settled and as a result the babies self-esteem, self-worth and confidence will grow.The babies social and emotional health will develop higher and will reassure the parents. The child will form a great attachment with the key person which will help plan around the babies for activities so that their individual needs will have been met. Having a stimulating environment is important as the baby will be able to develop a variety of skills. They will be able to increase their sensory development by having activities such as treasury baskets and water play. They will feel motivated and will want to explore different outcomes from activities.A stimulating environment can be challenging which will encourage the baby's progression and learning and promote overall development. B1 – Evaluate the role of the practitioner in promoting an inclusive approach when working with babies and their families. When working with babies and their families, practitioners should promote an inclusive approach. â€Å"To include someone means making them feel a part if what is happening. † Tassoni et al 2007 page 8 Through this the practitioner will take into consideration the baby's individual needs, for example if the baby needs more time to settle in then the practitioner should accommodate this.It is important that the practitioner practices this way as the parents will feel valued and that the needs of their child are being met, it is the practitioners job to make sure the parents wishes are being met, for inclusive practice, the practitioner needs information on how to provide such an aspect, therefore, staff can go on training courses to refresh or retrain to provide an inclusive environment. It is essential for the practitioner to be up to date with current legislation to ake sure their practice is effective, for example a new child joins the setting with a disability, you could take a course on how to provide and include the child within the setting. The practitioner can also review their policies and procedures handbook and review the inclusive policy, this ensures that the practitioner can include all babies into activities no matter what gender, race, religion or disability the child has. The united Nations Convention on the Rights of the child has many articles on inclusivity in whic h the practitioner can revise: â€Å"Article 3: The right to be protected from all forms of discrimination. Tassoni et al 2007 page 115 The practitioner can also make sure there is an inclusive approach, by using a selection of resources which promote positive images and diversity. These can include posters of children sharing and books on diverse cultures and faiths. From this, the children will learn to respect other beliefs. They must also challenge and respond to poor practice. For instance, if the practitioner observes a child who is being left out or discriminated then they should intervene and stop it. This will make sure all children are included.However this may be difficult, if the practitioner does not see it, as it may happen when the children are playing quietly. By reflecting the practitioner can make sure that every child is included. This is because they can look back on an activity and see if anyone did not participate and why they didn't. However this may be hard for the practitioner if they do not know how to reflect. This means that they should go on training courses and find out new information from peer observations. The practitioner should also use positive language and not stereotype.This will make the children feel welcome and included. However this may be difficult if the practitioner does not have respect. It is so important, that the practitioner has partnership with parents. This is because they can find out the babies individual needs, which the practitioner can take into consideration when planning activities. A -Reflect on the influence of theoretical perspectives of development and attachment on current practice in settings working with babies under 1 year of age. There are many theorists that influence the current practice of working with abies and their attachments, for example Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby who believed â€Å"Attachment is an emotional bond to another person. † www. psychology. about. com John Bowlby (1907-1990) believed that babies needed a strong, stable relationship with their primary carer, mainly being the mother. He also believed that the baby will find it hard later on in life to develop positive relationships with others if the baby doesn’t form a positive relationship with the primary carer. He found that babies cried and tried to escape when separated form the main carers, this was later branded and expanded by Ainsworth as ‘separation anxiety'.The child is distraught by the absence of their main carer and then calms and shows a more comfortable behaviour once the carer returns. This also shows the strength and type of attachment the baby shares with the primary carer. There are 3 types of attachment according to Bowlby: secure, resistant and avoident. These forms of attachment where found in Ainsworths study called the Strange Situation. This study observed the behaviour of babies between 12 and 18 months of stages where they where left alone with a stra nger or completely alone.Ainsworth found that the secure attachment type