Color Theraphy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Color Theraphy - Essay Example The employment of primary, warm, or cool colors in color therapy has been a fundamental practice in the treatment of certain disorders (Ashby 92). Notably, the use of color in variant settings influences personal perceptions and responses to an environment. This proves that color is actually an influential factor in a person’s take on things. On the same note, individual differences relative to color are evident and have to be accounted for as far as color therapy is concerned. Color has significant influence on emotions, feelings, thoughts, and behavior (Birren 150). This is because color plays an active role in stimulating the brain. Although this stimulation is oriented towards one way or another depending on one’s personality, the common denominator is that each and every individual has his/her color preferences. Subsequently, these preferences inform the manner in which color therapy would work or fail to work for one individual or the other. As a result, approaches to color therapy vary subject to the stimulation attained by any given

Business Plans For Entrepreneurs

Business Plans For Entrepreneurs Introduction In todays environment, the business plan is the entrepreneurs most important document when setting up a new business. Without the help of a well-designed and well- presented business plan the entrepreneur will find it very difficult to express its business goals or secure financing. Without a business plan, it is almost impossible for someone to take your business idea seriously or even consider investing in it. Because this thesis is about setting up a business plan for the start-up of a new kind of social network, we will first start with an overview about the concept business plan throughout the literature. In this literature study the term business plan is defined as well as the main functions of the business plan followed by an overview of the typical structure of the business plan. Furthermore, a problem discussion on the topic business plan in the literature is displayed. In the next part the main focus will lay on the composition of the financial plan. Subsequently, in the section Location Based Social Network a brief explanation is given about LBSN to give the reader an idea about what the business idea is all about. An entrepreneur willing to start his own enterprise stands before a lot of obstacles. Building up a company does not happen over one night. Theoretical framework Introduction There was a time that entrepreneurs only had to write a letter to propose their business idea and send it to some investors to secure funding. Nowadays, investors are far more demanding and expect a higher level of expertise and preparation from the entrepreneurs they choose to fund. Kleiner (2007), a legendary venture capitalist states that when examining a proposal, investors want to see much more than just a good idea and a bright young man or woman: they want to see a business plan showing that the concept has been thoroughly assessed and that the entrepreneur has carefully thought through the issues for taking the necessary steps of taking the idea and transform it into a successful company.  [1]   The emergence of the business plan The term business plan is a word that found its origin during the Second World War period. Back then it was mostly used to define the long term strategies of big firms. The Business Plan was a highly confidential document and was only exposed to a very limited audience. During the 80s the term business plan became more popular and it was then that the first articles appeared discussing the issues behind the business plan. From that decade on, the term business plan was mainly used to indicate the start-up of new and emerging companies. (Karlsson, 2005)  [2]. This may be the reason that when the term business plan is mentioned the first image that crosses peoples minds is the start-up business, which has not to be especially so because The Ernst and Young Business Guide (1987) points out that even established firms can have formal written business plans to determine or evaluate the accomplishment of business goals. Definition of a Business Plan The literature on the topic business plans is awash with information and offers a lot of definitions.. Essentially these definitions have all the same meanings. Abrams Barrow (2005) define the business plan as a roadmap to the companys targeted destination. Ideally, it enables the entrepreneur to get from the basic business concepts to a healthy, successful business. Barringer (2009) describe it as a written document that carefully explains every internal and external aspects of a new venture (Barringer, 2009, p. 1) The format of the business plan We can distinct three main factors throughout literature from which the BP structure will manly depend. To begin with, the format of the business plan will mainly depend on the purpose for which the BP is elaborated. For instance Barringer (2008) states that a BP established for a start-up company to investigate the feasibility of the venture may somewhat differ from that of a business in expansion that wants to evaluate the accomplishment of the business goals. For example, a start-up firm will not be able to dwell much about the companys history or past successes. Further, Mason and Stark (2004) argue that whether the entrepreneur is pursuing capital from a bank, a business angel or even a venture capitalist, the format of the business plan should be adapted accordingly. So we can conclude that depending on the firms level of development or on what purpose the business plan serves, i.e. to raise capital or for internal purposes, the emphasis on the topics will be different and the format of BP will vary accordingly. Functions of the BP The academic literature provides an abundance of information on the topic: functions of the BP. A single search with GoogleTM Scholar found 2.3 million hits for terms function* AND business plan*. After going through books and relevant literature we can differentiate internal as well external uses for the business plan. External purposes Raising finance: Most of the time when people think about the reason why a business plan is written, the first thing that pops up in their head is to raise money. It is a fact that most lenders or investors will not put money into a business without first seeing the actual business plan self. If the purpose of the bp is indeed to raise finance, its test will be how much interest it can generate from reviewers in as little time as possible and ultimately how much money it can attract from investors. Attracting Human Capital Zetterberg (2004) assigns another interesting external function to the business plan: it can also be used as a tool for attracting human capital. It is not uncommon that a potential employee wants to see the companys business plan before making a decision whether joining or not. Internal purposes It seems very unlikely that the sole purpose of a business plan is only that of a fund raising device. Instead, Abrams and Barrow (2005) argue that the business plan has a lot of intrinsic value. The authors of the Business Plan Guide Plan for start-up companies also support this theorem that while developing the business plan has chance to take advantage of two big opportunities: Marketing plan First of all, it gives the entrepreneur the opportunity to learn about the industry and the market. When writing a business plan the entrepreneur will have to go to the process of writing a marketing plan. This should give the entrepreneur some valuable insights in who the most important competitors are, who will be his main customer, and also facts about the industry like for example, the market restrictions, market size, and so on. Internal planning doc. Secondly it can be used as an internal planning document. Developing a business plan enables the entrepreneur to make the vital business decisions that enable the entrepreneur to focus on his activities and maximize his resources. Immers, while developing the business plan, one will increase the understanding of the many forces that have an impact on your businesss success, which in turn will give a stronger sense of control. Like for example understanding the financial aspects of the business including break-even and cash flow requirements. It is also interesting to note that a business plan can be used within different timeframes. First of all it can be used to determine the Viability of a Future Business Allen et al. (2006) describe the BP as a plan which can be used to develop ideas about how the business should be conducted. According to the authors, the entrepreneurs have, by investigating all the different aspects of the venture, such as finance and marketing,  the chance to make mistakes on paper rather than making them in the real world and refine their strategies accordingly. Determine/Evaluate the Accomplishment of the Business Goals Secondly, Schultz et al. (1987) point out that a business plan can be a retrospective tool, against which a businessperson can assess a companys actual performance over time. For example, the financial part of a business plan can be used as the basis for an operating budget, and can be monitored carefully to see how closely the business is sticking to that budget. In this point of view, the plan should be used as the basis for a new plan. After some time has elapsed, the business plan should be re-examined to see if the company has accomplished its business goals and if necessary needs redirection. To write or not to write a business plan / The relationship between Pre-start-up Formal Business Plans and Post-start-up Performance The opinions on the topic whether a business plan is a useful document or whether it is more a waste of time are not unanimous throughout the literature. Despite a lot of researches that have been conducted within this field, the findings from studies that examined whether there is a relationship between the pre-start-up formal business plan and the post-start-up efficiency of the company are not consistent throughout the literature. The word efficiency in this particular circumstance means that it has not been proved that the Business Plan will help a new venture in succeeding. Some studies claim that they found no relationship between a formal written BP and performance. For example: Does formal business planning enhance the performance of new ventures? (Lumpkin et al. 1998) This study examined the relation between planning and performance among 94 firms of which 54 new entrants. Results suggest that new startup companies who use formal written business plans fail to outperform those who dont. Of course there are a lot more factors outside writing a business plan playing a role in the future success of the firm. Initially raised capital, experience of the entrepreneurs, used business model, the age of the venture, are just a few to be named. Recent studies conducted by Lange et al. (2007) took all these factors into account and examined whether pre-start up business planning affects the subsequent post-start-up performance of the new enterprise. Their dataset contained 116 Babson College alums graduated between 1985 and 2003 that started a new business since graduating. From the results of the study it appeared that there is no difference in performance between new ventures that started with a written business plan and those who chose not to write one. Of course one could argue that the studied dataset has a few limitations. First of all the dataset only comprises ventures started by Babson College which is somewhat limited and will compromise the external validity. It will be difficult to generalize the findings of this study to the rest of the start-up ventures in business world. However, there are benefits at this bounded dataset: the respondents have similar educations. This will limit and take into account the influence from the independent variable, education. On the other hand the taken sample frame is randomized and longitudinal which will benefit the internal validity. This means that the research design allows to formulate a correct answer to the proposed hypothesis. From their findings Lange et al.(2007) suggest that unless a would-be entrepreneur needs to raise substantial start-up capital from institutional investors or business angels, there is no compelling reason to write a detailed business plan before opening a new business. Instead, the authors suggest that entrepreneurs should make financial projections, especially cash flow. It means that they should look at expected sales revenue and operating costs including material, labor and capital assets and open their business. That advice implies that they should do business planning but not write formal plans before starting their businesses. Then, if their business grows and needs external funding, they will be able to write a business plan that is more persuasive. In contrast to the studies from Lumpkin et al. and Lange et al. , some studies have shown that planning does go together with the success and growth of new ventures. Ford et al. (2003) conducted a study of 800 randomly selected American nascent companies and found a significant positive correlation between the degree of business planning formality and financial results in year 1 and 2. Liang and Gartner (2005) found, they found that the chances for survival of ventures in an uncertain financial and competitive environment was more likely when they engaged in planning in the early stage of the start-up activities. And that ventures were more likely to continue their activities if they started to plan late in the stage of start-up activities in a certain financial and competitive environment. For now, we will leave the discussion aside whether causality exists between writing a BP and the success of the venture and move on to asking ourselves why so many entrepreneurs bother to write the business plan. Many business people or entrepreneurs defend that the time that is needed to produce a formal written BP, would be better spent on pushing the new venture forward instead of writing a plan that no one will read. (Allen 2006) This might be true if we take into consideration that the venture capitalist or the firms that provide finance to businesses receive piles and piles of business plans and have no time to read them all. In fact, very few entrepreneurs have access to formal venture capital at the moment they launch their businesses. Bygrave and Hunt (2004), for example, estimate that in the US, fewer than one in ten thousand new ventures has the privilege to receive their financial funds of a venture capitalist. This is very rare, especially for the USA which has more than two-thirds of the total venture capital in the entire world. This means that receiving capital from VCs is by far the rarest form of funding. So why then go so many entrepreneurs through the process of writing business plans if the main objective of their plan is to secure funding from a venture capitalist and they know that they will almost always come up empty handed? One of the reasons may be that other sources of financial funding such as banks, business angels, equity investors require written business plans too. Another explanation could be that they write the plan for internal reasons. Although writing a business plan is a very laborious task and it takes typically several weeks to finish it could avoid costly, perhaps disastrous, mistakes later thanks to the planning process that helps the entrepreneur think through things thoroughly. (business plan guide 4 start ups) Furthermore, it is a fact that if you want your BP to be noticed by investors, the chance is greater if you get a personal introduction, instead of approaching them on your own (Barringer, 2008). This is definitely the case for all businesses in China. If you want to look for capital, or even if you just want to do business, you will need Guanxi. Guanxi literally means relationships. Since Confucius set-out the basic relationship rules 2000 years ago this has become the basis for conducting succesfull business in China. The reality is that the majority of Chinese people wont trust and will not do business with people that are not part of their Guanxi. If you win the confidence of a chinese business relation, he will be part of your Guaxi network and will be happy to do business or introduce you to other acquintances or information sources, thus expanding your Guanxi network. Seligman (2005) points out that it has been generally known for centuries that businesses in China with a widely developed Guanxi network are more succesful than those with a limited or no network. We conclude that is not about having a good or a bad business plan per se to secure finance but more about knowing the right people. This is why startup businesses have the disadvantage over established firms because they may not have such contacts. Anyway, a lot of authors recommend to do write the business plan because for the internal and external value that lies within the plan. Abrams and Barrow (2005) state that a good business plan for a sound business concept not only helps achieving the business goals, it also lets you save time and money by focusing on your business activities, giving you more control over your finances, marketing, and daily operations, and helps you raise the capital you need. Or as Kleiner (2004), a legendary venture capitalist states: Even if you have all the money you need, you still need a business plan. A plan shows how youll run a business. Without a plan, you dont know where youre going, and you cant measure your progress.

