Capstone Project

Schizophrenia and Physical Activity Grand Canyon University MRS.-441 V-230 Professional Capstone Project January 9, 2014 Research shows that implementing physical activity into a lifestyle is a vital part of being healthy and encouraged for the general population. The importance of physical activity is a knowledge deficit for the person living with schizophrenia as the education and support needed from the treating psychiatrist and nurse is not consistently provided. An emphasis is placed on medication adherence, treatment compliance and reduction in hospital admissions.Research also shows that a person living with schizophrenia has a higher mortality and morbidity rate. This population often has chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease which often is the cause for premature death. Therefore prescriptive physical activity prescribed by the psychiatrist with support from the assigned nurse to provide much needed education and program structured to su pport this change in lifestyle is a much needed service provided in the current psychiatric outpatient clinic setting.Physical activity for patients should be seen as integrative care and art of the common practice for mental health nursing. (Happens, Plantain-Phone, and Scott 2011). Keywords: schizophrenia, physical activity, serious mental illness Capstone Project A problem frequently found in the outpatient mental health clinic, inpatient facilities and within the community is the lack of importance placed on physical activity being part of the schizophrenic patient's life.There needs to be a shift to encourage the mental health nurse, the treating psychiatrist and the clinical team to take the time to educate the patients diagnosed with schizophrenia on the importance of incorporating physical activity into their daily routines. The benefits of becoming physically active should be described in detail to the patient as an effort to show them how this would improve their quality o f life.For many suffering from schizophrenia it may be difficult for many reasons not to be physically active but for others it is the simple lack of understanding of how being active can impact their lives in a positive way as well as having support within the clinical team. Much education of the schizophrenic patient lies with the busy mental health nurse who fete fails to realize that this type of education is Just as important as the education given to the patient on medication compliance for management of their symptoms and treatment adherence for long term stability.There is a need for greater access to physical activity information, opportunities, and professional standards for staff in mental health care (Wand & Murray 2008). The World Health Organization (WHO) finds that physical activity, ranging from daily walking to structured exercise regimens, is internationally recognized as a key prevention and health management strategy (2007). If physical activity is a health prior ity for the general population why should it not be Just as important for the schizophrenic patient?Physical health in this group is often poor and individuals tend to die early with life expectancy reduced by up to ten years compared to the general population (Philae 2001). It is common knowledge to the nurse and psychiatrist that regular physical activity can improve several common physical ailments such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperventilation's as well as reduce the risk for developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. In adult schizophrenic patients does implementing physical activity versus not implementing physical activity improve overall health in 1 year?There are many factors that should be addressed in order to solve this problem. The education of the mental health nurse, treating psychiatrist and clinical team on the importance of taking the time to educate these patients with this information is a very important part of providing care. The identif ication of the barriers for which patients who receive this education and do not implement physical activity to their current lifestyles is also important. There is also a need for immunity based physical activities or places where a patient with schizophrenia will feel welcomed and supported.The likelihood and reality of these patients to be accepted in general population venues for physical activities is often low due to the stigma and lack of education within society of the mentally ill. Review of Literature Education and Barriers In reviewing the articles similarities were found in a few of the articles. The importance of physical activity within all the articles was identified for the Schizophrenia patient. Each article stressed the fact that this patient population has high morbidity and mortality rate.One that with incorporating physical activity can reduce risk factors that contribute to premature death. Physical activity is determined to be an important factor in improving the quality of life as well as quantity of life for these patients. The main point in my research was to show how the mental health nurse can influence the patient's perspective of physical health as well as support it by promoting the physical activity and assisting the patient in identifying ways to incorporate physical health in their daily routines.In the first article the argument is made on how the mental health nurse should provide leadership in promoting physical activity even if the mental health nurse is not educationally prepared to perform this role. It also concluded that mental health nurses can provide directions in understanding physical activity for their patients by using evidence-based research and mainstream physical activity in the mental health clinic. Physical activity for patients should be seen as integrative care and part of the common practice for mental health nursing. Happens, Plantain-Phone, and Scott 2011). Two of the articles were studies that identif ied barriers for why patients with schizophrenia do not engage in physical activity. It is has been found that these patients self-report up to a 47% that they are sedentary but without any physical limitations. The first study included 27 patients from four community clinics that were interviewed individually using a structured questionnaire. This study used the recommended American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for weekly activity levels.The data showed that two-thirds of the participants were inactive and almost a third of the participants minimally active. Only two participants met the criteria of active which is described as having moderate intensity activity or walking for at least 30 minutes for 5 days per week. The study identified four barriers: limited experience of physical activity, impact of illness and the medication, effects of anxiety and the influence of support networks. It concluded that physical activity may need to be more individualized with case manage ment approaches by health care providers.The development of physical activity programs should include professional and peer support which would facilitate physical activity and program adherence. Moonstone, Nicola, Donated, and Laurie, 2009). The second study explored the perceived barriers and benefits to physical activity in people with serious mental illness. A total of four focus groups were held with a total of 34 patients from two program sites which included 16 men and 18 women. The data showed that barriers to physical activity were identified as mental illness symptoms, medications, and weight gain from medications, fear of discrimination and safety concerns.The benefits were identified as the program offered a feeling of belonging, program offered comfort and support, physical activity was viewed costively, they were able to link being active to improved health. The conclusion of this study was that these patients did value physical activity and were aware of its health be nefits. The report of fear of discrimination and relying on the staff to plan and initiate physical activities also contributed to their inactivity.The recommendation is that any program implemented should include independent initiation of activity as a method of improving one's health as this would assist the serious mentally ill patients in becoming more active and increase program compliance. McDermott, Snyder, Miller and Wilbur 2006). Lifestyle Factors and Activity Five articles, two of which were randomized studies that emphasized the importance of physical activity in relation to mortality rate, quality of life and identified activity interventions for the Schizophrenia patient. They also identified the importance of lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol consumption and smoking.All of the studies in this section supported the fact that a poor diet can be identified in this population and should be correlated with chronic illnesses such as Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease. The first study identified a lack of physical activity participation and impaired functional exercise capacity compared to healthy controls contributed to health related quality of life. Patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia (n=60) and health controls (n=40) completed the SF-36 Bake Physical Activity Questionnaire and performed a 6 minute walk test.The results were significantly lower in patients with Schizophrenia compared to those of matched healthy controls. The activity scores indicated that patients with schizophrenia were significantly less' active during their leisure time and less involved in sports activities. The participants walked a shorter distance on the 6 minute walk test (19. 3%) and reported more symptoms of despise after the 6 minute walk test (28. 3%). This data suggests that patients with higher IBM might also be limited in completing daily life activities such as walking as a sedentary lifestyle correlates with a higher IBM.This study recommends that patients s hould be made aware that increased body weight and physical inactivity are modifiable risk factors. Educational programs should focus on these risk factors as they are key for both treatment and prevention of disease. Bancroft, Probes, Eschews, Marriages, Sewers, Knap, and De Here, 2011). The second study evaluated evidence of physical activity with or without having diet counseling on creditability parameters in people with schizophrenia.It is well documented that people with schizophrenia have a reduced life expectancy of 20-25 years in comparison to the general population related to premature cardiovascular disease. They also have twice the normal risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. This study reviewed 13 articles that addressed physical activity with or without diet counseling. The conclusion was that physical activity with or without diet counseling is effective in reducing weight and improving creditability risk factors in people with Schizophrenia.It is recommended tha t clinicians assess and monitor cardiovascular risk factors as well as refer patients to a physical health programs. It was noted in the study that without the support of clinicians, people with schizophrenia exercised sporadically and dropout rates were at 90% after 6 months. (Bancroft, Knap, De Cert., Van Winkle, Deck, Marriages, Puddles, Simons and Probes 2009). The third article focused on the impact of poor hysterical health in relation to the mortality rate of patients with schizophrenia.This study summarized lifestyle factors such as poor diet, low rates of physical activity, increased weight, smoking, lack of dental care, social isolation, limited to no family involvement and unemployment which can all be considered underlying causes of increased mortality in this population. This article found patients with schizophrenia have the inability to provide self-care which also places this population at greater risk for premature death. This article emphasis the need for health ed ucation that retrofires physical health as an effort to improve mortality and morbidity of people with serious mental illness.These health education strategies would include education of lifestyle factors to intervene before a serious health problem is established. As well as secondary interventions which include health screenings to aid in the early detection and management of high risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. (Pack 2009). The fourth article was also study that was based on assessment of the metabolic profile for individuals with schizophrenia in relation to dietary and physical activity habits.This study interviewed 130 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia from the outpatient clinic. The data from these 130 patients and another 250 participants of the 2005-2008 ENHANCES were analyzed by using SPAS version 17. 0 for Windows. The data showed that less than half of the sample reported moderate physical activity and few individuals reported any vigorous physi cal activity. The controlled group showed a higher frequency of moderate physical activity but no difference in vigorous activity.Previous studies have found that 40% of patients with Schizophrenia report no moderate physical activity and 75% port no vigorous physical activity. This study found that household income did correlate with moderate activity and did impair participation in physical activity for those patients who had a lower income. The conclusion of this study is that interventions should combine education and physical activity as a form of outreach that would be more appropriate for the serious mentally ill patient who has limited knowledge of the benefits of exercise.Health care providers should offer increased opportunities for physical activity for patients with Schizophrenia as this may improve treatment outcomes and ease the burden of disease. Rattail, Palmers, Returnee, Lisbon, Grill, Take 2012). The objective of the fifth and final study was to evaluate the assoc iation between a sedentary lifestyle and psychiatric symptoms in obese and overweight adults with schizophrenia or specification disorders. This was a randomized study which included weight assessment and intervention in schizophrenia treatment.The data was collected during 2005-2008 in an outpatient setting and included 55 patients. Sedentary behavior has been shown to be an independent risk factor for mortality in the general population and may be a factor hat is increasing the risk of common co-morbidity's in adults with schizophrenia or specification disorder. This study found in regards to physical activity that patients who were monitored spent 13 hours per day practicing sedentary behaviors and that physical activity was very limited.Physical activity was primarily light physical activities 17% of the monitoring time and moderate to vigorous activity was 2% of the monitoring time. Self-reported sedentary behavior was found to be associated with psychiatric symptoms such as ne gative symptoms, depression, cognitive symptoms ND extramarital side effects to psychotropic medications. This study suggests that public health campaigns and mental