would be very distressed at the absence of the parent whereas the resistant attachment would show intense levels of distress and the avoident type would be fine, unfazed by the strangers attention or mothers absence. Ainsworth's theory influenced practice as practitioners now encourage parents to bring babies into the setting as soon as possible so that the baby can bond with its key worker and so that the baby will not be upset that its primary carer has left.The recognition of attachment has helped practice in many ways, such as the key worker being the second carer of the child while the parents work. The key worker will form a bond with the child and have better opportunities in finding out the child’s needs from the parents, some settings send the key worker out the the babies house before coming to the setting so that the child recognises the practitioner. The key worker, through developing this bo nd with baby and parents, can inform the staff of any new information that concerns the baby.This key worker gives the child a sense of security when around him/her as they have someone to go to in the future if they need anything. The key worker will bond with the child throughout the day through the routines of the setting, even nappy changing. There should also be another person that the child is quite attached to, but not the key worker. The baby will need they will need an additional person who they can feel comfortable with as they key worker may not work 5 days a week, in this case, there would be a second key worker or co-worker in which is a main part of the babies stay at nursery.The key worker is effective, because they empower the baby, as they have made a bond with them, which makes the child confident. Piaget 1896-1980 identified the different stages of development. He said that children moved through the sensory motor stage (0-2 years), pre operational stage (2-7 year s). He used the expression ‘Schema' to state a child’s thought process, † – Assimilation. – equilibrium. – disequilibrium. -accommodation. † Tassoni et al page 66 he felt that the schema would change as soon as contradicting information came in, for example: – † ‘Every day he lady in nursery is waiting for me in the room. – ‘I am in the shop but I see the lady from the nursery. what is she doing here because she is always at the nursery? ‘ – ‘the lady at nursery doesn’t stay there all the time. ‘ . † Tassoni et al page 66 During the sensory motor stage he said â€Å"The child develops physical schemas as he/she gains control of his/her movements. † Tassoni et al 2007 page 67 Throughout the pre-operational stage the â€Å"Children begin to use symbols to stand for things, for example a piece of dough represents a cake. † Tassoni et al 2007 page 67 Bruner a lso observes that the process of constructing knowledge of the world is not done in isolation but rather within a social context. † Meggit 2006 page 56 He argued that children should need things such as books and interest tables. He is known for ‘scaffolding' which is when adults help the children's development in a way that best suits the child. * Bruce. T, Meggit C (1999) Child care and education 2nd edition , London , Hodder and Stoughton * Meggit. C (2006) Child development , An illustrated guide , Heinemann, London * Tassoni. P (2007) Child care and education 4th edition , London, Heinemann

Senate essays

Senate essays My name is _______, and I have decided to run for a seat in the U.S. senate of the state of Wisconsin. I have chosen to run for the seat as a republican. This was chosen even after looking at the present seat holders, who are both democrats. But with the big build up against the governor of this state. I believe that there will be a switch in the party control. For this reason I have chosen to run in the party I did. There will be many issues to this campaign for the current senator will not want to give up his position. Two of these positions will be gun control and affirmative action. These two will be the issue that I will stress in this campaign. Gun control has been a big issue ever since the Columbine shootings. There has been a big push for gun control, such as three-day waiting period for a background check and mandatory safety trigger locks on all guns. I have taken a stand on this issue and it is that I am behind the three-day background check before every handgun sale. But the mandatory trigger locks are not to my belief an important solution. Mandatory trigger locks will increase the overall price of the gun as well as restricting the use of the gun as self-defense against an intruder in that persons house. My stands go with the beliefs of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. In the belief that the right to bear arms should not be taken away. One major argument against my stand is the school shootings all over the country. Those shootings have increased the awareness about gun control. Which brings requests for more safety triggers locks and more in-depth background checks. Deeper background checks mean longer waiting time. Longer than three days for background check could spell disaster for the gun show business. Stopping these shows could be devastating to the economy. By cutting the sale of guns, you also cut the amount of workers in the gun factories. This means more people unemployed these...

