Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Deploying and Managing Fire Services Assignment

Deploying and Managing Fire Services - Assignment Example It is in such spirit that the fire suppression rating schedule and standards of coverage have been created and utilized as part of the collective human resource, fiscal, and capital management of fire stations. This outline seeks to draw a distinction between the two systems by focusing on their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the premise in which the usage of any of the two can be said to be relevant. I. Context: This evaluation system is used by the Insurance Service Office (ISO). It focuses on evaluating fire prevention and fire suppression capabilities that various communities and fire protection areas have as part of systems available to the community (ISO, 2014). II. The difference from Standards of Coverage: Unlike the standards of coverage, this manual focuses fire communities rather than fire agencies or organization. Again, this manual makes use of quantitative grading system but the standard of coverage is largely based on a qualitative evaluation system. I. Context: This evaluation system is used by the utilized by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the commission on fire accreditation. It functions based on a data collection process which focuses on identifying expected levels of performance that should be produced by agencies, based on achievable emergency events outcomes (Spokane Fire Department, 2010). II. The similarity with the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule: All these two systems function as an assessment or evaluation manual. By this, their usefulness is based on the decision-making process that is conducted out of the outcomes they produce. This is different from other forms of guidelines that spell out processes and actions that must be taken in the actual event of a fire or emergency. I. A major strength of the fire suppression rating schedule is the fact that it is preventive in nature.  

Monday, October 28, 2019

China Child Policy Essay Example for Free

China Child Policy Essay One of the things that people love and appreciate about the U.S.A is the fact that it’s a free country. There is about 322 million people that live in the U.S, each day marks thousands of new lives and deaths. Some people, like myself enjoy big and crowded families so they usually have more than 1 child. Now imagine having three kids and have two of them taken away from you because you’re not supposed to have more than 1. It sounds unfair and controlling but in China the â€Å"one child policy takes place†. China’s one child policy was first announced in 1979 by the Chinese president Deng Xiaoping as a method of controlling the fast growing population to help raise living standards. The policy limits couples to one child. In 1983 fourteen million women in china had abortions forced and organized by the same family-planning committee that killed Feng’s baby. In 2009, there were six million abortions. Now the government is working on letting certain couples have an extra child but only if both parties were born under the one child policy and had no siblings growing up. That way they prevent a drastic decrease in the population. I, personally think it’s unfair and too controlling of the Chinese government to control how many kids a family can have because it’s cruel and unfair to break up families like that. If a woman dares to get pregnant a second time, fines, pressures to abort the baby, and even forced sterilization will accompany her through her second pregnancy. For example a 23 year-old Chinese girl called Feng Jiamei was forced into abortion in the seventh month of pregnancy, the baby was killed by local Chinese â€Å"family-planning officials.† For one thing, people should have the freedom to decide how big a family they want. China’s once child policy takes away Chinese people’s human rights. Most Chinese kids don’t know what it feels like to have siblings, aunties, uncles, cousins etc. The Chinese government basically a dictatorship because they tell people how to run their families. China’ s one child policy takes away from the people’s human rights and I believe the Chinese population should rise up against the government and the â€Å"one child policy† policy because that’s unfair and the punishments such as forced abortion and sterilization are cruel and unusual. Chinese people need to rise up one day and let their voices be heard.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Wilfed Owen :: biographies bio biography

My essay is about Wilfred Owen and his astounding ability of communicating the horrors of war. Wilfred Owen was born in Oswestry on 18th March 1883. Although he had previously thought of himself as a pacifist he enlisted in the artists Rifles and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant joining the Manchester regiment in France 1917. Whilst "serving his duty" in France he began to write poetically about his experiences and perceptions of war and its consequences. The creative aspect of his work is engendered from the intense personal experiences he was subject to during the war and are masterfully portrayed with brilliance through his poems. He has the ability to reach out and grab the reader and bring them back to his world, let them feel the atmosphere of how it was in no-mans land when the men where slowly dieing in ?exposure?. Or have their heart rate increase as they realize the panic of a gas attack in ?Dulce Et Decorum Est?. This is one of the techniques that show his brilliance as a poet, just one of the many ways he communicates the horrors of the First World War. Upon his arrival in France one of Owens first tasks was to hold a dugout in no-mans land ? an ordeal that is later described in poems ?The Sentry? and ?exposure?. These experiences I think add realism and emotion to his poems but further most an artistic licence and obligation to express his anger and disgust at poets and authors glorifying war. He shows with ease the reality of war, giving us a perception of its barbaric nature not available in a text book, an honest insight into futility at its best. One of the main purposes of my essay is to focus on four different poems of the author Wilfred Owen. One of his most famous poems ?Dulce Et Decorum Est? is a personal insight into the futility of war Owen endured. It is an ironic reminiscence unto a moment of chaos, to which a life is lost due to a gas attack. The poem tells how Owen and his men were walking back to a trench when a gas attack is brought upon them. ?Exposure? explains how the men are situated in a trench and just waiting for the weather to kill them. In this poem we are observing the process of dieing. The next poem I am analysing is

