The Killer At Thurston High Essay - 826 Words

Jarriett Hicks EDU 3800 OL1 The Killer at Thurston High The Killer at Thurston High, discussed a teenager named Kip who experienced psychological, emotional, and peer stress in early childhood. Violent and disturbing outburst was often a result of his actions, causing catastrophic traumas to his community and family. The film goes into depth explaining the relationship of Kip’s immediate family and his individual characteristics. The Kinkel family was well known, sophisticated and quite until violence struck. Kip Kinkel’s parents were Spanish teachers who expected high academic performances from their children. Both parents had a good life educating students and decided to start their own family in Springfield, OR. Known by nearly the entire town, the Kinkel’s were the ideal middle class family. During early school years Kip struggled with phonics and numbers. His parents held him back in the first grade because they agreed he did not meet satisfactory standards. This mainly was because Kip often confused E’s with 3’s and B’s with D’s to later find out he suffered with Dyslexia. Kip has always resented his parents for holding him back in the first grade in which I believe, sparked his troubled adolescence. During Kips early years, he felt that he was often compared to his older sister, Kristin, who was perfect at everything and was able to do simple things such as handstands and cartwheels. The video shows a recording of the family outside in the park playing around. IShow MoreRelatedThe Killer At Thurston High1295 Words   |  6 Pagesdecided to view the episode, â€Å"The Killer at Thurston High† on Frontline, where we follow the life of Kip Kinkel and how he came to shoot and kill both his parents and two students and injure 25 others. It begins with William Kinkel and Faith Zuranski, who give birth to Kip’s older sister, Kristin and then himself, named Kipland. His parents were both Spanish teachers and very respected within the community. Their da ughter, Kristin, describes them as nonviolent but with high expectations for their childrenRead More Aluminum Bats vs. Wooden Bats Essay1749 Words   |  7 Pagesthe major leaguers maybe, but for college athletes it seems more like a new age video game. The introduction of high dollared aluminum bats produce football like scores, higher statistics, and a percentage of danger to each and every player on the field. The NCAA has changed the regulations of the bats so far and should look further into to making another change to wooden bats.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  High tech aluminum baseball bats aren’t quite as new to the game as many people may think. Author, Patrick Hruby, wroteRead MoreKip Kinkel School Shooter853 Words   |  4 Pagesfriends, and sold it to Kip for $110(TruTv). When the owner of the gun, Scott Keeney, noticed that his firearm was missing he immediately called the police and reported it(TruTv). While talking with the police Mr. Keeney gave the names of several high school students that he believed might have been involved in stealing his handgun(TruTv). However, even though Kip s name was not on the list the school called him to the office to see if he knew anything(PBS). Kip said: Look, I m gonna be squareRead MoreBaseball Bats1844 Words   |  8 Pagesthe major leaguers maybe, but for college athletes it seems more like a new age video game. The introduction of high dollared aluminum bats produce football like scores, higher statistics, and a percentage of danger to each and every play er on the field. The NCAA has changed the regulations of the bats so far and should look further into to making another change to wooden bats. High tech aluminum baseball bats arent quite as new to the game as many people may think. Author, Patrick Hruby, wroteRead MoreWe Must Do More to Prevent School Violence Essay3486 Words   |  14 Pagesschool is equipped to stop it before it gets out of hand. There is no time like now to keep the children and our schools safe from predators and especially from school violence. â€Å"Violence is the act of purposefully hurting someone. †¦ One in twelve high schoolers is threatened or injured with a weapon each year† (Trump, 2005). When is it necessary to start taking more action in the prevention of school violence? In less than ten years, in the United States, there have been more than twenty-fiveRead MoreChanging Behavior Case Study Analysis7120 Words   |  29 Pagesanalyzing a range of external and personal barriers, and 2) working to make changes in the most important and most changeable of these barriers. Researchers have found that programs using the model are more effective in influencing changes in people’s high blood pressure, contraceptive use, smoking, exercise, and consumption of sweet and fried foods (Mullen et al., 1987). Small commitments lead to big ones (soliciting a small, short-term commitment is called the â€Å"foot-in-the-door† technique). Start

Group Reflection Exercise Free Essays

In the recent group activity. I was a member In a group of four. I had been absent from class when the groups were allocated and the two members present were given the task of choosing each of our roles. We will write a custom essay sample on Group Reflection Exercise or any similar topic only for you Order Now I felt they chose the more difficult roles for themselves, the introduction and conclusion, although I base that on the knowledge of my own strengths and weaknesses, with no knowledge of theirs. They assigned the work conflict to me, which I thought was a logical choice, given my occupation as a police officer. I believe we worked well together, particularly as we had only very recently met and were four distinctly different personalities. We communicated using email, as we had a number of work and/or study commitments in the week the presentation was due, which prevented us from meeting in person. The group member who had offered to produce the Powering presentation, had a last minute computer problem. I suggested we each write our own section for the Powering and asked the Introducing member If he minded putting It together. He was happy with that and presented an easy to follow highlight of our talk. I thought our presentation was relevant and the exercise was quite successful, given that we were only able to meet during the practical. Our negotiation techniques were clearly identified and explained by our introducing member and our concluding member related them back specifically to the scenarios. The only area I can identify that may have made the exercise better, was if we had been able to meet as a group, prior to the presentation. That would have given us the opportunity to rehearse and make any changes that may have been needed. That is something I would put more effort into achieving In the future. How to cite Group Reflection Exercise, Papers

Project Report Abu Dhabi Transmission

Question: Discuss about the Project Report Abu Dhabi Transmission Despatch Company. Answer: Introduction Academic literature Abu Dhabi Transmission Despatch Company commonly known as TRANSCO is based in Dubai which deals in transmission of electricity and power within Abu Dhabi. It is the subsidiary of ADWEA i.e. Abu Dhabi Water Electricity Authority (TRANSCO, 2008). The company being a government entity who works for the public welfare the same ways carrying out social campaigns promoting cause like dont drink and drive is also in the public welfare. The central idea of the company is to protect the society and environment therefore; social campaigns for the public interest are to be taken over by the companies as this will persuade people to follow the same. According to Muthu, (2016) social activities which are commonly known as the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities performed by companies in order to invest some of the share of profits of the company for the benefit of environment and society. Such campaigns are also an extension to such activities. The social marketing is done with the goal to find a solution to the problem here the social problem is drink and drive which one of the most common social problem among people that needs to be changed in the target segment (Muthu, 2016). Campaign Focus The focus of the social campaign is to demotivate the people to not drink and drive. As this is one of the major reasons of accidents taking place all over therefore; the TRANSCO Company has come up with a social campaign to promote individuals to never drive after drinking. The idea behind the campaign is to focus on making the people understand the importance of their loved ones who must be waiting for them. The campaign focus is aligned to the motive of the company which is to provide safe and efficient network of supplying power and water to the society the same way campaign is to motivate people to not drink and drive (Rice Atkin, 2012). SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis covers the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the social campaign which is dont drink and drive. The strengths of the campaign is the strong support of the society as people these days have become much supportive for such campaigns which is for the betterment of the society (Tuten Solomon, 2014). Such campaigns are also successful because the Transco Company carries a reputation with itself therefore; the brand name will motivate more and more people to participate and show a positive change in favour of the campaign. The major weaknesses of such campaigns is that the motto of the campaign is mostly not achieved as there exists a big misconception among people that this will lead to major change but it creates awareness. The after effect of such campaigns are never measured which result into an ineffective campaign. Gone are the days when people use to believe in such old campaigns which created only awareness with fear and shock appeal as now t hey respond to the positive ads because people have become more responsible towards the idea of making the world a better place to live (Lee Kotler, 2011). The opportunities for the campaign will be the effective utilisation of social media platform to communicate the message among large number of audience. Another is the improvement that will be brought in the society by these kinds of initiatives. This will also improve the quality of living of the community which will make the world a better place to live in. In addition to this, the social marketing enables the audiences to be interactive as this is one of the biggest advantages of the social media. The threats to the campaign are the increase in the competition as nowadays every other company is organising some or the other such campaign. The cost involved in organising such campaigns. The repetition of the same kind of campaign has led to less interest of people (Okoro Nwafor, 2013). Target Market The target market for the social campaign is especially the people (males and female) from the age group from 17 years to 30 years. There are some statistics which explains the statistics of accidents taking place are because of drunk driving, which can be seen in the picture below. The statistics explains the tests that were taken by police in North South Wales previous year. They found out that 90 per cent of the drunk drivers were males. (Source: Benjamin Leonardo, 2015). This is the most vulnerable group who are attracted by the offers and discounts that are provided by the alcohol companies which may compel them to pay a bigger price for their life. These segments are the ones who enjoy social gatherings a lot and believe that celebrations and get togethers are incomplete without drinks. Therefore; in order to change the behaviour it is required to induce fear which can persuade them to change their behaviour moreover, this group is open for the positive changes taken place around them (Weinreich, 2010). The behaviour that the campaign has tried to create is the positive change among people when it comes to drink and driving. Apart from this, people those who are intoxicated then the vehicle in their hands are not a convenience to them rather it is a weapon which can harm them and others as well. The benefits of the behaviour that the campaign will create are the safe and secure environment for people around the city. In addition to this, it will be nefit the whole society moreover, if people will reduce their drinking habits especially before driving this will result in decrease in the health problems. Marketing mix Marketing mix includes the 4Ps of marketing that are product, price, place and promotion which are discussed as follows. Product The very first product mix deals with the attributes of the product that is to be sold. Since, this report is being prepared on social marketing campaign; it includes the idea of the campaign to be promoted in place of product. In the product mix the information is required to be promoted. There is no tangible product which will give benefits but the intention behind the campaign will bring a big change in the society (Eagle, et al., 2013). Price The price mix deals with the monetary return that a customer pays for buying a product but since, there is no actual product therefore; there would not be any price that can be demanded. Moreover, it is a social campaign which is organised for the societal benefit and since there is no product there will be no price also (Boone Kurtz, 2013). Place The place mix deals as to where the product will be sold but since, there is no product there will be no place. However, in the current report the place for the social marketing plan will be the mediums (places) of marketing and promoting the campaign. According to the target market, the best place to promote the social campaign will be the social media as this will reach out to the target audience, In addition to this, people from the age group of 17 to 30 years of age have an access on various social media platforms (Donovan Henley, 2010). This will also incur a minimal cost to the company. Promotion The promotion mix involves the ways in which the product or service will be marketed to its target customers (Safko, 2010). However, for the social campaign in accordance with the place mix the promotions are recommended on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn etc. Apart from this, it can also be promoted by uploading a small video including an attention grabbing message to attract people should be posted on YouTube. These mediums are very effective as they involve an interactive way of communication with its target audiences. Attention grabbing message Attention grabbing message refers to the message which captures the attention or eye contact of the audience in order to end their decision by turning back to the place of the campaign taking place. A message includes the whole idea of the campaign along with an attractive tagline. The tone of the message is also a key factor of the message as it has to be specific. The tone of the current social campaign has to be direct but at the same time it should provide lot of information about the campaign. The approach of the message has to be fear based as the audience of the chosen target market respond more to the fear based messages (Aaker Smith, 2010). The message should have a tagline as losers do drink driving and here the fear factor can be added by moulding and presenting the new meaning of losers to them which addresses those people who lose something or the other when they drink and drive i.e. they may lose friends and family, they may lose their valuable human body, they may lose their right to drive and their licence etc. as this will create an horrifying image in their minds and therefore; will have an impact on their decisions and positive change in their behaviours (Hastings, 2007). Evaluation of effectiveness of the message There are large numbers of tools that are used by the marketers for evaluating the effectiveness of the message or an ad. This is measured by how much influence the message was successful in making on the ear, eye, heart and mind of the target audience so that they turn up to you in a positive manner (Hendrix, Hayes Kumar, 2012). The major benefit on being on social media is that millions of people have an access. The ways in which the effectiveness of the message can be evaluated are by monitoring traffic on the website, involvement of people by evaluating the number of pokes, comments, likes and shares initiated by your fans. Finally, it can be evaluated when people turn out to your campaign. Conclusion From the above report it can be concluded that companies going for the social campaigns which are for the societal welfare have different reputation. Further, it has been depicted that social campaigns are not for the earning purpose but for the positive change that has to been brought into the society by changing the behaviours of the target market. The above social campaign is for the social cause of motivating people to not drink and drive. Therefore; after discussing all the topics from SWOT analysis to the evaluation of effectiveness of the message it has found out that the campaign will help the company to work for a good cause with proper planning. References Aaker, J., Smith, A. (2010). The dragonfly effect: Quick, effective, and powerful ways to use social media to drive social change. John Wiley Sons. Benjamin Leonardo Criminal Defence Lawyers. (2015). Drink Driving Facts and Statistics. Viewed 9 February 2017. From https://www.thedefenders.com.au/articles/drink-driving-statistics/. Boone, L. E., Kurtz, D. L. (2013). Contemporary marketing. Cengage learning. Donovan, R., Henley, N. (2010). Principles and practice of social marketing: an international perspective. Cambridge University Press. Eagle, L., Dahl, S., Hill, S., Bird, S., Spotswood, F., Tapp, A. (2013). Social marketing. Pearson Education. Hastings, G. (2007). Social marketing: Why should the devil have all the best tunes?. Butterworth-Heinemann. Hendrix, J. A., Hayes, D. C., Kumar, P. D. (2012). Public relations cases. Cengage Learning. Lee, N. R., Kotler, P. (2011). Social marketing: Influencing behaviors for good. Sage. Muthu, S, S. (2016). Sustainability in the Textile Industry. Springer Nature Singapore Ltd. Singapore. Okoro, N., Nwafor, K. A. (2013). Social media and political participation in Nigeria during the 2011 general elections: The lapses and the lessons. Global Journal of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, 1(3), 29-46. Rice, R, E Atkin, C, K. (2012). (ed, 4th). Public Communication Campaigns. Sage Publications, Inc. California, USA. Safko, L. (2010). The social media bible: tactics, tools, and strategies for business success. John Wiley Sons. TRANSCO. (2008). Viewed 8 February 2017. From https://www.transco.ae/. Tuten, T. L., Solomon, M. R. (2014). Social media marketing. Sage. Weinreich, N. K. (2010). Hands-on social marketing: a step-by-step guide to designing change for good. Sage Publications.