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The Fall of the House of Usher essays One of the central themes underlying the short story, The Fall of the House of Usher, is that of the nature of the house. The way it is described and the way it is so mysterious. Another central theme about this story is the nature of the people that live in the house. They are portrayed very much in the same manner throughout the story. Thus, they have several similarities with each other. All of which are of a bad feeling, showing how bad things are for the people and the house. These similarities are very well laid out in the story and are, I believe, meant to be something to be considered when reading it. At the beginning of the story there is a very negative feeling being attached to the appearance of the house. He uses a couple of things to try and make you feel negatively about this place. He used words and phrases such as: insufferable gloom, vacant, black and lurid, and the rank sedges were mentioned too. These are obviously there to give a sort of a bad connotation, or bad karma, to the house. He speaks of how the house has a wild inconsistency and how each individual stone is starting to decay and fall apart. Suggesting that the house has many problems, all problems that could possibly lead to the destruction of a house. Some accounts even take it as having a kind of gothic feeling to it. Which, after reading the descriptions about it, is very understandable. Another word thrown around when speaking about the house is ghostly. Other phrases such as, through many dark and intricate passages and ebon blackness also help to set the mood correctly. They all set up the fact that some sort of fearful event is going to take place soon. All these things put together and a few others help to connect the house to Roderick and Lady Madeline. When the narrator first sees Roderick after a long period of tim ...

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Business report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Business report - Research Paper Example Measures of efficiency are considered as instruments that steer positive business achievements in every business form, regardless of its size. Researchers, academicians, as well as scholars have recently developed interest and are enthusiastic to find out how business ethics and social responsibility steers efficiency in business. In addition, the impacts of the efficiency attained through corporate social responsibility and business ethics on business operations is an area of concern for business stakeholders. The anticipated impacts for such strategies are mostly on the reaction of investors, the employees of a company, the sustained and targeted consumers, as well as the reputation of a business entity. TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive summary 2 The recent decades have seen businesses seek to enhance operational efficiency via the application of proper business ethics as well as corporate social responsibility enhancement. However, the achievement of these requires implementation of ex cellent business improvement strategies that will lead to a positive operational change. ... In addition, the impacts of the efficiency attained through corporate social responsibility and business ethics on business operations is an area of concern for business stakeholders. The anticipated impacts for such strategies are mostly on the reaction of investors, the employees of a company, the sustained and targeted consumers, as well as the reputation of a business entity. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 The impact of business ethics and social responsibility on efficiency in the workplace 4 1.0 Introduction 4 Efficiency is a fundamental component in every form of business operation, regardless of its size or scope of operation. The acquirement of efficiency business measures is attributed to implementation of social responsibility and business ethics strategies that act as a rationale for change. Business ethics entail the constitution that is usually followed by a company’s management to monitor business operations. The company’s code of conduct in relation to countriesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ laws, the set company goals and mission as well as self-monitory skills are the major components of business ethics. Corporate social responsibility is concerned with the scope to which an organization is concerned with the entire society’s wellbeing. Efficiency is one of business success measurement scales, which indicates the extent to which business ethics, social responsibility, the utilization of resource-based view, as well as the effectiveness in the utilization of corporate governance. Therefore, the rationale of increased operational efficiency is improved performance, sustainability, and productivity. This improvement rationale touches the various coordination success factors, which include the image of the company,

The Current U.S. Economic Crisis and Potential Fixes Essay