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Program of the National Socialist German Workers Party :: Nazi Germany Hitler Jewish Essays

The Program of the National Socialist German Workers' Party Germany under the rule of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party believed they were superior to the peoples of all other nations and all individual efforts were to be performed for the betterment of the German State. Germany’s loss in World War I resulted in the Peace Treaty of Versailles, which created tremendous economic and social hardships on Germany. Germany had to make reparations to the Allied and Associated Governments involved in World War I. As a result, Adolf Hitler gradually embarked upon his rise to power in Germany creating the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. As part of the surrender terms of World War I, Germany was forced to sign the Peace Treaty of Versailles, which held Germany responsible for the war. The country went bankrupt, millions of Germans were without work and food, and the nation was in despair and turmoil. Adolf Hitler’s rise to power began during these very difficult economic and social times. In the fall of 1 919, Hitler began to attend meetings of a small nationalist group called the German Workers’ Party. Hitler soon took control over the group and renamed it the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. The group later became known as the Nazi Party. The Nazis called for the union into one nation of all Germans. They demanded that citizens of non-German descent or of the Jewish religion be deprived of German citizenship and also called for the annulment of the Peace Treaty of Versailles. These demands were the primary cause for the Nazi Party to compose the document The Program of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party in 1920. Hitler blamed the Jews for the evils of the world. He believed a democracy would lead to communism. Therefore, in Hitler’s eyes, a dictatorship was the only way to save Germany from the threats of communism and Jewish treason. The Program of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party was the instrument for the Nazis to convince the German people to put Hitler into power. Point one of the document states, â€Å"We demand the union of all Germans in a great Germany on the basis of the principle of self-determination of all peoples.† 1 This point explicates the Nazi proposition that Germany will only contain German citizens and also, that these citizens would display his or her self-determination towards Germany to the fullest.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Butcher and His Fiend Like Queen in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth

The Butcher and his Fiend like Queen in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth Introduction At the end of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Malcolm refers to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as: â€Å"This dead like butcher and his fiend like queen,† when he was crowned as new king of Scotland. In Malcolm’s eyes, the Macbeths are just that, cruel murderers who stole away the throne from him and his father. A butcher can be described as someone who kills, or have people killed unnecessarily or brutally. A fiend can be defined as a very cruel person, or one who causes trouble and annoyance. Macbeth is a butcher and Lady Macbeth his fiend-like queen, because of greed he had taken the lives of many people even close friends of him, and she manipulates him into doing the things he did with only her own ambitions at heart. Analysis Lady Macbeth is â€Å"fiend like† when she manages to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan. She seems to be missing all human kindness, when she trying to persuade Macbeth to commit the assassination. Macbeth hesitates on the night that the murder will be done. He does not want to do it. Lady Macbeth persuades him, mocks his weakness, even suggesting that she having the cruelest of thoughts, the thoughts of killing their little baby. | â€Å"I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn As you have done to this† (1,7) | Lady Macbeth wants to make him feel guilty and carry out the murder. The fact that she is trying to convince Macbeth to commit this horrible crime when he hesitates is very evil indeed. Macbeth murders Duncan, the King, in order to gain the throne. Macbeth decides to kill Duncan himself, even though Lady Macbeth is supportive and persuades him. After the murder he says: | â€Å"I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? † (2,2)| He have murdered with greed in mind, showing his â€Å"butcher† side of himself. Duncan’s death is especially barbaric because Macbeth killed him in his sleep and the fact that Duncan was Macbeth’s guest and cousin and also was considered a great King. Macbeth soon realizes that he cannot stop at just killing Duncan. He understands that the one person who is most likely to threaten his position as King is Banquo. This is because he was present when the strange sisters gave Macbeth their prophecy, and can guess that Macbeth is guilty of murdering the King. Macbeth murdered his best friend, Banquo, for two different reasons. The witches’ predictions, that Banquo’s son is to become king, and the fear about Banquo’s knowledge of his dirty crime. Macbeth assigns the three murderers to kill both Banquo and his son Fleance. | â€Å"Fleance his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father's, must embrace the fate Of that dark hour. † (3, 1)| Banquo was Macbeth’s best friend and had done nothing wrong; therefore must this act be the most butcher-like from Macbeth’s side. Macbeth slaughtered Lady Macduff and her son, due to the predictions made by the witches. Another example of Macbeth being a butcher is when he hires the murderers to kill the family of Macduff, just in order to cause him pain. | â€Å"The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls† (4, 1)| To murder innocent children and their mother is an exceptionally brutal act. Conclusion â€Å"The butcher and his Fiend like queen† as Malcolm refers to Macbeths in the end of the play, is an accurate way to describe Macbeth and his wife. Macbeth can be described as a butcher when he is involved in the murders of the King, Banquo, his best friend, and the family of Macduff. He murders innocent people, people he like, just to gain power. Lady Macbeth can be given the title of a fiend-like queen when she intrigues to murder Duncan and can be seen just as a brutal murderer as Macbeth because she is the brain behind the crime. Macbeth may not have murdered King Duncan without the support of his â€Å"Fiend like queen†, but Macbeth maid that choice and therefore he also chooses to rule in Hell rather than to serve in Heaven. This all came down to Macbeth’s greed and Lady Macbeth’s ambitions to become the King and Queen. Bibliography Shakespeare, W. (1990) Macbeth, Arden

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Prostate cancer prevention and treatment essays

Prostate cancer prevention and treatment essays Prostate cancer prevention and treatment In 2005, over 232,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and over 30,000 men will die from it.(Prostate Cancer Facts.) Thats one new case every two and a half minutes and a man dieing every seventeen minutes. That leaves men with a 33% higher risk for receiving prostate cancer than woman have for receiving breast cancer.(Prostate Cancer Facts.) One in six Americans men will receive prostate cancer.(Nobody Knows) A non smoking man is more likely to get prostate cancer that the next seven most common cancers combined.(Nobody Knows) With so many people getting prostate cancer you can see why it has become the most common cancer in America and the number two cause of death in non smokers.(Prostate Cancer Facts.) But there are things that you can do to considerably lower your risk for contracting prostate cancer, and if its contracted there are many options to try to remove it. First off we need to establish just what exactly a prostate is, as most people do not know. A healthy prostate is about the size of a walnut, and it is shaped like a donut.(Prostate cancer) The prostate is located between the rectum and the bladder and is connected to the urethra (the tube that leads out of the body).(The Prostate) The prostate gland is part of a mans body which produces the fluid that mixes in with semen during ejaculation. Next, I felt as though people need to be informed as to just exactly what cancer is. The human body is constructed of cells, the building blocks of life. When cells get old they purposely die so that a new cell can take its place. During this routine cell death and rebirth, cells can develop that do not follow the normal patterns of death and rebirth. Causing cells not to die when they should and reproducing when they shouldnt. This ultimately leads to the ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Dear Friends and Family Essays - Emotions, Virtue, Compassion

