Interaction between Humans and the Environment Essay

Interaction between Humans and the Environment The relationship between humans and the environment has changed over time because of technological advancements and innovations. During the beginning of human time the people was mainly nomadic; they hunted for food and travel around in packs. Fast forward a couple centuries the interaction between humans and the environment changed from being primarily hunting and gathering to being primarily farm heavy. Lastly in the twentieth century the relationship between humans and the environment has changed due to industrialization which led to humans exploiting the environment and polluting it. At the beginning, everyone was nomadic roaming from one region to the next scavenging for food, because of the lack of technology. It wasn’t until the first Agriculture Revolution occurred that the people change their lifestyle. The agriculture revolution led to the change in human lifestyle. For example: people began to settle down, start farms, and start to live by water sources so they could irrigate the land in order to farm. The Agricultural Revolution also sparked the domestication of animals and plants allowing a large amount of food to be produce at any time. This led to a larger population and eventually led to the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution was when the interaction between humans and the environment turned sour due to the exploitation of the environment for natural resources. The Industrial Revolution caused imperialism which was regions being colonized for their natural resources. This was one of the causes of the World Wars, which was the war of attrition – the fight for natural resources. The wars caused a lot of pollution and the war also caused a lot of natural resources to be used to fight it. But in the modern day there are many â€Å"green† projects that we used in order to preserve our natural resources and save the environment.

In Twelve Angry Men Rose Shows That Doubt Is an Easier State of Mind Than Certainty Essay

Set in the sweltering summer of 1954, Reginald Rose’s socially insightful play â€Å"Twelve Angry Men†, illustrates the dangers of a justice system that relies on twelve individuals to reach a â€Å"life or death† decision with collective states of minds hindered by â€Å"personal prejudice†. At the conception of the play, rose explores the idea that doubt is a harder state of mind than certainty by portraying doubt, in the guilt of the boy, as a minority view within the courtroom. However, as the play progresses a seed of doubt is planted and the importance of self prejudice hindering the verdict is removed, making it harder for the jurors to hold their certainty in their guilty verdict. At the conception of Twelve Angry Men, Rose exposes the audience to the devastating heat in the jury room which over looks the â€Å"New York sky line† on what is described as â€Å"the hottest day of the the year†. At this stage it is revealed to the audience the apathetic nature of jury members, uninterested in the â€Å"grave responsibility† they have in deciding the fate of the â€Å"16 year old boys life† and more interested with the goal of escaping the plain, oven like jury room. With each juror being blinded by the thick glaze of heat In front of them a verdict of guilty becomes the instinctive state of mind and the room for reasonable doubt is eliminated from all but one. The author, Reginald Rose displays through juror 8 that to be doubtful when challenging a majority becomes a harder state of mind, â€Å"as it’s not easy to stand alone against the ridicule of other† at this moment juror 8 initiates his campaign that we can never be certain about anything, we can only make assumptions based on the information provided. As juror 8’s campaign continues, and the seed of doubt planted into the â€Å"guilty† minded jury members is fertilised thorough the analysing of facts the reasonable doubt slowly grows in the jurors minds, the audience begin to create an understanding that doubt is an easier state of mind than certainty, as to be doubtful you are not accountable to that single view, as we are reminded in the text from juror 8 â€Å"I don’t know whether I believe it or not† parting him from the majority but lowering the conflict, as he is not certain about the innocence of the boy rather not feeling not comfortable to raise his â€Å"hand and send a boy off to die without talking  about it first†, making the doubtful state of mind an easier sense of conscience although a harder sense to preach onto the other jury members who consist of the majority. Towards the conclusion of the play twelve angry men, doubt begins to become an easier state of mind as the persuasion of doubt is created through a range of events that after previously being concrete are now questioned, and the â€Å"not guilty† verdict is now the majority verdict, this releases the oppressively hot environment of the jury room through the delivery of rain, representing a Burst of relief and fresh air for the jurors. Although, Reginald Rose decisively leaves one jury member (3) who is still stuck in the train of personal prejudice and believes the kid â€Å"knifed his father 6 inches into the chest†. Juror 3s certain state of mind portrays him as the villain of twelve angry men, a man who is blinded by his own personal outside influences and is illustrated as a stubborn man with no â€Å"integrity† when defending his view of â€Å"guilty†, this shows that his state of mind being â€Å"guilty† now becomes the harder state of mind as he is left as the minority, and could not separate personal prejudice when dealing with the fate of another’s life, effecting his judgement. After juror 3 finally splits his relationship between his son and the 16 year old boy on trial a â€Å"not-guilty† verdict is delivered to the judge. Reginald Rose shows his intended audience at the conception of the film that doubt is the harder state of mind as juror 8 views on the boy and trial is challenging the majority, although throughout the progression of the play, not one juror member is able to hold his certainty, making doubt an easier state of mind as they do not have to hold a certain point of view and are not accountable to that single certain view.