The Current U.S. Economic Crisis and Potential Fixes - Essay Example The outbreak of the recent sub-prime crises came after warning signals of write-downs in the value of mortgages late last year6. House prices in the U.S witnessed an unusual growth between 1997 and 2005. For example, prices increased by approximately 85% during this period. The period 2001 and 2005 witnessed the highest rates of appreciation7. Sub-prime delinquencies and foreclosures were therefore mitigated by house price appreciations during these years. This is so because borrowers facing difficulties to make regular mortgage payments could depend on the appreciation of the value of their property to solve their financial problems by refinancing the mortgage and withdrawing cash from the increased equity in the house thereby sustaining the new mortgage for a while. Borrowers could repay the principal by selling off the property8. Appreciation in property prices therefore significantly improved the performance of sub-prime loans9. However, Ellis (2007) argues that house prices began to decline in 2006, and as at October 2007, prices were down by approximately 3.2% of their peak in the second quarter of 2006. Banks and financial institutions were expected to face an uphill earnings battle early this year. "certainly, we will not be at the levels of profits we saw within the last 12 months". This is a quote by Mark Batty, a financial services analyst at PNC wealth Management Philadelphia, which manages about $77billion of assets10. According Ellis (2007) investment banks and brokerages in the S&P 500 such as Goladman Sach a member of the Fortune 500 and Merrill Lynch a fortune 500 member as well were expecting to experience a 10% decrease in earnings growth in the fourth quarter of 2006. Diversified Financial firms like Citigroup... From the report it is clear that  sub-prime delinquencies and foreclosures were therefore mitigated by house price appreciations during these years. This is so because borrowers facing difficulties to make regular mortgage payments could depend on the appreciation of the value of their property to solve their financial problems by refinancing the mortgage and withdrawing cash from the increased equity in the house thereby sustaining the new mortgage for a while. Borrowers could repay the principal by selling off the property.This essay stresses that  banks are currently facing declining demand for mortgages and home equity loans as well as rising illiquidity and foreclosures among home owners. Bank of America recently announced its intention to get out of the wholesale mortgage market and it is planning to retrench 700 workers following a huge drop in earnings. The demand for asset-backed loans such as commercial paper has witnessed a drop. Financial services firms depended a lot on real estates as a means of backing their loans to debtors. Companies and financial institutions rely on these loans to raise short-term loans and a fall in demand implies that earnings to financial institutions will remain under pressure.  The evidence suggests a significant relationship between â€Å"policy-induced† driving up of U.S silver and Chinese exchange rate appreciation and price deflation. The reversal of the silver flow into Shangai led to a credit crunch in the city.

Global communication Essay Example for Free

Global communication Essay The explosion of the internet has improved global communication and created a significant impact in our lives. With the advent of broadband wireless internet access in Singapore, our adolescents are spending intensive hours in cyberspace everyday and everywhere to meet their educational, entertainment, social and emotional needs. While they are going through this transitional stage of their life in seeking the ‘Who am I’ answers, this article reviews and seeks to understand what they do on the internet. It was discovered that both U. S. and Singapore adolescents enjoy interactive cyber communication with their peers and sharing common interest such as on-line games and audio/video downloading. An action research on a group of 35 adolescents in Singapore has revealed some interesting patterns in their internet engagement. This emerging engagement cannot be ignored by parents and teachers as we discuss our roles in protecting and nurturing our adolescents. Literature Review Introduction The Singapore Government is systematically and strongly promoting the use of information technology. One of its strategies is to make it compulsory that 30% of the school curriculum to have an information technology component and to be computer-based by 2002 (Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, 2000). Naturally, the advocacy of Internet use is part of this omnipresent attempt. Young Singaporeans are placed right in the midst of all these changes and soon Internet use will be commonplace given the Governments ubiquitous promotion. As an academic staff in the Polytechnic, my objective is to study what our adolescent students do on the internet. By having a better understanding of their engagement on the internet, it would help us as facilitators to identify their interests, needs and to understand what motivates them. This literature review covers some surveys on adolescents conducted in the United States, studies on the impact of the internet on adolescents’ behaviour and a regional governmental conference on cyber endangerment. United States Adolescents’ Engagement on the Internet As the U.S. adolescent internet usage grew exponentially in the last decade, a number of correspondent expectations have emerged (Gross, 2000). Gross performed a research to identify the activities that adolescents in suburban California engaged in on the internet and why they perform them. She discovered the following: (1) that gender predicts usage, i.e., boys spend more time online, surfing the web and playing violent games, while girls chat or shop online; (2) that internet use causes social isolation and depression, especially for teens; and (3) that adolescents use the internet for anonymous identity experimentation. By means of highly detailed daily reports of adolescents’ home internet usage and peer-related adjustment, the present research sought to compare these expectations with the actual experiences of early and mid-adolescents in 2000 and 2001. For the most part, adolescent boys’ and girls’ online activities have become more similar than different. On average, boys and girls