The Conflict between Boston Charter Schools and School Districts

Introduction: Where the Conflict Begins Charter schools have been an integral part of an education system in a range of states for quite a while. However, with the evolution of pedagogy, the development of new learning theories and teaching approaches, the necessity for teachers to adopt new approaches has emerged.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Conflict between Boston Charter Schools and School Districts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result, charter schools are currently experiencing the necessity to grow and expand, yet this growth is halted by the lack of financial support from school districts. It should be born in mind that the emergence of the so-called charter schools is by no means an accident. The establishment of the charter school system was a response to the flaws of the U.S. education system, and an introduction of the model, that could authorise and build capacity in the education syste m of the state. A closer look at the way in which the Boston charter schools are organised will reveal that the existing system presuppose a complete independency in terms of defining the program and the teaching strategies required for addressing the needs of the target students (i.e., the necessity to assist ESL students and the students, who lack financial support from their families) (Peyser para. 1–6). Conflict Analysis: History, Participants and Environment The conflict between charter schools and school districts is not new; in fact, the history of confrontations between the local authorities and the people representing corresponding education establishments has been going on since the day that the two phenomena emerged. However, charter schools being a rather recent and specific innovation in the history of education, the dilemma regarding the freedom, which schools should be provided with, has taken a new turn. Among the key participants, Boston charter schools and t he local school districts must be mentioned. Neither of the opponents is willing to compromise, the schools demanding that they should be given the right to expand, and the school district authorities refusing to provide financial support from the establishments that they have practically no control over.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The environment, in which the conflict has been brewing for several years, is quite specific. Boston is a unique city with a rather rich history; however, as far as its economic success is concerned, the number of people coming from a low income background is quite high. Therefore, the school district does not consider investing into the development of the Boston charter schools a rational step and prefers to disregard the demands of the Boston charter school teachers. Dispute Resolution: A â€Å"Portfolio† School System The significance o f the conflict specified above is tremendous. While the confrontation between the parties involved into it is not as severe as military conflicts are (Harvard Business Review 69), it still causes a lot of concern and leads to a variety of questions, including the possible changes to the financial support for Boston public schools, which may suffer as a result of budget cuts that may be made by the school district. Therefore, it goes without saying that the method for addressing the situation must satisfy the needs and meet the demands of both charter and public schools, as well as the school district. The â€Å"portfolio† system, which has been suggested in order to address the problem specified above, truly is an original solution customised uniquely for the benefit of both Boston charter schools and local school districts. The solution suggested by the people concerned about the issue seems perfect; it hurts neither of the parties and at the same time works for the benefit of charter schools. The very title for the new type of schools represents a perfect solution to the problem and the satisfactory result for all the parties involved, since it presupposes that the control over the new type of charter schools will be split in equal proportions between school districts and heads of the charter schools. As a result, it will be possible for school districts to track down the financial transactions, which charter schools make, and check what charter schools’ administration spends the finances provided by the school district on. This is the power divide strategy that will help all those involved benefit (Melamed 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Conflict between Boston Charter Schools and School Districts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From the conflict management perspective, the solution to the confrontation between charter schools and school districts is impeccable. T hough it does involve a compromise and demands it from each of the parties, it rewards a positive response with an opportunity for charter schools to expand and for school districts to control the financial transactions of the Boston schools, therefore, making the process of budget distribution much easier. This, however, raises the question whether BATNA could be developed in case the school district refuses to compromise. Interpreted as the best alternative to a negotiated solution, BATNA actually does not require that a negotiation with the opponent should be carried out: â€Å"BATNAs are critical to negotiation because you cannot make a wise decision about whether to accept a negotiated agreement unless you know what your alternatives are† (Sprangler 1). The incorporation of BATNA in the set of tools for addressing the problem, however, invites the question concerning the future communication between the school district and Boston charter schools. Methods Implementation: The Negotiation Process While the solution described above seems quite obvious and presupposes that reasonable compromises should be made by both opponents, it would be too optimistic to assume that the negotiation process is going to be carried out impeccably and that the discussion procedure is going to flow smoothly. Instead, it can be expected that the participants of the negotiation will be unwilling to accept their part of the compromise and refuse to make the final step towards reconciliation and the improvement of their relationships. Therefore, the negotiation process must be thought through outstandingly well. Recognizing their mistakes will be the first step towards improving the situation for the Boston school district and the local charter schools. The process is not going to be easy, though, According to what Dunning’s research has shown, people traditionally fail to come to terms due to the inability to recognise their own mistakes:Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"Recent research we have conducted, however, suggests that people are not adept at spotting the limits of their knowledge and expertise† (Dunning, Johnson, Ehrlinger and Kruger 83). As a rule, the unwillingness to admit the obvious failure can be explained by the fear of being socially ostracised and labelled as incompetent. Herein the key to solving the conflict lies; it is essential to help the parties involved realise that their ability to recognise their fault redeems them as people, who are capable of telling the right solution from the wrong one. As Dunning put it, â€Å"If poor performers are given the skills necessary to distinguish correct from incorrect answers, then they would be in a position to recognise their own incompetence† (Dunning et al. 85). The negotiation process, therefore, must be steered towards the compromising approach. In other words, the emphasis must be put onto developing a compromising strategy instead of focusing on the competitive one. It would also be a good idea to steer the discussion to a more comfortable analysis of the financial changes with the help of accommodative approach. Mediation Process: In Search for a Compromise Though it is desirable that the opponents in question, i.e., school district members and the people representing charter schools, should attempt at solving the issue on their own. Unless both sides of the conflict recognize the necessity to reconcile and find points of contact, there will be no point in addressing the situation. However, it could be argued that with the introduction of a third party, which will represent and entirely objective point of view, the process of negotiation will take place faster and more smoothly. Therefore, it will be reasonable to suggest that the mediation process should be facilitated by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Education. As a third party that is not interested in the outcomes of the negotiation, yet is a major authority in the field of ed ucation, it will be a perfect mediator for resolving the specified conflict. It can be suggested that charter schools should provide additional opportunities for students; thus, it will be possible to provide the schools with the status that they need. For instance, creating courses for the students, who are willing to study specific subjects in depth, could be a way to solve the problem In addition, it is desirable that the Massachusetts charter schools should design a flexible system of upgrade based on the concept of economic and financial sustainability. Thus, the costs will be reduced impressively, and the school districts will see the potential that charter schools and their students have. Finally, it will be a good idea to arrange basketball and soccer facilities in several charter schools so that major school sport related events could be held there. Attracting participants from other schools will help raise the money that will be used as the means to upgrade charter schools to the necessary level. Key Stakeholders and Major Factors: Evaluating the Situation When it comes to defining the major stakeholders involved into the conflict, one is most likely to mention teachers of Boston charter schools and the members of the Boston school districts. Indeed, these are the sides of the conflict that remain in the spotlight most of the time; they are the main participants, and they are involved in most of the discussions concerning the issue in question. True, the Boston charter schools and the Boston school districts are obviously two essential stakeholders in the specified conflict. However, there are other stakeholders that deserve to be mentioned. First and foremost, students of the Boston charter schools must be recognised as the key stakeholders, since their future academic life, as well as their career and success in the business world, hinges on the decision that the local authorities make in order to address the situation. Naturally, such a great depe ndence on the outcome of the conflict makes the Boston charter school students the key stakeholders. However, it would be wrong to disregard the aforementioned opponents when listing the major stakeholders. The choice that the Boston school district will make will obviously affect the school staff as well, as the latter will have to alter the teaching approaches, as well as introduce new teaching strategies in order to meet new requirements. Indeed, expansion of an education establishment presupposes that the diversity rates in charter schools are going to increase significantly, which will call for designing additional strategies for meeting the needs of children with various ethnic backgrounds, gifted children, children with disabilities, etc. Moreover, the rise in the amount of students will also entail the necessity to hire more staff and, thus, to reconsider the school budget and the current schedule. Needless to say, the school districts are also highly dependent on the soluti on that will be chosen in order to address the situation. Using the budget funds for expanding charter schools means that the school district will have to cut costs for other issues concerning financial support of schools; therefore, it is in the interests of the school districts to address the issue in such a way that the costs should be minimised. Thus, the members of the school districts must also be viewed as the key stakeholders in the conflict in question. As far as the factors are concerned, there are key financial, economic and social issues that may hinder the process of conflict resolution. The financial issues top the list of the key factors. Because of the need to re-establish the current principle of a charter school operation, the costs for the innovation are going to be impressive. Carving the money out of the budget means that public schools will be left without the required support. The fact that charter schools are practically independent from school districts in t erms of their education policy, in contrast to public ones, investing into the development of charter schools hardly seems reasonable for the Boston school districts. More to the point, the fact that students from low income families, as well as students belonging to ethnic and national minorities, make most of the student population in charter schools in Boston, does not add any credibility to the plea of the heads of Boston charter schools. Though the issue specified above seems to be financial, it, in fact, should be deemed as a social one, and related to the discrimination problems within the modern society. Conclusion: Revisiting the Principles of the Education System Though the solution, which requires responsibilities distribution and power divide between school districts and school authorities, requires that major concessions should be made by both parties, mutual compromise is the only way to settle the conflict. Moreover, the specified strategy seems the only rational appr oach to be taken in this situation. Once both sides of the conflict are secure about their control over the issue, they will be able to come to terms. The mediation process, which is the key towards reaching a compromise, must be based on the principles of cooperation and presuppose that the charter schools should use their key assets to solve the conflict. At present, to reach a compromise, charter schools need to prove that they are worth investing in. Works Cited Dunning, David, Kerry Johnson, Joyce Ehrlinger and Justin Kruger. â€Å"Why People Fail to Recognize Their Own Incompetence.† Current Directions in Psychological Science 12.1 (2014), 83–87. Print. Harvard Business Review. Extreme Negotiations. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review. 2010. 67–75. Print. Melamed, James. Maximizing Mediation. 2014. Web. https://www.mediate.com/pfriendly.cfm?id=97. Peyser, James A. â€Å"Boston and the Charter School Cap.† Education Next 14.1 (2014), para. 1–6 . Web. https://www.educationnext.org/boston-and-the-charter-school-cap/. Sprangler, Brad. â€Å"Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA).† Beyond Intractability. 2012. Web. https://www.beyondintractability.org/. This essay on The Conflict between Boston Charter Schools and School Districts was written and submitted by user Frankl1nSt0rm to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Stranger and its animal na essays