health providers should focus on decreasing sedentary behaviors as an effort to reduce the risk of co-morbidity's which are often experienced by adults with schizophrenia or specification disorder. Ann., Gauguin, Richardson, Hellman, Tang, Caules, and Karakas 2013). There is much evidence to support the fact that the mental health nurse should spend time educating, promoting and possibly even facilitating the programs within the clinic that support the schizophrenia patient with the lifestyle change to incorporate physical activity into their lives to increase their quality and quantity of life. It would be realistic to set a goal for the patient to be able to incorporate 30 minutes of physical activity into their routines at least three times per week.Physical activity teaching and support should include topics that de al with barriers to physical activity, poor diet and their influence as factors that contribute to the development of Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease. Implementation Plan In the current outpatient clinic setting such as Partner's In Recovery decisions about NY change that will affect the patients care are made not only at the administrative level but the patient level as well. There is an identified Advisory Council which is made up of volunteers which consists of patients, clergy and community members.Prior to any proposal for change or new program within the clinic to be brought before administration the information must be presented to the Advisory Council at one of their monthly meetings. Once approval is obtained from the council then the information would be presented to the patients for their input and approval. Moving onto administration will be the tough part. The presentation will have to include physician approval, URN endorsement and willingness to adapt teaching to their current practice, patient testimony on the importance of having physical activity ordered by the physician as part of their treatment plan.As well as the patients currently participating in a walking program for 30 minute intervals two to three times per week. This presentation would be given by the URN with self-identified patients who would help facilitate and share their personal experiences. In order for administration to be on board with a change the buy in would have to be monstrance at the patient level with a few patients willing to go the extra mile and advocate for this change to happen. A presentation for the patients would be developed and presented to the patients in the current onsite classes.This presentation would highlight the high risk behaviors that can be modified to avoid the development of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. It would also include the high morbidity and mortality rates found within this population which i s also attributed to schizophrenia and the lack of physical activity. A healthy snack would be served to them during the presentation. Patients that were self-identified as wanting to participate in this process would be called to additional Once the patients were on board and actively walking we would move meeting. Onto the physicians and nurses. This presentation would have the same information and would be presented to them during one of the monthly clinical staff meetings with arrangements made for lunch to be served since it is normally held during their lunch hour. This presentation would focus on the importance of physical activity being prescriptive by the physician. Reinforced, supported and taught by the URN who is assigned to that patient for continuity and adherence.It is recognized among the medical staff that serious mentally ill patients across the spectrum of diagnosis suffer from a sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity may need to be more individualized with case m anagement approaches by health care providers. The development of physical activity programs should include professional and peer support which would facilitate physical activity and program adherence Moonstone, Nicola, Donated, Laurie 2009). This presentation would be adaptable to the audience for future reservations.For the physicians and nurses it would have statistical data to support the change and show the positive outcome for reinforcing a lifestyle change for many of their patients. For administration it would have data to support that the quality of life would be greater and the quantity of years of life extended with the patient who is being supported to be physically active. The cost may be increased for the mental health system as the SIMI patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia will live a longer life related to implementing this change.This small change may motivate the patient to incorporate more healthy behaviors such as quitting smoking, eating healthy and seeing thei r primary care physician regularly to manage their chronic illness such as diabetes and hypertension which will in turn lead to healthier more productive lives. For some, patients possibly even the opportunity to reach full recovery in which they would no longer need to be part of the mental health system. The problem at hand is that physical health in this group is often poor and individuals tend to die early with life expectancy reduced by up to ten years compared to the general population Philae et al. 001). It is common knowledge to the nurse and psychiatrist that regular physical activity can improve several common physical ailments such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperventilation's as well as reduce the risk for developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. At the outpatient clinic level much of the patient education is provided by the busy Mental Health Nurse. Time constraints, patients in crisis needed to be triages or hospital discharges often take preced ence to teaching or reinforcement of physical activity.There is a need for rater access to physical activity information, opportunities, and professional standards for staff in mental health care (Wand & Murray 2008). The World Health Organization (WHO) finds that physical activity, ranging from daily walking to structured exercise regimens, is internationally recognized as a key prevention and health management strategy (2007). In the additional meeting these patients would be given more specifics about what their participation will mean to move this change forward to Administration for final approval to be implemented for all the patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia.A detailed explanation of the commitment being made to themselves in become physically active. Patients would receive a pre-test and a plan would be set for implementing walking for 30 minute intervals two to three times per week as well as a log to track their participation. Patients would receive a pedometer if they were interested in seeing their walking translated into steps. Patients would return weekly to report their progress, enjoy a health snack, receive additional support and reinforcement from their assigned Nurse as well as planning the following weeks activity.A room within the clinic would be designated or this meeting. The cost for implementing this walking program for the patients would be minimal as the clinic receives donations of food and water on a weekly basis. Often time staff is also willing to support activities such as this with donations of fruit or vegetable trays. The cost on the other hand maybe viewed differently from Administration as this program would take time from a designated URN to meet with the patients on a weekly basis which in turn would take away from clinical hours and billable patient care. The average URN at PRI makes $28-$32 per hour.Considering one our for the patient meeting time, prep time and possible phone call allotment time may come out to thr ee to four hours per week which would average $112-$128 per week. Not being privileged to the average billing rate for a visit with an URN for one hour in the clinic a weekly average of the loss in unable to be determined. There would also be a cost incurred with paper, ink and printing of materials. If this program was to be implemented as identified above with the physician prescribing the physical activity to the patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and the support given by the URN the outcome would be phenomenal.Mental health nurses can provide directions in understanding physical activity for their patients by using evidence-based research and mainstream physical activity in the mental health common practice for mental health nursing. (Happens, Plantain-Phone, Scott 2011). Resources that would be needed for this program to be implemented would include the meeting room, healthy snacks, power point presentation or printed handouts, pre-test for the patients, a nurse to run weekly meetings, weekly tracking log, pedometers and a post-test to measure the increase in awareness and knowledge.A elaboration or recognition of some sort for the patients who continue to practice this lifestyle change after a pre-set timeshare. This patient group would be followed by the assigned URN for one year and their progress would be reported to the Physicians, Nurses, Advisory Council, Administration and other patients suffering from serious mental illness at each quarter through the year. Another resource that may be necessary after the initial year would be to continue this program with new patients.In the clinic setting peer support is a big deal, maybe the patients who have been successful, faced challenges and are now practicing this new lifestyle may be the ones facilitating the weekly meetings with the URN present for additional support and reinforcement. How much more effective would it be to see and hear it from your peer and your nurse to get you motivated to actuall y give physical activity a try? Theory There are two theories that will address the issue of increased physical activity in the Schizophrenia patient population.The first is the Health Belief model in which the key concepts are based on the patient's perception of the threat, benefit and barriers. In this model in order for the patient to adopt the new behavior such as physical activity, their perception of the threat for chronic long-term illness, the severity of those identified illnesses and the benefits of their participation in physical activity must outweigh their perceived barriers to incorporating this activity. This theory would be one that is easy to implement and incorporate into a visit with the nurse or psychiatrist without needing additional time scheduled.The use of this theory would facilitate the education much needed by this patient population in regards to deeding physical activity as part of their treatment plan. It is the hope that once the patient is given this information by a nurse or psychiatrist their interest in physical activity will be increased. Once there is motivation behind the interest then the patient can implement the physical activity. The second theory is the Theoretically model which entails the stages of change. In this model it is believed that a person (patient) shift in a progression though five levels related to their readiness to make a change.The first stage is pre-contemplation in which the patient maybe thinking bout making this change. The second is contemplation in which the patient maybe more serious about making this decision. The third is preparation in which the patient is now taking steps to be able to make the change. The fourth is action in which the patient is actually doing the activity or incorporating the change into their routine. The fifth and final stage is maintenance in which the patient is implementing the activity into their routine and doing other activities to support their new lifestyle cha nge.This theory would be easy to include into a support group or class setting. This theory can aid in facilitating the class structure. With this theory each patient will be able to identify what stage they are in, identify what is needed to make the change and even set a date to incorporate change into their current lifestyle. This theory can be beneficial in addressing physical activity as a healthy lifestyle change that is much needed in this patient population as an effort to prolong their lifespan.The hope is that with a class structure the patient can be supported as he/she incorporates physical activity into their current lifestyle. Evaluation The methods used to evaluate the progress of implementing a walking program will be a pre and post-test (Appendix A). This walking program will be implemented as part of a Wellness program that entails enhanced patient education and consists of group walking 3 days a week for 30 minutes with the self-identified patients being treated f or Schizophrenia at an outpatient psychiatric clinic.The identified variables that will be measured throughout the year of this program will be an increase in knowledge of the participants about the importance of physical activity, increase in he amount of physician referred or prescriptive physical activity, increase in amount of referrals to the walking program (Appendix C). A long term outcome worth measuring would be the decrease in IBM, cholesterol and triglycerides in the patients who participate in the walking program for one full year (Appendix B). Dissemination Results would be disseminated first of all with Administration and the Advisory Committee in one of the quarterly meetings.A power point presentation would outline the Journey of the implementation of the walking program as well as the outcomes. It would include the amount of physician and nurse educational sessions, physical activity weekly nurse run classes, amount of participants actively walking, amount of referr als via physician referral or self-identified participants, measurable changes in lab results for cholesterol and triglycerides, changes in IBM tracked for 1 year. Posters would be printed in colorful themes displaying the outcomes which were tracked over the year.These posters and the power point presentation would then be shared with the referring physicians and nurses during Grand Round. Results would be shared with the patients and staff with these posters by placing them on the walls throughout the clinic. It would be the hope that these posters would build motivation and interest of other patients to encourage them to follow and start exercising. Results would be shared with all clinical staff, case managers, family and peer mentors in the monthly staff meetings with the power point presentation.Each time the power point presentation is presented it will be given by a patient who has completed or is currently actively walking and has some personal experience with the outcomes of decrease in IBM, lower cholesterol or triglycerides so that they may share their story during this time as well. These results and personal accolades will be shared with the Arizona Department of Health Services, Behavioral Health Services Division for Mauricio County as an effort to provide education to other outpatient clinics with the same patient population.