alike described their online social interaction as (1) occurring in private settings such as e-mail and instant messages, (2) with friends who are also part of their daily, offline lives, and (3) devoted to fairly ordinary yet intimate topics such as gossiping with friends (Gross, 2000). This is an interesting article that relates the conflicts faced by adolescents. According to Erikson, adolescents are experiencing a transitional stage of their life between childhood and adulthood where they need to deal with the conflict between identity attainment and identity diffusion (Berk, 2002). Gross(2000) discovered that adolescents need to explore their identity through identity play and role experimentation. Apparently, the internet serves as an ideal platform for them to play an anonymous role in their email and instant messaging (IM) communications. They tend to take on a role of an older character in attempt to explore their future self and identity (Gross, 2000). Another of their interest at this stage is to relate to their peers more than their parents or teachers. They could engage in intimate and private relationship with their peers on the internet interactively and instantly. Escober-Chaves, Tortolero, Markham, Low, Eitel and Thickstun (2005) attempted to study the effects of the internet on adolescent sexual behaviours. It was triggered by the fact that adolescents in the United States were engaging in sexual activity at early ages and with multiple partners. The mass media have been shown to affect a broad range of adolescent health-related attitudes and behaviours including violence, eating disorders, and tobacco and alcohol use. The authors wanted to explore the factors that contribute to adolescents sexual activity. It was found that the mass media plays a very influential role in shaping adolescents’ attitudes and behaviour towards violence, eating disorders, tobacco, alcohol and sex. Based on their survey, the internet is a significant media that the U.S. adolescents engage in (Escober-Chaves, Tortolero, Markham, Low, Eitel Thickstun, 2005). In 2003, 60.8% of the U.S. household have at least one desktop computer at home. The adolescents spend 2 hours online each time for 4 days per week. Of the contact time on the internet, 61% of it is spent on surfing the internet. It is interesting to note that the adolescents consider 14% of what they do in the internet as activities they would not want their parents to know. The authors have summarised some pre-studies of the effects of media on adolescents. They have collected some useful statistics that describe the breakdown of adolescents’ exposure to the media, from radio, television, internet to magazines. The statistics in adolescents’ sexual behaviours have supported their linkages to adolescents’ exposure to sexuality in the media. Regardless of the measure of the correlation, one thing that is apparent is that the media does pose a significant impact on adolescents’ attitude and behaviour in various areas, including violence, eating disorder, tobacco, alcohol and sex (Escober-Chaves, Tortolero, Markham, Low, Eitel Thickstun, 2005). How the adolescents were influenced by the media were also analysed in this article. Adolescents learn their behaviour through imitating a character they aspire to be (Bandura’s social learning theory). Other supporting theories include arousal, motivation and super-peer theory. In the latter, adolescents have a tendency to model people older than themselves. This resonates with the earlier findings by Gross (2000) that adolescents like to explore their self and future identity. Singapore Adolescents’ Engagement on the Internet The above studies have surfaced couple of gaps that I could address in my research. Firstly, we need to do a study in Singapore’s context. Secondly, I can learn from the challenges that the authors have shared. It would be an upstream task to measure the specific effects of the media on adolescents. Hence, the key objective of my research would be focusing on finding out and understanding adolescents’ usage of the internet. Moving closer to this region, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State and chairman of the Inter-Ministry Committee on Youth Crime, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee talked about the internet and its impact on Asia (Ho, 2005). He suggested that as nations and governments become increasingly wired, its youths naturally become more in tune with the cyber world and its hosts of activities. Our youths surf the Internet for information and resources for their schoolwork. They play online games with faceless opponents for their leisure; or to enhance their social life, they may enter chat rooms and journal their thoughts in blogs and make new friends in cyberspace. These are creative and healthy online activities if done with the right motivations and values, and in moderation. But, as our youths become increasingly cyber-savvy, they are also becoming increasingly cyber-endangered. Hence we need to be cautious of the dark side of internet (Ho, 2005). Besides cyber addiction, we need to be aware that exposure to unhealthy materials on the internet such as violence imageries may lead to increasing violence and anti-social behaviour amongst youths. Apart from preparing our youths to be cyber-savvy and protecting them from becoming victims, we should also be mindful that they are susceptible to the temptations of cyber vices and may end up committing cyber crimes themselves. Once online, a whole new cyber world greets them. Therefore, proper education and programmes need to be in place in society in order to help our youths cope with making informed online decisions, and learning to surf the internet safely and moderately. Professor Ho has started a discussion on the double-edged impact of the internet on our youths. While the internet is a valuable resource basin for their learning and development, it could also pose a threat to their safety, social, emotional and moral developments. There is a need to protect and educate our youth on how they could use the internet safely and responsibly. He shared an important statistic in our youths’ usage of internet. 