Dear Friends and Family Essays - Emotions, Virtue, Compassion Dear Friends and Family Dear Friends and Family: How are you doing? I hope that God is doing as many wonderful things in you life as He is in mine. I am having a wonderful year at Central High School, and feeling God's will to do more for the world around me. I want to share with you a challenging ministry opportunity that God has presented to me. From June 10 through June 20 God has offered me the chance to go to Indonesia with a youth group from First Calvary Church. This 10-day missions trip will be reaching out and spreading gospel to the Indonesian people while also learning more about the people there and their culture. While God has opened up a door for me to develop a greater heart of compassion for His people around the world, the exciting part is that you will be able to share in this compassion in several ways. First, you can help pray for me and my fellow students. We will need prayers that God will prepare us for our visit and bless our efforts as we minister to the people of Indonesia. We will also need prayers that our financial needs will be met. At this time we need to raise $3,000 each to attend this trip, and that is quite a challenge! Another way you can be involved is to help provide that financial support. Would you consider supporting me with a small donation? I have included a postage-paid envelope for you to use if you feel led to contribute. I will need to raise all my funds by May 1 in order to pay for airline tickets and other items. Please make checks payable to First Calvary Church. Whether you feel led to contribute financially, through prayer, or both, all of your support is appreciated. I look forward to doing God's work in Indonesia and letting you know all about how God has worked through this team when I return in June.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

buy custom Childhood Obesity and Health Research essay

buy custom Childhood Obesity and Health Research essay Purpose/Statement of the Problem According to research done in Mississippi in 2009, researchers surveyed over 15000 children under the age of 8-11 and discovered that most of the obese children are nervous and sad (Mississippi, West Group 2009). This has significantly affected their psychological growth and lead to their loss of appetite. Obesity is the condition where the body has accumulated too much fat because of an unbalanced diet or taking too much carbohydrate. It limits the lifespan of these obese children, hence wiping out future generations in the society. As a result, only the weak and old are left to enhance development and growth economically in the society. Although scientists have invented medication for children over the age of 16, they have still not yet discovered drugs to cure obesity or control the rate of obesity for children under the age of 16 (Kiess, 2004). The greatest and most traumatic effect of obesity in children is the risk of heart failure and diabetes. Moreover, the obese childrens parents are forced to incur massive medical bills to tender to their medical conditions, and this may result to lack of capital to educate the child (Davies, Fitzgerald Mousouli, 2007). Socially, obese children have extremely low self esteem. This denies them their childhood happiness, as they are stigmatized by their peers. This makes them withdraw socially from others in the society. The stigma from the peers also affects the childs performance in class since he, or she lacks self confidence (Flamenbaum, 2006). What is lacking is research into the quality of life that these children have once they become obesity free. As the general goal in obesity treatment is to keep the child alive, the psychosocial elements of the childs life are often neglected. In addition, there are various educational implications that obesity has on children, especially in school. Learning problems is an example of late effets that an obese child faces, and this affects his or her grades extremely (Brownell Fairburn, 2002). Research Question What are some of the ways that parents can respond to their children who are obese, so as to reduce some of the implications that obesity has on both their social and education development? Hypothesis Children recuperating from obesity will have better educational outcomes in schools, which have employed specific programs aimed at reintegrate children who have survived from obesity, as well as, those that have been absent in class due to diseases caused by obesity; hence, acknowledging the psychological, social, and educational effects of the disease, in those schools that do not. Plan of activities/Research design A comparative, cross-sectional descriptive research design will be employed to test this hypothesis involving children recovering from the diagnosis of diseases caused by obesity such as heart failure in Mississippi region. Participants Research participants will be elementary and middle school students (age 8 to 11) who are recovering from any form of heart failure cause by obesity requiring treatment. Participants will be recruited through a letter of information to parents sent on behalf of the School Board, with whom we have already secured support for this research. The children will be categorized into two groups according to the existence of a school support program. Recruitment from schools will continue until we have secured participation from enough children to enable the conduct of appropriate tests of significance of the effects of the obesity recovery program. Data collection First, the structure and organization of the various school re-entry programs will be examined to ensure that they are sufficiently comparable. Once this has been ascertained, participants will be asked, with the assistance of their parents, to fill in a series of questions pertaining to their obesity diagnosis, treatment regimen and prognosis, measures of their social economic status. This information has influence on educational outcomes and their educational scores in school on diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by obesity, such as heart failure and diabetes. Data analysis Childrens grades for three core courses (math, science, English) will be tabulated into an overall average (i.e., percentage) and compared via multiple regression by the existence of an obesity recovery program or not, controlling for the intervening variables noted above. Appropriate tests of significance will be conducted where possible to either confirm or disconfirm the research hypothesis. Potential significance The education of children who are obese and those who have survived from diseases caused by obesity is a particularly significant issue. This is because school is one of the primary agents of socialization for children and reinforces a sense of normalcy. This is especially noteworthy, since children with diseases caused by obesity have been forced to take up patient's role, rather than that of the student or child like their peers. With the information obtained through this research, future directions for school obesity recovery programs can be outlined based on the needs indicated by those affected. Buy custom Childhood Obesity and Health Research essay