The Death Penalty is a Just and Proper Punishment :: Pro Capital Punishment Death Penalty Crime Essays

The Death Penalty is a Just and Proper Punishment The idea of putting another human to death is hard to completely fathom. The physical mechanics involved in the act of execution are easy to grasp, but the emotions involved in carrying out a death sentence on another person, regardless of how much they deserve it, is beyond my own understanding. I know it must be painful, dehumanizing, and sickening. However, this act is sometimes necessary and it is our responsibility as a society to see that it is done. Opponents of capital punishment have basically four arguments. The first is that there is a possibility of error. However, the chance that there might be an error is separate from the issue of whether the death penalty can be justified or not. If an error does occur, and an innocent person is executed, then the problem lies in the court system, not in the death penalty. Furthermore, most activities in our world, in which humans are involved, possess a possibility of injury or death. Construction, sports, driving, and air travel all offer the possibility of accidental death even though the highest levels of precautions are taken. These activities continue to take place, and continue to occasionally take human lives, because we have all decided, as a society, that the advantages outweigh the unintended loss. We have also decided that the advantages of having dangerous murderers removed from our society outweigh the losses of the offender. The second argument against capital punishment is that it is unfair in its administration. Statistics show that the poor and minorities are more likely to receive the death penalty. Once again, this is a separate issue. It can't be disputed sadly, the rich are more likely to get off with a lesser sentence, and this bias is wrong. However, this is yet another problem of our current court system. The racial and economic bias is not a valid argument against the death penalty. It is an argument against the courts and their unfair system of sentencing. The third argument is actually a rebuttal to a claim made by some supporters of the death penalty. The claim is that the threat of capital punishment reduces violent crimes. Opponents of the death penalty do not agree and have a valid argument when they say, "The claims that capital punishment reduces violent crime is inconclusive and certainly not proven." I am not refuting this accusation. In fact, statistics show that the death penalty neither lowers or raises the incidence of violent crimes.

Marketing Plan for Maggie Essay

Promotions showcases which mode of promotion is most effective and how do consumers respond to various celebrity endorsements. Place focuses on efficiency of distribution network of Maggi Tomato Ketchup. We have also drawn out some inferences by applying various statistical tools like ‘SIGN TEST’. Towards the end we have suggested some recommendations as a group on how can we improve the marketing mix of the product. Nestle, which world knows as cautious and conservatory company is a Swiss originated 140 years old Multinational. The man at the helm is Swiss national Carlo Donati, an all inspiration and image of the company. His philosophy is ‘bottom line dictating top line’ based on delegation and decentralization. It resulted from a merger in 1905 between the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company for milk products established in 1866 by the Page Brothers in Cham, Switzerland and the Farine Lactee Henri Nestle Company set up in 1867 by Henri Nestle to provide an infant food product. The first Nestle factory to begin production in the United States was opened in Fulton, Oswego County, New York. Nestle India Ltd. (NIL), the Indian subsidiary of the global FMCG major, Nestle SA, introduced the Maggi brand in India in 1982, with its launch of Maggi 2 Minute Noodles, an instant noodles product. Nestle India’s business objective and that of its management and employees is to manufacture and market the Company’s products in such a way as to create value that can be sustained over the long term for consumers, shareholders, employees, business partners and the national economy. The product mix of Nestle India consists of milk products and baby products (42. %), beverages (29. 3 %), processed foods (14. 4 %), chocolate and confectionary (13. 8 %).

A Character Sketch of Rudolph Steiner (the Green Door by O’Henry)

Rudolph Steiner belongs to the middle class of American society of the beginning of the 20th century. He is a piano salesman, a commonplace citizen on the one hand, but on the other hand he is (as the author characterizes him) â€Å"a true adventurer; few were the evenings on which he didn’t go forth from his hall bedchamber in search of the unexpected†. No matter where he goes, he tries to find an adventure in every thing possible. His adventurous spirit has already led him â€Å"into strange paths† several times, but he still retains it. This time, having received a card with the inscription â€Å"Green Door† from a dispenser in the street, he undertakes another evening journey. Rudolph Steiner is a commonplace American and not an American at the same time. He lives here but he is quite different from the capitalist majority. O’Henry characterizes Rudolph indirectly through his speech: †This is ridiculous to go without eatingI’m coming back tomorrow to see how you are getting along – you can’t get rid of me so easily†. This difference was (in those days) and is vitally important nowadays, Rudolph is deeply humane, despite the unspoken law of the society (as consequences of the so-called â€Å"social darvinism† – the fittest survive); he treats poor people the same way as all others and the financial state of a person he deals with is of no difference for him. We can draw this conclusion from his conduct towards the girl: he understands not only her helplessness, but spends his (probably all his) money to support her , to take her out of trouble, showing his philanthropic nature. Rudolph is awarded: the girl turns out not to be of the kind he thought before. He says: â€Å"All the same, I believe it was the hand of Fate that doped out the way for me to find her†. Rudolph Steiner is a character to draw people people’s attention to an acute problem of the society, to the disparaging treatment of the poor. The general outline of the story makes some critics think that it’s just for entertainment, like many others available on sale†, but it’s a one to make us think thanks to the character of Rudolph Steiner, a favourable exception among the majority.