The Stranger and its animal na essays Albert Camus' The Stranger starts with the death of a mother, maybe. Her son, Mersault, is unsure. He is also oblivious to the concepts of marriage, God, and repentance, as well as other institutions of society. According to social law, this is reason to execute him for a senseless murder. Mersault discovers that he is going to be tried and eventually die because of his nature and not due to the act he committed. Society is the collected human interaction and thought, and it requires that a social being worries about the afterlife, repents for its bad deeds, and mourns at one's death. However, Mersault thinks differently, and does not follow society's norms. Instead, he acts and lives like an animal. Mersault tries to survive in a society that is not suited for him. He attempts to abide by its rules, but such an animal can never be tamed. Mersault does not grasp the idea that he is an outsider and he always will be, just as society will never understand him. Mersualts' situa tion is similar to Jean-Paul Sartre' s view of the individual. He believed that one is "situated in a massive and oppressive social structure which limits and alienates his activities" (9). Mersault finds that his animal-like lifestyle and views about life contrast dangerously with the world around him. One of the main reasons Mersault was executed was because of his treatment to his mother. "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe. I dont know" (3). Those are not the thoughts of a disillusioned son mourning his deceased mother, but of a unfeeling, beast-like character. Her death was insignificant to him, but it could not have been otherwise. In the wild, when a mother dies, its offspring does not think anything of it as long as it is old enough to get along with out her. Mersault did not need his mother anymore, and so he acts uncaring towards her death. This is why he put her away in the house, in addition to the reason that he did not ...

How To Ramp Up Results Even When Your Industry Lags With Ted Horan

How To Ramp Up Results Even When Your Industry Lags With Ted Horan Different industries directly impact the marketing processes, tactics, and tools that prevent marketers from being productive, organized, and focused. Is your industry leading or lagging in marketing and technology consumption? Today’s guest is Ted Horan, vice president of marketing in eCommerce at RDO Equipment Company. Ted describes how the company overcomes makeshift marketing to be a leader in the construction and agriculture industry.   Candid Customer: What works and what doesn’t with tool Farmer to Founder: Ron Offutt’s entrepreneurial spirit for equipment business Evolution of Equipment Industry: Sales-heavy, outdated, one-man operation Catch up vs. Keep up: Create a digital presence to sell more and be relevant   Ultimate Goal: Become a strategic partner with those driving revenue every day Ever-changing Tech Environment: Rely on tools to react, pivot, and adapt Pop-up Projects: Prioritizing flow of ideas and fire drills depends on budget, resources, and capacity Qualifiers: Find tools to manage/optimize workflow in a way that makes sense Are you winning? Surround yourself with a strong team and necessary skill sets   Links:   RDO Equipment Company John Deere Vermeer Microsoft Teams Gartner for Marketers (formerly CEB) The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson The Challenger Customer by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson New Marketing Suite If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Ted Horan: â€Å"Marketing has evolved out of necessity. When those commodity prices dipped, it created a perfect storm. In many industries, it exposed opportunities.†Ã‚   â€Å"These tools are only as important as the capacity we have to use them.† â€Å"There’s really no cookie-cutter tool that speaks to my team to the extent that it answers all our challenges and issues.† â€Å"You have to understand so much about today’s buyer and the journey they’re on to be successful. That is challenging.†

2015 milan women ready to wear collection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

2015 milan women ready to wear collection - Essay Example Next, let’s move on to London where we chose three stores, namely Selfridge, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Most brands they stocked are high-end. Now let us talk about some brands that we picked. The first one is Agnona, which belongs to Zegna group. The price ranges between 550 and 6000 euro. You can shop for this brand through department stores such as harrods, neimanmarcus and you also can find the clothes on the Stylight and Yoox website. Second is Andrea incontri, whose price ranges between 300 and1200 euros. This brand is not accessible everywhere, but you can find the clothes through department store and multi brand stores. It is sold in concept stores such as Dover store both in Tokyo, London and yoox and the corner, which are ecommerce. The third brand is Auilanorimondi, which sells for 150-1000 euro. You could find the brand in la rinasente, Harvey Nichols in hk. Famous multi store that has this brand is Biffi, which sells online through yoox and the corner. The last brand we focused on is blumarine, which goes for 500-10000 euro. You can find this elegant brand in high-end store like Harvey Nichols, Neiman and Saks as well as in the ecommerce, the corner and

Operation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Operation Management - Essay Example The Assemble to Order products are really not prevalent in this category. These products include dustbin, laundry powder, floor sweeper, vacuum cleaner, steam cleaner, trash cans etc. These products are available on the shelves as Make to Stock products only except for special cases. Drapery, curtains and linen are the furnishings. An Assemble to order approach would be the best for these items where clothes are bought from the market while a tailor is employed for stitching as per the dimensions of the house. Hardwares comprise of handles, channels, rods, locks and holdbacks. These products are available as Make to Stock products and it doesn’t make sense to go for other manufacturing strategies unless special requirements have to be met. Brooms, ladders, cupboards and mops are a part of this group. This is a group of items where all 3 manufacturing strategies can be used. Ladders and cupboards can be designed through all 3 strategies while brooms and mops are best to buy as Make to Stock products. Sources of lighting and fans are available in the market. However, they have to be customized according to specific needs. So Make to Stock and Assemble to Order strategies could work here. For example, Air coolers are designed using Assemble to Order strategy many times. Modular kitchens are the norm of the day. These are designed using Make to order manufacturing. However, several accessories such as faucets, taps, crockery stand and others are available as Make to Stock products. The idols can be in form of metal, stone, wood or photo frames. While most people go for readymade idols some may actually decide to build an idol on wall in stone i.e. they may go for make to order