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Exploring the elizabeth age - write about Robert Herrick or Philip Essay

Exploring the elizabeth age - write about Robert Herrick or Philip Henslowe - Essay Example Herrick’s compositions were contemporary with other poets including George Herbert and John Donne. Herrick’s history remains unknown apart from a few letters and 1,403 poems found in his book The Works both Humane and Divine of Robert Herrick, Esq.  (1648). His educational history remains unknown as the period between his birth and death does not provide detailed information. Herrick was born in Cheapside to Nicholas Herrick and Julian Stone. Social and Cultural Influence At the time Robert Herrick was beginning his career, there were many social and cultural aspects that influenced his career both positively and negatively. However, it is essential to note that Robert Herrick through his career has managed to influence black American music as well as society. According to Kampf, eight outstanding individuals have made lasting contributions to the American nation (2). Robert Herrick falls among the individuals who have influenced the black American poetry culture. Des pite the difficulties and problems that blacks encountered at the time, Herrick was able to elude most of them in order to launch a perfect career. The black church influenced Herrick’s career. He noted in an interview that without the church experience, he would not have known if he would have been able to sing in public places (Nakesha and Shameera 23). Poetry in church choirs is a common African American activity and is something that influenced many African American poets at the time. For instance, Marian Anderson and Leonyne Price were also introduced to music through church choirs (Nakesha and Shameera 24). Quoting from Grace Bumbrey, CBS provides that African American churches have been hugely influential with the black society, and hence their performance (21). CBS calls the church of the 1990 â€Å"the rock that blacks depend on† (12). According to Norment, the American society was influenced by black poetry (2). Most of the blacks during slavery demonstrated their propensity for imprisonment through poems (Norment 2). Despite the fact that Herrick was not part of this era, he is born of this blood. Black poems are the forefathers of poetry categories such as jazz and rhythm & blues (Norment 3). According to Norment, the American society, which was then dominated by white people, was profoundly influenced by black poetry of the day (23). Black poetry during the 1990s was copied and expanded by whites, and thus whites managed to become rich and famous for what was known to be imitations (Norment 24). Problems Encountered Despite the fact that Herrick is not categorized among the best poets, he encountered many problems. 1n the 1660s, the poetry was seen as very sophisticated and social, and therefore, blacks were not allowed to participate (Nettles 8). However, this problem seemed to have been dissolved with the emergence of Marian Anderson (Nettles 9). The poetry door came down with the existence of Leotyne Price. Since she was a woman, her performance in the opera was not seen as a threat to the male dominated society (Nettles 6). According to many researchers, this aspect never made any sense since it showed that one gender was allowed to sing and the other denied (Nettles 5). Other issues included financials in a sense that white poets were much more preferred to black ones. However, if there was a talented black poet, he would be hired for much less amount (Nettles 6). This aspect of the opera gave birth to the term â€Å"color-blind casting,†