What Is Your Idea Of A Healthy Community Provide Specific Examples

What Is Your Idea Of A Healthy Community Provide Specific Examples What Is Your Idea Of A Healthy Community Provide Specific Examples. What Do Healthy Communities – Coursework Example Healthy Community What is Your Idea Of A Healthy Community? Provide Specific Examples Healthy community is something that provides an individual as well as families a physical, social and economic environment within which they can achieve optimal well-being and physical health. A healthy community always encourages and influences one to lead a better quality life (Health Resources in Action, 2001). The community of Phoenix, Arizona can be considered as an example where there has been an improvement in the quality of air due to current restrictions in cigarette smoking in all public space. The hospitals, parks, recreational areas and schools are located at a distance that can be accessed through walking from every local community. However, focus is necessary for the general health of people within the region to establish a healthy community (Health Resources in Action, 2001). What Do Healthy Communities Have In Common?There are certain aspects that are common in all health communities . These can be comprehended from the points provided hereunder. Participatory model which seems to have grown from both top down to ground upAcquiring proper funding to support the Healthy community projectsActions, ideas and solutions are derived from the association of various groups involved Consideration and reflection of the local values Managing conflicts by dialogue and conciliationIdentification as well as resolution of the prevailing issues by the leadersResidents of the community have a common vision of their future collectively that helps them to get motivated which further unite to face the challenges Institutions and organizations foresee and transform to an ever-changing environment Source: (Health Resources in Action, 2001)How Would You Provide Care For A Community If Your Idea Of A Healthy Community Does Not Match Your Communitys Definition Of A Healthy Community?In this case, it would be necessary to understand the drawbacks of the community and identify the issues that are necessary to be focused. Based on the analysis, required initiatives should be taken to make an effective community health project that would serve beneficial for the community. Moreover, I would also encourage people living in the community to participate in the health programs. ReferenceHealth Resources in Action. (2001). Defining healthy communities. Retrieved from hria.org/uploads/catalogerfiles/defining-healthy-communities/defining_healthy_communities_1113_final_report.pdf

Free Essays on Dana Tiger

Dana Tiger Dana Tiger has established herself as one of America’s leading contemporary artist. Dana was born in 1961 and is of Creek/Seminole and Cherokee descent. She is the daughter of Jerome and Peggy tiger and has a brother named Chris and a sister named Lisa. Dana’s father was a nationally claimed artist until he died of an accidental self inflicted gunshot wound to the head in 1967, when Dana was only five. Her mother Peggy was always a housewife and remains today as her only parent. Her brother Chris was also an artist until he was murdered in 1990 and in 1992 her only surviving sibling, Lisa, was told she tested positive for HIV. Dana was married to Donnie Blair in 1992. They have a daughter named Christie and a son named Coleman Lian. They live in a log cabin studio in the country near Tahlequah, Oklahoma right in the heart of the Cherokee Nation (Dana Tiger, â€Å"Biography,† artnatam.com/dtiger/bio.html). Dana was raised by her mother and her uncle, Johnny Tiger Jr. was sort of a father figure to her. Although Jerome Tiger died when Dana was only five, he was a prolific legacy. Dana’s Uncle Johnny recognized her talent early, and served as a mentor and tutor. Her mother Peggy also gave Dana a lot of guidance. She received her education from Oklahoma State University and received a lot of art instruction from her uncle. She has won several awards from juried competitions as a student from the Five Civilized Tribes Museum and the Heard Museum. As a professional artist she has also won several awards including the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in 1978, 1980 and 1987; the Tulsa Indian Art Festival and Pow Wow in 1988 and 1989, and the Cherokee National Museum in 1988 and 1989. In 1985 at age twenty-four, Dana began her full time career as an artist. Since then, her one-woman shows have been sellouts (Dana Tiger, â€Å"Biography,† geocities.com/SoHo/Museum/5059/danabi o.html). Dana is a m... Free Essays on Dana Tiger Free Essays on Dana Tiger Dana Tiger Dana Tiger has established herself as one of America’s leading contemporary artist. Dana was born in 1961 and is of Creek/Seminole and Cherokee descent. She is the daughter of Jerome and Peggy tiger and has a brother named Chris and a sister named Lisa. Dana’s father was a nationally claimed artist until he died of an accidental self inflicted gunshot wound to the head in 1967, when Dana was only five. Her mother Peggy was always a housewife and remains today as her only parent. Her brother Chris was also an artist until he was murdered in 1990 and in 1992 her only surviving sibling, Lisa, was told she tested positive for HIV. Dana was married to Donnie Blair in 1992. They have a daughter named Christie and a son named Coleman Lian. They live in a log cabin studio in the country near Tahlequah, Oklahoma right in the heart of the Cherokee Nation (Dana Tiger, â€Å"Biography,† artnatam.com/dtiger/bio.html). Dana was raised by her mother and her uncle, Johnny Tiger Jr. was sort of a father figure to her. Although Jerome Tiger died when Dana was only five, he was a prolific legacy. Dana’s Uncle Johnny recognized her talent early, and served as a mentor and tutor. Her mother Peggy also gave Dana a lot of guidance. She received her education from Oklahoma State University and received a lot of art instruction from her uncle. She has won several awards from juried competitions as a student from the Five Civilized Tribes Museum and the Heard Museum. As a professional artist she has also won several awards including the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in 1978, 1980 and 1987; the Tulsa Indian Art Festival and Pow Wow in 1988 and 1989, and the Cherokee National Museum in 1988 and 1989. In 1985 at age twenty-four, Dana began her full time career as an artist. Since then, her one-woman shows have been sellouts (Dana Tiger, â€Å"Biography,† geocities.com/SoHo/Museum/5059/danabi o.html). Dana is a m...

How to Use Possessive Nouns for ESL Learners

How to Use Possessive Nouns for ESL Learners Possessive nouns are used to show ownership. In other words, possessive nouns indicate that something belongs to someone. Possessive nouns are always placed directly before the  noun they modify. Formation and Examples of Possessive Nouns Possessive nouns are often proper names, but can also be objects or ideas. Examples Jennifers coat is beautiful!Peters house is on the corner of the next street.The books pages are made of plastic.The theorys application has been tested in India. The formation of possessive nouns is sometimes confusing to students. The reason for this is that many languages commonly use of for this construction. While of can sometimes be used in place of possessive nouns, it is not nearly as common in English as in other languages. Examples The color of his shirt NOT shirts colorThe ball of his dog NOT his dogs ball In everyday English, however, we generally use possessive nouns rather than this of form. Possessive Nouns Possessive nouns modify other nouns to indicate possession. Examples Peters motorcycleThe buildings structure Form the possessive noun by placing an apostrophe () after the noun s. Peter - Peters motorcyclebuilding - buildings structure When nouns end in s it can be difficult to know where to place the s for the possessive noun. For nouns ending in s, or to use the possessive noun with regular plurals, place the apostrophe directly after the s. Do not add another s. Parents - parents concern for their childrenComputers - computers manufacturer The placement of the apostrophe in a possessive pronoun indicates whether the possessive noun refers to the singular or the plural form. Notice that this construction can change the meaning from singular to plural. Examples The cats favorite food is tuna. (one cat)The cats favorite food is tuna. (more than one cat) Possessive Noun Checklist Possessive nouns are used with proper names, objects, and ideasPlace possessive nouns directly before the noun they modifyForm the possessive noun using an apostrophe before s in the singularForm plural possessive nouns by placing an apostrophe after sNote the placement of an apostrophe to check whether the possessive pronoun is singular or plural

What does it mean to become a nurse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

What does it mean to become a nurse - Essay Example The goal of this essay is to clearly define what a â€Å"nurse† really means literally along with his responsibilities and duties. Also, there will be a brief definition on the meaning of a â€Å"nurse† to people according to the common grounds of experience. One can just think of the benefits of having a private nurse inside his home. It is a combination of a mother and a care giver at the same time. It can’t be denied that the certainty of one getting well especially for a person who is sick not only relies on the doctor who gives prescriptions but also to the one who counts the time and gives him the medicine with care and with a longing of him getting, that is none other than a nurse. (AOS, pp 1)But more than the idea or the image of a woman wearing plain white suit who is always beside a doctor or beside a dying person at the hospital, a nurse is also a symbol of charity and true care for more than the issue on salary, the time that they devote into helping patients is more than the time ordinary employees spend in their offices. (AOS, pp. 2)I asked many people (nurses) why they devote time taking care of those who are sick and why can’t they just take care of themselves. The common answer was, â€Å"It feels good to be part of one person’s life in a way that you help them survive from a medical problem.† The vagueness of this answer can of course be told by a nurse and nobody else for the experience is unique and the risks encountered are for the ones who really risk their lives to help others, our nurses. That is just one good reason why anyone would choose to become a nurse. What then are the responsibilities of these nurses in the first place To start with the basic, they do the caring and advising for the sick person. They, just like the doctors maintain the health of their patients so that as much as possible, no further complications will arise. Then, with the prescription given by the physician or the doctor, the nurse takes charge and initiates the continuance of the patient's wellness and examples of this can be through giving the right dosage of medicine to the sick person based on the doctor's advice. The nurse also is the one who takes note or jots down the changes and or result of the drugs that were taken and through this, the doctor can make or can arrive on a decision on the condition of the patient. This isn't easy at all for sometimes, if the condition is critical, the nurse needs to be on call and should be ready anytime to write these changes. That leaves them with no idle time for themselves, although this factor should really be consi dered before entering the said profession. (AOS, pp. 2) In addition to this, the delegation of task is also in the name of a nurse where she can also assign to others the duties that she may not be able to accomplish. In order for the needs to be answered, he also tries to check every single bit of information that may be of use to the patient along with the kinds of resolution being made. If there is a hard condition such as being assigned to a special or intensive care, it is also possible that a nurse may not have enough knowledge on the condition but this is where the nurse's instinct comes in and with the help of her trainings and knowledge learned from experience, she survives along with her flexibility. (AOS, pp. 2) On the other hand, based on the Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia which contains the standards that are expected to be met by the nurses in the said place, the main idea for a nurse to become who she