68% of Singapore youths have frequent access to the internet; that is 18% higher than the regional average of 50% (Ho, 2005). Hence it is critical that we take the leadership role in understanding our youths’ engagement in the internet and taking proactive measures to promote cyber wellness. Research Question The Research Question: What do Singapore adolescents do on the internet? Purpose Why do I want to understand adolescent usage on the internet? Firstly, it is the desire of adults including parents, teachers and mentors, to improve our communication with adolescents. By understanding what they do on the internet, we would be able to identify their interest and needs. According to Ho (2005), it is important that we understand the potential threat based on the activities they engage on the internet. Besides promoting their cyber wellness, it is also our desire as adults to determine effective channels to influence them positively and to support their development. Benefits The results of this survey would be useful for me as an academic staff whose primary role is to facilitate their learning and development in the polytechnic. By understanding their interest and internet activities, it would help me to improve my communications with them and strengthen facilitator-student bonding. I believe that this would in turn increase my effectiveness in preparing them for the industry as they graduate from the polytechnic. The second group of adults that would benefit much from this research are their parents. In the same way, by understanding the paradigm that their children live in, parents could better connect with them and improve family bond. Methodology Research Paradigm Our nation has arrived at this era where youths are playing a more critical role in leading our country. That is why our Ministry of Community Development has added in Youth as an additional portfolio that deserves increased focus and attention. In the recent general election in 2006, the incumbent People’s Action Party has recruited significant number of young leaders who were born after our independence in 1965 (Balakrishnan, 2004). The key reason is to equip the party with leaders who are closer to our youths and adolescents in communication and understanding of their needs and ideology. This group of citizens plays a pivotal role in shaping our future nation as they would be exercising their voting power in future elections, getting involved in national policies and ultimately replacing our current aging population in the long term. With the emergence of information technology and the internet, the learning curve of our adolescents has risen exponentially. As far as communication and information exchange is concerned, the size of our globe has shrunk and distances between countries have become irrelevant with the click of the computer mouse. The internet has emerged to be a major channel of media, especially among the adolescents. The researches done in the U.S. as discussed above have shown that internet pose a significant impact on adolescents. Considering the higher internet penetration in Singapore compared to the U.S. per household, we would not expect the impact of the internet on our adolescent to be any lower. Scope As discussed in the review of Article, it is important that I set a realistic scope of study considering the limited time and resources. As this is the first research, I would be focusing on finding out the activities that adolescents engage in on the internet. I have designed a survey that captures what adolescents use the internet for, the activities they engage in, how much time they spend on them. There were some qualitative question to understand their preferences, interest and reasons for engaging in the internet activities. Subjects and Materials The stakeholders were adolescents. I managed to survey 35 adolescents in my network, of which most of them are polytechnic students between 18 to 19 years old. The materials required for this survey were basically printed copies of the survey questionnaires. They spent about ten minutes each to complete the survey forms. Procedures As this is my first research on the adolescents, it would be practical for me capture a broad span of their activities as a foundation for future or follow-up focused activities. The model of action research used must support continuous improvement and leverage on past findings with an interpretive approach. Hence, the model which I choose to adopt is the Zuber-Skerritt’s spiral model. The steps of Zuber-Skerritt’s spiral model are: (1) develop a plan of critically informed action to improve current practice. The plan must be flexible to allow adaptation for unforeseen effects or constraints; (2) the group members act to implement the plan which must be deliberate and controlled; (3) this action is observed to collect evidence which allows thorough evaluation. The observation must be planned and the action process and its effects within the context of the situation should be observed individually or collectively; (4) reflection of the action recorded during observation is usually aided by collaborative discussion among the group members. Group reflection can lead to a reconstruction of the meaning of the social situation and provides a basis for further planning of critically informed action, thereby