Purpose and Importance of Business Communication

B USINESS C OMMUNICATION : A N I NTRODUCTION 1. 1 I NTRODUCTION 1. 2 R OLE OF C OMMUNICATION IN B USINESS 1. 3 D EFINITIONS OF C OMMUNICATION 1. 4 P URPOSE OF C OMMUNICATION 1. 5 T HE C OMMUNICATION S ITUATION 1. 6 T HE C OMMUNICATION P ROCESS /C YCLE 1. 1 INTRODUCTION The word â€Å"communication† derived from the Latin word ‘communicare’ that means to impart, to participate, to share or to make common. It is a process of exchange of facts, ideas, opinions and as a means that individual or organization share meaning and understanding with one another.In other words, it is a transmission and interacting the facts, ideas, opinion, feeling and attitudes. It is the ability of mankind to communicate across barriers and beyond boundaries that has ushered the progress of mankind. It is the ability of fostering speedy and effective communication around the world that has shrunk the world and made ‘globalization’ a reality. Communication had a vital role to p lay in ensuring that people belonging to a particular country or a culture or linguistic group interact with and relate to people belonging to other countries or culture or linguistic group.Communication adds meaning to human life. It helps to build relationship and fosters love and understanding. It enriches our knowledge of the universe and makes living worthwhile. 1. 2 ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS The term business communication is used for all messages that we send and receive for official purpose like running a business, managing an organization, conducting the formal affairs of a voluntary organization and so on. Business communication is marked by formality as against personal and social communication.The success of any business to a large extent depends on efficient and effective communication. It takes place among business entities, in market and market places, within organizations and between various group of employees, owners and employees, buyers and sellers, servic e providers and customers, sales persons and prospects and also between people within the organization and the press 2 / Business Communication  ¦  ¦  ¦Ã‚ ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦Ã‚ ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦ persons. All such communication impacts business. Done with care, such communication can promote business interests.Otherwise, it will portray the organization in poor light and may adversely affect the business interest. Communication is the life blood of any organization and its main purpose is to effect change to influence action. In any organization the main problem is of maintaining effective communication process. The management problem generally results in poor communication. Serious mistakes are made because orders are misunderstood. The basic problem in communication is that the meaning which is actually understood may not be what the other intended to send.It must be realised that the speaker and the listener are two separate individuals having their own limit ations and number of things may happen to distort the message that pass between them. When people within the organization communicate with each other, it is internal communication. They do so to work as a team and realise the common goals. It could be official or unofficial. Modes of internal communication include face-to-face and written communication. Memos, reports, office order, circular, fax, video conferencing, meeting etc. re the examples of internal communication. When people in the organization communicate with anyone outside the organization it is called external communication. These people may be clients or customers, dealers or distributors, media, government, general public etc. are the examples of external communication. †¢ Communication is the life blood of the business. No business can develop in the absence of effective communication system. †¢ Communication is the mortar that holds an organization together, whatever its business or its size. †¢When p eople within the organization communicate with each other, it is internal communi- cation and when people in the organization communicate with anyone outside the organization it is called external communication. †¢ Ability to work well in teams, to manage your subordinates and your relationship with seniors, customers and colleagues depends on your communication skill. Exhibit : 1 1. 3 DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNICATION Communication may be defined as interchange of thought or information between two or more persons to bring about mutual understanding and desired action.It is the information exchange by words or symbols. It is the exchange of facts, ideas and viewpoints which bring about commonness of interest, purpose and efforts. American Management Association defines, ‘Communication is any behaviour that results in an exchange of meaning’. Peter Little defines communication as, ‘Communication is the process by which information is transmitted between individual s and/or organizations so that an understanding response result’. Newman and Summer Jr. state that, ‘Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more persons’.According to Keith Davis , ‘The process of passing the information and understanding from one person to another. It is essentially a bridge of meaning between the people. By using the bridge a person can safely across the river of misunderstanding’.  ¦  ¦  ¦Ã‚ ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦Ã‚ ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦ Business Communication : An Introduction / 3 Louis A. Allen defines, ‘Communication is the sum total of all the things that a person does, when he wants to create an understanding in the mind of another. It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening and understanding’.Therefore, the main purpose of communication is to inform, or to bring around to a certain point of view or to elicit action. 1. 4 PURPOSE OF C OMMUNICATION 1. For instruction: The instructive function unvarying and importantly deals with the commanding nature. It is more or less of directive nature. Under this, the communicator transmits with necessary directives and guidance to the next level, so as to enable them to accomplish his particular tasks. In this, instructions basically flow from top to the lower level. 2. For integration: It is consolidated function under which integration of activities is endeavoured.The integration function of communication mainly involves to bring about inter-relationship among the various functions of the business organization. It helps in the unification of different management functions. 3. For information: The purposes or function of communication in an organization is to inform the individual or group about the particular task or company policies and procedures etc. Top management informs policies to the lower level through the middle level. In turn, the lower level informs the top lev el the reaction through the middle level.Information can flow vertically, horizontally and diagonally across the organization. Becoming informed or inform others is the main purpose of communication. 4. For evaluation: Examination of activities to form an idea or judgement of the worth of task is achieved through communication. Communication is a tool to appraise the individual or team, their contribution to the organization. Evaluating one’s own inputs or other’s outputs or some ideological scheme demands an adequate and effective communication process. 5. For direction:Communication is necessary to issue directions by the top management or manager to the lower level. Employee can perform better when he is directed by his senior. Directing others may be communicated either orally or in writing. An order may be common order, request order or implied order. 6. For teaching: The importance of personal safety on the job has been greatly recognized. A complete communicatio n process is required to teach and educate workers about personal safety on the jobs. This communication helps the workers to avert accidents, risk etc. and avoid cost, procedures etc. 7. For influencing:A complete communication process is necessary in influencing others or being influenced. The individual having potential to influence others can easily persuade others. It implies the provision of feedback which tells the effect of communication. 8. For image building: A business enterprise cannot isolate from the rest of the society. There is interrelationship and interdependence between the society and an enterprise operating in the society. Goodwill and confidence are necessarily created among the public. It can be done by the communication with the different media, which has to project the image of th Purpose and Importance of Business Communication B USINESS C OMMUNICATION : A N I NTRODUCTION 1. 1 I NTRODUCTION 1. 2 R OLE OF C OMMUNICATION IN B USINESS 1. 3 D EFINITIONS OF C OMMUNICATION 1. 4 P URPOSE OF C OMMUNICATION 1. 5 T HE C OMMUNICATION S ITUATION 1. 6 T HE C OMMUNICATION P ROCESS /C YCLE 1. 1 INTRODUCTION The word â€Å"communication† derived from the Latin word ‘communicare’ that means to impart, to participate, to share or to make common. It is a process of exchange of facts, ideas, opinions and as a means that individual or organization share meaning and understanding with one another.In other words, it is a transmission and interacting the facts, ideas, opinion, feeling and attitudes. It is the ability of mankind to communicate across barriers and beyond boundaries that has ushered the progress of mankind. It is the ability of fostering speedy and effective communication around the world that has shrunk the world and made ‘globalization’ a reality. Communication had a vital role to p lay in ensuring that people belonging to a particular country or a culture or linguistic group interact with and relate to people belonging to other countries or culture or linguistic group.Communication adds meaning to human life. It helps to build relationship and fosters love and understanding. It enriches our knowledge of the universe and makes living worthwhile. 1. 2 ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS The term business communication is used for all messages that we send and receive for official purpose like running a business, managing an organization, conducting the formal affairs of a voluntary organization and so on. Business communication is marked by formality as against personal and social communication.The success of any business to a large extent depends on efficient and effective communication. It takes place among business entities, in market and market places, within organizations and between various group of employees, owners and employees, buyers and sellers, servic e providers and customers, sales persons and prospects and also between people within the organization and the press 2 / Business Communication  ¦  ¦  ¦Ã‚ ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦Ã‚ ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦ persons. All such communication impacts business. Done with care, such communication can promote business interests.Otherwise, it will portray the organization in poor light and may adversely affect the business interest. Communication is the life blood of any organization and its main purpose is to effect change to influence action. In any organization the main problem is of maintaining effective communication process. The management problem generally results in poor communication. Serious mistakes are made because orders are misunderstood. The basic problem in communication is that the meaning which is actually understood may not be what the other intended to send.It must be realised that the speaker and the listener are two separate individuals having their own limit ations and number of things may happen to distort the message that pass between them. When people within the organization communicate with each other, it is internal communication. They do so to work as a team and realise the common goals. It could be official or unofficial. Modes of internal communication include face-to-face and written communication. Memos, reports, office order, circular, fax, video conferencing, meeting etc. re the examples of internal communication. When people in the organization communicate with anyone outside the organization it is called external communication. These people may be clients or customers, dealers or distributors, media, government, general public etc. are the examples of external communication. †¢ Communication is the life blood of the business. No business can develop in the absence of effective communication system. †¢ Communication is the mortar that holds an organization together, whatever its business or its size. †¢When p eople within the organization communicate with each other, it is internal communi- cation and when people in the organization communicate with anyone outside the organization it is called external communication. †¢ Ability to work well in teams, to manage your subordinates and your relationship with seniors, customers and colleagues depends on your communication skill. Exhibit : 1 1. 3 DEFINITIONS OF COMMUNICATION Communication may be defined as interchange of thought or information between two or more persons to bring about mutual understanding and desired action.It is the information exchange by words or symbols. It is the exchange of facts, ideas and viewpoints which bring about commonness of interest, purpose and efforts. American Management Association defines, ‘Communication is any behaviour that results in an exchange of meaning’. Peter Little defines communication as, ‘Communication is the process by which information is transmitted between individual s and/or organizations so that an understanding response result’. Newman and Summer Jr. state that, ‘Communication is an exchange of facts, ideas, opinions or emotions by two or more persons’.According to Keith Davis , ‘The process of passing the information and understanding from one person to another. It is essentially a bridge of meaning between the people. By using the bridge a person can safely across the river of misunderstanding’.  ¦  ¦  ¦Ã‚ ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦Ã‚ ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦  ¦ Business Communication : An Introduction / 3 Louis A. Allen defines, ‘Communication is the sum total of all the things that a person does, when he wants to create an understanding in the mind of another. It involves a systematic and continuous process of telling, listening and understanding’.Therefore, the main purpose of communication is to inform, or to bring around to a certain point of view or to elicit action. 1. 4 PURPOSE OF C OMMUNICATION 1. For instruction: The instructive function unvarying and importantly deals with the commanding nature. It is more or less of directive nature. Under this, the communicator transmits with necessary directives and guidance to the next level, so as to enable them to accomplish his particular tasks. In this, instructions basically flow from top to the lower level. 2. For integration: It is consolidated function under which integration of activities is endeavoured.The integration function of communication mainly involves to bring about inter-relationship among the various functions of the business organization. It helps in the unification of different management functions. 3. For information: The purposes or function of communication in an organization is to inform the individual or group about the particular task or company policies and procedures etc. Top management informs policies to the lower level through the middle level. In turn, the lower level informs the top lev el the reaction through the middle level.Information can flow vertically, horizontally and diagonally across the organization. Becoming informed or inform others is the main purpose of communication. 4. For evaluation: Examination of activities to form an idea or judgement of the worth of task is achieved through communication. Communication is a tool to appraise the individual or team, their contribution to the organization. Evaluating one’s own inputs or other’s outputs or some ideological scheme demands an adequate and effective communication process. 5. For direction:Communication is necessary to issue directions by the top management or manager to the lower level. Employee can perform better when he is directed by his senior. Directing others may be communicated either orally or in writing. An order may be common order, request order or implied order. 6. For teaching: The importance of personal safety on the job has been greatly recognized. A complete communicatio n process is required to teach and educate workers about personal safety on the jobs. This communication helps the workers to avert accidents, risk etc. and avoid cost, procedures etc. 7. For influencing:A complete communication process is necessary in influencing others or being influenced. The individual having potential to influence others can easily persuade others. It implies the provision of feedback which tells the effect of communication. 8. For image building: A business enterprise cannot isolate from the rest of the society. There is interrelationship and interdependence between the society and an enterprise operating in the society. Goodwill and confidence are necessarily created among the public. It can be done by the communication with the different media, which has to project the image of th

Accounting coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Accounting - Coursework Example Mr. Joseph, store sales personnel, generated  £ 10,000 revenue for February, 2015. On the other hand, Ms. Gina, another sales personnel assigned to another city branch of the same company, generate  £ 50,000 revenue during the same time period. If the company’s sales benchmark for each store sales employee is  £ 40,000 per month, Mr. Joseph’s sales strategies did not effectively meet the required monthly revenue benchmark. On the other hand, Ms. Gina’s sales strategies effectively met the monthly required revenue benchmark (Chapman, 2011). 1. Business entities strive to generate higher efficiency and effectiveness levels to increase revenues (Chapman, 2011). By performing the same task within lesser time period, the company can sell more products. Taking lesser time to serve each customer’s store needs allows the same sales personnel to serve more customers. Serving more customers will normally lead to more revenues. By reducing work time to the least possible length, the store’s overall revenues will surely increase. 2. Business entities strive to generate higher efficiency and effectiveness levels to maximize expenses (Chapman, 2011). By using lesser salary expense, electricity expense, water, expense, repair expense, marketing expense, and other related business expenses, the company is able to save money. The saved money reduces the loan amount needed by the company for business expansions to other cities or nations. 3. Business entities strive to generate higher efficiency and effectiveness levels to increase net income figures (Chapman, 2011). With lesser time used and with lesser expense amounts, the financial statements of the companies will show that the company’s net income is favouraby higher than when money is unnecessarily wasted on unnecessary electricity, wage, and other production and possibly marketing expenses. The above table 1 evidently indicates United