Advanced HealthCare Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Advanced HealthCare Management - Assignment Example Likewise, the understaffing and being overworked could result to errors (medication errors, documentation errors, and even errors in the effective deliver y of patient care); as well as low morale, low productivity, job dissatisfaction, and high turnover. As reported in a news article, â€Å"a study of physicians in Massachusetts released today indicates poor RN-to-patient ratios in hospitals are resulting in significant harm and even death for patients. According to the survey, physicians rank understaffing of registered nurses as the biggest problem in Massachusetts hospitals directly affecting patient care† (Massachusetts Nurses Association, 2005, par. 1). The proposed solution to this motivational problem are as follows: job redesign through (1) a review of the staffing requirements based on the number of patients that are regularly confined in the health care setting; (2) determining the most appropriate nurse-patient ratio; (3) hire new or temporary nurses as deemed needed to addressing understaffing concerns, either on a short-term or long-term basis. Through these recommendations, the root cause of the problem would be determined through identifying the current number of patients who are being attended to, as well as the current supply of nurses in the organization. Current changes in the external environment could have significantly altered the demand and supply of patients and nurses which contributed to the problem. The second motivational problem is inadequate support or resources. For instance, in a nursing unit, there should be some expected level of supplies, equipment, medications, and hospital forms which are critical in undertaking the stipulated responsibilities. The list could include medical supplies and equipment in the emergency cart, prescribed medications, as well as patients’ charts and forms, among others. If any of these are inadequate, the performance of nurses would be jeopardized in terms of potentially affecting the level

Augmented Reality Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Augmented Reality Application - Essay Example The virtual scene which is generated through this process by the computer is designed so as to enhance the perception of the virtual world that the user is either interacting with or viewing. The main goal of the augmented reality is to help in creating a system whereby the user cannot be in a position to tell the difference between the real world and the virtual augmentation of it. Currently the Augmented Reality is used in different entertainment joints, engineering design, military and robotics, the process of manufacturing among others. (Roche, 2011) The video stratum mainly requires three main steps, which includes; Recognition of the object, face, image or the body. The second is tracking which is the real time localization in the space of the specific object, image or body. The third one is the mix which is the superposition of a media which is usually on top of the face, body, object or image. The process of these three often takes less than forty microseconds in order to det ect and match the fluidity in human eye for up to 2h5 images in every second. (Huang, 2013) For the past 3 decades, we have been entertained by different video games. The Augmented reality is moving the entertainment from the common graphics frequently seen in televisions. The technology blurs a thick line between what computer generates and what is real through the enhancing the senses of smell, sense and see. On the specific spectrum existing in the virtual reality and helps in the creation immersive real world and computer generated, the augmented reality is closer to the world. After using the technology, I realized that it adds sounds, graphics, smell and haptic feedback to the real and natural world just as it exists. Both the cell phones and the video games are vital in the development of the augmented reality. People from different professionals, tourists and even people from the military are now in a position to benefit from the possibility of computer generated graphics in the specific field of vision. It is axiomatic to argue that the augmented reality is changing the way people view world today especially its users. It is no doubt that technology changes the way we do business across the globe, but it is clear having used the app, that AR has taken the real feeling to the next level. The feeling after using the app makes it interesting that I needed to use it more. FOUR EXAMPLES The AR information in the four examples is amazing. Watching the segment gives one a sense and a feeling of wanting to watch again. It brings the world to its real form. In the first example of the movie, Posters, the app, gives an example of an individual watching a movie using the app. It tries to capture different pictures from the room to the field where he captures the picture of the ecosystem. It is just amazing the connecting it brings with the nature. The understanding of the application is made easier through the use of this system. The capturing of the whole seque nces portrays attractive images which appear to be real. The images are also very sharp and clear making one to have the feeling of watching the movie on a 3-D basis. (Sood, 2012) In the movie and scanning, it will be possible to scan the top movie posters using the Layar app so as to make it possible viewing the trainers, find information about the movie, see the critics. Using

Improving our Enlisted Evaluation Process Essay

Improving our Enlisted Evaluation Process - Essay Example The participants were all employees of Edryn, with no biases or references towards race, gender, or nationality, and were directly surveyed so that no proxies were used. Observations were made from the primary research method only. The survey encompassed a total of fifty descriptive questions explicative of the participants' view on coworkers as a whole, citing relevance towards: 'Teamwork;' 'Measurement;' 'Training;' 'Customer satisfaction;' 'Continuous improvement.' The answer parameters were scaled from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating 'Do not agree at all,' and 5 indicating 'Strongly agree.' The definitive for Teamwork was questions 1-10 on the survey. Teamwork as it correlates to the facility can be holistically described by these parameters, abstracted in order from the survey questions: a developed sense of belonging; harmonious; commitment to team goals; pride; freedom of information; helping one another; knowledge based; total involvement. Teamwork as it correlates to the facility can be holistically described by these parameters, abstracted in order from the survey questions: a developed sense of belonging; harmonious; commitment to team goals; pride; freedom of information; helping one another; knowledge based; total involvement. Teamwork as it correlates to the facility can be holistically described by these parameters, abstracted in order from the survey questions: a developed sense of belonging; harmonious; commitment to team goals; pride; freedom of information; helping one another; knowledge based; total involvement. In regards to measurement, the participants gauging of the establishment were approached with these abstracted concerns, voiced in a positive approach towards both internal and external suppliers: performance standards; systems of measurement; internal performance standards; tracking improvements; awareness of cost and work; quality of product and service; quality of process; potential of improvement; reliance on data for improvement. The answer parameters were scaled from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating 'Do not agree at all,' and 5 indicating 'Strongly agree.' Organizational Improvement Data Analysis Table 1 shows the dispersed quantitative responses of all participants. Table 2: Data Analysis shows the average, median, mode, standard deviation and variance between all test dimensions. The average measures the mean; this is used to describe the intermediate values across the boards. The median defines the midpoint in the series of responses, and the mode is used to note the most commonly occurring value. Standard deviation measures the spread of the test scores; this is used to define the difference average difference in the data set, and is the square root of the variance. Variance measures the dispersion of the test scores as the average squared deviations from the mean. The data analysis uses a 0.05 significance level to gauge the probability of rejection with the sample size and standard deviation to signify the confidence intervals for east dimension. Table 2: Data

The Educational autobiography of tiffany merlo Essay

The Educational autobiography of tiffany merlo - Essay Example I am the oldest of three siblings and I was raised in East Flatbush Brooklyn. It is certainly not the most glamorous section of New York, but it is not the worst either. I was raised by my mother who was assisted by her parents. My mother was a stay at home mother. She only has a high school diploma and she received public assistance. My father is a college dropout and was employed by IMB as a computer developer. My parents were divorced and I must admit that my father was mostly absent during my formative years. I suppose that divorce was not so common in those days, and for those women who found themselves divorced, life was not easy. To say that my father has had no influence on my education and future goals is an understatement. In sum, I suppose that one would term us as a working class family. As I noted above, the area in which I was raised was hardly glamorous but it seemed to be home to a myriad of income families. The schools I attended were located in decent urban neighborhoods that consisted of a combination of homes and apartment buildings for low- income families. Life in my household, as in the other working class families in my neighborhood did not revolve around long verbal discussions. We were taught humility and obedience. Conversation with my mother and grandparents revolved around chores and making sure we minded our manners. I took direction well and was charged with the care of my younger siblings. Failure to adhere to the commandments of my family resulted in penalties that sometimes were physical. (Annette Lareau, 2003 Unequal childhoods , Pg. 107). Despite the lack of cerebral conversation at my dinner table it was always automatically understood that I would excel in my education. My mother and grandparents had high expectations for my siblings and me. I was always expected to complete my homework as soon as I returned home from school, to study and practice hard in preparation for upcoming exams, and to try my level best to receive A's and B's in my course work. I consider myself to be an exceptional student and credit these basic expectations with it. While attending elementary school 219, the classrooms were fully equipped with what seems to be up to date equipment, and the playgrounds had durable swing sets. There was a mural that represented the children of the school painted on the bricks with a whimsical appearance, and the ground was covered in smooth asphalt and cement space for children to run around, engage in creative drawing, play hop scotch, and to jump rope. Most of my teachers were Caucasian females with the exception of Ms. White and Ms. Murray, my African American first and fourth grade teachers and a small amount of male teachers who taught math and science solely. Humble and cooperative, I was an exceptional student that received high grades for my efforts. As adolescent, I found it easy to make new friends and fit into the diversity of my schools. I created my own identity as a student. I was valued a great deal amongst my peers and felt above average. I was very likeable, well mannered, and never was a trouble-making student. The teachers in my school focused on the smart students, or the students who were more engaged in the course work because they either participated more often or knew the answers. The quiet students did not participate often in class and thus, quickly forgotten until report cards are distributed. "In working class schools, work is following the