Psychology Journal Article Review Essay

Has the influence of others ever affected your decision making skills, or made you question yourself about the decision you made? In the aim to test whether or not pressure from a group of people affects a persons’ ability to conform. Psychologist Solomon E Asch decided to conduct an experiment to justify his theory. Asch gathered college students in groups of eight to ten where they were told that he was only studying visual perception. They were then given a simple line judgment task where the answer was made very obvious. The task was to decide which one of the lines on the right was identical to the line on the left. This was done over and over again for about eighteen times. However the trick in the experiment was that out of all the students in the group only one student was the one being tested. The rest of the students were instructed to provide incorrect answers to twelve out of the eighteen times they were asked about the lines. Purposely, Asch made sure that the person being experimented sat next-to-the-last person in each group to provide his answer so that he would hear most of the other incorrect answers before giving his own. They then would see if the individual would keep their choice or just conform to everybody else’s decision just because the majority of the group agreed to it. After the experiment Asch found out that thirty-seven out of fifty students that were being experimented on conformed to the majority’s decision at least once. However, fourteen of the fifty students conformed more than six times during the assessment. Asch being very bothered by these results stated â€Å"The tendency to conformity in our society is so strong that reasonably intelligent and well-meaning young people are willing to call white black. This is a matter of concern. It raises questions about our ways of education and about the values that guide our conduct. † ( McLeod, S. A. (2007) Simply Psychology [On-line] UK: Available: http://www. simplypsychology. pwp. blueyonder. co. uk/ Accessed: January 17, 2010). After the experiment when the subjects were being asked why they conformed to the answer some of them said that because they did really think that the other answers were correct. Another reason was that they just went along with everybody else’s same opinion because they did were basically afraid of being different of being thought of as dumb or unusual by the rest of his peers. Due to this Asch came to conclude that people conform for two main reasons one because the individual wants to be liked by the group or maybe because you believe that since you are doing the something different than the rest that they are better informed than you. Asch found out that the aspect that influences conformity is the size of the opposite people having the different opinion than you. He concluded that it is hard to sustain what you see versus something that nobody else sees. Pressure given by the expressed thoughts and opinions of other people can lead to change and alterations successfully making you see almost nothing. Alteration meaning changing your perception about the way the lines were being viewed in order to match with everybody else. In this assessment the independent variable were all the different students that were being tested with the same people in the room, these same students being there provided the same answers to the question sixteen out of eighteen times. The dependant variable was the test being taken and how many wrong answers were being provided for the subject of the experiment to see. In my opinion these results would have been different if we had paid more attention to the kind of people that were being analyzed. For example a person having a high self esteem versus someone having no self esteem at all which then would rapidly make them change their decision. This experiment could have been conducted better if they would have taken these factors in mind or if they would have just tested a similar group of people. Here you might have had people that will most likely listen to other people and then you have the people that are not afraid to be different . I think this experiment showed the correct by just a few people not conforming to everybody else’s choices because there are a very few people like that out in the world today . I think that these results will not really apply to other participants in other places at other experimental times because as stated before maybe not all the subject being tested might have the same mentality to change their answers that quick to be accepted by everyone else. This experiment however has a well contribution to the field of psychology explaining conformity and the different ways that pressure from people has an impact on you. In my cased I believe that everyone should read this experiment and that future edition of ext book should reference this experiment because it would be a great discussion topic and would bring up a good subject to talk about within our peers. This experiment has an impact in what our society is going thru today I believe we have a lot of individuals that are scared to be different I think this takes part greatly on the media and what he have seen growing up. Many people believe that always conforming to what everybody else is used to is always the right thing but what justifies this? Who has the right to say what is right is right and just because the majority of people believe this way it shouldn’t be the same you think. We shouldn’t have to format our minds to somebody else’s. That is the whole idea everyone is different in their own individual way which is what makes each and every one of us if not this world would be such a boring place. As reading about this experiment it’s silly but what came to mind was the show how wasn’t to be a millionaire. In that show which I believe you a bit reference on there is choices you have when you don’t know the answer to a question one of the choices is to ask the audience then the audience votes and obviously the contestant picks the answer they got the most votes. Then it is up to the individual to choose the answer that he thinks it is right nine out ten times the answer that the audience picks is correct which in this case this experiment would not justify the situation. Then we can ask is the individual doubting himself is he afraid to be different? Or in this matter is it not important whether or not they want to be different because there in money involved on the line. Different situations can alter your decision and decision making skills depending on the situation you are in and whether or not you choose to be different in that particular situation. Whether or not you choose to be different should be your decision and not a group of people. Knowing who you are plays big role in this case and if it is hard for you to find the right path then I think that it is better that you find it on your own first before asking someone else for advice and that is how you will find your true self which will then tell you apart from everybody else.

Language Choice in Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Language Choice in Communication - Essay Example This essay will assess the assertion by speakers such as Ioan who claimed "I text and Facebook in English. It feels that English is more international, more universal. It seems to make more sense to use it on the internet". To understand language acquisition and use it is necessary to make a comparison in learning of Welsh and English among school going children. This is because there are a number of inconsistencies within the languages which may in most cases impact on the competency reported by children who have had similar levels of exposure to the two languages. Comparison of English with other European languages based on the analysis of their orthography indicates there are levels of dissimilarities between them. The European languages such as Welsh, Spanish and Finish have their phonemes and the letters closely related. This means one letter in these languages will in almost all cases represent a distinct sound. It therefore becomes simple for fluent reader familiar with alphab etic systems of these languages to read them even when they might not comprehend the meaning of the words. However, this might not be the case for someone who wants to apply the same in English which is because there are a number of differences between a number of English letters and the sound system of the language. The complexity in English is as a result of the existence of more sounds in spoken English than the twenty-six symbols representing the letters of the English alphabet. Additionally, the English orthography is not a precise representation of any particular accent that should be adopted when speaking Standard English.  