Baroque Period Essay Example for Free

Baroque Period Essay During the reign of King James I of Great Britain, the Puritans continued to grow.   Some Puritans were unhappy with James’s religious practices and fled first to Holland, and then to the Americas.   While religious conformity continued to be the desired agenda, the Protestants were granted freedom of worship by Parliament, but the Roman Catholics were not granted the same. The Roundheads and Cavaliers were enemies.   Roundheads were members of the Parliamentarian party during the English Civil War.   The Cavaliers were Royalists.    The main difference between the two groups was that the Roundheads had their hair cut short, while the Cavaliers kept their hair long.   The Cavaliers kept their hair long because the king found it more convenient to let his hair grow than to wash his neck.   Roundheads, on the other hand, were mostly barbers. The etiquette of the French court prescribed the activities of every person at court.   For instance, the King’s day was ritualized from the moment he woke up in the morning.   The highest-ranking person assisted with dressing the king.   Rules also governed how long the trains of the ladies’ dresses should be. Clothing in Spain was different from other countries because the Spanish tended to be more conservative than other countries.   Therefore, Spain kept styles that the rest of Europe had already abandoned. The farthingale, also known as a verdingale, is the structure by which skirts were expanded by bone or wood.   A mantilla is the veil worn by women that covers the hair.   This has come to be associated with traditional Spanish dress.   Guardinfante is the style of the oval skirt that has full, slashed sleeves and a horizontal shoulder line.   The basque is the extension of the bodice below the waistline.   A modeste is the outer layer of a skirt, while a secret is the underskirt, or second layer.   A doublet is a garment worn over men’s shirts that were tied to the breeches.   A stomacher is a U-shaped section of the front of a gown.   The mantua was the shaping of the new cut of women’s dresses. During the Baroque period, the Spanish preferred dark colors, but the French favored light shades of all colors, and rich colors such as gold and silver. Rococo Period During the reign of King Louis XV, France was engaged in costly wars that the country lost.   There was also a fiscal crisis and the king’s court was incredibly lavish, which contrasted with ordinary people’s lives.   During the reign of King Louis XVI, however, feudalism was abolished and France began to write a constitution.   The country also suffered defeats in wars with Prussia and Austria and the French Revolution ended the monarchy.   The court became less important, mostly because Queen Marie Antoinette found French court etiquette stifling. During the Rococo period, King George III ruled England.   Social life in England centered on the upper classes.   For example, men who did not have to work would wake late, eat breakfast, and then, in his nightgown, receive guests.   In the afternoon, he would go shopping or to popular spots.   After dinner, he would go to a coffeehouse or to a play.   During the summer, affluent men would vacation at a spa.   Affluent women spent their mornings receiving guests while lying in bed.   Dressing often took several hours, and after that, she would visit friends or drink tea.   Dinner was around four in the afternoon, and the evenings were spent dancing or playing cards. Frock coats were coats that men wore where the cut was looser and shorter than dress coats.   They also had flat, turned-down collars.   Panniers were wide hoops that went under skirts that made the hips look twice as large.   A robe a la Francaise was a new style of robe that had a full, pleated cut at the back and a fitted front.   A robe a l’Anglaise was a new style of robe that had a close fit in the front and at the back.   Engageants were sleeves that ended below the elbow, finishing in ruffles.   A polonaise was a petticoat and overdress in which the overskirt was puffed and looped via rings and tapes that were sewn into it.   A bustle or a hoop supported the skirt. Men in the eighteenth century who could afford wigs wore them.   Long, â€Å"full-bottomed† wigs were worn until the 1730s, but the fullness gradually shifted toward the back.   They also brushed the hair straight back from the forehead, into a slightly elevated roll.   After 1750, hair was dressed higher, and in the 1780s hair was dressed wider.   Other popular styles included wigs with queues, a lock or pigtail at the back, and club wigs or catogans with queues doubled up on themselves and tied at the middle.   King Louis XIV began the trend of wearing wigs because he was going bald.   Hats fell out of use when wigs became widespread. The hats of the day included three-cornered hats, large, flat hats that were carried under the arm, and two-cornered hats.   Men wore caps instead of wigs at home.   Common styles for the cap was a cap with a round crown and flat, turned-up brim that fit close to the crown.   Women in the eighteenth century wore simple hairstyles that replaced fontage styles.   Hair was generally waved loosely around the face and twisted up into a small bun on top of, or in back of, the head.   For formal occasions, women sometimes powdered their hair.   Women’s hats for indoors included pinners, circular caps with single or double frills around the edge, worn flat on the head, mob caps with wide, flat borders that encircled the face with high, puffed-out crowns located toward the back of the head. Lace trimming was often used, and indoor hats could be worn outdoors under other hats.   Outdoor women’s hats included hoods, small silk or straw hats with narrow ribbon bands and narrow brims. The technology that was developed that related to clothing during this time was advancements in the textile industry that expanded textile availability and lowered costs. The costume design could be inaccurate. Portraits of people wearing these clothes are many, but artists sometimes felt that portraits were not to reveal fashionable dress, but rather timeless dress.   Therefore, museum collections of these clothes and pictorial representations could be inaccurate.   For example, Sir Joshua Reynolds, a prominent English portraitist, hated fashion and urged artists to disregard what they found to be fashionable by way of dress, to only paint those characteristics that are everywhere and the same.

Sin in The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

Sin in The Scarlet Letter Since the dawn of time people have read, studied and enjoyed books in which the hero or heroes fall from grace. No matter who those heroes are- the human race in The Bible,the demon prince Lestat in Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles"or a certain Thane of Cawdor in "Macbeth"- sin plays a greatpart in all of their downfalls and subsequent ressurections.And the three main characters in Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter"-Dimmesdale, Chillingsworth, and Hester Prynne- are no different. All three characters are flung from the normal rolesthat society has laid upon them- minister, housewife, doctor-into new roles- sinner, whore, and vengance crazed sadist.These new roles are not necessarily apparent to all in town.However, even though the townspeople do not know of thesinners, God does. And in God's eyes, whose sin was greater?That, I cannot answer. But in this mere mortal's opinion, the sin of Chillingsworth far outdid the sin of Dimmesdale or Hester Prynne, for Chillingsworth's sin was one of revengeand one of secrecy. He was not driven by an anger at his ownsin, but by the sin of others. He used deception andmanipulation to make the life of another miserable. He wasnot flung from society's view as if he were a dirty secretlike Hester was; he was embraced by it. However, his sin didtake it's toll. He was disfigured horribly and became atwisted man, scarred by sin. He also was robbed of thepleasure of destroying Dimmesdale which was his reason forliving. He died shortly after Dimmesdale. Hester Prynne, however, was the complete opposite of Chillingworth in that her sin gave her life, not destroyed it. She took her punishment and embraced it, using it to rebuild herself not as a pathetic sinner, but as a pseudo-saint. At first, the town shunned her as a sinner. However,after they saw that she was good, and her sin was of love,the same town embraced and loved her. Her sin drew her moredeeply into the society of Boston than she ever was before.And when her time to die came, she did so with honor. HesterPrynne - sinner and saint. However, Hester's sin was shared. Whereas she was asinner on the outside and a saint on the inside, ArthurDimmesdale is the reverse, both literally and figuratively.

Response to “The American Scholar” Essay

Post- Reading Response In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1837 address to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard, called â€Å"The American Scholar†, he makes clear his thoughts and ideas on the European cultural and cerebral influence on America. Emerson wanted to get across that American scholars needed to create their own independent American literature and academic world, separate from European history. Emerson uses tone and style to further convey his ideas to the public. The tone that seems constant throughout Emerson’s entire address is a confrontational one. Emerson is confronting the nation on its continuous grip on England and European ways. He is leaving little room for difference of opinion, instead challenging American citizens to do what they have feared most for so many years and let go of their English ties. I believe that the style used in Emerson’s speech is primarily persuasive. The entire address Emerson is attempting to persuade his audience to agree with his outlook. I think that his ultimate aspiration was not only to clearly state his ideas but also to help the public come to their own reasoning and opinions on the matter. Emerson’s confrontational and persuasive techniques used in his speech helped convince the nation that a crucial and valuable change had to be made. Fast-forwarding 173 years, America has successfully detached itself from Europe and we have distinguished ourselves as prominent philosophical and intellectual scholars. But is my generation threatening to reverse the clock and set us back 173 years? Our education in America has sky rocketed since 1837 but recently there has been a tremendous decline in academic and post-academic success. In an article called â€Å"Putting Our Brains on Hold,† Bob Herbert makes it clear that it is my generation to blame for this decline. According to him â€Å"America’s young people are moving in exactly the wrong direction,† and that our society is â€Å"more interested in hip-hop and Lady Gaga than educating its young. Another article we read in class was called â€Å"We’re No. 1(1)! † by Thomas L. Friedman. I’d have to say that I do agree with Friedman’s argument much more than Herbert’s. Both of these writers were ultimately hitting at the same line of reasoning but the way each approached it varied significantly.