Pumps Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Pumps - Essay Example Identify typical applications stating the advantages and disadvantages for each of the following pump types: i. Single stage horizontal vertical split centrifugal This is a horizontal, single-stage, double volute axially split case centrifugal pump. The suction nozzle and the discharge nozzle which are cast intergrally and the nozzle is configured side by side. APPLICATIONS The single stage horizontal split centrifugal pump is used for different purpoases in different fileds, some of which are: i. The single stage horizontal split centrifugal pumps are broadly used in the fire systems. ii. They are used to a greater extent in oil refining. iii. Petrochemical. iv. Sugar Industry water supply system. v. Paper Industry water supply system. vi. They are used in pipelines for long distance pumping of fluids. vii. Power Generation. viii. They can be used in cycling use of water in air-conditioning ix. They are used in mining industry. x. They are also used in pressurized water transportati on in the waterworks. ADVANTAGES The single stage horizontal split centrifugal pumps have the following distinct advantages: i. Horizontally split casing, double volute minimizes thrust loads and therefore allow for operation over a wide range of capacities. ii. It is a high efficiency design compared to the other designs. iii. It has enclosed impellers and double suction which provides the hydraulic balance and therefore eliminating the axial thrust. iv. It is capable of a clockwise or counter clockwise rotation. v. It has a compact structure which therefore makes it to be space efficient. vi. The pump has an axial which is small in size with little vibration and therefore low noise. vii. They are normally easy to service viii. Horizontal Split Case, can be mounted vertically which also contributes to the efficient use of space and allows flexibility while fitting the pump. DISADVANTAGES i. These pumps are non-self-priming and therefore they are prone to cavitation which therefore necessitates manual priming making its use tedious. ii. There is a high tendency of corrosion inside this pump which is caused by the fluid properties of the fluid pumped. iii. There is a risk of impeller wear which is worsened by presence of suspended solids in the fluid being pumped. iv. There may occur overheating as a resukt of low flow of the fluid in the pump and this usually affects its efficiency v. There is a tendency for leakage to occur along the rotating shaft. b) Horizontal split double suction centrifugal These are pumps that usually have a horizontal pump shaft and with the impeller usually located at the center of the shaft and with a self-contained combination bearing housing with a seal chamber on both impeller sides. Without causing disturbance to the motor or the pipe-work, the split case construction ensures the pump can be set apart in a horizontal plane along the drive shaft.   APPLICATIONS The horizontal split double suction pumps are typically designed for liquid transfer and for circulation of the cold clean or for slightly polluted water. The most common applications include; i. They are used for general purpose pumping ii. The horizontal split double suction centrifugal pumps can be used for air conditioning. iii. They can also be used in cooling towers. iv. The double suction pumps can be used in irrigation and drainage pumping stations.

The Educational autobiography of tiffany merlo Essay

The Educational autobiography of tiffany merlo - Essay Example I am the oldest of three siblings and I was raised in East Flatbush Brooklyn. It is certainly not the most glamorous section of New York, but it is not the worst either. I was raised by my mother who was assisted by her parents. My mother was a stay at home mother. She only has a high school diploma and she received public assistance. My father is a college dropout and was employed by IMB as a computer developer. My parents were divorced and I must admit that my father was mostly absent during my formative years. I suppose that divorce was not so common in those days, and for those women who found themselves divorced, life was not easy. To say that my father has had no influence on my education and future goals is an understatement. In sum, I suppose that one would term us as a working class family. As I noted above, the area in which I was raised was hardly glamorous but it seemed to be home to a myriad of income families. The schools I attended were located in decent urban neighborhoods that consisted of a combination of homes and apartment buildings for low- income families. Life in my household, as in the other working class families in my neighborhood did not revolve around long verbal discussions. We were taught humility and obedience. Conversation with my mother and grandparents revolved around chores and making sure we minded our manners. I took direction well and was charged with the care of my younger siblings. Failure to adhere to the commandments of my family resulted in penalties that sometimes were physical. (Annette Lareau, 2003 Unequal childhoods , Pg. 107). Despite the lack of cerebral conversation at my dinner table it was always automatically understood that I would excel in my education. My mother and grandparents had high expectations for my siblings and me. I was always expected to complete my homework as soon as I returned home from school, to study and practice hard in preparation for upcoming exams, and to try my level best to receive A's and B's in my course work. I consider myself to be an exceptional student and credit these basic expectations with it. While attending elementary school 219, the classrooms were fully equipped with what seems to be up to date equipment, and the playgrounds had durable swing sets. There was a mural that represented the children of the school painted on the bricks with a whimsical appearance, and the ground was covered in smooth asphalt and cement space for children to run around, engage in creative drawing, play hop scotch, and to jump rope. Most of my teachers were Caucasian females with the exception of Ms. White and Ms. Murray, my African American first and fourth grade teachers and a small amount of male teachers who taught math and science solely. Humble and cooperative, I was an exceptional student that received high grades for my efforts. As adolescent, I found it easy to make new friends and fit into the diversity of my schools. I created my own identity as a student. I was valued a great deal amongst my peers and felt above average. I was very likeable, well mannered, and never was a trouble-making student. The teachers in my school focused on the smart students, or the students who were more engaged in the course work because they either participated more often or knew the answers. The quiet students did not participate often in class and thus, quickly forgotten until report cards are distributed. "In working class schools, work is following the

Writing 100 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Writing 100 - Essay Example Modics analyzes arguments from different witnesses, which support the fact that the deceased woman was a smoker. Raynor’s appellate lawyers, Maureen McBride and James Sargent Jr., immediately filed an emergency appeal with the Superior Court. Their appeal indicated that they had new evidence from Joe Chapman. Chapman, a witness in court, argues that he eavesdropped Raynor telling DR. John Kelly, who was the expert witness, that the court judge (Paul Panepinto) had completely banned the mention of the woman who was in trial as a smoker. However, Kelly indicates in this article that he decided to come forward after learning about Raynor’s predicament in the inquirer. The author indicates that Chapman came forward after obtaining information from the inquirer, which indicated the sanctions that were imposed on Raynor. Joseph Chapman, supports the argument that Wilson was a smoker by indicating that he overheard Raynor talk about smoking to the doctor. Per curiam of the superior court indicated that the judges considered Chapman’s testimony. Panepinto accused Raynor of manipulating the testimony indicating that Raynor had changed her whole story. Plaintff’s lawyer, Mathew D’Annuzo, questioned the extended periods taken by Chapman to testify. He argued that two years was a very long time. D’Anozo supports this argument by indicating that he had noted the presence of Chapman in the court room. This happened when Kelly testified that Raynor was a smoker. Dr. John Kelly also supports the argument that the deceased woman was a smoker by indicating that she went to hospital complaining of short breath. The physicians conducted X-ray that showed a suspicious nodule. The doctors, however, failed to inform her about the nodule. The woman later died of Lung cancer. As a result of this, the author indicates that Panepinto banned any testimony that would be requested by Plaintiffs’ lawyers. Panepinto believed that the testimonies would divert the attention of