Friday, October 18, 2019

Integration of the strategy components in achieving Broadway cafs goal Essay

Integration of the strategy components in achieving Broadway cafs goal - Essay Example This means that if the venture has a negative value of the returns or profitability, it is too risky or not profitable, and, the company should reconsider investing in the venture. Broadway Cafe has a rich history in the restaurant business. With modern technological development, the Business has to acquire a niche with the intent of competitively edging out its competitors in the business. IT strategies coupled with appropriate ethic codes would not only protect the older customer base but also introduce the new generation of internet accessible customers. The system also factors in the need to show employers that are not only IT compliant but also customer and environmental friendly. â€Å"Integration of the strategy components in achieving Broadway cafes goal† The Combined use of e-Business, employee ethics together with consumer confidence will provide synergy required in the management and daily operation of the Broadway cafe. This synergy provides a simplified and summar ized vision of the business. With the ventures primary customer base being the MSU students, (an IT compliant public) an e-Business would be more attractive to them. Broadway Cafe expects to acquire a facebook and twitter account as well as other social media sites to seek membership from this population as a way of expanding its customer base. This membership would raise home deliveries, online booking, gift vouchers, and other niceties to pull them. With the additional setting up of a website, it would be simple to reach more customers through advertisements. A broadband service would also be available to ensure that customers comprise time to enjoy their meals plus a moment to surf the Internet. This strategy aims at attracting and retaining clientele that are time conscious, Internet responsive, and also the holidaymakers who prefer their orders delivered to their localities (Amor 207). Eco-friendly clients would also have the opportunity to meet e-tickets and receipts while the business would cut down the costs of purchasing pare receipts. The development of updated customer friendly employee ethics would be manifest. This will ensure that the employees have not only real working conditions but also customer ethics that can attract and retain customers. Most of the other competitors fail to initiate established employee ethics and this situational strategy hopes to capitalize on this tool as a sense of outplaying the other competitors in the business. Furthermore, customer security would equally become crucial. Customers are currently conscious about their safety especially within populated areas such as eateries and other social places. This is as the result of terrorist threats, cyber crimes, and social safety concerns. Broadway cafe hopes to initiate work ethics codes, consumer welfare and employee protection. With the introduction of the Biometric system, customers would be required to provide individual information. It is fundamental to ascertain tha t the management and utilization of such information would be achievable through careful process. The customers will recoup their biodata at will to build their dependence on the business. The Estimated Returns The business expects to source for money in order to achieve these strategies. The financing classification that is most suitable incorporates loans. The company has sourced for a web developer and a forensic officer who are to start work quickly and continue through by the end of the coming week. The estimated costs amount to $ 5,000,

The rise and Fall of American Economics Term Paper

The rise and Fall of American Economics - Term Paper Example Considering that macroeconomics characteristically focuses on a nation’s economic performance including the manner in which the nation’s economy interacts with other economies globally, it is worth noting that the economy of the United States is not only the largest but also the most complex in the world history, with 87,600 separate government jurisdictions, approximately a hundred and fifteen million households, and thirty million profit organizations/businesses. The U.S. economy is therefore comprised of millions of decision makers who though acting with some autonomy, are all linked with the entire economy. The economy is dynamic – keeps continually renewing itself with new businesses, customers, foreign competitors, households and public official groups among others. Currency circulates throughout the U.S. economy, which facilitates the exchange of products as well as resources among the individual economic units – it is constantly in a circular flow (McEachern, 2008). Historically, just like other industrial market economies, the economy of the United States has gone through sporadic contraction and expansion periods. The rise and fall of the economy refer to the economic fluctuations relative to the economy’s long term growth tendency.... The rise and fall of the economy refer to the economic fluctuations relative to the economy’s long term growth tendency. These variations/business cycles vary in intensity and length, although some elements are universal to all. Usually, the fluctuations involve the whole nation and frequently several other world economies. Additionally, the fluctuations affect almost every economic activity dimension – not just employment and production (Hirschey, 2009). McEachern (2008) notes that the simplest way of comprehending the business cycle is by exploring its elements. He explains that in the 1920s and 1930s, the national Bureau of Economic research director carried out an analysis of business cycles and identified two phases of the economy namely â€Å"contractions† and â€Å"expansions.† He elucidated that the output of the economy declines during a contraction while it increases during an expansion. Prior to WWII, a contraction occurred – this was as severe as to be termed a depression. A depression is a sharp decline in the entire production of the nation going for over a year and accompanied by high rates of unemployment. When a contraction is milder, it is reffered to as a recession – characterized by a reduction in overall output over a period of at least six months or two consecutive quarters. Unlike prior to the world war II when the United States experienced both depressions and recessions, in the period after and until the year 2008, there have not been depressions; only recessions, which is an indication of an improved economy. The quarter-century after World War II appears more like a golden age for the economy of