Student Satisfaction in Distance Learning Research Proposal

Student Satisfaction in Distance Learning - Research Proposal Example Student satisfaction is currently believed to be one of the major indicators of student development in conventional higher education. The mission of higher education is not only to impart knowledge but also to enhance overall development of the students (Astin, 1993). One of the ways higher education institutions accomplish this mission is by continuously collecting information on student satisfaction, defined by various authors as an "everpresent campus variable" (Betz, Menne, Starr, and Klingensmith, 1971: 99). Student satisfaction is the key outcome of higher education and the 'quality enhancement tool designed to improve the quality of the student experience' (Harvey, Plimmer, Moon, and Geall, 1997: 3). Traditionally, the institutions of higher education have used the data on student satisfaction to improve the educational environment in order to create learning settings highly conducive for student development. Student satisfaction ... Also it is a measure of institutional effectiveness, success, and vitality. Measuring student satisfaction is also important for maintaining and increasing enrolment, managing attrition and retention problems, and making better-informed decisions in the area of student affairs (Beltyukova, 2002). Additionally, student satisfaction data have high utility as a baseline in different types of student outcomes assessment, undertaken by institutions of higher learning in response to external pressures for accountability (Upcraft and Schuh, 1996). 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Student satisfaction has not been fully examined in the literature on evaluation aspects of education: academic performance has received considerably more attention. However, some practitioners such as Sweeny and Ingram (2001) claim that student satisfaction, preferences, and attitudes should also be treated as important factors too, especially in higher education. Elliott and Shin (2002) also argue that satisfaction is a worthy outcome variable to explore because it has a number of student and course related benefits, namely: lower attrition rates, increases in motivation and a greater number of referrals. Merisotis and Phipps (1999) also consider student satisfaction a broad measure of the effectiveness of the education process. Students' satisfaction is an important research area within educational evaluation. The growing concern for accountability in educational outcomes stimulated the need for meaningful and stable measures. The conventional analysis of satisfaction has been based on the assumption that satisfaction is best seen in terms of student response to course components and the methods used by teaching staff. Much of this analysis has focused upon comparing mean

Effects of Land Degradation in the Murray-Darling Basin Research Paper

Effects of Land Degradation in the Murray-Darling Basin - Research Paper Example The prevailing climatic conditions are also contributing to Murray-Darling basin reducing in size with each passing day. Desertification is a form of land degradation that mostly affects dry land ecosystems because of both natural and human activities (Dregne n.p). Desertification can be a cumulative effect of deforestation, poor irrigation, overgrazing, droughts, and over-cultivation that can lead to land degradation. Grasslands, savannas, and woodlands are the common indicators to the start of desertification in both arid and semi arid areas. Better-placed examples of these are Taklamakan Desert in China, the Adriatic Sea in Europe and the Sahara desert. One of the major causes of soil erosion is deforestation, as this aspect tends to weaken the soil to an extent that it cannot retain any water. Evaporation easily occurs when the soil is weak and soil erosion is usually rampant in areas near water bodies. Drought is another type of water evaporation, which is relatively a length in time when an area previously experienced rain. In areas where there are soil erosion and drought and to experience high rates of evaporation, making the areas slowly to turn into deserts. When water bodies begin to dry up, then this also becomes a sure sign that the region would eventually turn into a desert. In the end, these regions end up being unstable and can no longer sustain vegetation, human life, and wildlife hence displacing the population due to the land to become less suitable for cultivation (Dregne n.p).

Exploring Research Designs and The Relationship to the Research Essay

Exploring Research Designs and The Relationship to the Research Question - Essay Example 3. Provide an example of the hypothesis for the study. 4. Write a 750-word paper including the research question and design, and explain why the research design is appropriate for the research question. 5. Identify the research design as correlational, quasi-experimental, or experimental, and defend your choice using a critical approach including cited references. 6. Provide an example of how you could change the research question to use a different research design. Topic: Exploring Research Designs and The Relationship to the Research Question Exploring relationship between research design and the research question By The present study aims to explore the linkage between the research design and the research question. While â€Å"research is the discovery of answers to questions through the application of scientific and systematic procedures†; the research question asks what the tentative relationship among variables might be, or it asks about the state of nature of some pheno menon (Keyton, 2006). On the other hand, a research design can be viewed as somewhat like a master plan. It stipulates the methods and procedures that are to be adopted for collecting and analysing the necessary information for the research (Zikmund & Babin, 2007). A different perspective of research design was presented by Zikumnd & Babin (2007) – that the research design is somewhat like a master plan, which specifies the methods and procedures to be adopted for collecting and analysing the required information. The research problem Considering these definitions, the present work proceeds to develop a research question for a quantitative study on the relationship between one dependent variable ‘wage’ and three independent variables - (1) educational attainment, (2) skill (professional qualification) and (3) ability (experience). A variable is an element that is specifically identified in the research hypotheses or questions, necessitating to be expressed as mor e than one value or in various categories (Keyton, 2006). It is common wisdom that education benefits the individual, the nation and the society as well in many ways. While, the individual is benefitted in the form of increase wages and consequently a better lifestyle; the nation is benefitted in terms of increased taxes. The society too is benefitted as researchers have observed that college graduates have shown to have lower smoking rates, more positive perception towards personal health, and healthier lifestyles than the less educated (Baum & Ma, 2007). Overall the society is benefitted in the form of more responsible citizens, which is believed to be due to educational achievement. Whereas, these benefits generally delineate the qualitative characteristics of the issue, there is a need to know how educational attainment, professional qualification and experience influence the wages earned by an individual. The research question The study is significant and desirable and therefor e, it is worthwhile to undertake a research on the subject. Accordingly, the purpose of the study was to explore the correlation between

Zara Clothing - Available Strategic Options and Methods of Essay

Zara Clothing - Available Strategic Options and Methods of Implementation - Essay Example The paper describes the key organizational strategy of the company which revolves around responding swiftly to customer demands. Zara identifies trends and delivers products to customers through its proficient value chain model as well as its autonomously planned structure. This model of business has been quite effortlessly maintained; causing the company’s executives to disregard any thoughts of change for the near future. Moreover, one of Zara’s biggest problems is in updating its approaches towards online sales. Upgrading the current system will contribute towards increasing the networking as well as functionality abilities of the fashion house. This will bring about additional improvements to Zara’s operational functions such as improved inventory replenishment and customer demand forecasting. Investing in new technology will provide Zara with the capacity to be a trend-setter in the fashion industry. A new and technologically improved system would permit rea l-time inventory management. This would contribute to the enhancement of the service level and increase the cross-selling functions between stores, thus giving better service to the targeted consumers. Zara’s other major challenge lies in containing its huge maintenance expenses. The main challenge that the firm may have to face in adapting to a technologically improved system would be in purchasing a readymade system or creating it. As the need for the new system is not immediate, creating an in-house system may be the financially responsible option. However, due to the lack of present workers who are skilled in this subject, purchasing the necessary software is the ideal

The Progressive Presidents Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Progressive Presidents - Research Paper Example Although they had different principles, they had common goals that were to make changes for the improved welfare of the people. As a result, Wilson turned out to be the ‘better’ progressive president while Roosevelt became a representative of the common people (Holmes, 2013). Although both presidents were progressive, they shared different dreams for America’s future. The disparity in priorities and perspectives were evident in their public speeches. Wilson’s speeches were centered on New Freedom while Roosevelt’s speeches focused on New Nationalism (Holmes, 2013). Wilson’s New Freedom facilitated the destruction of trusts to enhance economic competition and ensured survival of small businesses. The federal government used its powers to put an end to all trusts and they were to play a minimal role in regulating businesses thereby any regulation was left in the hands of state governments (Holmes, 2013). On the contrary, Roosevelt’s New N ationalism made way for a greater role for the president and the federal government in dealing with abuses of corporate power and regulation of the economy. New Nationalism and New Freedom differed in their views of the federal government power. Roosevelt wanted to use this power while Wilson did not. Roosevelt’s ‘square deal’ brought back the role of the government as the overseer of activities that took place in the country. His main accomplishment was putting an end to ‘trust busting’ that attacked all corrupt industry companies that had created monopolies in their respective industries. This power was vested upon him by the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 although it was not heavily enforced (Holmes, 2013). He went ahead to attack some of the well established ventures under the accusations that they were practicing unfair business practices and this allowed fair competition. This strengthened the economy and resulted to strong economic growth and h ealthy competition in prices. The other major reform was in railroad regulations. The Hepburn Railway Act gave Roosevelt the power to regulate railroads. This principle helped railroads affordable for those who were financially unstable (Napolitano, 2012). His contribution was also notable in the sphere of the Pure Food and Drug Act and in creation of national parks that improved the comfort of the American people. Roosevelt was a Republican and this was evident in his policies (American Experience, n. d. a). When Wilson entered office, he had similar views with Roosevelt but wanted to accomplish them in a different way. As a Democrat, he reduced taxes by putting in place the Underwood Tariff Act the minimized the impact of trust in those sectors of the economy and increased competition in the economy (American Experience, n. d. b). He set up the Federal Reserve Act that was the national banking system that was not predisposed to economic pressures. This led to the ultimate control of huge ventures to the hands of the government. He established the Federal Trade Commission that investigated companies not complying with Sherman Antitrust Act (Napolitano, 2012). This process was free and fair as companies who felt that were being discriminated against could make a plea in the Supreme Court. This was a constitutional method that enabled a judicial review and it meant that the fate of companies was not left in the hands of a few individuals. Roosevelt