Theories of child development

Theories of child development Describe and evaluate two stage theories of child development Developmental psychologists use theories to formulate hypotheses. There are three main, very broad families of theories related to child development. These are Psychoanalytical Theory, Learning Theory and Cognitive-Developmental Theory. Theories within each of these families attempt to provide developmentalists with comprehensive explanations of just about every facet of human development. Psychoanalytic Theories (e.g. Freud and Erikson) propose that developmental change happens because of the influence of internal drives and emotions on behaviour. Learning Theories (e.g. Pavlov, Bandura etc.) propose that development results from an accumulation of experiences. Cognitive-Developmental Theories (e.g. Piaget and Vygotsky) emphasise the mental processes in development. Freuds Psychosexual Theory is an example of a Psychoanalytical Theory. Freud mainly worked with adults who were suffering from severe mental illnesses and he used his findings to base his work on development. He concluded that behaviour is governed by both conscious and unconscious thought processes and he believed that the libido is the motivating force behind most of our behaviour. One of the main parts of Freuds theory is his idea that a persons personality is divided into 3 parts called the id, the ego and the superego. The id is a persons basic sexual and aggressive impulses. The id contains the libido and motivates a person to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The ego is the conscious, thinking part of a persons personality. One of its main jobs is to keep the needs of the id satisfied. It is also responsible for keeping the three components of personality in balance. Finally, the superego is the part of our personality that acts as a moral judge. When the superego has developed, t he egos task becomes much more difficult. It must satisfy the id without violating the superegos rules. According to Freud, a person experiences tension when any of the three components is in conflict with another. He believed that sexual feelings are vital to personality development however he only believed this because many of his patients had memories of sexual feelings and behaviour in childhood. Freuds most controversial idea was regarding childrens experiences of sexual attraction towards the opposite-sex parent during the phallic stage. He termed these ‘The Oedipus Conflict for a male child and ‘The Electra Complex if the child was female. For example, The Oedipus Conflict states that a male child has sexual feelings for his mother but fears that his father will find out and castrate him. Freud proposed a series of psychosexual stages. He believed that a child passes through each one of these stages. These stages are oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital. He believed that during each stage the libido is fixed around a certain area of the body and a major developmental task takes place. For example, in the oral stage, which Freud believed occurred from birth and lasted until the child was one year old, libido is said to be focussed on the mouth, lips and tongue. Freud believed that during this stage the major developmental task that took place was weaning. In the anal stage, libido is focussed on the anus and toilet training takes place. This usually occurs at ages 1 to 3 years old. In the phallic stage, focus is on the genitals (as it is in the genital stage) and this is where the child tries to resolve the Oedipus/Electra complex. Freud thought that the latency period is not really a psychosexual stage as the libido is not focussed on the body during this period a nd therefore, fixation is impossible. Freud went on to state that if an adult is fixated at one of these stages, they will have certain recognisable characteristics. For example, if an adult is fixated at the oral stage they will develop characteristics such as smoking, overeating, passivity and gullibility. According to Freud, optimum development requires an environment that will satisfy the unique needs of each period. Freuds Psychosexual Theory has been praised because it provides a psychological explanation for mental illness and it emphasises the importance of experiences in infancy and early childhood. It also highlights the importance of the childs earliest relationships with their caregivers. It suggests that a childs needs change with age, so parents and caregivers must continually adapt to the changing child. Eriksons Psychosocial Theory supports Freuds Theory. Erikson (1963) was a neo-Freudian which means that his ideas were built on the strengths of Freuds Theory but he attempted to avoid the weaknesses. Erikson proposed that personality develops in eight psychosocial stages over the course of the lifespan. He believed that personality develops through eight life crises across the entire lifespan. A person finishes each crisis with either a good or poor resolution. The theory also provided psychologists with a number of helpful concepts (e.g. id, ego, superego, unconscious etc) and many o f these terms are not used in everyday language and not just in psychological theory. Freud is often credited with the invention of psychotherapy, which is still practiced today. However, there are many theorists that disagree with Freuds ideas. For example, Baldwin (1967) states that one of the main criticisms of Freuds work is that it focus upon our thoughts and feelings, which presents many methodological problems. Baldwin goes on to comment on the fact that many of the terms that Freud uses (e.g. id, ego etc.) have not been operationalised. Operational definitions of the key terms are vital to a scientific theory as we need precise definitions in order to test the theories properly. This therefore means that the theory is not falsifiable. Freuds theory has also been criticised because of the evidence it presents. As stated earlier, much of the support for Freuds theory came from his own patients, who he used as case studies. He mainly chose to study women as he saw them as being inferior and this meant that his theory displays some very patriarchal issues and can be viewed as being very negative to women, something which feminists have argued for years. Piagets Cognitive-Developmental Theory is used to emphasise the mental processes in development. Piaget (1974) believed that all children seem to go through the same sequence of discoveries about their world, making the same mistakes and arriving at the same solutions. A scheme is an internal cognitive structure that provides an individual with a procedure to use in a specific circumstance. This is a main idea in Piagets model. Piaget believed that each of us starts life with a small repertoire of sensory and motor schemes, such as looking, tasting, touching, hearing, and reaching. As we use each scheme it starts to work better. Piaget proposed 3 processes in order to explain how children get from built-in schemes, such as looking and touching, to the complex mental schemes used in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Assimilation is the process by which we use a scheme to make sense of an event or situation. The complementary process is accommodation, which involves changing the sc heme as a result of some new information acquired through assimilation. Through accommodation we improve our skills and reorganise our ways of thinking. Equilibration is the process of balancing assimilation and accommodation to create schemes that fit the environment. Piagets research suggested to him that logical thinking evolves in four stages. During the sensorimotor stage, from birth to 18 months, infants use their sensory and motor schemes to act on the world around them. In the preoperational stage, from 18 months to 6 years, children acquire symbolic schemes, such as language and fantasy, which they use in thinking and communicating. Next, is the concrete operational stage, 6-12 year olds begin to think logically and become capable of solving problems. The final stage is the formal operational stage. Here, adolescents learn to think logically about abstract ideas and hypothetical situations. Piaget believed that each stage comes from the one before it, and each involves major restructuring of the childs way of thinking. Research has confirmed that the sequence of stages is fixed and that children progress through them at different rates. Conservation studies, such as those carried out by Ciancio et al (1999) and Sophian (1995), have generally confirmed Piagets observations. Although it does seem as though younger children can demonstrate some understanding of conservation if the task is made very simple, most children cannot consistently solve conservation and other kinds of logical problems until at least the age of 5. However, Boyd and Bee (2008) state that preschoolers are a great deal more cognitively sophisticated than Piaget thought. Boyd and Bee believe that children, as young as 2 and 3, do appear to understand that another person sees and experiences things differently than they do. This therefore suggests that Piaget may have been wrong about some of the ages at which children develop certain skills. However, Bringuier (1980) counter-criticises this by recognising that the age ranges of each of the stages were always meant to be approximate. Piaget may also be wrong about the generality of the stages. For e xample, Boyd and Bee (2008) suggest that most 8 year olds show concrete operational thinking on some tasks but not on others, and they are more likely to show complex thinking on familiar rather than unfamiliar tasks. This therefore suggests that the process of child development may be a lot less stage-like than Piaget first suggested. Piatelli-Palmarini (1980) and Turiel (1996) go on to further argue this point by suggesting that it is very difficult to provide evidence for Piagets theory if the behaviour he suggests is very rarely, if ever, consistent with actually happens. This theory helps to explain how children of different ages think about and act on the world. Piagets research findings have been replicated in nearly every culture since his work was first published in the 1920s. Therefore, not only did he formulate a new theory which forced psychologists to think about child development in a new way, he also provided a set of findings that were impossible to ignore and difficult to explain. He also developed innovative methods of studying childrens thinking that continue to be important today. Feldman (2004) states that the question of how a child moves from one stage to another has been discussed between many critics of Piagets theory. For example, Gruber and Voneche (1977) and Karmiloff-Smith (1992) believe that Piagets stages should not longer be considered by theorists because they are unnecessary. However, Piaget knew that the stages he proposed would have to be modified. Feldman (2004) attempted to present a contemporary version of Piagets stages that he hoped would work better to express Piagets vision of what the stages are intended to represent. Feldman went on to state that a child may not actually behave in ways consistent with the principles of the operating system or overall set of cognitive structures of his or her stage. Feldman (2004) suggests that Piagets idea of equilibration has caused much controversy between theorists with many making efforts to interpret, clarify, critique and revise the concept. Feldman goes on to say that Piaget himself was not satisfied with the way that equilibration explains in detail how the transitions between the stages take place. Piaget (1975) tried to discover an elaborated version of equilibration so as to better capture movement from stage to stage within his theory. The main problem with equilibration is that it lacks a lot of detail. Most critics seem to agree that it is correct, but it leaves many unanswered questions. When equilibration processes are contrasted with structures as a whole, lots of problems arise for the theory. According to Siegler and Munakato (1993) the equilibration model forces us to choose to accept unrealistic transitions that occur from stage to stage or to abandon the idea of structures as a whole. However, if this was to happen, some o f the theorys major claims would be abandoned. Feldman (1995) went on to adapt Piagets theory. In doing so, he adapted it in such a way that the equilibration process would continue to play a central role in cognitive structures, but it no longer has to carry the burden of stage transition alone. The Information Processing Theory supports Piagets Theory. This uses the computer as a model to explain intellectual processes such as memory and problem-solving. It suggests that there are both age differences and individual differences in the efficiency with which humans use their information-processing systems. This theory can be used to explain Piagets Theory. Case (1985) states that this is a neo-Piagetian theory which expands on Piagets Theory rather than contradicting it. However, Boyd and Bee (2008) state that Vygotskys Sociocultural Theory goes against what Piaget proposed. Vygotsky stated that complex forms of thinking have their origins in social interactions rather than in the childs private explorations, as Piaget thought.

Technology in the Classroom Essay -- Technology Education

Computers play a large role in today’s society, inside and outside of classrooms. Like many forms of technology, they have the power to hinder students learning in achieving goals in higher education classrooms. In her essay Lest We Think the Revolution is a Revolution: Images of Technology and the Nature of Change, Cynthia Selfe, a Humanities Distinguished Professor at The Ohio State University, discusses the continuous argument about the effects that computers have on education due to change in technology. As a college student, I am able to closely relate to various statements she makes because I deal with these â€Å"issues† on a daily basis. Thus, the subject of computers in higher education classrooms is a controversial to many people. However, I do not believe that computer technology is a necessity in classrooms. While growing up, it is apparent that students have always had the opportunity to engage in technology in classrooms. As a child, I remember computers in the school library at a very young age. Therefore, I was able to type, search the web, and do various other things on a computer. However, one would think that as students progressed and advanced to higher grades that the technology would also advance and become more challenging however, it did not. Students have primarily been utilizing the same types of technology in classrooms for years on end and no problems have arisen from that. However, other forms of technology could potentially be useful in classrooms such as projectors, smart boards, and tools that teachers are familiar with to use. If new forms of technology are not a major necessity, why spend the money to buy them and the time on them? Also, if a student is not planning to make a career out of utilizing ... ...y. "Lest We Think the Revolution Is a Revolution: Images of Technology and the Nature of Change Cynthia Selfe." From Inquiry to Academic Writing: a Text and Reader. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. Print. Wurst, Christian, Claudia Smarkola, and Mary Anne Gaffney. "Ubiquitous Laptop Usage in Higher Education: Effects on Student Achievement, Student Satisfaction, and Constructivist Measures in Honors and Traditional Classrooms." Jan. 2008. Web. 16 July 2008.

Genetic Screening Will Not Put Limits on Equal Opportunity :: Science Biology Biological Essays

Genetic Screening Will not Put Limits on Equal Opportunity Introduction Genetic screening is a pressing issue in today's public policy forum, research and industry. Genetic screening provides enormous opportunities and is an incredible advance in science. However, genetic screening poses problems that are not and can not be easily overlooked. These are the following two issues dealt with in this paper. What can genetic screening offer people that currently is not being offered and at what cost to the people will this advance be? Genetic screening was devised to offer people a service and more important, to essentially, protect them from themselves. Genetic screening involves the screening of persons' genotypes to determine if they (1) are already associated with disease or are predisposed to disease, (2) may pass on disease to their descendants, or (3) produce other variations not associated with disease. (NAS 1975) Genetic screening is used as a means to prevent the onset or provide control for genetically inherited diseases. This in the long run is economical and treatment is effective. Screening of this type involves the detection of genetic disease and must first be defined to assure an understanding in the objectives of screening. Carriers of a genetic disease appear normal and are not affected except if the trait is expressed quantitatively across a population. In this case, the individual will have some disease characteristics however, not as severe as those with the disease. Individuals that have a genetic disease are almost always homozygous recessive for that gene meaning that there is an insufficiency in its ability to perform the correct function. One must not mistake a genetic screening test with a genetic diagnostic test. The difference is great and can be easily confused. A genetic screening test is not a definite confirmation of disease presence. It only gives an alert or signal to the possible presence that could affect the health of an individual. A genetic diagnostic test can tell with greater certainty if a disease is present in an individual. (Blatt 1996) Testing-Methods There are different times throughout the life span of a human in which genetic tests, both screening and diagnostic, can be preformed. The most popular and recognizable are the prenatal tests and testing of newborns. The genetic screening tests currently available for pregnant women are maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening, enhanced MSAFP, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS), fetal biopsy and fetal cell sorting.