continuing the cycle. I designed a survey questionnaire and printed out multiple copies to the adolescents. Participation was purely based on voluntary basis and their identities were all anonymous. I explained the objectives of my survey clearly to them through both direct verbal communication and highlighting them on the survey form in print. Results and Discussions The Survey forms were given to adolescents in my network as planned. They responded positively and completed the survey with ease. The feedback was that the questions were clear. There were total 35 adolescents who participated in the survey. The gender groups were well represented with 16 males and 19 females. There were some triangulations of the reflection stage of this research as I spent some time after the survey to talk to some of the adolescents to clarify certain information pertaining to some websites or online games which I was not familiar with. It was a meaningful session as they were very open to share with me their interest such as why the males like to play challenging online games like Dota and Warcraft. I then compiled that information gathered into a spreadsheet and studied the pattern of their engagement in the internet. Activities on the Internet It is interesting to note that the adolescents spend more than one-third (an average of 9 hours per day) of their time on the internet. This is supported by the fact that internet access is highly available both at school and at home. First of all, the Polytechnic provides the infrastructure to support the use of Information Technology (IT) in learning. Every student is required to own a notebook computer for administration, curriculum-related communication, research, performing on-line tutorials and submissions of assignments. The entire campus is enabled to provide wireless broadband access. In line with the national adoption of internet access, all the students here have internet access at home. Internet access and cost of IT equipment have become so affordable that most of them (26 out of 35) have wireless broadband access in their homes. [pic] Note: IM : Internet Messaging Games: On-line games on the internet Blog : blogging on the internet Surf : Internet search for information Music : Downloading of audio files Video : Downloading of video files and watching video on-line Chart 1 : Adolescent Internet Usage It is apparent that the adolescents spend most of their time on the internet messaging and chatting. Comparing with the adolescents in the U.S. (Gross, 2000) who spend about 40 minutes in IM per day, Singapore adolescents spend 4.75 hours per day. That is an astounding seven times more. Next in line would be surfing the internet, followed by entertainment such as video and music downloads. Why do they spend almost 5 hours per day internet messaging? Based on the survey, the adolescent revealed that IM is the most convenient and fastest way for them to communicate with their classmates and friends. Besides, it is interactive and free. This is in line with Gross’s analyses of the rationale for adolescents’ affinity to IM (Gross, 2002). Adolescents like to move fast and do not have much patience to wait for response especially when they want to relate to their peers. IM is real-time. They could instantly chat with their peers online and express their emotions immediately. Similar to adolescents in the U.S. as studied by Gross (2000), I also discovered that the adolescent here do not use their real names in their IM image. They like to use emotive roles such as â€Å"I am so scared†¦test is coming†. This also reflects Erikson’s theory on adolescent anonymous identity which teenagers enjoy relating their emotions to their peers in role exper imentation (Suler, 2005). The second most common activity the adolescents engage in is in surfing the internet for information. This is not surprising as they are required to research for information as part of the requirement in projects and assignment in class. [pic] Chart 2 : Favourite Website With reference to Chart 2, it is not difficult to explain the frequent usage of Google and Yahoo as search engines for their studies. However, it is unanimous that Friendster is the most popular website that the adolescent visit. The reasons quoted for visiting this website are to connect with their friends and to update each other of their latest profile. This is in line with Suler’s findings on peer intimacy (Suler, 2005). During adolescence, humans experiment intensely with new intimate relationships, especially opposite sex relationships. They look for comrades and new groups where they can feel a sense of belonging. All these relationships become a big part of exploring ones own identity. Through communication website like Friendster and Livejournal, there is an almost limitless array of people and groups to interact with all kinds of people and groups with all kinds of personalities, backgrounds, values, and interests. The adolescents here are curious in discovering both their identity and that of their peers. To reinforce adolescents’ interest, Blogspot and Blogger take up 13.4% of the total favourite websites count. Of the 35 adolescents surveyed, 7 of them have their own blog site and 10 of them are active blogger. They enjoy expressing their emotions and sharing their social life with their peers. One popular site they like to visit, especially among the females is that of a flamboyant 21-year old female XiaXue. The girls like to her blog because it is funny and she shares her social life openly. This confirms that adolescents prefer to interact with people they can identify with (Berk, 2002). Another interest that is significant is that of video watching on the Youtube website. The adolescents’ favourite videos