Should private schools be banned Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Should private schools be banned - Essay Example It therefore seems so from these arguments that in today’s world, education has been used to perpetrate inequality and division of social classes based on economic status because of the existence of higher education meant for the rich and wealthy in the society. Those calling for the closure of private schools believe in the fact that the current education systems institutionalises inequality and unfair treatment of education seekers just because they can’t afford the high cost of private institutions. It is interesting to note that out of the total number of school going children about 90% attend public schools while 10% attend private schools (Caldwell, 2008). Those who attend public schools have the potential of better performance as compared to their public counterparts contributing a larger percentage of students who qualify for university education in leading universities such as Cambridge and oxford. This is the highest degree of inequality as it implies that tho se who will eventually qualify for top positions in industry are those who hail from wealthy families who parents were able to sponsor their education on very expensive private institutions. In addition to this fact, the current society is typical of what can be termed as cultural capitalism and social shutting where the wealthy and privileged give their children gigantic advantages whereas the poor ones struggle in poorly managed and funded systems where only the lucky ones strive for excellence. The survival is typically of the law of the jungle where the fit survive and the weak succumb to academic death. It is vital to stress the need for all to give every child... Thi essay approves that it is in the view of this discussion that private schools tends to widen the gap between the haves and the not haves. This is because private schools exist and continues to provide better education than public schools owing to the fact those who educate children in the schools pay huge amounts of money as fees. This may not be possible for middle and low income earners as a result natural selection occurs where rich families get the opportunity to educate their young ones in private schools while the poor do not. In addition, such schools would present conditions for better performance against the state owned schools owing to their ability to employ and motivate qualified teachers, provide basic facilities and sizable classes. This report makes a conclusion that if all private schools were banned, it would give the rich an incentive to fund state owned ones since their children will to be attending alongside children from poor backgrounds. This will be a fairer way to deal with the rising difference between the rich and the poor. On the contrary, some argue that private schools offers impeccable education which may not be possible to access in state owned schools where there is limited access to resources, support persons and facilities. This is a fact that is discredited by failure by the government to fund state owned schools to the level of private schools. Therefore, it is justifiable to say that private schools should be banned. This is because private school is a major impediment to equity and valuable education for all.

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Research Paper Example T. S. Eliot once wrote about the nature of writing and that in the act of writing, the past and the present merge. Gaiman creates worlds in which the past and the present come together in order to examine modern life in relationship to those belief systems that have come before and have influences on the present. Without the use of past texts in order to create his fantastical works, Gaiman’s work would not connect on the level that it currently does and not have the essence of human existence that is reflected in his work. Influence One of the things a good reader will notice about well written fiction is that it is founded on influences that are highly recognizable and filled with wonder that extends the work rather than burdening it with the words of others. Sometimes popular fiction will suddenly make a reference that has little meaning but adds a bit of pop culture flavor to the writing. This does not always enhance the writing, but will sometimes burden the reader as the y try to decide what the author means and why it was necessary to increase the value of the writing. In the case of a really good writer, however, references from all time periods will flow into the work, creating depth and meaning that expands upon the writing rather than weighting it down. This is the skill with which Neil Gaiman delights his readers. Gaiman uses mythologies in order to expand the universes in which he places his stories. By referencing the worlds of ancient texts, he is enriching his work while giving it a very modern sense of the mythical world. The questions that are asked by using these worlds are answered through modernized prose in which vernacular language and modernized events are connected to aspects of the myths that he is using to enrich his work. Much of what is reflected in his work comes from Greek myths. The sense of multiple gods and complex mythologies, combined with emotions that are translated into the actions of those representing god-like mani festations provides an interesting backdrop to the work he creates. T. S. Elliot worked as an unassuming bank clerk by day, but by night was forging literary greatness as he created works that have inspired generations. Bloom writes that â€Å"Elliot’s aim was to compose an extended collection of poems that would denounce modern civilization and capture the disillusionment of his postwar generation† (Bloom 4). In discussing literature, the following quote can be attributed to him: Tradition is a matter of much wider significance. It cannot be inherited, and if you want it you must obtain it by great labour. It involves, in the first place, the historical sense, which we may call nearly indispensable to anyone who would continue to be a poet beyond his twenty-fifth year; and the historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence; the historical sense compels a man to write not merely with his own generation in his bones, bu t with a feeling that the whole of the literature of Europe from Homer and within it the whole of the literature of his own country has a simultaneous existence and composes a simultaneous order (Eliot and Kermode 38). In a way, Eliot was commenting on the nature of time in that it is not so much a linear concept, but a loop in which all things of the past are present in how life is conducted. What was written in the past influences how what is written today manifests. Without mythologies of the past, the present has no real depth. A

Latin America Essay Example for Free

Latin America Essay 1. Within Middle America, geographers recognize the contrast (cultural, economic, and historical) between the isthmus and the Caribbean islands. Describe the diagnostic characteristics of the Mainland and Rimland regions of Middle America. Middle America includes approximately 7,000 Caribbean islands with hot, humid, and tropical climates; and is an isthmus (land bridge) between the north and South America. The four larger islands are called the Greater Antilles and the smaller islands are the Lesser Antilles (Archipelago). Sometimes middle and South America is referred to as â€Å"Latin America. † The realm is physically and politically fragmented. It began with the lowland Mayans and the highland Aztecs until the cultures collided. The Aztecs developed irrigation systems and were great pioneers of agricultural sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beans, and tobacco. When the Spanish first arrived in Middle America they joined forces with the Amerindians and attacked the Aztecs. This attack affected Middle America badly. The Spanish brought diseases with them, such as measles, smallpox, mumps, and many more causing their population to decline drastically. They also experienced things like changes in religion and deforestation, as well as other significant long lasting effects. Middle America is culturally diverse. The â€Å"euro-Amerindian† mainland is composed of Amerindians, mestizos (Indian and European), and Europeans. The â€Å"euro-African Caribbean† Rimland is compiled with Hispanics, blacks, mulattos (African), British, Dutch, and French. Some geographers may argue that the environment of ‘Middle America is among the world’s most hazardous environments’ and natural hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The characteristics for the mainland and Rimland are very specific. The mainland is highly isolated while the Rimland is highly accessible. The mainland climate is considered altitudinal zonation and the Rimland is tropical. The Rimland consists of islands, but mountains are found on the mainland. Mestizo is the race of the mainland and mulatto is of the Rimland. The landholding platform of the mainland is haciendas prevailed, whereas on the Rimland a plantation economy (an export crop for sugar cane and bananas). The hacienda provided year round jobs, domestic markets, diversified crops, and was self-sufficient. The plantation economy provided single cash crop, production for export, seasonal employment, and â€Å"banana† republics. These are all diagnostic characteristics of the Mainland and Rimland regions of Middle America. 2. What are the pros and cons of tourism in the Caribbean Islands? Tourism by definition is â€Å"the processes, activities and outcomes arising from the relationships and the interactions among tourists, tourism suppliers, host government, host communities and surrounding environments that are involved in the attracting and hosting of visitors. † The Caribbean is the most densely populated region of Middle America. Although agriculture was an important part of the region’s economic expansion, today tourism, industrialization, and banking are the major sources of development. An economic con of tourism in the Caribbean is that the islands are becoming more and more dependent of tourism. Most of their monies collected from tourism will eventually go to a foreign investor that involves tourism, such as a hotel owner, transportation companies, etc. , because the economy is based on exports, offshore banking, and manufacturing. Foreigners are large consumers of luxury goods on the Caribbean islands. Locals may find that as a con, because beaches and such are being destroyed to make room for tourist structures such as shopping centers and/or hotels. Therefore, causing a great divide in wages of a management worker compared to a minimum basic worker. Due to tourists consumption of seafood, water, electricity, and supplies this could cause a price increase for the locals and/or shortage of these things as well. On a social stand point, a con would be the criminal sector of tourism. Drugs, sex trafficking, and prostitution are all unregulated criminal acts that take place while touring. Locals may also feel â€Å"invaded† by the high amount of tourist that explore their communities, making them angry or resentful of the tourist. More cons of tourism include: free spending, no chances for local entrepreneurs, bad manners, rich mingling with the poor, and debase of local culture to tourist culture. A few pros to consider of tourism are, the more tourist structures they may build are the potential opportunities to create more service and management related jobs for the locals. This also allows them to earn foreign exchange. On a social stand point, Caribbean culture may be more appreciated and understood once a foreigner visits the islands. Typically foreigners like to explore and take excursions on the mainland once arriving on the islands, therefore this gives local citizens reason to keep their island and historical sites renovated and maintained, whereas they may have not, had they not had visitors tour those sites often. Cultural events/festivals are developed because a large number of foreigners participate. More pros of tourism include: creating more service jobs, promotion of urban development, becoming major dollar revenue, and it promotes handicraft business. Tourism in general is complex, and perhaps many would argue that tourism is a â€Å"good thing†, I would say that it is on the verge of being a â€Å"bad thing† for the Caribbean islands. In my opinion, for the locals, the cons heavily outweigh the pros on an economic and social level. 3. In the Amazonia, Brazil what is being forecast as a pending environmental and cultural disaster. How is this occurring and what would be the consequence? Brazil is on the rise to an economic and cultural decline and is no longer considered the ‘country of the future. ’ Brazil is the fifth largest country and Portuguese is the language spoken there. Its culture is very diverse and consists of Native Americans, Portuguese, and Africans. In 2010, Brazil had a 7. 5% country economy growth, but dropped drastically to only 2. 7% this past year. For the past ten years Brazil had seemed to be â€Å"on a roll† as an agricultural superpower when in the Atlantic Ocean, they discovered massive oil reserves. Brazil’s diplomacy became more aggressive, and they even paid off all debts to the International Monetary Fund. With their government changes and economic success they had helped millions of citizens come out of poverty. The saying â€Å"what goes up, must come down† has became true for the economy of Brazil. With the countries improvements, they are now facing ‘real world realities’ such as illegal immigration because of people coming into their country wanting jobs. Some critics argue that â€Å"Brazil is lucky to have China waiting in the wings, hungry for its commodities and natural resources. † In the Amazonia, Brazil had 6-9 million indigenous people before 1500; today they have less than 200,000 remaining. With environmental and cultural decline, come many consequences. Culturally, Brazil has the world’s largest Catholic population, but since the recent census, that is also in decline. Economically, the reduced flow of money into the country and the demanded exports of Brazil weakened which is very logical and doesn’t need much explanation. If their exports are no longer in demand, then the obvious consequence is a reduced inflow of consumer monies. This in my opinion would be the biggest hit for Brazil and the leading consequence of their â€Å"disaster. † I personally could not find many scholarly articles discussing Brazil’s decline economically or culturally. Surprisingly, I found more articles talking about the rise and growth of the two. It is also my opinion that in order to â€Å"fix† these problems, tourism is a key factor for Brazil right now. I know in lecture we discussed within the Amazon the importance of rubber, gold, oil, and deforestation to Brazil, and I am certain all of those things would be affected, but I couldn’t find many articles with facts to back that up. With that being said, I think many countries all have and/or will experience â€Å"waves† of decline. Most every country experiences these â€Å"disasters† it is what makes the world go round.