Evaluating Areas of Knowledge

Music can affect us in many ways. It can evoke emotion or bring back a long-forgotten memory. It is present in nearly every aspect of life. Anywhere you travel, you come into contact with music. Whether it is on the radio in the car, in the supermarket, or on television, there is no escaping the constant presence of music. Music is composed for various reasons and purposes. Sometimes, composers are compelled to create a musical work to express their emotions, or even opinions. Music is also created to express the cultural aspects. Since there are so many reasons music is created and purposes it is used for, how is it possible to know music and in what ways can music be known? According to the International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge, there are several specific ways of knowing that allow knowledge claims to be evaluated. The infinitive, to know, can be evaluated by using reason, language, perception, and emotion. All of these ways can be utilized when evaluating the claim â€Å"I know this music. † Also, most of these mentioned ways of knowing can be applied to other areas of knowledge besides the arts. To begin, knowing music can be evaluated by using reason as logic. Obviously, if someone where to make this claim, he could simply be referring to the fact that he had heard it before. But logically, looking on a deeper level, the claim could mean that he had played through the music before. Often when musicians play a piece of music, or especially when it is performed, it has greater meaning to them and allows them to know it more intimately. When playing a piece of music, artists can put their own personal feeling into it. They can vary certain aspects such as tempo and phrasing. Not only does playing music speak to a listening audience, it speaks to the artist. This makes playing music a very psychological process, as it evokes certain feelings from listener and performer. Very gifted musicians are sometimes able to merely look at a piece of music, to analyze each note and rhythm, and be able to claim they know the piece. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was able to know music in this way. He would compose entire symphonies and concertos entirely in his mind before ever writing them down. And when he did write them down, he never changed a note. Mozart never had to physically hear a piece of music to know what it sounded like; he could hear it in his mind. Likewise, this was true for Beethoven, who composed and conducted his ninth symphony after becoming deaf. This process of knowing occurs on a much more intellectual level then actually playing music. However, both methods present knowledge of music. Besides using reason as logic, one can also consider the reason in the purpose of music in order to fully know it. Music is usually always created for some purpose. Composers are inspired and feel compelled to express their creativity. However, despite the composer's initial purpose for the music, its purpose to society may become completely different. For instance, many early classical composers were hired by courts and forced to compose music for the king. Often they would just write so as to get paid and to save themselves from poverty or execution. They would never have imagined that their music would, hundreds of years later, be listened to in the homes of middle class amilies as their children fervently practice the current assignment from the piano teacher. Music can be written to express opinions of society, culture, and authority. The popular rapper Eminem, constantly criticized for his outspokenness, articulates his views through his controversial lyrics. Similarly, the members of the heavy metal band Rage Against the Machine are known for their radical views of government and have even been arrested several times for protesting on the steps of the capital. Rage uses their music to communicate their opinions and speak to others who feel the same. Altogether, the purpose of music can be used to evaluate how it is known. Next, the claim can also be evaluated by analyzing certain aspects of language. Semantics is a term often applied to the study of meaning in language. In order to study language, one needs to consider two aspects of language: denotation and connotation. Denotation can be thought of as the way in which a word is defined, as in the dictionary. Connotation, on the other hand, is thought of as the color of the word, or what it implies. Therefore, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the definition of the verb ‘to know' is: to perceive directly, or have direct cognition of, to have understanding of, to recognize the nature of, to recognize as being the same as something previously known, to be acquainted or familiar with, or to have experience of. The denotation of a word is very straightforward and differs from the connotation in that it lacks emotion. For example, when trying to explain love to a child, it does no good to give them a dictionary definition. On the other hand, the connotation of knowing can be explained in countless ways. For example, the word can infer that there is a strong emotional connection, whether it be positive or negative. The connotation also involves many other areas other than just the word, such as the tone of voice it is said in, or the context in which it is placed. When evaluating a claim, one cannot fully depend on a single aspect of semantics. Both denotation and connotation need to be taken into account in order to evaluate knowledge claims. In addition, perception is another way of knowing. Perception varies between all individuals. Perception makes each person unique. Therefore, it is difficult to make a generalized statement about perception besides the fact that it can drastically change the way identical events are interpreted. Perception can be influenced by many different factors such as culture, economic status, and religion. These factors can be described as filters through which the world is perceived. When applied to a knowledge claim, perception mainly varies between individuals' views of what it means to know something. Take, for instance, the individual making the knowledge claim, â€Å"I know this music. One person's perception of what it means to know could vary from the perception of the person being told. The only way to bridge this gap in perception, is to become tolerant of others' views. Applied to others areas of knowledge, these ways of analyzing knowledge claims are valid yet sometimes irrelevant. For instance, the methods work for theoretical, language, and creativity based areas such as politics and the arts. However, when applied to more factual areas like mathematics and the natural sciences, the above methods are not suitable. For these areas, processes such as proofs and the scientific method are used.

Psychology of Terrorism Essay

In his article, Vaisman-Tzachor (2006) discussed the most common misconceptions regarding terrorist profiling in forensic psychology. True, where effective forensic profiling techniques are absent, there is no place for effective counterterrorism strategies. In this context, the profiling criteria described by Vaisman-Tzachor (2006) are particularly interesting and important when applied to psychological profile of Osama Bin Laden. From the viewpoint of forensic psychology, and through the prism of Vaisman-Tzachor’s (2006) psychological criteria, forensic profiling of Osama Bin Laden should begin with the profound analysis of his personal background (age, educational background, ethnicity, socio-economic status, national origin and marital status, religious or social affiliations). Contrary to traditional (and probably, outdated beliefs), the national origin of Osama Bin Laden will play important, but not the primary role in creating the picture of his personality. Of course, â€Å"elements such as Arab ethnic or national background [†¦] are highly important in the list of the determinant variables† (Vaisman-Tzachor, 2006), but psychological profile of Osama Bin Laden seems even more consistent with the fact that he is unmarried, possesses sufficient material background and displays negative disposition to the non-Muslim society. Simultaneously, Osama Bin Laden does not match the criminal profile created by Vaisman-Tzachor (2006), where the likelihood of a terrorist act is inversely related to the age of the potential terrorist; in case of Osama, his age is evidently associated with the growing terrorist experience and the increasing sophistication of his terrorist needs. Objectively, and truly for many generations of terrorists, Osama Bin Laden is fairly regarded a kind of a mythical figure, â€Å"who represents a messianic being to members of those national groups and social entities, who are disenfranchised by political, religious, or ethnic circumstances† (Vaisman-Tzachor, 2006), and this mythical figure works to establish closer ties and strengthen the existing terrorist identifications in his terrorist networks. In this context, Osama Bin Laden is a multifaceted image of the leader, whose criminality and respectability are uniquely combined to shape the new vision of a charismatic terrorist. Historical and sociocultural antecedents of September 11 The escalation of international violence and the growing anti-American moods have generated a set of questions regarding the historical and sociocultural antecedents of September 11. Objectively, a whole set of factors have contributed into the development of violent attitudes toward American nation, of which September 11 was the culmination; in this context, the continuous political commitment to â€Å"low intensity conflicts† and the self-declared pro-American ideology which lacks authoritarian rule and visible religiosity have become the two most important antecedents of the 9/11 attack. In his book, Michaels (2002) refers to the â€Å"low intensity conflict† scenario, to which American presidency adhered over the course of the last decades. The declaration of anti-terrorist ideals and the deceptive need for maintaining low intensity wars in the most problematic international regions was expected to strengthen the military power of the United States, and to ensure that America was able to respond to the most challenging social and military conflicts all over the world. What the United States had obviously overlooked was that the gradual military expansion might not have been favored by other nations (Michaels, 2002). Increased military spending combined with the overt rejection of treaty opportunities have formed the set of historical antecedents which led to the emergence of the new quality relationships between the two worlds – the Muslim and the orthodox. After the fall of socialism in the world, the rhetoric of the American hyperpower has literally doubled, and all visions of authority and power have since then been projected onto the U. S. (Werz, 2004). Given historically relevant anti-American attitudes, the multiplying American superiority has frozen the cultural difference between the two worlds. The social development in America has been colored with obvious secularization of the public opinion and the values, which the American nation has treated as its own (Werz, 2004). Thus, the events of September 11 have come as the culmination in the growing opposition against the militaristic attitudes of the United States towards its political and cultural superiority. Psychology of terrorism In the aftermath of 9/11 attacks researchers and psychology professionals have become increasingly concerned about the origins and the motives of terrorist attacks. The current state of empirical research is pressured by numerous prejudices and misconceptions that have grown as a result of the overt callousness of terrorist attacks. By turning terrorists into a group of abnormally deviant people, however, psychologists have seriously distorted the real image of a true terrorist. Silke (2004) is correct: we cannot be certain that terrorism is a kind of psychological abnormality, unless we are able to avoid bias and to promote objectivity in our judgments. It is difficult not to agree to Silke (2004) in that the differences in the current research of terrorism have become the results of our inability to explore and document primary information, and the impossibility to access primary sources of information about terrorists. â€Å"The risks involved for the potential researcher are considerable. Academic researchers have been threatened, kidnapped, attacked, and shot for attempting to research terrorism† (Silke, 2004). In our quest for better understanding of terrorist psychology, we frequently become the victims of our own psychological misconceptions. We still operate scarce and unclear (as well as unreliable) data concerning the major emotional and psychological issues terrorists face on their way to a violent act. Seeking sensations, we tend to neglect the role which primary data may play in developing and spreading a completely new vision of terrorism. With the scarcity of tools of psychological and sociological research which could be readily applied to terrorism, and bearing in mind an almost complete impossibility to access primary sources of data, it is unlikely that we will be able to produce a single relevant and the most objective psychological profile of a terrorist in the coming decade. References Michaels, C. W. (2002). No greater threat: America after September 11 and the rise of a national security state. Algora Publishing. Silke, A. (2004). Courage in dark places: reflections on terrorist psychology. Social Research, 71 (1): 177-198. Vaisman-Tzachor, R. (2006). Psychological profiles of Terrorists. Forensic Examiner, 15 (2): 6-17. Werz, M. (2004). Anti-Americanism and ambivalence: Remarks on an ideology in historical transformation. Telos, 129: 75-95.