Thursday, October 17, 2019

What is the REAL link between violence and mental disorder How do the Essay

What is the REAL link between violence and mental disorder How do the media present mental disorder Is this fair and accurate reresentation - Essay Example Although, he had taken the case just for the publicity, as Vail further investigates the case, he develops sympathy for Stampler as he becomes convinced that he is innocent. His sympathy and concern for Stampler reaches at such a level that Vail is ready to fight to all extents against his former lover Janet Venable, who is acting as the prosecutor. Nevertheless, during his investigation, Vail also discovers that the Archbishop had made some powerful enemies due to his insistence on not developing and selling Church lands. Surprisingly enough, he also found out that the Archbishop was sexually abusing altar boys. Vail is tempted to submit this evidence to the court because the same would increase the sympathy for the boy, but at the same time, it will also provide him with a clear motive for murder, something which was missing from the equation of the arguments of the prosecution. Vail decides not to make this evidence public and instead, decides to question Aaron, during which Aaron continuously insists that he is innocent and does not remember anything despite the fact that he was found feeling the crime scene with blood all over the clothes. When Vail intensifies his aggressive line of questioning and mentions the sex tape, Aaron finally breaks down and suddenly transforms into a violent, rude, sociopathic personality and starts to refer himself as â€Å"Roy†. â€Å"Roy† confesses to the murder of Archbishop and cites the molestation and abuse as the reason behind the same. â€Å"Roy† also throws Vail against the wall in the heat of the moment, but when things are allowed to cool down, he transforms back to his original personality. He knows claims that he has no recollection of the events. It becomes apparent to the Vail that he is suffering from some serious mental illness. The psychiatrist examining Aaron also confirms that the Aaron is suffering from multiple personality disorder. As a child, he faced mental problems due to childhood abuse from his

Aramco project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Aramco project - Essay Example The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest Arabian state in Western Asia covering a land area of approximately 2,150,000 km2. it is the second largest in the Arab world after Algeria. Its neighboring states are Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast, and Yemen in the south. Currently the Kingdom has a population of 28.7 million people and is a world leader in the production an export of oil. The country’s national petroleum and natural gas production is called Saudi Aramco. The company is Arabian American and is based in Dhahran. Saudi Aramco is among the largest integrated energy production companies around the globe. Aramco was founded in the year1933, by the Standard Oil Company of California. Saudi Aramco’s is a story of the discovery and development of some of the greatest oil reserves ever known in the world and the rapid transformation of Saudi Arabia from a once desert kingdom to the modern nation-state that we know. Saudi Aramcos value as estimated by the New York Times is approximately $10 trillion and this makes it the most valuable firm globally. Saudi Aramco enjoys more than ten percent of the global market in terms oil supply and controls 98% of Saudi’s oil reserves which in turn represent 25% of the total global oil reserves. Considering that the petroleum sector contributes about 40% of Saudi Arabia’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Saudi Aramco is no doubt a cornerstone in the national economy. As such, Aramco is under intense pressure to remain competitive not only in the kingdom but also internationally. It I for this reason that the company requires a very efficient labor force. It has responded to this demand by developing and implementing a training program known as the Professional Development

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

What is the REAL link between violence and mental disorder How do the Essay

What is the REAL link between violence and mental disorder How do the media present mental disorder Is this fair and accurate reresentation - Essay Example Although, he had taken the case just for the publicity, as Vail further investigates the case, he develops sympathy for Stampler as he becomes convinced that he is innocent. His sympathy and concern for Stampler reaches at such a level that Vail is ready to fight to all extents against his former lover Janet Venable, who is acting as the prosecutor. Nevertheless, during his investigation, Vail also discovers that the Archbishop had made some powerful enemies due to his insistence on not developing and selling Church lands. Surprisingly enough, he also found out that the Archbishop was sexually abusing altar boys. Vail is tempted to submit this evidence to the court because the same would increase the sympathy for the boy, but at the same time, it will also provide him with a clear motive for murder, something which was missing from the equation of the arguments of the prosecution. Vail decides not to make this evidence public and instead, decides to question Aaron, during which Aaron continuously insists that he is innocent and does not remember anything despite the fact that he was found feeling the crime scene with blood all over the clothes. When Vail intensifies his aggressive line of questioning and mentions the sex tape, Aaron finally breaks down and suddenly transforms into a violent, rude, sociopathic personality and starts to refer himself as â€Å"Roy†. â€Å"Roy† confesses to the murder of Archbishop and cites the molestation and abuse as the reason behind the same. â€Å"Roy† also throws Vail against the wall in the heat of the moment, but when things are allowed to cool down, he transforms back to his original personality. He knows claims that he has no recollection of the events. It becomes apparent to the Vail that he is suffering from some serious mental illness. The psychiatrist examining Aaron also confirms that the Aaron is suffering from multiple personality disorder. As a child, he faced mental problems due to childhood abuse from his