The Human Rights Regime Human Rights Essay

The Human Rights Regime Human Rights Essay While the idea of human rights may have a discernible homogeneity, perhaps derived from some kind of natural law theory or social theory, it is nonetheless clear that the implementation of these rights by states lacks a corresponding identity. Davidsons (1993, p.89) analysis of the concept of human rights highlights the chief difficulty that has faced the past generation of human rights regime, namely that it is an international problem that cannot be efficiently policed and guarded against by state law alone. The ubiquitous problem of definition only makes it easier for offending companies or nations to claim that their crimes do not officially come within the official realm of human rights. The current statecentric definition of human rights therefore facilitates evasive tactics and succeeds only in diminishing the significance of the issue on the eyes of statesmen and policy makers. To best tackle the dual problem within the title of this essay we first need to attempt to define the modern human rights regime, place it in its contemporary political context and evaluate its primary obstacles. Then we need to analyse the role of multinational corporations to evaluate in what ways these pose a problem to the human rights regime, posing the question of how these ubiquitous forces can be made accountable for their overseas empires. And finally we will examine the question of whether or not a new generation of human rights activity and organisation is required. The United Nations Charter (1948) is the vehicle for the international ideal of human rights, law and democracy. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (2000, p.82) sets out a modern definition and has served as the blueprint by which all subsequent interpretations have been measured. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. The phraseology is famous for its humanitariancentric ideology but herein lays the problem of the human rights issue within the broader international agenda. In political philosophy, the spirit of the Universal Declaration and subsequent treaties such as the Vienna Convention (1993) are inherently left of centre and imply a cooperative understanding and information exchange between modern states, east and west, north and south that is modelled on broadly socialist ideals. Yet, inevitably, the feeling of responsibility towards all oppressed people of the world, that was a legacy of the horrors of World War II, quickly dissipated. As history has taught us time and again, domestic economic and political concerns soon superseded human rights at the top of the international relations agenda and it is within such an environment that the modern human rights regime must currently work. The postwar international political situation has been exacerbated in recent times by the advent of globalisation as a political and economic reality. The Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1997) details the enormous change that globalisation has meant to the lives of millions of people across the globe. Since the Limburg Principles were adopted in 1986, the economic and social conditions have declined at alarming rates for over 1.6 billion people, while they have advanced also at a dramatic pace for more than a quarter of the worlds population. The gap between rich and poor has doubled in the last three decades, with the poorest fifth of the worlds population receiving 1.4% of the global income and the richest 85%. The impact of these disparities on the lives of people especially the poor is dramatic and renders the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights illusory for a significant portion of humanity. It naturally follows that many human rights lobbyists are also opponents of globalisation, in which they see the conduit through which further human rights abuses will be facilitated as the gulf between the rich and poor of the world continues to widen. And because the concept of globalisation relies heavily on the dynamics of transnational corporations it does not take a great leap in deduction to imagine that human rights abuses will slip further away from the top of the western political agenda if the west continues on its current economic and political course of action. The issue of the increased social and political role of transnational corporations (TNCs), as Jochnick (1999, pp.5679) testifies, is a major problem for the enforcement of the human rights agenda. Most developing countries face TNCs with revenues many times larger than their domestic economies. TNCs account for almost half of the top one hundred economies in the world, and a mere two hundred of them are estimated to control a quarter of the worlds productive assets. Grouped together in trade associations with the active support of their home countries, TNCs exercise an inordinate influence over local law and policies. Their impact on human rights ranges from a direct role in violations, such as abuses of employees or the environment, to indirect support of governments guilty of widespread oppression. The argument to limit the scope of TNCs has been prevalent for the past thirty years. In 1974 the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States declared in Article 2 (b) that, each state has the right to regulate and supervise the activities of transnational corporations within its national jurisdiction and take measures to ensure that such activities comply with its law, rules and regulations and conform with its economic and social policies. While the political reality of human rights abuses has altered little due to the above statement and indeed the increased focus on human rights in general, its existence as an ideal and a manifestation of consensus amongst the generation of drafters makes it an important and relevant document for the next generation of human rights activists. In 2003, for instance, the Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regards to Human Rights defined human rights and transnational companies in a bi d to clarify the ambiguities that have existed since 1945. It also specified areas of negligence such as the treatment of children and the provision for providing adequate food and drink for the workforce. This document underscores the continuing strive to hold multinationals to account but it likewise poses as many questions as it answers. Although the accountability of transnational corporations is a commendable course of action it is fraught with problems of perspective. The main theory posited against the legal extension of human rights violations to include TNCs is that multinational corporations are private entities and should not have the same restrictions such as those imposed upon states. TNCs should, from this viewpoint, be responsible only for the proper conduct of their business and should not have to interfere in broader social issues, which ought to come within the jurisdiction of the local national government or the UN. At this point we need to examine the intricacies of the traditional multinational corporation so as to determine the necessity for an increased net of surveillance. Nike is probably the incarnation of a major multinational corporation within the bounds of this discussion. Since the Reagan administration there has been consistent questioning of the role of Nike in Third World countries with particular emphasis on the growing divide between the companys turnover and the lifestyle of the workers in countries such as Indonesia, where many of the firms manufacturing plants are in operation. The specific problem of corporate responsibility for multinationals such as Nike is explained in detail by Daniel Litvin (2003, p.228). The American multinational does not actually own the facilities producing its sports gear around the world; rather, it contracts out its manufacturing to other firms. And it has tried to respond to western criticism over its alleged sweatshop production by setting up numerous systems for monitoring labour practices in these factories, largely involving visit and inspections by outsiders. But just as Cecil Rhodes British South Africa Company seriously misunderstood the cultural dynamics of the indigenous societies of South Africa, and just as Aramco, for all its efforts, found it difficult to predict changes within Saudi society, so Nike has been struggling to track the conditions in its factories. Within the case study of Nike is a problem that affects the entire human rights corporate agenda. Although multinational companies are registered in western countries, much of the grass roots level abuses occur outside of the scope of the executive branch. Clearly human rights lobbyists will state that Nike and other TNCs in its position ought to ensure a more durable form of internal communication but, legally speaking, the fact that the manufacturing is subcontracted shifts corporate responsibility away from the multinational and only creates more legal and political issues for the human rights regime. There clearly is a need for a new generation of human rights regime, one that is not so inherently statecentric in its analysis of the issue. Because of the economic and political climate of dominant western powers, which we have already outlined, much of the work of human rights bodies must take place within the confines of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). Unlike national governments, who have to deal with a perpetually shifting social agenda, NGOs can dedicate their time and resources to the achievement of individual, secular goals. The work done by human rights NGOs is various and diverse. Much of their remit involves carrying out some form of information gathering and fact finding activities. Furthermore, nonstate parties have learnt, from the conflicts in Africa and Central and Southern America, that networking between organisations is the best way to achieve homogeneity against statesponsored and corporate oppression. As a result, NGOs have helped bring to the attention of the world media human rights abuses that might otherwise have continued undetected. But this is not an end in itself; it is merely a means to an as yet undecipherable end, as highlighted by Hegarty and Leonard (1999, p.283). There is some evidence that overt monitoring by NGOs deters states from committing abuses. But, there are many places in the world where overt monitoring is not possible, and there are many governments that seem able to dismiss easily United Nations criticism of their human rights record. The influence of nongovernmental organisations therefore remains cultural rather than institutional or organisational and there are definite limits to the reach that they have in international relations. Conclusion Human rights, as a creed, are inexorably tied with the political and economic concerns of the west and its programme of globalisation. It thus follows naturally that many of the arguments for and against the role of multinational corporations within the ongoing debate are politically motivated. For example, many of the voices of dissent against TNCs contain the same voices of opposition against globalisation; ditto for supporters of globalisation who seek to cover up the core business excesses of multinationals. We must therefore be aware of hidden agendas and political rhetoric and recognise this as a major obstacle to the advancement of human rights at the beginning of the twentyfirst century. The statecentricity of the contemporary human rights regime has resulted in the suffocation of a social force that would otherwise surely have made more strident inroads into curtailing the power of multinational companies. However, the increased communication and network strategies of nonstate actors has resulted in a more united human rights regime with greater authority in the state political sphere. The future challenge is for the next generation of human rights regime to resist the inevitable challenge of the worlds economic elite, who will naturally fight against all attempts to narrow perceptions of human rights, and to bring multinational corporations to account for their overseas capitalist practices. BIBLIOGRAPHY S. Davidson, Human Rights: First Edition (Open University Press; Buckingham, 1993) D. Forsyth, Human Rights in International Relations (Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, 2000) C. Gearty, Principles of Human Rights Adjudication (Oxford University Press; Oxford, 2004) A. Hegarty S. Leonard (Edtd.), Human Rights: an Agenda for the TwentyFirst Century (Cavendish; London, 1999) M.T. Kamminga F. Coomans (Edtd.), Extraterritorial Application of Human Rights Treaties (Intersentia; Antwerp Oxford, 2004) D. Litvin, Empires of Profit: Commerce, Conquest and Corporate Responsibility (Texere; New York London, 2003) J.W. Nickel, Making Sense of Human Rights: Philosophical Reflections on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (University of California; Berkeley, 1987) C. Ovey R.C.A. White, Jacobs and White: European Convention on Human Rights: Third Edition (Oxford University Press; Oxford, 2002) P. Plowden K. Kerrigan, Advocacy and Human Rights: Using the Convention in Courts and Tribunals (Cavendish; London, 2002) G. Teubner (Edtd.), Global Law without a State (Dartmouth; Aldershot, 1997) Human Rights in International Law, Collected Texts: Second Edition (Council of Europe Publishing; Strasbourg, 2000) International Treaties and Documents Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States; GA Res. 3281(xxix), UN GAOR, 29th Sess., Supp. No. 31 (1974) 50 The Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Maastricht; January 2226, 1997) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), in, Human Rights in International Law, Collected Texts: Second Edition (Council of Europe Publishing; Strasbourg, 2000) Selected Articles and Journals C. Jochnick, Confronting the Impunity of NonState Actors: New Fields for the Promotion of Human Rights, in, Human Rights Quarterly, Volume 21, Number 1 (February 1999) L. Wiseberg, Protecting Human Rights Activists and NGOs, in, Human Rights Quarterly, Volume 13, Number 525 (November 1999)