World Hunger And Poverty

The population of Brazil is growing rapidly. If its present rate of growth of 2. 8 percent continues, it will soon become the most populous country in the Western Hemisphere. Although Brazil is rich in natural resources and has significant economic growth, most of the benefits have gone to the rich. Forty percent of the population is under fifteen years of age, and unemployment is high. Population growth in the cities has made it difficult for the government to provide education, health care, water, sanitation, food, and housing for the poor. What steps if any, should be taken to provide for the poor and needy people in this country? The current economic crisis shaking the global economy has prompted many nations to review their economic policies to cope with the challenges of minimizing the impact of recession brought about by instability of securing markets, associated demand and questionable production supply and raw materials. As it stands, the world’s leading nations are in trouble of entering an even greater crisis brought about by. It must be understood that the resources that are provided are finite in relation to the needs and wants of human beings. This mismatch is a problem that must be dealt with immediately and effectively because if this is allowed to continue there will not be enough for everyone and the basic needs for survival cannot even be provided adequately. As the Brazilian model has shown, the country does not even have the basic provisions that are necessary for survival. The population is suffering and the government is unable to make any lasting progress because of the problems that it is facing. Key to finding a lasting solution is in understanding the root cause of the problem. A quick look at the world population reveals that while global economies are reeling from one economic uncertainty to the next, the need for goods and services of their respective populace are increasing as rapidly as their population increases and matures. Putting this in the context of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs an upward pressure is placed upon the demand for the basic necessities such as food and natural resources and the aspiration for self-actualization becomes more and more undeniable. This brings to mind the fact that as long as there is poverty, peace is hardly attainable; and if governments do not secure the basic needs, peace and stability may never become a reality (Issit 2). From this, it is clear that there is an urgent need for the governments all over the world to curb if not control the growth of their respective populations. The first reason is because of the enormous strain that this is putting on the world’s resources could trigger over inflation (Issit 2). This can be best explained by a simple supply and demand model. When there is a shortage of supply and the demand for the good remains constant. This simply means that there is less of the good that is available and the same number of people wants the good. This can be likened to a bidding war where there is only one item and people offer the seller as much as they can to be able to attain it thus raising the price and eliminating all those who do not have enough resources to compete. Conversely, when there is an oversupply and the demand remains constant, the equilibrium price falls. Analogous to this would be the growth of the population and the increase of demand with the supply remaining the same or even decreasing. As such, if the governments are unwilling or unable to deal with the problem there could be widespread hunger and not amount of welfare or government intervention would then be able to alleviate the situation for it would already be too late (Issit 2). This concern comes on the heels of the recent UNESCO report showing that while the world is recovering from crisis it still has not addressed the fact that more and more individuals are suffering from hunger and unemployment. The recent studies on population growth reveal that in the next couple of years the increase of human beings per country will exert so much pressure on the demand for natural resources and on the environment that it will cost more to feed each person than it ever has. With there being to emphasis on plans for rehabilitation or a move to more sustainable methods, it remains to be seen whether or not the world will be able to recover from the damage that is projected to be caused. The second reason is because of the fact that the population of the world is growing at a very rapid pace, most especially in the developing countries. As can be seen in the graph below, the exponential increase in population without the corresponding increase in food supply will lead to an imbalance. These are the problems affecting Brazil and in order to solve these, there is a need to implement programs that provide sustainable development. Brazil is currently one of the leaders in methane capture technology and biodiesel. Using this as a springboard, access to cheaper alternative fuels could allow the country to make significant progress in manufacturing. Having cheaper and cleaner energy can provide a two-fold revenue stream that can eventually be used to finance much needed infrastructure projects in the area. The carbon credits from the sale can be used to build schools and training centers while the cheaper energy can be used to boost certain industries within the Brazilian economy as well as bring in foreign companies and investors. Increasing the country’s exports and reducing the imports remains to be the key for Brazil. The highly competitive global market is in constant search for the lowest priced goods and at this point in time Brazil is able to offer that. It is imperative, therefore, that Brazil take advantage of this global sourcing trend and further build on the lead that it has there. Other economic avenues that Brazil could also explore would be in outsourcing. While most of the Asian countries have become highly competitive in this field (e. g. India and the Philippines), there is still a lot of potential in this market. The geographical location of Brazil makes it an ideal investment choice for American firms. One other factor that makes this a viable option for this country is its financial network with the United States makes it easier for capital to enter the country.

Free Essays on A Novice Anthropologist

you and all into one word, â€Å"y’all,† a common practice for their dialect. Also, while in Chattanooga, I hardly ever heard anyone curse, whether or not if it was at a sports game, or yelling at another person. I then studied what the people of Chattanooga did in their free time. In the household I was staying in, video games were not ever played and were looked at as a ... Free Essays on A Novice Anthropologist Free Essays on A Novice Anthropologist A Novice Anthropologist When I was younger, my family and I were able to take a trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee in order to visit my Aunt Becky, Uncle Jim, and my two cousins, Sarah and Amy. While visiting, I realized the many differences that my family in Tennessee lived with, unlike the routine I went through from day to day. Now that I have an idea of what kind of jobs anthropologists perform while conducting field work, I am able to realize that some of the activities I performed while in Chattanooga, were also typical of an anthropologist. The first thing needed for an anthropologist to conduct field work is permission from the people to have a place to stay. Luckily, my Aunt allowed me to stay in this â€Å"alien† land for two weeks, which is actually a very short period in comparison to the two years that a regular anthropologist would stay while conducting their field research. Next, I needed monetary funds to conduct my research on these foreign people. After being rejected for a grant from my father, I gained a one time employment opportunity from my Uncle for cutting his grass, an activity that seemed more native to me than to either one of my female cousins. Now that I had everything needed to begin my field research, I was ready to begin. One of the first things I noticed about these people from the south, was their bizarre pronunciation of the English language. At first, I stuck out from everyone else by the way I spoke, but as time went by, I began do simple things in order to hide my accent. For example, I would combine the words you and all into one word, â€Å"y’all,† a common practice for their dialect. Also, while in Chattanooga, I hardly ever heard anyone curse, whether or not if it was at a sports game, or yelling at another person. I then studied what the people of Chattanooga did in their free time. In the household I was staying in, video games were not ever played and were looked at as a ...