Reading response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Reading response - Assignment Example The use of such a latin terms exists within the institutionalized culture of law. The use of Latin terms shows that the field has a formal attitude as it conducts its businesses. According to the Cornell University Law School (2014), de novo means ‘from the new’. A court may hear a case in de novo following an appeal on an arbitration decision. The Latin meaning of the word helps to explain its purpose. The term shows that the legal profession has a rigid structure. This is because it needs to have a standard way of doing things. It does affect the lives of people in a fundamental way. In addition, it betrays the seriousness with which legal professionals conduct themselves. In addition, it helps the lawyers to maintain some distance from their clients. Some people may regard the use of Latin words in legal circles as snobbery. However, that is a rather simplistic deduction. This is because the use of those words is due to the tradition of law. According to Mattila (2013), Latin used to be a lingua Franca and its demise did not change how it is used in a field which is obsessed with keeping traditions. Furthermore, the use of technical terms is important in the judiciary where there must be a vocabulary to refer to the myriad situations that may arise in daily activities. Furthermore, Latin is a dead language. This is particularly important in a field where past cases have to be referenced. This is because a dead language is not being developed. As a result, there is no change in words. In addition, the use of the term helps to make it universal. It ensures that lawyers and other legal professionals can understand the term used everywhere. The legal industry is global in nature since judges have to refer to rulings made in other countries. Furthermore, the Latin words have come to attain a special meaning. The use of English words may cause confusion due to

Access to quality health care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Access to quality health care - Essay Example Inequality in health status has plagued the minority population in the United States for more than fifty years. Despite rampant inequalities, there is no single root cause for the disparities. While class differences play a major role in the delivery of health care in the United States, race is also an important issue which needs to be properly explored. Seeking to address the particular health challenges facing African-Americans living in the most prosperous country on the planet, this essay will explore the particular health issues afflicting African-Americans and look at the approaches presently in place to solve the question of persistent health inequality in America today. In the United States, health insurance coverage ensures that there is financial means by which basic health care can be accessed (Paulin and Dietz, 1995). Individual comprehensive health insurance plans depend on an individuals’ age, level of employment, residency, and race/ethnicity. Studies have shown that African-Americans do not receive the same care even if they have the same government funded insurance as their white counterparts, such as Medicare. For example, in a study conducted by the Brown and Harvard Medical Schools, researchers found that there were significant racial disparities within Medicare plans. In addition, they found that the quality of care was a factor concerning race and ethnicity among Medicare beneficiaries. This suggests that in addition to access to care, quality of care is different among ethnic groups. To this extent, racial difference in coverage may influence health disparities and inequities within the healthcare system (Williams J., 2005). Medicare is a federal government funded insurance program for disabled young adults, persons above the age of 65, and those with permanent disabilities who become eligible for Social Security. A

A Cadre of New Managers and its Control Case Study

A Cadre of New Managers and its Control - Case Study Example They also use two different crafts like the Airbus A320, which carries around 150 passengers and the Embraer E190 that carries 100 passengers. They also use E190 crafts for short-distance flights and the A320 for long distances. This strategy helps them to save on fuel as well as make maximum profit at the same time. Concurrently, they guarantee excellent customer service and travel. The financial performance of the company has been affected by various factors such as the increase of oil price, reduced number of passengers using flights and poor weather conditions among others. The profits have been dropping since 2003. Even though JetBlue made losses in the year 2005 and 2006, it made profits of $18 million (Rovenpor, N.D.). The financial reports of the company have been positive and increasing steadily unlike in some of their competitors who have gone into bankruptcy or merged with other companies as a survival tactic (Weil, 2007). There are many factors affecting the airline industry today and most of them are linked to the International Economy. These factors include oil prices, flight demands by passengers, the luggage carried, types and state of crafts and the routes they ply, and lastly, the nature of airports and geography of their countries or cities of destination (Lange,  2010).  

The Means for Effective Interpersonal Communication between Couples Essay

The Means for Effective Interpersonal Communication between Couples - Essay Example Most of the time, we tend to look at the faults and weaknesses of others while making quick judgments or conclusions at the same time. This usually is the first action since it is part of our innate instinct to be on the defensive, both physically and psychologically. Knowing this, you are already aware that taking your own side first in any argument is an instinctive reaction. Of course, that kind of action does not really deal with the problem initially. The first step in having an effective and happy interpersonal communication as a couple is to first look into your own self. This requires serious introspection and a degree of private time away from each other. Introspection requires a long and deep look into one’s own personality and character. Just imagine having to sit in front of a mirror while asking yourself questions about your own self. Some of the questions that could be asked would be about good traits, inherent character strengths, character flaws, and weaknesses. The primary reason why this step is important is because it practices you to be self-aware of mistakes that might have been overlooked. More often than not, it is easy to point fingers at the mistakes of others while forgetting that you have your own shortcomings as well. To be more conscious of your own mistakes is a matter of mindfulness. After spending a great deal of time understanding your personality and behavior, the next step is to have a self-appraisal on your personal manner of communicating. You have to realize that for an effective interpersonal communication to happen between couples, it is also important to know how you would communicate with yourself and if you have communication competencies. The issue is not whether or not you are good in expressing yourself. You can express yourself clearly but still send the wrong sentiments. Most of the time, it is the manner and not the message that has the

Information Searches Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Information Searches - Research Paper Example Some of the purchases that entail low involvement decisions are made without any previous though or planning and involve impulse buying. Medium involvement involves limited problem solving where the consumers already have some information about a good or a service and the continue searching for more information.Most of high involvementpurchases are not often purchased but are very vital to the consumer. Marketers should provide enough information concerning the attributes of the product. The marketers should also consider pricing their products in a manner that will entice the consumers into making a purchase decision. Medium involvement is the kind of involvement that falls between high involvement and low involvement purchasing decisions. This kind of medium involvement involves limited problem solving where the consumers already have some information about a good or a service and the continue searching for more information. High involvement purchases involve a lot of risks to the buyers if at all they fail and they are complex in nature and have high price tags. Some of the examples of high involvement purchases include a house, a car and insurance policy. Most of these purchases are not often purchased but are very vital to the consumer. While making a purchase decision, a buyer engages in an extended problem solving where they take a lot of time comparing different features, i.e. the feature of the prices, products and warranties. Every marketer has to analyze and consider the buying behavior of the customers therefore before making any decision; one has to consider the consumer’s level of involvement so as to come up with the sales strategy. As in the case of low involvement purchases, the marketers should use sales and promotion as a strategy since this will spur them into making purchase decisions. As discussed earlier, low involvement purchasers always make impulse buying therefore appealing sales promotions motivates them to buy more of the com pany’s products and services. Furthermore, the use of sales promotions like use of coupons can reach may customers at the same time therefore spurring into making a purchase decision. On the other hand, the marketers should also consider pricing their products in a manner that will entice the consumers into making a purchase decision. The company should also ensure that are low involving are available in most outlets as much as possible For, the case of medium involvement purchasers, most of them are considering the alternatives of the products. Understanding the choices made by this group assists the marketers in coming up with a sales strategy. Medium involvement consumers are in the third stage of evaluation of the alternatives before a purchase decision. The marketers should provide enough information about the product and its attributes. They should provide more of the advantages of the product or a service so as to entice the consumer into making a purchase decision. Th e customers who fall into the category of high involvement should be handled with a lot of care since they tend to make more and lengthy decisions before making a purchase. Since any purchase made by consumer requires extensive information, marketers should develop a strategy that is tailor made for this group. For example, when it comes into buying a car, the marketer must employ in broad problem solving techniques and also be willing to consider different types of brands. Since buying a car involve high involvement, brand name is very important for them. This is the reason as to why most of the manufacturers of those goods that require high involvement decisions cannot become satisfied about the value of their brands and

Walmart. An Emerging International Giant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Walmart. An Emerging International Giant - Essay Example Wal-mart expected that all its strengths and retailing knowledge could help them leverage operations overseas and achieve instant success. They expected that they benefit from their brand image as they had earned a decent reputation in the United States. However, not all of its strategy brought them success. 2. Culture of learning and innovation 2.1 Learning through experience Learning through experience is the best method, according to Senge but organizations seldom experience the consequences of their decisions (Smith, 2001). Thus, adaptive learning or single-loop learning must be supported by generative learning or double-loop learning. When changes become necessary people respond to the change in an ad hoc manner. Without any planning change is executed. Whether single- or double-loop learning can occur only when an organization realizes that learning must occur. An organization with the culture of learning and innovation would learn through every experience including international expansion. Wal-mart realized that its existing strategy did not fetch them the desired success and hence learned from its failures. They started learning through experience at different locations and this is known as reverse learning when firms are exposed to diverse knowledge inputs located in foreign markets (Saloman, 2006). This to a large extent depends upon the export strategies adopted that influence the flow of knowledge and thereby affect innovative productivity. Sometimes the geographic location imposes constraints on acquiring knowledge and information. This can be overcome by hiring local employees and benefit from their expertise. However, Wal-mart did hire local people in Brazil but could not benefit as the focus was on achieving sales volume. They realized that they needed to hire professionals and they started doing so from competitors. This does not demonstrate a culture of learning and innovation. Firms can also acquire knowledge from technology spillovers from competitors (Saloman, 2006). They can also access knowledge through joint-venture local partners. An organization with the culture of learning would also acquire knowledge from customers and customer specifications stimulate innovation. Wal-mart was only trying to develop a culture of learning as they sought to hire professionals from competitors. Theirs can be classified as single-loop learning because they did not generate something new. Wal-mart made no attempts to seek local skills and nor was the location choice based on information availability. Firms do seek to acquire knowledge before they enter a foreign location but to what extent they use this information is not known. Many however, seek to innovate with the knowledge acquired in advance. Again, customers across countries do not share identical tastes and hence the product requirement would vary across natio ns and cultures (Saloman, 2006). Wal-mart did not take into account