Unemployment in the UAE: Causes and Effects

Unemployment in the UAE: Causes and Effects Table of Contents (Jump to) Analyze the reasons and effect of the unemployment suggest an applicable solutions to cope these problems Evaluate the advantage and disadvantages monetary policy being implement in the chosen country Advantages Disadvantages Monetary policy Find out and explain the effectiveness how to use it to fix unemployment . Monetary Policy: Whats the Most Cost Effective Unemployment Solution?: Using Solutions: Unemployment Benefits: Monetary Policy Risks: 1. Analyze the reasons and effect of the unemployment suggest an applicable solutions to cope these problems Generally because of their oil riches, the economies of the GCC nations have passed through real budgetary and social progressions throughout the previous decades that incorporate the investment blast of the 1970s and early 1980s and the bust of the late 1980s and 1990s. Emulating the sharp build in worldwide oil costs in the 1970s and early 1980s, the dominant presences in these nations reused the windfall oil picks up through liberal welfare framework, and a huge open financing program in foundation, utilities, and essential businesses. In coupled with these arrangements, governments assumed the part of first business resort which inevitably prompted congestion open part and expanded government consumptions on pay rates (Forstenlechner, Rutledge, 2010). Specifically, the administrations of the GCC urged locals to join general society part by offering profits bundles as appealing annuity and social stipends for companions and kids and financed the procurement of lodging, educating whats more wellbeing and essential customer items. Underlying open segment business and pay structures is the social contract of the GCC nations which prompted the grouping of more than 85% of local laborers openly vocation and which, accepted, brought about their underemployment. Generally, broad subsidies that were the impetuses of the social contract made an salary impact that appear to have had a general public wide impact on recreation designs in light of the fact that of social multiplier where the comes back to relaxation builds as more individuals are meeting expectations shorter hours and taking longer vacations (Forstenlechner, Rutledge, 2010).3 In parallel, GCC governments sought after open outskirt arrangements to outside specialists, guaranteeing sufficient supply of work at focused compensation at all ability levels. According to Sherif, (2013)The reservation wages of remote specialists reflecting their normal income in their nation of origin, balanced for commitment to transmit family help also put something aside for speculation in their nation of origin are much lower than the reservation compensation of the nationals at tantamount aptitudes. The double destinations of vigorously sponsoring local wages and livelihood, as a component of the social contract, and seeking after open-fringe work imports arrangements keeping in mind the end goal to keep up aggressiveness prompted the formation of a portioned work markets where locals bunch in the general population area whose profit level is moment and work hours are short while the additionally requesting occupations were left to outside laborers in the private area of the economy that paid significantly lower compensation and requested noticeably more hours (Sherif, 2013). 2. Evaluate the advantage and disadvantages monetary policy being implement in the chosen country Advantages The following is the arrangement of favorable circumstances of the Emiratisation: It adds to the development and manageability of the organizations and makers when they need to depend vigorously on the nearby inhabitants of the nation. The UAE society will be pushed and spread. It backings and helps the development and learning of the UAE nationals for the advancement and profits of the human capital improvement. Disadvantages The real detriment of the Emiratization is the constrained dependence on the livelihood of the UAE nationals (Elasrag, 2014). The private segment is as of now lingering behind general society division and the UAE national are not eager to work in the private part. Monetary policy The Government of the UAE utilizes a dynamic expansionary money related arrangement that is devoted to developing the economy and creating the fancied investment objectives of stable costs, low unemployment and high and managed budgetary development as confirmation by the article gave Dubai plots come back to credit markets. Dubai wants to offer more securities with a specific end goal to fund a more different budgetary method. With more cash under control, Dubai will push ahead with arrangements to expand genuine GDP by expanding government using on things, for example, base and ventures in the flight market. This is a methodology that is in lock-venture with governments’ monetary strategy to attain the three economic objectives. While the objective continues as before, the suggestions are more serious and conceivably more tragic. Likewise with financial arrangement, we pick up a finer understanding of how this could conceivably impact the three monetary objectives by dichoto mizing the subject into Hands-on (active) monetary approach, or Hands-off (free market) fiscal strategy. Once more, it is comprehended that the Hands-off financial arrangement generally implies next to zero government intercession which is at last a disagreement of fiscal approach (Elasrag, 2014). Purchase offering securities the UAE is expressing certainly that it accepts that by acquiring the money and issuing the security to the buyer at a certain premium rate, it can transform around and put the money into the channels it sees fit, whether this is base or flight, and afterward payback the obligation when the venture turns beneficial. The arrangement faces numerous possibilities and blocks on the capability of the UAE further bolstering take full good fortune by giving the trade something to do in for cold hard currency the most productive way that could be available, and if history is any marker Dubais track record of dangerous wagers is not a beyond any doubt thing. In any case, the results will without a doubt be higher of GDP because of dynamic Hands-on money related arrangement (Elasrag, 2014). A Hands-off money related approach would, basically, oblige that no obligation be issued, rather sufficient money to put would need to be actually under control before forward movement could start on any venture, paying little respect to how gainful the speculation is regarded to be. This out of date idea of looking before you jump appears to be falling further antiquated with each security issued In a Hands-off business sector economy, executing fiscal strategy to attain specific results, for instance changing the cash supply by offering more government issued securities to accomplish higher yield of GDP, is viewed as terrible cash administration and in opposition to the thought of Hands-off trading and lending (Driouchi, 2014). To streamline the viewpoint lets envision the UAE is a little family crew. Would it be sound approach for a house that is stretched out beyond their intends to take part in additionally getting with a specific end goal to accomplish a higher expectation for everyday life? Regardless of the fact that the objective is thought to be a build of the families general salary, the danger of selling your future could have unintended consequences that are sweeping and generational. The UAE could never be confounded with a little family, with unlimited future riches originating from a seeming less unending supply of oil. By utilizing the Hands-on hypothesis, Dubai will offer government issued bonds and utilize the money to manufacture streets and landing strips, giving its subjects something to do immediately, successfully keeping unemployment low and GDP high (Driouchi, 2014). 3. Find Out and Explain the Effectiveness How To Use It to Fix Unemployment The answer for unemployment is, clearly, to make new occupations. Normally, a solid financial development rate of 2-3% is sufficient to make the 150,000 new occupations required to keep unemployment from climbing. At the point when unemployment crawls over 6-7% and stays there, it implies the economy isnt solid enough to make sufficient new employments without help. That is the point at which the legislature is required to venture in and give results. See what the legislature has attempted in the past with Unemployment Rate by Year (Raven, 2011). Money related Policy: The result utilized first to address managed high unemployment is fiscal boost from the Federal Reserve. Sweeping financial approach is effective, snappy and typically compelling. Lower investment rates permit families to acquire all the more affordably to purchase what they need, in the same way as autos, homes and buyer hardware. This invigorates enough request to return the economy on track. Low investment rates likewise permit organizations to get for less, providing for them the funding to contract new laborers to take care of climbing demand. Monetary Policy: Nonetheless, when fiscal approach doesnt work, then monetary arrangement is normally requested. This method the administration should either slice charges or build using to invigorate the economy (Raven, 2011). Monetary arrangement is typically slower to begin, since Congress and the President must concur on what ought