Building consumer demand by using marketing

Marketing munication can be increased by using social media sites. This assignment will describe about the chosen article â€Å"The use of social media: an exploratory study of usage among digital natives†. The objectives of the study will be mentioned in this assignment. Electronic word of mouth and web 2.0 has appeared as an event of significant interest to marketers.   The article will be critically analysed in this assignment to get better understanding about the chosen article. Individual reflection shows the work advance knowledge of subject which can be utilized in real life by marketing practioners. The main object of the article is to analyze the importance of social media in the academic life of students. The research report has described about the knowledge of students regarding social media platforms and in depth notion of customer generated contents. Next section explains the digital natives in terms of age and behavioural characteristics. Another objective of the article is to understand about web 2.0 and word of mouth munication. The explicit theory framework is used in this research to describe the master phenomena. The description about the web 2.0 and electronic word of mouth is made under this theory. It has been analyzed that the term of web 2.0 defines the platforms that are connective and offer users with the ability to incorporate various media within their content creation. Analytical technique, instructional instruments, social media platforms, consumer generated message viewership and customer generated message creation are used in this article to analyze the article (Steyn, Wallstrà ¶m and Pitt, 2010). The central concept of this article is word of mouth in marketing munication. This concept is clearly defined in this article. It has been said in this article that word of mouth is mature exercise as are people municating with one another. They have b e the major part for the marketing mix for panies (Li & Bernoff, 2008). The discussion has been made about the web 2.0 world of marketing in which word of mouth happens on all municative digital media sites. It has been estimated that more than 85% firm in united states are applying the word of mouth strategy. The word of mouth strategy es out in the business when the orientation provider has no risk in the business (Li, 2010). The main argument has been made on digital natives and it has been argued in this article that a higher educating marketing firm defined that technology has b e so advanced and as recognizable as a knife to this college age market segment. On the other side it has been argued that customers gradually more use digital media not for researching the products and services but for engaging with organizations they buy along with other customers who may have effective insights (Williams, Crittenden, Keo and McCarty, 2012). The specific hypothesis of this assignment is that Generation C who born after 1990 is truly digital natives. The key attributes of Generation C is that they how to live in an adequate manner and they are much involved in the puters and latest technology. The main strength of this assignment is used methodology. The sample has been collected from millennial aged undergraduate college students of United States of America (Packaged Facts, 2010). The minimum age is considered as 19 years old and the eldest age is 21 years old. It is the strength because the selected age is perfect to analyze the tentative study of usage among digital natives.   It would encourage them to encourage the campus events or they can use consumer produced content as a need of their jobs. The weakness has been found in this article is that there are so many students in selected sample who utilized their social media ecosystem for the reason of promoting their goods and services for those panies for which they are working. The risk has analyzed that the credible power in this the network of word of mouth will be eliminated for the extended time if the orientation provider lose the chance of the growth in the business. The hypothesis of this article is defined below: Qualitative research has been chosen for this article in regarding content analysis which permits the examination of the experience of social without unambiguous prospects.   Sample, analytical technique and instructional instrument are used in the article for researching on digital natives. In the context of sample, data has been collected from a convince sample of the undergraduate students who were studied in the marketing class. 74 students were selected for sample in which the youngest student was 19 years old and the eldest student was 21 years old. Content analysis is being used in the analytical technique in mass munication research which was considered as appropriate analytical technique for surveying the descriptions of process within the phenomenon of culture of social media. Instructional instrument is a written assignment which was given to all enrolled students. The main concept of this written assignment is to get the response of students about the usage of social media for marketing. It was the big approach to motivate students for using the social media by sharing their experiences. Evidence is provided in this article to define the social media platforms and providers. The table has given which shows the social media platforms used by students. There are various digital social media platforms available which is helpful for marketing. It has been found that 50% students are engaged with blogging and 96% of the students are active on Facebook and twitter. 70% of the students were connected with text messages because text messaging was in the content prompt. Another table has been reflected in this assignment which was categorized in segments and number of students. Segments have divided into spectator, creator, joiner, collector and critic. 73% of the students answered to more than one of the five segments. For instance, an individual can have seen himself in the condition of critic as well as spectator. The literature is the description about the chosen topic which describes the scope of the topic. The article has defined the digital natives and electronic word of mouth which includes the web 2.0. It defines the stages that are extremely interactive and offer the aptitude to put together dissimilar media in their content formation. On the other hand web 1.0 was defined by one way and unreceptive munication. It is characterized by a process in which people are continuously the provider and giver of information. The social media platforms enable the opportunities for attract that did not survive a decade ago. For instance, it has been analyzed that more than 700 billion minutes are used by so many users on Facebook (Trainor, 2012). There are approximately 30 million stories, images, videos and contents are being shared by people on Facebook (Facebook Statistics, 2010). You Tube is another social media where the number of uploaded videos are high and the views has increased by two bill ion per day (YouTube, 2010). It has been found that millions of people building trillions of bonding by social media each day. In that scenario, the role of Web 2.0 has made the electronic description of unfounded information munications. The digital native is the person who born during the age of digital technology and so well known with internet and latest technology from an early age. The article has described the Generation C consumers who love content creation and mashing. Generation C consumers prefer to municate in an adequate manner. The tendency of generation C students is to work more creative industries (Gil-Or, 2010). Consumer generated content is not encouraged mercially but it is a form of electronic word of mouth (Muà ±iz and Schau, 2011). Essentially, the opinion of customer is about the product and services and after satisfying with the services and products, customers share their views, experience and beliefs with other people by using web. The ou e of this articl e is fit in to the wider literature. According to Hansen, et. al., (2011), there is numerous different social media platforms that provided to students as instance to quick their thinking in the term of text messaging, podcasts, and social networking and discussion groups (Zahay & Fredricks, 2009). Moreover, to discriminating the platforms utilized by this group of college student customers, the description about the particular providers were asked to respondents. The article is aimed at universities’ students of USA. The research shows that student should judge the true suggestions of liberty of speech (Crittenden and Klepper, 2010). Another audience of this article is Generation C who born after 1990. The credibility of author is trust worthiness because the authors David L. Williams, Victoria L. Crittenden, Teeda Keo and Paulette McCarty are professors of top USA universities. â€Å"The use of social media: an exploratory study of usage among digital natives† is credible as it has been published in Journal of Public Affairs (2012). This journal article is published online in Wiley Online Library which shows the credibility of the journal article. The credibility of this article can be judged by viewing the number of references which is authenticated. The used language of author is clear and concise which can be understood by readers. The predominate mode of this article is analytical as author used qualitative research to explore the research topic. Sample, analytical technique, instructional instruments, social media platforms and customer generated message formation are being used in this research to show the involvement of people in social media. It can be r mended that further research should evaluate the statistics and search for disparity between and among a multiple characteristics of demographics. The texts can be improved by using the more analytical data because it has been found that the study of this article was unable to connect different countries of source in the shown data. The analytical source has been chosen for collecting data in which the written assignment and content analysis were considered. These approaches and sources did not enable the pilation of the data. It has been r mended that further research should report for the effects of national so it can see if there are differences in country majorly in the utilization of the specific platforms and providers. The implications of the article for marketing practioners would be effective because it has described the use of different social media platforms for encouraging the market growth. This article assisted me to expand my knowledge regarding web 2.0 and electronic word of mouth which has huge contribution in the growth of market. I can use these social media platforms in my business as marketing practioner. The limitations and future research have been described in this article which assists me that the ment of personal social media should not be posted from any internet sources until and unless it is private. It concurs with my own experience because people has b e advanced and give preference to online marketing instead of going outside. By using these marketing munication techniques, marketing practioner can attract the customers towards the provided services and products. It has been concluded that the entire objective of this investigative research is to evaluate the multiple of electronic word of mouth in the context of Generation C market segment and this segment is generally defined as digital natives. The critical analysis of the article has been done by evaluating the objectives, methods, evidence, credibility, style and audience. Individual reflection has shown the position of social media sites in the life of marketing practioners. Crittenden, V. and Klepper, K., 2010, Social media and the b-school.  BizEd, pp.72-73. Facebook Statistics, 2010, Facebook statistics, accessed on 26 th February 2018, from: https://www.facebook / press/info.php?statistics.   Gil-Or, O., 2010, Building consumer demand by using viral marketing tactics within an online social network.  Advances in Management,  3(7), pp.7-14. Li, C. & Bernoff, J. 2008, Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies. Harvard Business Press: Boston. Li, C., 2010, Groundswell. Winning in a world transformed by social technologies.  Strategic Direction,  26(8). Morrison, M. and McMillan, S., 2010, January. Oh, user, who art thou: an examination of behaviors and characteristics of consumers in the context of user generated content. In  American Academy of Advertising. Conference. Proceedings (Online)  (p. 77). American Academy of Advertising. Muà ±iz Jr, A.M. and Schau, H.J., 2011, How to inspire value-laden collaborative consumer-generated content.  Business Horizons,  54(3), pp.209-217. Muà ±iz, Jr, A.M. and Schau, H.J., 2007, Vigilante marketing and consumer-created munications.  Journal of Advertising,  36(3), pp.35-50. Packaged Facts, 2010, Millennials in the U.S.: trends and opportunities surrounding Gen-Y adults. accessed on 26 th February 2018, from: https:// www.marketresearch /product/display.asp? productid=2661911. Steyn, P., Wallstrà ¶m, Ã…. and Pitt, L., 2010, Consumer-generated content and source effects in financial services advertising: An experimental study.  Journal of Financial Services Marketing,  15(1), pp.49-61. 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Research Skills and Principles Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Research Skills and Principles - Assignment Example modelled to solve the shortcomings associated with Traditional IP-based networks, ATM networks and Frame Relay in the management of enormously large networks like scalability flexibility, security, and cost?. Such a question is sufficient and in line with the aim of the study. It is effective to help the researchers study the impacts of the interior gateway routing protocols in the MPLS VPN. The approach employed in the study is sufficient and closely linked to the study question and objectives. Such an approach helped the researchers to investigate and validate their new proposed design. The authors proposed a new design that merged both features of layer three such as intelligence and scalability with those of layer two such as simplicity and efficiency culminating into MPLS/BGPVPNS design. The authors first conducted a thorough literature review on the related topic. This was of great benefit as it provided the bedrock for the study. The review of the literature helped the authors to get valuable insights into the current problem the system has and thus need for alternative. The reviewed literature in the MPLS, VPN, and MPLS VPN technology presented the best opportunity for gathering the information for a satisfactory fathoming of linked concepts to the current study. Subsequently, the authors did awesome work by indulging into an in-depth deliberation on various routine concepts. Such a discussion availed the avenue critically to investigate the effects of interior gateways routing protocol. Moreover, the authors should be lauded because they gave specifications of the twin routing protocol for the present study. The two simulation approach employed were appropriate and in line with the study questions and objectives. The simulation help to probe the two design separately to make a rational decision. This was necessary to gauge the merits and demerits of each design which would later inform the investigators of the most appealing design to implement. The use

Paperwork Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paperwork - Research Paper Example The analysis attempts to understand systematic data flow and how humans input, transform and store data and access information in an organization’s context. The process of defining the components, architecture, modules, data and interfaces for a system to meet specified needs comprises systems design (Ulrich & Eppinger, 2000). Installing systems without proper plans results in dissatisfied users, and the system is often abandoned after short usage. Together, systems analysis and design work in an overlap to lend structure to information systems and determine what changes need to be applied or how a new one may be implemented (Ulrich & Eppinger, 2000). Databases Databases are structured and designed to collect data while offering organized machinery for managing, storing, analyzing and retrieving information (Connolly & Begg, 2002). This is achieved by using tables prearranged to model appropriate aspects of the project being undertaken in a manner supporting the processes usin g this information. The role of databases in projects is compiling, categorizing and interpreting data. All information used by the project managers, including the researches they conduct, is centrally stored in the database for ease of access by users and developers. Databases also play a key role in identifying international trends (Connolly & Begg, 2002). Programming Programming entails the designing, documenting, trying, debugging as well as maintaining source codes for computer programs (Meyer, 2000). A reliable process of programming aims to produce a software solution that is efficient and can be developed when the project dictates the need. It should be usable, portable, easily maintained and able to anticipate errors occurring from inappropriate, corrupt or incorrect data. The role of programming in projects is to create sets of instructions for use by computers to carry out specified instructions and display desired behaviors. Programming also saves the efforts of other te ams in the project by automating the processes which would otherwise have been conducted manually (Meyer, 2000). Networking Networking is the linking and interconnecting of groups of computers and hardware through communication channels thus allowing users to share information, files and resources such as printers (Tanenbaum, 2006). Within the network, relevant files may be selected for sharing between concerned users and departments. In a project, networking merges different departments and even office buildings. The needless distinction of common tools that collect, process, store or transmit information is eliminated when networks are deployed. Barriers to information held on separate computers and systems are also overcome, creating a borderless information and communication environment (Tanenbaum, 2006). It is only through networking that all the other aspects of running a project are held together. The project also benefits by saving costs that would have been used to equip ea ch department with its own resources, which duplicates purchases. The Web The World Wide Web is an application that runs on the internet (Stallings, 2004). It is a system made up of interlinked internet servers supporting hypertext documents and is accessed through the

The explanatory gap Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The explanatory gap - Essay Example John Levine introduced the explanatory gap for the difficulty that the mind theories of physicalists have in explaining the physical properties in giving rise to the way things experienced when they are felt. Levine in his 1983 article used the explanatory gap to point out that even though it might be applicable in a physiological sense, the explanatory gap does not aid our understanding of pain feeling. The explanatory gap has intrigued and vexed a number of researchers and philosophers in a similar way in the past decades and resulted into a considerable debate. Finding a fulfilling and gratifying mechanistic explanation to bridge the gap is a hard problem. This paper seeks to define the explanatory gap, and highlight whether or not the explanatory gap poses an obstacle to materialism with reference to the work of Levine. The explanatory gap infers that there is an existence of a gap of consistent and rational meaningful information that describe and account for characteristics and qualities of consciousness processes, content and states that it is explicable to a rational and logical level of mastery. That is to say, explanatory gap is in the human concept. The term explanatory gap does not illustrate a gap in nature, but rather a gap in our own understanding of nature (Levine 1983). Joseph Levine in his works demonstrates the explanatory gap as an obstacle to materialism. Materialism holds that there exist identities between material kinds and conscious kinds. Joseph Levine illustrates that pain is identical with the C-fibers firing, and also gives an example of viewing something are red which is identical with an activity in the visual V4 area cortex. Joseph Levine also looks at the explanatory gap as an obstacle to materialism in the line with contemporary orthodoxy materialist, and that such kind of identities are posteriori. Levine argues that it is a matter of scientific investigation, to ascertain whether or not pain is the firing C-fibers, rather tha n conceptual reflection to seeing things as red is an activity in the V4 area in the visual cortex. In this regard, the identities of mind and brain that are discovered will be of the same kind to such exemplary a posteriori identities of science as that of temperature is mean kinetic energy, or that of water is H2O. There is also a good scientific evidence for the presence of such like brain and mind identities. In particular cases, there are direct evidence in the co-occurrence of certain material kinds and conscious kinds. Joseph Levine even asserted that the identities of mind and brain strike quite differently from the apparently corresponding scientific identities (Levine 1983). Levine cites some questions to demonstrate the explanatory gap as an obstacle to materialism: presume that we actually have evidence that pain is the same as firing of C-fiber and is one. Would we not still want to try and find out why firing of C-fiber feels pain instead of something else? And why the re is pain in the firing of the C-fiber? There is however no analogous questions that press on us in most of the scientific cases. For example, after finding out that water is H2O, there is no further feeling of the need to know why even when there is H2O, we still have water, or why water is H2O and not anything else. This is the reason Joseph Levine coined the explanatory gap in order to give an impression that something have been left unexplained by mind and brain identities. Many other philosophers besides Joseph Levine have argued that explanatory gap emerges because people cannot draw from the facts