Mgt 401 Week 2 Essay Example for Free

Mgt 401 Week 2 Essay Business Model Comparison Most small businesses require some outside funding. Not many entrepreneurs have enough personal capital to open and maintain funding for a business. To attract investors and attain partnerships, a business owner should consider a business model necessary. This paper will compare two restaurant businesses, identify the business model and forms of ownership for each business by completing a Comparison of Business matrix, describe benefits by building a sustainable competitive advantage, and giving advantages and disadvantages of each business ownership. Great introduction. You state the purpose and what you plan to address! McDonald’s restaurants are among the most recognizable in the world. Their quintessential arches can be identified in almost every country. This fast-food mogul is one of the biggest and most profitable corporations in the industry (what industry? Make sure you provide information on the restaurant industry). Serving as a polar opposite is Datillo’s restaurant in Hemet, California. This small restaurant is known as the only fine dining experience in town and has only one location. The companies both represent the polar opposites of forms of business ownership. Comparison of Businesses Matrix |Comparison Items |McDonald’s |Datillo’s | | |Fast food, low quality, low prices. |Sit-down restaurant, high quality, and | | | |mid-level prices | |Value Proposition |â€Å"We place the customer experience at the core|â€Å"Welcome home, here you can enjoy a casual | | |of all we do† |lunch or dinner in a warm, festive | | | (Values In Action, 2013). |atmosphere.† | | | | (Datillos Ristorante: About Us, 2013). | |Target Market |All Markets, all classes |All Markets, all classes | |Value Chain |Attractive to people looking for inexpensive |Attractive to people looking for a fine dining| | |and fast food. Fast growth rate. |experience. Can compete with rivals on quality| | | |and service. | |Revenue |In 2012 gross income was $27.6 Billion. |In 2012 gross income was | | | |$459,000. | |Position |More opportunity for expansion and |Unique cuisine (niche) offers competitive | | |competitive advatange |advantage, less opportunity for expansion | |Competitive St rategy |Serving food at the lowest possible price |Only fine dining in town. Authentic Italian | | |while reserving as much quality. Also reliant|food, very high quality products. | | |on nostalgia to bring customers back. | | |Form of Ownership |Corporation: When a business is owned by |Sole Proprietorship: a business that is owned | | |multiple people and run by lower-lying |and managed by one person. | | |managers and employees. | | Good information! Benefits To Building A Competitive Advantage When evaluating the benefits of each business, it is important to consider the size of each business. As an example, both sole proprietorships and partnerships are relatively small in size and may perhaps provide more personalized service to each of their clients. In many businesses, customers appreciate personalized service and may in turn hire small businesses for that service. On the other hand, a larger business, like McDonald’s, typically is composed of more resources and may offer the prospective customer a lower price. Another competitive advantage of a smaller business, like Datillo’s, is the ability to provide customers with a higher level of quality. Because customers of small businesses deal more closely with a ‘tight nit’ group of employees, the quality and service provided to the customer is much greater than a larger corporation composed of numerous locations. Both small and large businesses each have distinct advantages that enable them each to thrive. Although some customers may appreciate the more personalized service of small businesses, others may prefer a lower price and a larger name brand. Make sure paragraphs are a minimum of 3 sentences! Advantages and Disadvantages of Business Ownership McDonald is known for the quality the restaurant serves, and the opportunities the McDonald restaurant offer. McDonalds has been number one in the fast-food market in the United States, and the most memorable brands, products, and mascots. McDonalds franchise owner can be safer than lesser-known franchises because the McDonalds name and operational model comes packaged with its own legion of loyal customers and industry-best practices for restaurant success. A franchise store such as McDonalds can help business owners to achieve financial independence by associating with an international powerhouse that can almost guarantee a certain degree of success. Another advantages of McDonald have is that McDonald’s cis that they can invest behind any market research it does and eliminates the need for a franchisee to do expensive research. Although McDonald it has its advantages, there are disadvantages associate with McDonalds. The restaurants have been target in a battle against what has been term the obesity epidemic, casting McDonalds outlets along with their owners in a highly negative light in the media, and their communities. McDonalds and its peers respond to this negativity by attempting to add healthy options to their menu, but the stigma is likely to linger. One of the advantages Dattilo’s Restaurants is that the restaurant’s offers an extensive classic Italian menu, comprised of items made from locally sourced premium quality ingredients, cooked to orde r for each guest. The restaurant uses authentic and healthy Italian accent. Dattilo’s also offers Internet special discounts and family gathering for its customers (Dattilo’s Ristorante, 2013). The disadvantage is Dattilo’s restaurant location are limited, the restaurant has not expanded their services statewide. Confusing sentence, consider rewording! Conclusion A business model is one essential factor in the success of a business. The business models of McDonald’s and Dattilo’s are much different but both successful. McDonald’s is a major corporation with thousands of locations and Dattilo’s with just one, but both have been in business for many years. There are advantages and disadvantages of both types of businesses, but regardless building a sustainable competitive advantage is achievable. The two restaurants compared in this paper offer different levels of quality, service, and cuisine, thus requiring a different level of ownership that each business model relays. References Datillos Ristorante: (2013).About Us, 2013, rRetrieved from: http://dattiloristorante.com/?page_id=8 McDonald’s: Values in Action, 2013, retrieved from: http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/home.html |Content and Organization |Points |Comments: | |70 Percent |Earned: 6.5 | | |Profile of a Small Business (Week 2) | |All key elements of the | | | |assignment are | | | |covered†¦good job! | | |Y | | | | | | | | |You clearly identify the| | | |two businesses but make | | |Y |sure you clearly | | | |identify the industry. | | | | | | |N |Good job explaining the | | | |advantages and | | | |disadvantages. | | |N | | | | |Make sure you provide | | | |academic and business | | | |research to validate | | | |your thoughts and | | |Y |opinions. | | | | | | | | | | | |Your introduction | | | |clearly states your | | | |purpose and what you | | | |plan to address. | | |Y | | | | | | | | |Your conclusion needs to| | | |review the major points | | |Y |of the paper- good job | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Y | | | | | | | | | | | |Y | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Y | | |All key elements of the assignment are covered in a substantive way. | | | |700 to 1050 word count | | | |The content is comprehensive, accurate, and/or persuasive. | | | |The paper develops a central theme or idea, directed toward the appropriate | | | |audience. | | | |The paper links theory to relevant examples of current experience and industry | | | |practice and uses the vocabulary of the theory correctly. | | | |Major points are stated clearly; are supported by specific details, examples, | | | |or analysis; and are organized logically. | | | | | | | |Identify an industry with which you are familiar, and then choose two | | | |businesses in that industry. | | | | | | | |Identify the business model and forms of ownership for each business, then | | | |complete the Comparison of Businesses Matrix. | | | | | | | |Describe benefits associated with each business by evaluating how they built a | | | |sustainable competitive advantage. | | | | | | | |Explain advantages and disadvantages of each business’s ownership. | | | |The introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major| | | |points. | | | |The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the | | | |major points. | | | | | | | |Readability and Style |Points Earned: 1.5 |Comments: | |15 Percent | | | | | |Great job†¦your sentences| | | |are well-written and | | |Y |error free. | | | | | | |Y | | | | | | | |Y | | | | | | | |Y | | | | | | | | | | | |Y | | |Paragraph transitions are present and logical and maintain the flow throughout | | | |the paper. | | | |The tone is appropriate to the content and assignment. | | | |Sentences are complete, clear, and concise. | | | |Sentences are well-constructed, with consistently strong, varied sentences. | | | |Sentence transitions are present and maintain the flow of thought. | | | | | | | |Mechanics |Points |Comments: | |15 Percent |Earned: 1 | | | | | | | | |Research adds validity | | |N |to your thoughts and | | | |ideas. Continue to | | | |expand your use. You | | |N |provide no business | | | |research or materials | | |N |from class. | | |Y |Ensure paragraphs are | | | |complete thoughts and | | |Y |flow into each section. | | | | | | | | | | | |Please continue to | | | |review the CWE and APA | | | |guidelines. | |The paper, including the title page, reference page, tables, and appendices, | | | |follow APA guidelines for format. | | | |Citations of original works within the body of the paper follow APA guidelines.| | | |The paper is laid out with effective use of headings, font styles, and white | | | |space. | | | |Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed. | | | |Spelling is correct. | | | | | | | | | |Comments: | | | |Great work team! | | |Points earned: |9 |

Progression Module Essay Example for Free

Progression Module Essay The progression module is a course which I would recommend for anyone. It has a numerous amount of benefits, one of the main benefits is it allows you to explore a broad range of courses at a variety of university. I feel the progression module has prepared me for university as I have discovered many courses that interest me. The progression module has also helped me understand other vital things that need to be considered when going university, such as deciding whether to live at home or away from home and all the financial implications university life holds. During the progression module I have discovered a great deal about myself and what I would like to pursue a career in. After completing the progression module I feel I now have the opportunity to access the career I want through a variety of routes. I also feel I am now much more confident in terms of writing letters, CV’s and personal statements. This has benefited massively because when applying for voluntary work I was much more assertive when writing my CV, I took a positive approach which I learned from the progression module and due to this approach I was given the role of volunteer in the hospital. Whilst doing a-levels students are expected to deliver presentations on subject topics. In the progression module I had to create a presentations and deliver it, I followed all the information provided from the progression module and I feel I managed to deliver my presentation effectively remaining confident and clear at all times. Another thing the progression module prepared me for was interview, following the progression modules guidelines helped me develop all the positive and necessary skills required for delivering a questionnaire. After following these guidelines I was successful in my mock interview. I remained confident at all times, I did everything possible to express the knowledge and interest I had for medicine without showing arrogance. After participating in a mock interview I was also given feedback on my performance and what I should do to do even better. The mock interview was a huge boost of motivation as all the feedback I received was positive and I was told if I go for an interview tomorrow I will be successful. Universities always look at personal statements before accepting any student for an interview. So essentially the personal statement is a vital part in the acceptance of an applicant. In unit four of the progression module I was expected to write a personal statement but obviously I was given ideas on how to structure it, what to avoid and what to definitely include. This was extremely beneficial as I now feel I am prepared for university, I have a personal statement written and all I need to do is fill in my UCAS. Overall the progression module has helped me decide what I would like to do in terms of living at home or living away from home. I have decided I am going to study at a university close to home so I can love at home. I know about all the financial implication involved when living at home and I know how to approach these implications and deal with them effectively. The progression module was very interesting and intriguing it has been a huge benefit to my future especially my career. I feel I am now much more confident when applying for university and I am also aware of all the options that are available for me to undertake. The progression module is fantastic and completing it not only helps applying for university but also benefits an individual in terms of the academic challenges they may have to face.