to be carried out. Nonetheless, it could be more compelling once executed. It additionally gives much- required certainty that the administration will empower the economy and things will improve. Certainty is a significant element in persuading individuals to use now for a superior future. Cutting charges has a comparative, however much more straightforward, impact as lower investment rates. It gives purchasers more cash to use, expanding interest. It additionally cuts costs for organizations, which can utilize the money to contribute within their business and contract more laborers. Government using normally takes the manifestation of occupations projects, where the legislature employs laborers and organizations straightforwardly to fabricate things or give administrations (Raven, 2011). This demonstrations like a tax break, by giving shoppers the money they have to purchase more items. Whats the Most Cost Effective Unemployment Solution? Nonetheless, not all financial approach results are made equivalent. Dollar for dollar, whats the best financing that makes the most occupations? A few examination studies indicate that the most savvy result is giving development occupations to, of all things, mass travel. The following most practical is unemployment profits and the third best occupations supplier is financing instruction. Tax reductions, whether payroll or no matters how you look at it pay assessment, are less powerful (Forstenlechner, Rutledge, 2010). Whats the slightest viable occupations maker? Safeguard using. Here’s Tax Cuts: As indicated by a U Mass/Amherst study, the most well known financial jolt, in all cases wage tax breaks, is not the savviest. One billion dollars in cuts made 10,779 employments, in light of the fact that just a large portion of the cash ($505 million) specialists accepted was used. The rest was spared or used to pay down obligations. (Source: Umass/Amherst, Robert Pollin and Heidi Garrett-Peltier, Department of Economics and Political Economy Research Institute, The Employment Effects of Military and Domestic Spending Priorities, October 2007) (Forstenlechner, Rutledge, 2010). Its more practical to give organizations payroll tax breaks. A study by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that each $1 billion in payroll charge alleviation made 13,000 new employments. The best place to give business charge easing is with little organizations, which are the key driver for 65% of all new employments (Forstenlechner, Rutledge, 2010). (Source: CBO, The Economic Outlook and Fiscal Policy Choices, September 28, 2010) Using Solutions: The U Mass/Amherst specialists found that subsidizing mass travel gives the most value for the money. One billion dollars used makes 19,795 development occupations. An alternate practical result is using on training. One billion used employing instructors makes 17,687 occupations. It has the extra profit of including an extra $1.3 billion into the economy, as all the more exceedingly taught individuals improve employments on their own, and can purchase more things with the higher wages they acquire. The slightest savvy in occupations creation is military using, which just makes 8,555 for the same financing (Sherif, 2013). That is on account of its more capital serious, as advanced barrier depends all the more on automatons, F-16s, and plane carrying warships than infantry. Unemployment Benefits: Beside open works ventures, the second savviest utilization of government stores is giving profits to the unemployed. The CBO study discovered 19,000 occupations are made for each $1 billion in profits. That is on account of the unemployed are well on the way to use each dime they get on the rudiments, in the same way as basic needs, garments and lodging. This drives retailers and producers to contract more individuals to take care of the extra demand. The other preference of unemployment profits is it is quick. The legislature simply composes a check, which promptly goes into the economy. Open works undertakings can take a while to get actualized. For additional, see why Extended Unemployment benefits are the best way to boost the Economy (Elasrag, 2014). Monetary Policy Risks: The downside of monetary strategy is it can add to the financial backing deficiency, making more government obligation. As obligation methodologies 100% of the economys aggregate yield, it can really abate monetary development. That is on account of moguls lose interest for that legislatures obligation, which makes investment rates ascent, expanding the expense of getting. Then again, backers of supply-side matters of trade and profit say that, about whether, the economy will be helped so much that it will make up the lost expense income. All answers for decrease unemployment must make interest to invigorate the economy (Driouchi, 2014). For additional, see Job Creation: Ideas, Statistics and Creation by President. References Forstenlechner, I., Rutledge, E. (2010). Unemployment in the Gulf: time to update the â€Å"social contract†.Middle East Policy,17(2), 38-51. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-4967.2010.00437.x/abstract;jsessionid=319D805ACF3FAE59970D9F3599158EF3.f04t02?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=userIsAuthenticated=false Sherif, S. (2013). Macroeconomic policy, localization and reducing unemployment: The crucial human resource issues for the UAE.Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal incorporating Journal of Global Competitiveness,23(2), 158-174. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=17084231show=abstract Elasrag, H. (2014). Ø §ÃƒËœÃ‚ ´Ãƒâ„¢Ã†â€™ÃƒËœÃ‚ §Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒâ„¢Ã…  ÃƒËœÃ‚ © Ø §Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¨ÃƒËœÃ‚ ·ÃƒËœÃ‚ §Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ÃƒËœÃ‚ © Ù Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬ ° Ø ¯Ãƒâ„¢Ã‹â€ Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ Ù†¦ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ÃƒËœÃ‚ ³ Ø §Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ÃƒËœÃ‚ ªÃƒËœÃ‚ ¹ÃƒËœÃ‚ §Ãƒâ„¢Ã‹â€ Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬   Ø §Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾ÃƒËœÃ‚ ®Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒâ„¢Ã…  ÃƒËœÃ‚ ¬Ãƒâ„¢Ã…   (Unemployment and Job Creation in the GCC Countries).Available at SSRN 2411584. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2411584 Driouchi, A. (2014). Unemployment Persistence Risks of Skill Obsolescence in Arab Countries. http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/53793/ Raven, J. (2011). Emiratizing the education sector in the UAE: contextualization and challenges.Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues,4(2), 134-141. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1926573show=abstract

Essay --

Discuss the social psychological approach in psychology and identify the kinds of questions that social psychologists attempt to answer. This essay will study what social psychology actually is and the debates within the field as well as the history and origins of social psychology. In addition to this it will then continue and look at what they study within this field and what types of questions to ask and what results they gain from this. The question of what social psychology actually is, is not something that is easy to answer as it has been regarded as a diverse and fragmented discipline that is divided by the battle between experimental and critical social psychology. This is based on whether it should be a science or not, the ideology and what constitutes the social world (Rogers,). It is regarded as an umbrella discipline in which many sub-disciplines sit under including biological, clinical and organisational. (Myers,) Many social psychologists argue that social psychology is a scientific study that investigates how others influence thoughts, behaviour and feeling (Hogg & Vaughan,). Theses are the experimental psychologists who try to find a cause effect relationship between two variables by testing hypotheses, whilst ensuring that all variables are operationalized in order to gain results that are valid and there are no confounding variables. They do this whilst in a controlled laboratory environment ensuring that no other factors could play a part and act as a confounding variable. Critical psychology on the other hand would argue that the scientific method to measure behaviour is not the only method that can be used. It argues that the scientific method if often unsuitable for studying certain aspects of peoples ... ...ing used as many were relying on experimental methods and the assumptions of positivists to produce explanations that were reductionist instead of holistic and looking at the whole environment and not just the person. The ideology was also criticised during this period as the values of individualism were arising rather than the sociologist ideology that had previously existed (Myers). Social psychologists have a range of different subject areas and topics that they can choose from when deciding what research they want to do, including; obedience, conformity, identity, communication and language, persuasion and influence. In addition to this there are two main theories that derive from social psychology, the first being behaviourism and the second being social learning theory. The first theory behaviourism, derived from Pavlovs work looking at operant conditioning