Psychology Schools Paper Essay

Behaviorism Behaviorism would explain road rage by looking at the person’s environment to see why he or she would become enraged and show aggressive behavior towards other drivers. Using behaviorism, you would examine what is happening at that time, who is involved, the driver, the passengers, and other drivers. Some factors that could exhibit the driver’s frustrations are traffic jams, loud noises, a disgruntled mood before driving, and annoying passengers. To prevent road rage from happening, the driver should be in a good mood, the passengers should understand they should be well behaved, and should leave earlier so that they have a smaller risk of getting caught in traffic. Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis can be used to determine the cause of road rage by looking at a person’s dreams and childhood. By examining the dreams, you may be able to find out if the person had an upsetting dream and could possibly put the driver in a bad mood, which could cause him to experience road rage. You could ask the person about the kind of childhood he or she had. If the person had a violent parent or a parent who experienced violent outbursts, the driver may have thought that that was an acceptable way to act. Using free association, you could give the person a word that is traffic related and ask them what comes to mind by learning about their dreams and their childhood, you may be able to gain some insight and see what caused the road rage. Humanism Within the context of humanism, you would need to get the person to examine the reality of the road rage episode and how they behaved and the ideal way they should have acted in the driving situation. You would have the person break down the problem and they could tell you that they were on their way to the market when someone suddenly veered into their lane, which upset the person and they became aggressive towards the other driver. Once they have determined what the problem is, acting aggressively while driving, you could then have the person explain how they really would have handled the situation in a perfect world. Neurobiological From a neurobiological point of view, you would want to find out if there were mental or health issues that played a part in the road rage. You could do a psychological examination to see if they had depression, bipolar, or any other mental disorder that could cause a violent reaction to a traffic incident. If it turns out that here is a chemical imbalance caused by depression or another mental disorder, then you could prescribe medications to help the person manage their behavior. Helping a fellow student who has dropped all of their books down the stairs Behaviorism Using behaviorism, you would examine what is happening at that time, who was involved, and what other factors in the surrounds are. An example of this could be a small, weak looking girl could have accidentally dropped her books down the stairs. A boy was late to class and would walk past her, but he sees a teacher and doesn’t want to leave a bad impression on the teacher by ignoring the school’s â€Å"above the line† rules, which tell students to help each other in any ways they can, so he goes and helps her pick up her books. Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis can be used to look at a person’s dreams and childhood. They could be asked if they had any childhood memories of dropping books and having no one help the person pick them up. Using this information, you could see why the person would help another student pick up their books, because they didn’t want the other student to feel the same way they did when no one helped the person. Looking into the dreams the student may have had could also show if they had a dream where they helped another student and received thanks from the student who dropped their books. The person may have wanted to have the dream become a reality by receiving thanks by helping the other student pick up the books. Humanism Using humanism, you could get the person to examine the reality of what it would feel like if someone had dropped their books and no one helped the student, and how the student felt when no one helped pick up the books. You could have the person break down the problem into how they felt when no one helped the student, and how they might have felt if someone did help them. Once they have determined what the problem was, not helping the student pick up their books, they could have them explain how they really would have handled the situation. Neurobiological From a neurobiological point of view, there is nothing in their genetics; there are no organic problems; no chemical imbalance; and no genetic problems with empathy. The person was just trying to be nice to the student who dropped their books, so the person helped the student. A new student not wanting to join in any activities at their new school Behaviorism The environment surrounding the student may be uninviting for school activities. An example of this could be having a dance, but it is crowded, dimly lit, teachers could be watching you dance, and the other students might look like they don’t want to dance. The student would not want to join in the school activity because it does not look inviting. Another possible factor could be if the person was feeling depressed. If the person was depressed, he or she would not want to engage in the activity. Psychoanalysis Using psychoanalysis, you could determine if the person had a suppressed memory or bad childhood that dealt with a school activity. The person might not want to attend the event because it might have been a painful time for him or her. The person could also have had a possible dream in which the school activity does not turn out well. If the dream shows the school activity not turning out well, then the student might not want to go to the school event. Humanism Through humanism, the person could examine the reality of the school activity and see why they do not want to go to the activity. The person could break down the problem to see what the exact reason as to why they don’t want to go to the school activity is. Once the person sees the exact reason to why they don’t want to go to the school activity is, they can determine what it would be like if the event turned out how they want it to be. Neurobiological Through neurobiological psychology, you could determine if the person has a mental health issue such as depression, which would explain the lack of interest in going to school activities.

Oral questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Oral questions - Essay Example This meant that doing the good means that an individual knew the Good. On the other hand, Aristotle claimed that recognizing the right thing wasn’t enough, and one should act in a good manner so as to develop a routine of doing good (Vaughn, 244). Philosophically, Plato alleged that ideas had an ideal form, universal form, thus directing him to his idealistic philosophy. Moreover, Aristotle argued that the ideal forms were not substantially involved in each concept or object and that each illustration of concepts or ideas had to be examined on their own. Scientifically, Plato’s work was founded more on insights than on its applicability, and Aristotle’s work was essentially on explanations or extensions of developing ideas and not on insights. Politically, Plato claimed a person must incorporate his or her welfares to those of the society, in order to attain a faultless form of administration. Aristotle disagreed with this idea since he viewed the simple political component as the city that took pre-eminence over family, which consecutively took control of the people. In the allegory of the cave, Plato likens individuals inexperienced in the form’s theory to convicts in a cave, attached to the wall with no chance of spinning their heads. Flames were burning behind the convicts and what they could view was the shades of the puppets positioned in the middle of the fire and the walls cave. Further, the convicts could not comprehend that the echoes heard and flames seen were reflections of real objects. Finally, this allegory recaps majority of philosophical thoughts and views of

Personal Development and Careers Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Personal Development and Careers - Assignment Example This is as it should be. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge is useless; it is the application of knowledge to everyday situations after sizing them up in an intelligent manner is what should be the objective of learning. The result of learning should be the outcomes it produces in the real world. The Relationship between Learning and Development From the above, it is clear that book knowledge is not what we are after, rather the knowledge that we get from books should be applied to real world problems connected to that branch of knowledge so that solutions are made possible. Experience is the result of having applied that knowledge in a certain way and seeing the outcome. If by a process of trial and error, we can eliminate what does not work and distill that which does, we have reached the path of self development. For learning is a path to self development. The knowledge translated into skill resides in the mind and body of man- it becomes an inseparable part of him. This is how t he continual development of skills leads to personal development. Discussion of a Learning Theory: Kolb’s Learning Circle When it comes to theories of learning, there has been a lot of work produced by different authors and thinkers over the ages. However I regard the work of David A. Kolb and his Learning Circle to be a good explanation of what occurs during the process of learning. It is a good expose into the way we learn. Kolb outlined his theory in a book called ‘Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development’ published in 1984. Kolb’s Learning Circle (developed in coordination with Roger Fry) consists of four steps: (1) concrete experience (2) concrete and abstract experience (3) forming abstract concepts and (4) applying to new situations. According to Kolb, humans basically learn to understand and process two different types of information- concrete and abstract. Our learning vocabulary is therefore filled with either C oncrete Experience or Abstract Conceptualization. Kolb maintains that following a learning session, if we want to capitalize on it, we convert our experience into either Reflective Observation or Active Experimentation. Kolb’s model indicates that we could use all four of these approaches in a learning experience, depending upon the situation we are confronted with. Over time however, Kolb maintains that individuals tend to prefer one experience grasping approach and one experience transforming approach. Kolb has mentioned four learning styles and these are to be regarded as created by the learner during the process of learning. The four styles are (1) Converger (2) Diverger (3) Assimilator and (4) Accommodator (Kolb, 1984). Convergers are characterized by abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. They are good at making practical applications of ideas and using deductive reasoning to solve problems. According to Kolb, divergers are geared toward getting concrete experiences and making reflective observations. Divergers are also imaginative and will be good at coming up with ideas or in seeing things from different perspectives. Most of our theorists and social thinkers would fit in this category (Houle, 1980). Kolb writes that assimilators can be singled out by their preference for abstract