Methods Of Data Collection For Primary Data

Methods Of Data Collection For Primary Data Once the researcher has determined his research objective, research question, and the corresponding hypothesis for his research project, what he needs to do now is to collect the required data. Data is information from sample that the researcher would analyse in order to meet his research objective, facilitate his research question, and prove his research hypothesis. For example, the data or information about customers are gender, age, qualification, marital status, number of kids, monthly income, brand of car, type of house, religion, hobby, sports, leisure activities, credit cards, golf membership etc. Figure 5.1: Methods of data collection (primary data) Method for Collecting Primary Data Survey Method Observation Method Face-to-Face Interview Telephone Interview Computerised Questionnaires Direct Observation Mechanical Observation Content Analysis Personal Interview Mail Survey Self-Administered Questionnaires Actually, what variable to include in the study depends on your research objectives, research questions, and the corresponding research hypotheses. The researcher should always refer to the three elements above when determining what data to collect in order to avoid collecting the unnecessary data, or worse, not collecting the required data. Based on Figure 6.1, the method of data collection can be classified into survey methods and observation methods. A) Survey method According to Zikmund, Babin, Carr and Griffin (2010), survey is a research technique in which a sample is interviewed in some form or the behaviour of respondents is observed and described in some way. In survey method, questionnaires are given to respondents to elicit information for the study. Respondents are asked the questions based on the information needed by the study. The questions may be asked in the verbal forms (interview), writing (mail questionnaire), or through computer (internet or e-mail). Several advantages are Quick Efficient Inexpensive Accurate means of assessing information about a population B) Types of survey methods i) Personal interview: face to face communication in which an interviewer asks respondents to answer questions (Zikmund, Babin, Carr and Griffin (2010). Face to face interview In the face-to-face interview (sometimes called personal interview), the researcher will prepare the questions to be asked during the interview with respondents. Each question represents the variable that the researcher wants to obtain its data. The questionnaires cover all variables required from a respondent. Before the interview begins, the researcher would explain the objective of research, ask for cooperation, and give assurance that the response given is only for research purpose and the information is treated with confidential. This is important since personal data is confidential, and no one will reveal his personal information if the confidentiality is not assured. The interviewer should posses good personality so that the interview session proceeds smoothly and in a friendly atmosphere. During the interview, the interviewer will read the question and record the response. Personal interviews may be conducted at the respondents home, offices, or anywhere. Below are the common examples of places which are basically used to conduct the interview. Door-to-door Interview Door-to-door interview refers to the interview in which the respondents are interviewed face-to-face in their homes. The major advantage of this interview is high participation rate, but the disadvantage is high cost. Mall Intercept Interview Mall intercept interview refers to the personal interviews conducted in shopping malls. Interviewers typically intercept shoppers at a central point normally at the entrance to the mall. The advantage of this method is low cost since no travel required to the respondents home. Mall intercept interview is appropriate when the respondents need to see, touch, or taste the product before they can provide meaningful information. Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) This interview uses a computer to get the information from the respondents using several user-friendly electronic packages to design questions easier for the respondent to understand. However, this method is classified as personal interview technique because an interviewer is usually present to serve as a host and to guide the respondents. CAPI is normally used to collect data at shopping malls, product clinics, conferences, and trade shows. Advantages of face-to-face interview Higher response rate. With proper plan and approach, the respondents will not turn down the request for an interview. The interviewer must be friendly and creative in getting cooperation from respondents. The interview method normally achieves a response rate of more than 70%. Data more accurate. The face-to-face meeting allows the interviewer to clarify terms or anything which might confuse the respondents. Once the respondent understands the question, he will provide an accurate response. The interviewer can note specific reactions by respondents during interview. The physical reaction and facial expression by respondent can tell whether he is providing accurate responses or not. The interviewer can also note the physical environment surrounding the interview such as the respondents office, the house, the dress etc that should tally with his response. People will usually respond with good gesture and provide accurate responses when approached in person. The Malay culture of not saying no still holds true when someone comes to the door with polite and peaceful manner. An experienced interviewer can sense out if the respondent is trying to hide some information. In this case, he will use his creativity to clarify the intention or terminate the interview. Disadvantages of face-to-face interview High cost. Interviewers must be given specific training on methods such as the art of making personal approach, the art of asking questions, the art of requesting cooperation etc, which is expensive and time consuming. The interviewer must be confident enough to work on his own. At the same time, the daily allowance for travelling, food, lodging etc is very high. Incomplete response. Any small mistake by interviewer can cause error in the response. The mistake such as using a wrong approach, bad facial expression, coming at the wrong time, not sensitive to certain issue in the conversation sometimes could hinder respondents from giving truthful response. Error in recording. This happens especially when the interview session is in a hurry due to time constrain on part of respondents. The interviewer who needs to read the question and record the response quickly and simultaneously is prone to making mistakes. Require close supervision. The interviewers work should be supervised closely to avoid interviewer cheating. Sometimes, due to many reasons such as time constraint, respondent is difficult to contact or the respondent is not available during appointment time, the interviewer will fill the response on his own. Telephone interview Sometime it is possible to collect data through telephone conversation. This method is possible if the researcher has complete directory of telephone numbers of population under study. If the respondents are government officers, employees of private firm, professional people such as doctors, lawyers, accountants etc, then the researcher have the option of using this method. Traditional Telephone Interview In traditional telephone interview, respondents are called through the telephone and the interviewer will ask a series of questions and record the responses. Respondents are more willing to provide detailed and reliable information on a variety of personal topics over the telephone than with personal interviews. Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) CATI uses a computerized questionnaire administered to respondents over the telephone. The interviewer would contact respondents over the telephone, read questions posed on the computer screen, and record the respondents answers directly into the computer memory bank. The computer systematically guides the interviewer and checks the responses for appropriateness and consistency. Advantages of telephone interview Less expensive compared to the face-to-face interview. The financial cost for travelling, lodging, and outstation allowance is not involved. Less time consuming. The number of respondents interviewed through telephone in one day is much higher than the number interviewed through face to face. Easy monitoring. The researcher can monitor the interviewers work more easily since he can check the telephone numbers of respondents and the time called. Disadvantages of telephone interview Lower response rate. The rate of response is lower since the respondents can just hang-up the call when he realised it is time consuming, or unsure of the confidentiality of the conversation. Fewer questions could be asked. Usually the conversation through the telephone cannot take long especially when the topic of discussion is not interesting, especially for the respondent since he has no particular interest in it. Difficult to get good cooperation. Conversation through the phone is not convincing enough especially when trying to get cooperation from the respondent. It is difficult to convince someone when they cannot see you in person, your facial expression, you body gesture etc. 2) Self-administered questionnaire In this technique, the researcher distributes questionnaires to respondents personally, through mail service, by inserting in the newspapers, or by sending to the email address. The difference between self-administered questionnaires compared to personal interview is in the self-administered questionnaire, the respondents make an effort to read and respond to the questions. However, the effectiveness of self-administered questionnaire will depend on the efficiency of the written words rather than the soft skill of interviewers. Mail Survey A mail survey is a self-administered questionnaire sent to pre-selected respondents through the mail. Basically, a mail interview package consists of the outgoing envelope, cover letter, questionnaire, return envelope, and possibly an incentive. Mail Panel A mail panel consists of a large, nationally representative sample of households that have agreed to participate in periodic mail questionnaires and product tests. The data on the panel members is updated every year and households are compensated with various incentives. Mail panel is appropriate for longitudinal design studies which allow obtaining information from the same respondents repeatedly. Advantages of mail survey Low cost. No interviewer bias Disadvantages of mail survey Low response rate Slow data collection speed Structured questionnaires One of the most popular methods of collecting research data is through the structured questionnaire. These questionnaires are self-explained and self-administered. In using this method, the researcher designs carefully a series of questions that cover the variables of interest in the study such as the respondents demographic background, their opinions concerning certain issues, their perception concerning certain service performance, and their intentions to do in the future etc. Structured refers to the degree of standardization imposed in the process of data collection (questionnaires). In other words, the researcher arranges the questions properly on a paper together with the cover letter to explain the purpose of data collection, the instruction to the respondents on how to respond to the questions, and the assurance of confidentiality of information provided. Advantages of a questionnaire Lowest cost incurred. The cost is low due to no interview, no training of interviewers, no travelling, no lodging allowance involved. No monitoring cost incurred. Usually the sending of questionnaires and receipt of responses from respondents are done by the researcher himself. More respondents and wider area can be covered. The researchers can send his questionnaires to as many respondents as he likes since the cost for each respondent is very small. Response more accurate. Since there is no influence, no gesture, no facial expression, and no interruption from the interviewer, the respondents can answer the questions at his own convenience. This manner will assure the accuracy of responses. Disadvantages of a questionnaire The poor rate of response from respondents. Since the researcher does not have gestures or face-to-face contact with respondents, the respondents can just throw away the questionnaires. In this method, the researcher should make a regular follow up contact with respondents using letter or telephone call. Usually the researcher would call the respondents earlier to inform them that he is sending a questionnaire to obtain data for his specific objective. The call is made as a gesture in order to obtain good cooperation from respondents. Once the respondent has difficulty regarding certain terms or questions in the questionnaire, he will not bother completing the remaining questions since nobody is available to explain. Sometimes the respondents simply send back the incomplete response. There is no assurance that the person who responds to the questionnaire is the intended respondent or the legitimate respondent. This matter will result in sample not being representative of the population. Private agents who conduct surveys found that people are more likely to respond to mail questionnaire that has professional appearance and come together with attractive prizes such as lucky draws for the respondents who send the completed questionnaire in time. Some questionnaires obtain good responses from respondents especially the questionnaire that comes together with the warranty cards when customers purchase certain products. Customers will have to answer series of questions on the warranty cards before sending back to the manufacturer for product warranty. Computerised questionnaire Internet survey Lately, the internet poll has become one of the popular methods to obtain information from the public especially their opinion concerning certain issue of public interest. In internet survey, the researcher brings an issue to attention and requests the opinion from the public. The public can respond by voting the statement that closely resembles their opinion. At the same time they can view the current standing in term of the most popular opinion and the corresponding vote obtained. Internet survey appears when a computer user is asked to go to a particular Web site location and answer the series of questions displayed in the website. In this technique, the respondents are not selected using specific technique but those who visit the Web site where the survey is posted are invited to participate in the survey. 