Big five personality inventory with academic success

Big five personality inventory with academic success Many validation studies have been performed to test the validity of the Big 5 personality inventory with academic success and performance as well as which personality is predictor of good grades. In particular studies have found that contentiousness and openness especially correlated with academic performance. This essay will examine and evaluate the usefulness of the big 5 personality inventory and will be discussing its validity and implications. Conscientiousness personality traits lead students to be organised, disciplined and motivated to succeed. This in turn has a positive effect on their ability to study and on their effort and commitment they put into their work (Maltby et al 2007 p.387) a trait referring to individuals level of dutifulness, achievement striving and organization. Bratko, Chamorro-Premuzic Saks (2006) also have documented and argued that the Importance of Conscientiousness in educational settings is self-explanatory: Being organized, disciplined and motivate d to succeed has no doubt beneficial effects on students study habits, affecting their level of effort and commitment with the course (Bratko, Chamorro-Premuzic Saks 2006). Research indicates that the Big Five Traits (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Conscientiousness and Agreeableness) reflect core aspects of humans personality and have strong influences on behaviour (Costa McCrae 1992 in Komarraju Karau 2005). Conscientiousness has consistently and positively predicted examination performance as well as grade point average and academic success. Openness is positively related to final grades with high scorers using learning strategies that emphasize critical thinking. Neuroticism is related to reduced- academic performance. Agreeableness is positively associated with grades. Entwistle and Entwistle (1970 in ibid) found that stable introverts using good study methods achieved higher performance than extroverts or emotionally unstable students, whereas Furnham and Medhurst (19 95 in ibid) showed a significant positive correlation between sociability and performance in a seminar class (Komarraju Karau 2005). Paunonen Nicol (2001 in Durham 2004) found the Big Five traits among the significant predictors of grade point average (GPA) in a population of college students. Similarly, Lounsbury, Loveland, Sundstorm Gibson (2003 in Durham 2004) found that Big Five traits significantly predicted cumulative GPA among adolescents in high school and middle school. Lounsbury et al (2003 in Durham 2004) found that the Big Five constructs of conscientiousness, openness and agreeableness were positively related to course grades and grade point average. Durham (2004) therefore argues that these results suggest that students who are more open to new learning, discovery and exploration, higher on self control. More orderly, higher of achievement striving and lower on anxiety, impulsivity, hostility, and vulnerability will have higher GPA. Durham (2004) furthers his argume nt by saying that students who sit in the front of the class (conscientiousness) prepare their assignments (conscientiousness), follow the directions given (agreeableness) and ask questions (openness) and usually better students; high levels of openness, conscientiousness and agreeableness and low levels of neuroticism are an ideal combination (Durham, 2004) Hypothesis The hypothesis of this literature review is that Big 5 personality traits of Openness, contentiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism are significantly related to academic performance and predicting grades. There have been many studies documented which have investigated the relationship of the five personality traits namely, openness, contentiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism with academic achievement. For example, in studying the relationship between the big five personality traits and academic performance, Komarraju Karau (2005) developed the following specific hypotheses. First, as Neuroticism is characterized by emotional distress and poor impulse control (Komarraju Karau 2005), Komarraju Karau (2005) expected students high in Neuroticism to have difficulty in coping with academic challenges and dealing with setbacks. There, Komarraju Karau (2005) predicted that Neuroticism would be positively related with the academic motivation factors of debilitating anxiety, withdrawing, disliking school, and discouraged about school. Extraverted individuals are warm, socially-oriented, and assertive (Komarraju Karau 2005). Agreeable individuals tend to be trusting and co operative, and may be receptive to collaborative learning (Komarraju Karau 2005). Therefore, Komarraju Karau (2005) predicted that Extraversion and Agreeableness would both be positively related with approval and affiliating motives. Komarraju Karau (2005) argue that because assertiveness is an element of Extraversion they predicted that Extraversion would be related with influencing motives. Individuals high in Openness seek novel experiences, are intellectually curious, and may be more receptive to novel educational experiences Komarraju Karau (2005). The researchers therefore predicted that Openness would be positively related with thinking and desire for self improvement. Finally, conscientious individuals are generally organized, disciplined, and hard working, and have been found to achieve greater academic success (Komarraju Karau 2005). Therefore, the researchers predicted that Conscientiousness would be positively related with persisting, achieving, and desire for self- improvement. Komarraju Karau (2005) found that avoidance was positively related with both Neuroticism and Extraversion, and was negatively related with both Conscientiousness and Openness, with Neuroticism explaining the most variance. Komarraju Karau (2005) argue that these results may suggest that neurotic students tend to avoid many aspects of academic life and view education as a means to an end rather than an intrinsically fulfilling enterprise. Similarly, Komarraju Karau (2005) argue that extraverts may be more concerned with social aspects of college life. In contrast, conscientious and open students are less likely to be avoidant in their motivation. Komarraju Karau (2005) found that students with higher levels of Openness and Extraversion were more engaged in learning, with Openness explaining the most variance. Komarraju Karau (2005) further their argument by saying this suggests that students who are sociable and enjoy exposure to new ideas are likely to be engaged i n the educational experience and may benefit from discussion and interactive learning. Finally, Komarraju Karau (2005) found that students who were more conscientious, neurotic, and open to experience scored higher on achievement with Conscientiousness explaining the most variance. Komarraju Karau (2005) argue that these results suggest that students who are responsible and intellectually curious may be more achievement oriented, hard-working, and competitive. Komarraju Karau (2005) noted that neuroticism was related with achievement, and this relation between Neuroticism and achievement may be because of compulsive preparation Komarraju Karau (2005). Correlation of subjective responses and objective assessment and confirmation of the validity of conscientiousness trait with relation to academic achievement Discussion section There may be narrower personality traits that could add to the incremental validity of the Big 5 inventory with relation to academic success and predicting grades for example. Lounsbury, Sundstorm, Loveland Gibson (2003) investigated and examined the narrow traits in addition to the Big Five in predicting academic success among adolescents. Lounsbury et al (2003) investigated individual grade point average (GPA) and scores from the Adolescent Personal Style Inventory among 220 seventh-graders and 290 tenth-graders, including agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion, and openness, plus four narrow traits, aggression, optimism, tough-mindedness, and work drive. Lounsbury et al (2003) found that all traits correlated significantly (P The validity and reliability of the NEO PIR in terms applicability: discussing the issue for the professional development of the teacher in schools and also for the positive feedback and educational development of the child, analysing the practicality of the learning style Personality tests that are to predict academic achievement and success are not only for the professional development of the teacher, lecturer but also for the personal and educational development of the student or pupil at school or university. These personality tests therefore they need to be such that the teacher and student can interact with them for the teacher to perhaps to alter his or her teaching style and approach and more so for the student to be aware of his or her subjective and predominate learning style and how these are contributing to many cognitive aspects such as information processing, retention of information, memory or indeed knowledge acquisition. Research has testified that from the NEO PIR the trait that is predominately applicable is conscientiousness as we have seen, although the other four have also contributory effects for academic achievement, however the practicality of using it may still be questionable because if the trait of conscientiousness is the p redictor of academic success then will it be easy for the student to develop these traits within him. How easy will it be for the teachers to aid and support the students in developing a conscientiousness personality is questionable. An easier way for both the student to understand for his or her own academic development and also for the teacher to support the student may be through the education of personal learning styles. Learning styles in particular is a model which pinpoints and highlights the cognitive abilities necessary for learning, which is a cognitive process. The tools of learning style can enable the student to completely understand which styles may aid him or her and according to that style of learning, the teacher will be able to help and support the student developing a interactional system between the teacher and the student in an academic environment and discussing cognitive variables in relation to learning styles rather than broad personality traits which maybe far difficult to generalize towards the students learning process. Therefore learning style approach and assessment may not only be a cognitive and academic achievement predictor most importantly on the basis of individual differences but this will enable both the teacher and student to interact with them for the professional development of the teacher and for the academic and cognitive development of learner. A well known and documented approach to learning is presented by Kolb (1984 in Maltby 2007) in which he discusses the learning processes such as concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. Other than the Big Five traits of conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, extraversion and neuroticism, there are other traits or, motivation related traits as argued by Lounsbury (2003 in Durham 2004) which can add incremental and predictive validity to the NEO personality inventory in the domains of education success. For example, Lounsbury (2003) found that traits such as aggression, optimism tough mindedness and work drive can not only significantly correlate with grade point average but moreover add incremental validity to the existing NEO Five. (Durham, 2004) In line with Lounsbury (2003) Durham (2004) is also for the inclusion of the factors of aggression, optimism and tough mindedness. Durham (2004) argues that these traits of optimism, aggression and tough mindedness could be better predictors of academic performance and grade point average. Optimism, Durham (2004) argues is a tendency to maintain positive expectations about the future and Prola and Stern (1984 in Durham 2004) found positive correlations between optimism and grade point average. Optimism is an important assessment because it influences task-orientated behaviours (Durham 2004). With regards to conscientiousness there will a consensus that it is correlated with academic achievement and performance through Meta analysis and self and other assessed approaches, however with regards to openness, although it has been acknowledged that it refers to academic intelligence, agreeableness, neuroticism, extraversion there is far lesser consensus how it refers and relates to academic achievement. For example Bratko, Chamorro-Premuzic Saks (2006) have found that some argue that high neuroticism is detrimental for academic performance on school examinations but others suggests that higher levels of worry and perfectionism that characterize neurotic individuals may lead to better and higher performance. The trait of extraversion is also debated with academic achievement as some have argued of negative correlation and other have argued of positive correlation (Bratko et al 2006). Bratko et al (2006) also argue that alternative explanations indicate in the direction of deve lopmental changes in the ability-extraversion correlation, such that brighter individuals become more introverted over time. Some traits of the BIG 5 such as extraversion, conscientiousness and openness which all relate to motivation, striving and academic self fulfilment have been correlated