are humorous and entertaining like those of XiaXue and Mr. Brown who is famous for his local political jokes. Gender Comparison [pic] Chart 3: Gender Comparison of Internet Usage Chart 3 above is essentially a breakdown of Chart 1 by gender. It is interesting to note that males spend more time than females in IM. This is also related to their indulgence in on-line games and video downloading. Because of these common interests among their peers, the males derive a sense of achievement as they share information of the latest on-line games and videos using IM. In fact, the more knowledgeable or competent males would co-teach their peers on how they could excel in the on-line game. This phenomenon was highlighted by Suler(2005) in his study. He suggested that adolescents love the sense of mastery and accomplishment as they engage in peer teaching. While females prefer fantasy on-line games like Maple Story and Audition, males indulge in war, strategy and shooting games like Warcraft and Dota. The key reasons are that the males enjoy challenge and like to take risk. Besides, they are also intrigued in connecting with and challenging people in other parts of the world. Males spend substantial time in downloading video over the internet. Their favourites are comedy movies. For females, their favourite are MTVs of their idols. This resonates with the study done by Gross (2000) on adolescents’ tendency in pretending to be someone else. By idolising an older person such as a superstar, they are exploring their future identity (Gross, 2000). Recommendation First of all, as part of the Zuber-Skerritt’s spiral model in action research, I would recommend a follow-up to the above research. We have achieved our objective of gaining a general understanding of what adolescent do on the internet. Of the various activities they engage on the internet, the most significant is in IM. Hence, I would propose to do a further action research on why and how they use IM. In doing so, adults could understand them better and even use IM in improving adult-adolescent relationship. Secondly, I would recommend to adults including parents and teachers of our adolescents to be aware of the above findings and take proactive actions to build strong bonding with our adolescents and to protect them from the potential cyber danger. As is true of all adolescent activities, they need at least some supervision to stay on track and avoid trouble (Suler, 2005). Getting involved doesnt just mean supervising in order to avert trouble. The world of computers also can become an excellent way for parents and adolescents to have fun together, to get to know each other better. There will be a part of the adolescent maybe even a part that they try to hide that will love this. Suler suggested a few anecdotes which I think could be applied in Singapore. First, adults could get knowledgeable of the internet and join in with the adolescents. To be most effective in supervising the adolescents cyberspace activities, the parent needs to know something about the topic. Parents could talk to their kids about cyberspace and join them in some of their online activities. They could even communicate occasionally with their adolescents through IM to keep in touch with them. It is encouraging to note that our government is supporting the formation of cyber wellness centre such as the PlanetCRuSH which was launched by TOUCH Community Services in August 2006 (Seow, 2006). During the official launch of the centre by Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, some parents and their adolescents were playing on-line games together in the E-sports Carnival competition to promote family ties (Seow, 2006). Secondly, adults need to acknowledge the merits and threats of the internet. We should not vilify cyberspace that will only alienate the adolescent. Instead, we could talk to them openly about both the pros and cons. We should show an acceptance of their cyber life, but discuss some of the dangers and what steps they should take if they encounter unsavoury situations or people. Thirdly, adults should advocate and encourage a balance in cyberspace time and other activities. If theres something they really enjoy on the Internet, find a way to expand that activity into their in-person life. The idea is to integrate cyberspace into the rest of their life, and encourage them to develop non-Internet activities too. Conclusion Through the above article review and action research, I see Erikson’s psychosocial theory of adolescents’ behaviour in action. What adolescents do on the internet are manifestation of their identity experimentation and exploration, peer intimacy and belongings, separation from parents and venting frustrations. The common activities that both U.S. and Singapore adolescents engage in are IM, emails, audio/video downloads and online games. However, in terms of the length of engagement, Singapore adolescents spend 7 times more than their counterparts, especially in IM. This could be due to the higher broadband internet access rate and availability in Singapore. A further study on how adolescent use the IM is recommended to understand this intense engagement of activity. As parents and teachers, we need to be aware of the intensity of adolescent engagement in the internet and take proactive measures to protect them from cyber danger and be jointly involved in some of their internet activities such as IM and on-line games. By expressing our interest in their lives and communicating with them via their preferred platform, not only could we create a positive impact in their internet experience, we could also foster strong adult-adolescent bonding. Reference List Balakrishnan, V. (2004). 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