2. E-mail survey In the e-mail survey, questionnaires are sent out to the respondents directly through their e-mail address. The respondents would reply the email by providing their response to each item on the questionnaire. The professional market research groups are using the internet to send their questionnaires to the respondents email. The respondents would complete their respective questionnaires and also return through the internet to the researchers e-mail address. Normally, these research agencies would provide certain rewards in terms of discount coupons etc in order to encourage the respondents to participate in the study. Advantages of computerised questionnaire Low cost. Very high data collection speed. Non interviewer bias Disadvantages of computerised questionnaire Very low response rate Low control of data collection method B) The observation methods According to Zikmund, Babin, Carr and Griffin (2010), observation is the systematic process of recording the behavioural patterns of people, objects and occurrences as they are witnessed. Several types of observation methods are: Direct observation In this method, the researcher will identify his respondents and records the required data based on what he observes. This method is suitable for a research to study the behaviour of respondents. For example, the research is carried out to identify how car drivers behave on the road during traffic jam. In his observation, the researcher will record the type of drivers who follow the traffic rules properly, and the type of drivers who choose to ignore rules such as queue jumping or overtaking using emergency lanes. The researcher may also be interested to know the types of vehicles (motorcycles, cars, buses, and lorries) which always ignore traffic rules during traffic jams. Another area where this method is suitable is to observe customers behaviour in the supermarket. In the market research study for example, the researcher is interested to know how customers make decisions in choosing which shampoo to buy. The researcher will stand in the area where hundreds of shampoos of differen t brands are placed on the rack. He will record how the customers choose the shampoo. Most probably some customers have decided earlier which brand to buy; some customers will compare prices, packaging, and even the smells before buying the shampoo. The researcher will record specific characteristics of customers who prefer certain brands of shampoo etc. Advantages of direct observation The data obtained reflect the actual behaviour of respondents. The respondents will tend to hide their actual behaviour when approached in person or when answering the questionnaires. The researcher gets a clearer picture and a better feeling of the situations for his study. Hence, he will be in a better position to make a proper recommendation regarding the underlying phenomena in the study. Disadvantages of direct observation The respondent will not act his normal behaviour if he knows that he is being observed. The data collection process is cumbersome and tedious. Mechanical observation Sometimes certain mechanical devices such as video cameras, rather than human observers to observe are used and record customer behaviours. The devices do not require the respondents direct participation in the study but they will capture the respondents behaviour for analysis. The early application of this technique is in a study to determine the level of comfort among train passengers by taping or recording how they sat and moved in their seats. Advantages of mechanical observation It offers high disguise by using the hidden camera. However, other mechanical device such as the use of psycho galvanometers is very difficult to disguise. Low observation bias since mechanical observation involves the non-human observer. Disadvantages of mechanical observation Low ability to observe in a natural setting. However, it depends on the mechanical tools used in the observation. The degree is low when using psycho galvanometer but high if using turnstiles. Less flexible. Content analysis Content analysis is usually used to study communication rather than behaviour, or physical objects. It is defined as the objective, systematic, and quantitative description of the manifest content of a communication. Content analysis obtains data by observing and analyzing the contents or messages of advertisements, newspaper articles, television programs, etc. It involves analysis as well as observation which systematically analyze peoples communication to identify the specific information contents and other characteristics such as words, characters (individuals or objects), themes (propositions), space and time measures (length or duration of the message), or topics (subject of the message). Advantages of content analysis High degree of disguise since the data is collected over the situation to be observed. High degree of observation specification and measurement. Disadvantages of content analysis Low ability to observe in natural setting because observation takes place after the behaviour has occurred. Potential of observation bias because human observer is involved in data collection process. 5.3 Factors determining choice of survey methods. Selecting the type of survey you are going to use is one of the most critical decisions in many social research contexts. Youll see that there are very few simple rules that will make the decision for you you have to use your judgment to balance the advantages and disadvantages of different survey types. There are several factors needs to be considered: Population issues The first set of considerations has to do with the population and its accessibility. Can the population be specified? For some populations, you have a complete listing of the units that will be sampled. For others, such a list is difficult or impossible to compile. For instance, there are complete listings of registered voters or person with active drivers licenses. But no one keeps a complete list of homeless people. If you are doing a study that requires input from homeless persons, you are very likely going to need to go and find the respondents personally. In such contexts, you can pretty much rule out the idea of mail surveys or telephone interviews. Is the population literate? Questionnaires require that your respondents can read. While this might seem initially like a reasonable assumption for many adult populations, we know from recent research that the instance of adult illiteracy is alarmingly high. And, even if your respondents can read to some degree, your questionnaire may contain difficult or technical vocabulary. Clearly, there are some populations that you would expect to be illiterate. Young children would not be good targets for questionnaires Are there language issues? We live in a multilingual world. Virtually every society has members who speak other than the predominant language. Can you produce multiple versions of your questionnaire? For mail instruments, can you know in advance the language your respondent speaks, or do you send multiple translations of your instrument? Can you be confident that important connotations in your instrument are not culturally specific? Could some of the important nuances get lost in the process of translating your questions? Will the population cooperate? People who do research on immigration issues have a difficult methodological problem. They often need to speak with undocumented immigrants or people who may be able to identify others who are. Why would we expect those respondents to cooperate? Although the researcher may mean no harm, the respondents are at considerable risk legally if information they divulge should get into the hand of the authorities. The same can be said for any target group that is engaging in illegal or unpopular activities. What are the geographic restrictions? Is your population of interest dispersed over too broad a geographic range for you to study feasibly with a personal interview? It may be possible for you to send a mail instrument to a nationwide sample. You may be able to conduct phone interviews with them. But it will almost certainly be less feasible to do research that requires interviewers to visit directly with respondents if they are widely dispersed Sampling issues The sample is the actual group you will have to contact in some way. There are several important sampling issues you need to consider when doing survey research. What data is available? What information do you have about your sample? Do you know their current addresses? Do you have their current phone numbers? Do you have an up to date contact lists? Can these respondents be found? Can your respondents be located? Some people are very busy. Some travel a lot. Some work the night shift. Even if you have an accurate phone or address, you may not be able to locate or make contact with your sample. Who is the respondent? Who is the respondent in your study? Lets say you draw a sample of households in a small city. A household is not a respondent. Do you want to interview a specific individual? Do you want to talk only to the head of household (and how is that person defined)? Are you willing to talk to any member of the household? Do you state that you will speak to the first adult member of the household who opens the door? What if that person is unwilling to be interviewed but someone else in the house is willing? Can all members of population be sampled? If you have an incomplete list of the population (i.e., sampling frame) you may not be able to sample every member of the population. Lists of various groups are extremely hard to keep up to date. People move or change their names. Even though they are on your sampling frame listing, you may not be able to get to them. And, its possible they are not even on the list. Are response rates likely to be a problem? Even if you are able to solve all of the other population and sampling problems, you still have to deal with the issue of response rates. Some members of your sample will simply refuse to respond. Others have the best of intentions, but cant seem to find the time to send in your questionnaire by the due date. Still others misplace the instrument or forget about the appointment for an interview. Low response rates are among the most difficult of problems in survey research. They can ruin an otherwise well-designed survey effort Question issues Sometimes the nature of what you want to ask respondents will determine the type of survey you select. What types of questions can be asked? Are you going to be asking personal questions? Are you going to need to get lots of detail in the responses? Can you anticipate the most frequent or important types of responses and develop reasonable closed-ended questions? How complex will the questions be? Sometimes you are dealing with a complex subject or topic. The questions you want to ask are going to have multiple parts. You may need to branch to sub-questions. Will the screening of questions be needed? A screening question may be needed to determine whether the respondent is qualified to answer your question of interest. For instance, you wouldnt want to ask someone their opinions about a specific computer program without first screening them to find out whether they have any experience using the program. Sometimes you have to screen on several variables (e.g., age, gender, experience). The more complicated the screening, the less likely it is that you can rely on paper-and-pencil instruments without confusing the respondent. Can question sequence be controlled? Is your survey one where you can construct in advance a reasonable sequence of questions? Or, are you doing an initial exploratory study where you may need to ask lots of follow-up questions that you cant easily anticipate? Will lengthy questions be asked? If your subject matter is complicated, you may need to give the respondent some detailed background for a question. Can you reasonably expect your respondent to sit still long enough in a phone interview to ask your question? Will long response scales be used? If you are asking people about the different computer equipment they use, you may have to have a lengthy response list (CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, mouse, touch pad, modem, network connection, external speakers, etc.). Clearly, it may be difficult to ask about each of these in a short phone interview. Content issues The content of your study can also pose challenges for the different survey types you might utilize. Can the respondents be expected to know about the issue? If the respondent does not keep up with the news (e.g., by reading the newspaper, watching television news, or talking with others), they may not even know about the news issue you want to ask them about. Or, if you want to do a study of family finances and you are talking to the spouse who doesnt pay the bills on a regular basis, they may not have the information to answer your questions. Will respondent need to consult records? Even if the respondent understands what youre asking about, you may need to allow them to consult their records in order to get an accurate answer. For instance, if you ask them how much money they spent on food in the past month, they may need to look up their personal check and credit card records. In this case, you dont want to be involved in an interview where they would have to go look things up while they keep you waiting (they wouldnt be comfortable with that). Bias issues People come to the research endeavor with their own sets of biases and prejudices. Sometimes, these biases will be less of a problem with certain types of survey approaches. Can social desirability be avoided? Respondents generally want to look good in the eyes of others. None of us likes to look like we dont know an answer. We dont want to say anything that would be embarrassing. If you ask people about information that may put them in this kind of position, they may not tell you the truth, or they may spin the response so that it makes them look better. This may be more of a problem in an interview situation where they are face-to face or on the phone with a live interviewer. Can interviewer distortion and subversion be controlled? Interviewers may distort an interview as well. They may not ask questions that make them uncomfortable. They may not listen carefully to respondents on topics for which they have strong opinions. They may make the judgment that they already know what the respondent would say to a question based on their prior responses, even though that may not be true. Can false respondents be avoided? With mail surveys it may be difficult to know who actually responded. Did the head of household complete the survey or someone else? Did the CEO actually give the responses or instead pass the task off to a subordinate? Is the person youre speaking with on the phone actually who they say they are? At least with personal interviews, you have a reasonable chance of knowing who you are speaking with. In mail surveys or phone interviews, this may not be the case. vi) Administrative issues Last, but certainly not least, you have to consider the feasibility of the survey method for your study. costs Cost is often the major determining factor in selecting survey type. You might prefer to do personal inter