with certain measures but have not been correlated with other measures such as the IQ tests. Psychologists have argues that the NEO Big 5 personality inventory predominately reflects a persons motivation and in particular motivation to self actualise in academic domains but does not take into consideration specific academic cognitive abilities which is predominately related and correlated with academic success and achievement. For example, Ones Schmidt Viswesvaran 1993 (in Gagner Pere 2001) have established no correlation between motivational factors and IQ ability for academic progress. The psychologists argue that the tests such as the NEO PIR which may measure or take into consideration the motivation factor of conscientiousness and disregard cognitive abilities may not be highly valid in predicting achievement in comparison to higher validity and reliability of cognitive and IQ measures of predicting achievement, and the results obtained from an IQ test maybe useful for the professional development of the teacher with relation developing cognitive constructs of the child such as numeracy but also important for the development of the learner to know which areas in academia need to be concentrated upon. Gagner Pere (2001) assessed the unique contribution of motivation to academic achievement. Over 200 high school students completed two IQ tests and three motivation and conscientiousness related measures twice during a semester. The results revealed that IQ and motivation were not correlated; cognitive abilities were by far the best predictor of school achievement. The psychologists argue that these results question the belief of most educators about the crucial role of motivation as a determinant of scholastic achievement these findings may in invite the educators to not only consider moti vation and conscientiousness as an important factor of achievement but to also concentrate on the cognitive abilities of the learner and ways to enhance them perhaps by working with the learning style of the learner considering the VAK (the visual, auditory or kinaesthetic individual differences) and modifying educational resources to support all types of learners and by working within the unique learning style of the individual with the belief that by working within the cognitive framework of the individual this will improve the cognitive performance and abilities of the learner such as problem solving, information processing, logical and rational thinking which will enhance the IQ and therefore academic achievement. Komarraju Karau (2005) also acknowledge that students who are taught in a way that matches their learning style and ability are likely to achieve at higher levels. In light of the findings that there are less or no correlations of motivational factors such as conscien tiousness with academic progress Bratko et al (2006) argue that empirically, evidence is mixed with some studies indicating personality has incremental validity over ability in the prediction of academic progress but others showing it doesnt (Bratko et al 2006). Bratko et al (2006) also argue that personality inventories such as the NEO PIR use self ratings of traits. Whilst Bratko et al (2006) acknowledge and argue that most investigators have used self report personality inventories and academic progress as they are convenient and because they believe that people have a unique perspective of their own experiences and history of behaviour, however Bratko et al (2006) also maintain that self ratings can be inaccurate because people may present themselves in an unrealistically positive light or their position of an actor can bias their perception of their own consistent personality attributes other-rating data can be less susceptible to distortions caused by defensiveness and self-pr esentational strategies (Bratko et al 2006). As studies have shown that peer-ratings consistently show a substantial correlation with self rating data and their validity widely demonstrated (Bratko et al 2006), Bratko et al (2006) suggest that adding to peer-rating to self-rating can enhance the incremental validity of personality tests such as the NEO PIR further. Although some studies did not find a link between motivation and academic achievement some other studies did. For example Komarraju Karau (2005) investigated the relationship between personality characteristics and academic motivation. Their research examined the link between the Big Five personality traits and individual differences in college students academic motivation. Students were asked to complete the NEO Five Factor Inventory and the Academic Motivations inventory and the facets of both the academic motivations inventory and NEO big Five were correlated together which supports their academic motivation hypothesi s and its importance with success (Komarraju Karau 2005). This study not only indicated the importance of administering tests to examine academic motivations with relation to individual differences but also confirms the validity and reliability of the NEO Big Five. Personality or intelligence tests: independence of personality tests from intelligence: understanding the correlations of ability intelligence tests and personality tests Although studies have testified to the theory that measure of intelligence is valid and reliable for prediction of academic achievement some other studies have discovered the importance of personality tests independently from intelligence which adds to the validity and reliability of personality testing in relation to academic performance and achievement. For example Bratko et al (2006) analysed the relationship of self and other-assessed personality with school grades in 255 pupils. Conscientiousness was the strongest personality correlate of school grades for both self and peer-ratings. That is, the scores of self-rating and peer-rating for conscientiousness significantly correlated. It was interesting to discover that grades were negatively correlated with self assessed extraversion and emotional stability (neuroticism) and positively correlated with peer-ratings of autonomy. When cognitive ability was partialled out correlations between personality and school grades showed little change indicating that the effects of personality on academic performance was independent of intelligence. The investigators not only argue of the independence of personality to academic performance and therefore stressing its validity in domains of education but also argue that self ratings had only marginal incremental validity (3%) over peer-ratings in predicting school grades while incremental validity of peer-over self -rating was larger (9%). Therefore this study supports the notion that testing personality in domains of education and academic performance is indeed valid. In this study the self-rated assessment or rating compared to the peer-rated (observer) assessment and rating is thought provoking because there was a difference in both ratings and their correlations significances. In the study of Bratko et al (2006) noted that the relationship between. In the study Bratko et al (2006) found that the predictive power of conscientiousness increased substantially when assesse d by peer ratings as opposed to self-rating and there Bratko et (2006) argue that this suggests that socially desirable responding may undermine that validity of self rated conscientiousness. Their results also indicated that combining measures of conscientiousness with intelligence are likely to be advantageous when it comes to predicting academic progress (Bratko et al 2006). Bratko et al also argue that students may also want to look conscientious and autonomous in the eyes of personality tests and therefore Bratko et al (2006) recommend that investigators include social desirability alongside both peer and self-ratings of personality to explore determinants of success and failure (Bratko et al 2006). Another way to avoid distortion and therefore validity in applied educational settings is for participants to respond anonymously possibly by mail as argued by Schinka (1997). Schinka (1997) suggests that these techniques of anonymity will minimize conscious motivation to distort pe rsonality profiles. Psychologists studied how the Big Five personality traits may relate to individual differences in academic motivation. Alongside the achievement and academic success, motivation is very important to reach academic success and this area also needs to be considered for students. Komarraju Karau (2005) also reflect upon an interesting meta-analysis in support of the personality tests such as the NEO PIR for academic performance and success as well as for convergent and predictive validity. For example, Komarraju Karau (2005) argue that Ackerman and Heggestad (1997 in Komarraju Karau 2005) found some modest relationships between personality and intellectual ability measures. In their study Openness was positively related to intellectual ability, whereas Neuroticism was negatively related to intellectual ability. Komarraju Karau (2005) argue that these investigators concluded that intellectual abilities, interests and personality are interrelated and that intellectual ability level an d personality traits determine success. The validity of personality tests and their application in academic prediction of ethnic and culturally different students Durham (2004) acknowledges that studies have established differences in the scores between African American Students and White students on personality measures, as well as in the educational domains including. Ethnic students bring their values and in particular ethnic values to the learning environment. Therefore, when assessing personality and correlating with grade point average it is important to consider and acknowledge different cultural and racial differences which may affect an individuals learning style and development (Durham 2004). Therefore, generalising the significances of the results on populations this issue also needs to be considered thoroughly. Durham (2004) argues if there are differences in the personality traits scores of black and white students the applicability of these assessments to ethnic populations in doubt. Using the MMPI may be appropriate for use with ethnic and racial students The validity and reliability of the NEO-PIR or Big Five inventory and its applicability across races and cultures Worrell Cross (2004) investigated the reliability and validity of Big Five Inventory scores in a sample of African American college students as performed on the Big Five Inventory. The investigators discovered that reliable measures could be developed from the Adjective Q -sort and that there are no perceived predictive validity differences between White and Black students using the NEO PIR (Worrell Cross 2004) The use of other measures especially the inclusion and applicability of the Assessment of Academic Self concept and motivation (AASM) Assessment of Academic Self concept and motivation was developed according to the motivational systems theory. The uniqueness of this assessment is that it postulates that motivation is the patterns of gaols, emotions and personal agency beliefs (self -concept) which is consistent with the socio-cognitive theory of personality development proposed by Albert Bandura. Durham (2004) argues that this model and assessment four aspects of self concept- ability, environmental responsiveness, control and value or importance it also assess four dimensions of the education environment: cognitive, social extracurricular and personal (Durham, 2004) validation studies have been performed by Rouse Cashin (2000 in Durham 2004) and have found support for this assessment as well. Durham (2004) argues of the advantages of this measure with ethnic clients because it measures internal locus of control and the motivation aspect can measure academic success. With regards to values and race and cultural d ifferences, John (1989 in Goldberg 1998) examined judges classifications of the 300 terms in the Adjective Check list into the Big Five Categories to examine its validity and argues that traditional values and individuation/ autonomy adjectives closely related to the persons self -concept and cultural determinants may lie outside the Big Five. Goldberg (1998) argues that other personality factors that are not included inside the Big Five are religiousness, sexuality, introspectiveness, maturity, gender roles thrift and suppression and repression (Goldberg 1998). As there lays other aspects beyond the Big Five it would be interesting to see these influences for academic achievement as well. Paunonen Jackson (2000) had also investigated into the NEO PIR and the Big Five traits and after a thorough investigation and analysis they found that a) Religious, devout, reverent b) sly, deceptive manipulative c) honest, ethical moral d) conservative, traditional, down-to-earth e) egotistical, conceited, snobbish and f) thrill seeking behaviours were independent from the Big Five Factors as they did not correlate. This finding is important to establish the internal consistency validity and what differences it would make if these traits are also examined along with cultural values as discussed to evaluate the impact it has on education success and achievement because these traits such as masculinity-femininity, religiosity, are also determinants of human behaviour and also academic motivation. These recommendations will improve the internal consistency of the NEO PIR personality assessment as argued by Paunonen Jackson (2000)