How Bathsheba Everdene Has Changed in the Novel Far From The Madding Cr

How Bathsheba Everdene Has Changed in the Novel Far From The Madding Crowd "Bathsheba Everdene is a changed woman by the end of this novel". By referring closely to events in the text, show to what extent you agree with this statement. In this essay I am going to be deciding to what extent that I think Bathsheba Everdene has changed in the novel 'Far From The Madding Crowd'. I will compare the two sides and reach my conclusion. I think that in the novel, in some ways Bathsheba has changed. When we first meet Bathsheba she is going to live with her aunt, and is probably dependant upon her. Then, Bathsheba inherits a farm and money. This occurrence would give Bathsheba more independence and freedom, so in that way she has changed from the start of the novel. When Bathsheba's sheep get into a field of clover, the only person who can help her is Gabriel Oak. At first Bathsheba refuses to ask Gabriel for help as they have had a row but then she does. Gabriel replies "beggars mustn't be choosers". We know that Bathsheba is a very proud, independent woman and doesn't like to ask for help, but here she swallows her pride and sends a note reading, "Do not desert me Gabriel". This must have been quite a hard thing for a stubborn person to do, and I think that earlier on in the book, Bathsheba wouldn't have been able to do such a thing. This therefore shows that Bathsheba is now more grown up and able to see the bigger picture of life. At the start of the novel, Bathsheba is very young and innocent. When Gabriel Oak proposes to Bathsheba the first time, Bathsheba says "I shouldn't mind being a bride at a wedding, if I could be one without having a husband" However, at both times when Bathsheba is mar... ...ne because she is jealous that he doesn't look at her at the fair, she wants what she can't have, so when he proposes to her, she doesn't know how to let him down gently. But the second time she isn't straightforward because she doesn't want to hurt his feelings. So although she is indecisive, she does seem to develop feelings for Farmer Boldwood, as she doesn't want to hurt him in the end. After reading this novel I have decided that Bathsheba is a changed woman to some degree, but underneath she is still the same stubborn, vain girl. I think the changes that have occurred are due to her growing up and becoming a woman and I think that she has learned from her mistakes and from the experiences she has dealt with. I think any changes that have happened to Bathsheba have happened for the better as she is noticing her faults and is better because of it.

Absolute Knowledge: Analysis vs Intuition :: Philosophy

Absolute Knowledge: Analysis vs Intuition Is absolute knowledge gained through the process of analysis or intuition? In â€Å"Introduction to Metaphysics† of The Creative Mind, Henri Bergson makes a thorough distinction between analysis and his idea of intuition. As the basis of immediate, metaphysical knowledge, intuition applies to the interior experience of an object. Such experience entails true empiricism. Bergson explains his method of intuition and absolute knowledge through various terms, including duration, traditional rationalism and empiricism, and time. These terms shall be evaluated as they reveal the pertinence between true empiricism and true metaphysics. As a philosopher of immediacy, Bergson favors intuition over analysis as a mode to knowledge. Relative, mediate, and incomplete knowledge is the result of analysis. It involves viewpoints of an entire object which require a division of it into parts. These parts must then be labeled with symbols and then synthesized, mediated or recomposed into an inaccurate whole in an attempt to gain a complete, perfect understanding of the thing. The experience one has during analysis is thus, an exterior one which leads only to a partial grasp of the object. This grasp is relative as it depends upon the individual’s viewpoints. On the other hand, Bergson’s idea of intuition is a means to immediate, absolute knowledge. This knowledge is perfect, without limits, and inexpressible through symbols, or even language. It is a result of an interior experience, which Bergson claims, involves â€Å"sympathy† towards the object. As intuition entails â€Å"sympathy,† analysis entails a â€Å"desire to embrace the object† (161 The Creative Mind). In an attempt to illustrate the distinction between intuition and analysis, let us propose that the object is a choreographed dance. If I analyze it, I may observe the dancers or make a chart of the dance steps, and memorize the rhythm. I may compare various dancers or relate some steps to other steps in a series. In general, I understand the structure of the dance, but nothing more; my analysis does not lead me to coincide with the act itself, and it results in an eventual limit to my knowledge of the dance, which cannot be expanded. Howe ver, when I become a dancer, I coincide with the act. I utilize introspection and experience its entirety.

A Studentss Guide to First-Year Writing :: Personal Narrative Suicide Death

A Students's Guide to First-Year Writing Now, and at the Hour I was not with You I. Laurie is crying again, â€Å"You are not with me,† she says. â€Å"Wait, Rae, don’t move.† I watch the silver image of the Virgin Mary on a swaying chain around her neck as she snaps the shutter to trap me in black and white. Laurie is the photographer of our little society; Michael is the sculptor, Stacy and I are the painters, and George has had a thing for performance art lately. We’re smoking cigarettes in the moldy bowling alley. George says: â€Å"I’m bored of this- all of it. Everyday’s the same shit. We need to fucking do something before my skin rots off.† Laurie is quiet, but Mike shrugs his shoulders, â€Å"What do you propose that we do, George?† â€Å"I don’t know, rob a bank, be punk rock and spread some anarchy... man, I don’t know, just anything.† I look at Laurie. She’s quiet. I motion to the bathroom to take her from George’s little angst party. We stand together in the stall, so I kiss her and touch her hair and say, â€Å"You okay, swe etie?† â€Å"Do you want the truth?† she asks. I nod and she replies, â€Å"No, Rae, I’m not okay. I’m really very, very not okay. I’m losing my shit over absolutely nothing... Rae, I just can’t do it anymore.† I’ve heard Laurie like this before; it makes my stomach go sharp and black because I want her to be okay. I need her to be okay. But she hurts so deep; her depressions come in torrents. Her tears stream the Chanel foundation off of her cheeks into puddles on her black dress, all in such slow motion. She brings a bottle from her bag, clicking and childproof, to her burgundy lips and then shares it with me. We return to the group with hydracodone breath, so that the rest of the day will be a senseless opiate dream. You are not with me. You are not with me. None of you. You stand around and let words drool out of your lips. You speak of punk rock and of anarchy, but you don’t even care... about anything. You don’t even care. You can’t even see me crying. You say, "Laurie, you okay, sweetie?

Schizophrenia

People afflicted with schizophrenia may have a sense of reality that is noticeably dissimilar from the reality perceived and shared by others around them. Schizophrenics, live in a world that is distorted by hallucinations and delusions, so those with schizophrenia may feel frightened, anxious, and confused (Smith et al, 2006).   Partly due to the different reality they experience, shizophrenics are known to behave differently at various times and events. At times they can be distant, detached or even seem preoccupied.   Some may sit rigidly, like a stone, unmoving and utterly silent.Other times they may shift relentlessly – occupied, wide-awake, vigilant, alert, and even hyperactive. Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic, and generally disabling brain disease (Smith et al, 2006). While the term schizophrenia literally means â€Å"split mind†, it should not be confused with a â€Å"split† or multiple personality. It is more accurately described as a psychosis â €” a type of disease that causes severe mental turbulence that disrupts normal thinking, vocalizations, and deeds. Schizophrenia is supposed to be secondary to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.The course of schizophrenia, its symptoms, and triggers vary greatly among those who are affected. People with schizophrenia may demonstrate a varied combination of symptoms, triggers, and course. Each of these combinations may produce different clinical pictures. In fact, some clinicians have argued that schizophrenia is actually a group of separate disorders that share common features or symptoms.Comer (2007) notes that the indication of schizophrenia fall into three main categories:Positive symptoms, which are unusual thoughts or perceptions that include hallucinations (disturbances of sensory perception), delusions (false beliefs) and thought disorder.Delusions: Delusions are faulty interpretations of reality. Delusions may have bizarre content such as thoughts of being controlled by others, ideas of persecution by others, etc.Disordered Thinking and Speech: These may include loose associations, neologisms, and clanging.Heightened Perceptions: These are feelings of being flooded by sights and sounds, making it impossible to attend to anything important.Hallucinations: Hallucinations are faulty sensory perceptions. Auditory hallucinations are the most common form of hallucinations.Inappropriate Affect: Inappropriate affect is smiling when you are sad or angry or bearing a blank look when you should look happy. This may be related to the experience of hallucinations.Negative symptoms, which stands for a loss or a decrease in the ability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion, or find pleasure in everyday life (Comer 2007). These symptoms are harder to recognize as part of the disorder and can be mistaken for laziness or depression.Cognitive symptoms (or cognitive deficits), which are problems with attention, certain types of recall, and the executive occupation that allow us to plan and organize. Cognitive deficits can also be difficult to recognize as part of the disorder but are the most debilitating terms of leading a normal life.One may note that the cornerstone of schizophrenia is psychosis. Psychosis is a state characterized by loss of contact with reality (Comer, 2007). In this condition, the affected person's ability to perceive and respond to the environment is significantly disturbed, and it may affect the person's ability to function. Psychotic symptoms may include hallucinations, which are false sensory perceptions and/or delusions which are false beliefs. Psychosis may also be substance-induced or caused by brain injury, but psychosis most commonly appears in diagnoses of schizophrenia. Fowler (2000) notes that normally individuals with psychosis are not conscious of the consequential links between their symptoms, life experiences, disposition and beliefs. By helping someone understand his or her problem a s partly one of belief and interpretation, rather than actual and current threat, can be beneficialTreatments for SchizophreniaTreatment is aimed at reducing symptoms and preventing psychotic relapses and is believed to be most effective when begun early in the course of the illness. Schizophrenia is initally treated with antipsychotic medication (Comer, 2007). Once acute symptoms have lessened, a combination of medicine and psychosocial/rehabilitation interventions can be beneficial. As a chronic condition, disease management is life-long process.Barrow (2005) states that the most common modern medications currently prescribed are: risperidone (Risperdal ®), olanzapine (Zyprexa ®, Zydis ®), quetiapine (Seroquel ®), ziprasidone (Geodon ®). And then there is aripiprazole (Abilify ®), which acts in a different way on the brain than others. All these drugs block dopamine in those parts of the brain where excessive dopamine is causative to psychosis. They mainly diminish pos itive symptoms, but they may also help with negative symptoms.   Counseling, psychotherapy and social rehabilitation can help with more of what we call â€Å"negative symptoms.† Although Barrow notes that this often gets lost at first because ‘positive symptoms’ gets therapists too busy,   but people also lose inspiration, the capacity to communicate socially, and the capacity to organize themselves as they used to do before.ReferencesBarrow, K (2005). Reality Distortions: Balancing the Mind in Schizophrenia. Healthology Online, retrieved 7 April 2008 from http://www.healthology.com/mental-health/article1007.htm?pg=2Comer, R. J. (2007). Abnormal psychology (6th ed.), New York: Worth Publishers.Fowler, D. (2000). Cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis: from understanding to treatment. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills, 4(2), 199-215.Smith B, Fowler D, Freeman D, Bebbington P, Bashforth H, Garety P Dunn G & Kuipers E., (2006) Emotion and psychosis: links bet ween depression, self-esteem, negative schematic beliefs and delusions and hallucinations. Retrieved 7 April 2008 from http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/2182/1/Microsoft_Word_-_Schiz_Res_02_04_2006__2_.pdf Schizophrenia People afflicted with schizophrenia may have a sense of reality that is noticeably dissimilar from the reality perceived and shared by others around them. Schizophrenics, live in a world that is distorted by hallucinations and delusions, so those with schizophrenia may feel frightened, anxious, and confused (Smith et al, 2006).   Partly due to the different reality they experience, shizophrenics are known to behave differently at various times and events. At times they can be distant, detached or even seem preoccupied.   Some may sit rigidly, like a stone, unmoving and utterly silent.Other times they may shift relentlessly – occupied, wide-awake, vigilant, alert, and even hyperactive. Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic, and generally disabling brain disease (Smith et al, 2006). While the term schizophrenia literally means â€Å"split mind†, it should not be confused with a â€Å"split† or multiple personality. It is more accurately described as a psychosis â €” a type of disease that causes severe mental turbulence that disrupts normal thinking, vocalizations, and deeds. Schizophrenia is supposed to be secondary to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.The course of schizophrenia, its symptoms, and triggers vary greatly among those who are affected. People with schizophrenia may demonstrate a varied combination of symptoms, triggers, and course. Each of these combinations may produce different clinical pictures. In fact, some clinicians have argued that schizophrenia is actually a group of separate disorders that share common features or symptoms.Comer (2007) notes that the indication of schizophrenia fall into three main categories:Positive symptoms, which are unusual thoughts or perceptions that include hallucinations (disturbances of sensory perception), delusions (false beliefs) and thought disorder.Delusions: Delusions are faulty interpretations of reality. Delusions may have bizarre content such as thoughts of being controlled by others, ideas of persecution by others, etc.Disordered Thinking and Speech: These may include loose associations, neologisms, and clanging.Heightened Perceptions: These are feelings of being flooded by sights and sounds, making it impossible to attend to anything important.Hallucinations: Hallucinations are faulty sensory perceptions. Auditory hallucinations are the most common form of hallucinations.Inappropriate Affect: Inappropriate affect is smiling when you are sad or angry or bearing a blank look when you should look happy. This may be related to the experience of hallucinations.Negative symptoms, which stands for a loss or a decrease in the ability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion, or find pleasure in everyday life (Comer 2007). These symptoms are harder to recognize as part of the disorder and can be mistaken for laziness or depression.Cognitive symptoms (or cognitive deficits), which are problems with attention, certain types of recall, and the executive occupation that allow us to plan and organize. Cognitive deficits can also be difficult to recognize as part of the disorder but are the most debilitating terms of leading a normal life.One may note that the cornerstone of schizophrenia is psychosis. Psychosis is a state characterized by loss of contact with reality (Comer, 2007). In this condition, the affected person's ability to perceive and respond to the environment is significantly disturbed, and it may affect the person's ability to function. Psychotic symptoms may include hallucinations, which are false sensory perceptions and/or delusions which are false beliefs. Psychosis may also be substance-induced or caused by brain injury, but psychosis most commonly appears in diagnoses of schizophrenia. Fowler (2000) notes that normally individuals with psychosis are not conscious of the consequential links between their symptoms, life experiences, disposition and beliefs. By helping someone understand his or her problem a s partly one of belief and interpretation, rather than actual and current threat, can be beneficialTreatments for SchizophreniaTreatment is aimed at reducing symptoms and preventing psychotic relapses and is believed to be most effective when begun early in the course of the illness. Schizophrenia is initally treated with antipsychotic medication (Comer, 2007). Once acute symptoms have lessened, a combination of medicine and psychosocial/rehabilitation interventions can be beneficial. As a chronic condition, disease management is life-long process.Barrow (2005) states that the most common modern medications currently prescribed are: risperidone (Risperdal ®), olanzapine (Zyprexa ®, Zydis ®), quetiapine (Seroquel ®), ziprasidone (Geodon ®). And then there is aripiprazole (Abilify ®), which acts in a different way on the brain than others. All these drugs block dopamine in those parts of the brain where excessive dopamine is causative to psychosis. They mainly diminish pos itive symptoms, but they may also help with negative symptoms.   Counseling, psychotherapy and social rehabilitation can help with more of what we call â€Å"negative symptoms.† Although Barrow notes that this often gets lost at first because ‘positive symptoms’ gets therapists too busy,   but people also lose inspiration, the capacity to communicate socially, and the capacity to organize themselves as they used to do before.ReferencesBarrow, K (2005). Reality Distortions: Balancing the Mind in Schizophrenia. Healthology Online, retrieved 7 April 2008 from http://www.healthology.com/mental-health/article1007.htm?pg=2Comer, R. J. (2007). Abnormal psychology (6th ed.), New York: Worth Publishers.Fowler, D. (2000). Cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis: from understanding to treatment. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills, 4(2), 199-215.Smith B, Fowler D, Freeman D, Bebbington P, Bashforth H, Garety P Dunn G & Kuipers E., (2006) Emotion and psychosis: links bet ween depression, self-esteem, negative schematic beliefs and delusions and hallucinations. Retrieved 7 April 2008 from http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/2182/1/Microsoft_Word_-_Schiz_Res_02_04_2006__2_.pdf