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Reflective Journal Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reflective Journal - Literature review Example The major source that I have used for collecting information was ‘Emerald’. It is a large size database of research papers and journal articles. It provides journals and research papers on almost all the topics of business and information technology. One of the major things that I could not do in this research is some kind of original research. I mean, if I would have been given with additional timeline then I would have visited some hotels and hospitality firms to learn how they work and how they make use of information technology to gain benefits. I would have conducted interviews and filled questionnaires. I would have used that data to derive conclusions and on the basis of those conclusions I would have suggested new ideas to improve these trends. However, I will surely perform these steps in next assignments. As the topic is very common so I found a lot of data on this topic. On the other hand, there are numerous research papers which provide the same information s o the selection of papers was a difficult task.

Brita Case Essay Example for Free

Brita Case Essay The Brita Products Company began in 1988 under the recommendation of Charlie Couric, a marketing executive with the Clorox Company. Optimistic of its capability to be profitable, Clorox acquired the right to market the home water filtration system. Clorox, citing the overriding long-term benefits of continuous filter sales, initially engaged in deficit spending. Such measures paid off and Clorox not only created a $350 million market, but also captured 70% of the market revenue. Brita enjoyed success in the market by creating a perception of better tasting water. However, as ater purification technology improved and consumer awareness increased, taste alone was no longer enough to sustain its massive market share. Consumers are demanding more in terms of health benefits and Brita needs to respond to their growing needs and wants. The market environment is characterized by fast growth. As consumers are becoming more health-conscious, bottled water and water- filtration systems are becoming a necessity for most, with a Brita pitcher in 1 out of 7 homes 103 million households. Britas competitors were unable to effectively rival Brita in pitcher sales. Brita dominated despite many new entrants to the market. However, a small competitor, PUR, launched a different water filtration product. PURs faucet-filter system offered added health and convenience benefits that Britas pitcher couldnt provide. Now suddenly, our competitors came up with the first mover product. Thus Couric is considering allocating resources to launch a faucet-mounted filtration system in response to these emerging competitors. Many think Brita needs to capitalize on this opportunity to gain new consumers while their name still remains synonymous with quality and taste. Thus raising the question, how should Brita attempt to further penetrate the market with their products? Lets take a look at the Pros and Cons of each option: Option 1: Implement the new faucet mount filtration system The Purpose This writing aims to present one possible solution to the dilemma that Clorox Company faces. The Clorox Company was the market leader in water filtration in the USA with the Brita Pitcher (one of the Cloroxs most important product), but in 1999 they faced the threat of a new product the faucet mounted filter. Clorox already had its own version of this new product ready to launch into the market, so the issue was to decide the best of the following strategies: 1 . Continue selling only the current product; 2. Introduce their new faucet mounted filter in addition to the pitcher into the market 2. The Analysis Market Summary Clorox launched in 1988 the Brita Pitcher and after a decade they were the market leaders of water filtration systems with a market share of 69%. After the Brita pitcher launch, the water quality became a growing concern to consumers. This new attitude about the quality of drinking water allowed the purified water market to grow in both bottled water and filter systems. This growing on the water market, allowed Clorox Has not defined product Market segmentation

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Role Of Ward Based Advanced Nurse Practitioners Nursing Essay

The Role Of Ward Based Advanced Nurse Practitioners Nursing Essay This original research was conducted in a large teaching hospital in North West England that examined ward-based Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) and aimed to clarify their roles and expectations in patient care and how they impact the clinical practice. Study participants (which consist of five ANPs, 14 ward-based nurses, and five patients) were observed and invited to participate in interviews. The roles and skills of ANPs were observed and gathered from the interviews. ANPs were described as pivotal in the management of patient care and served as an invaluable link between the medical and nursing team. They frequently translated medical information for nurses, patients and other allied healthcare professional to make sure that the plan of care was well understood and provide further explanations if necessary. ANPs were observed to be confident practitioners, good information resource and by using their technical knowledge and skills served as a role model to support the nurses and junior doctors to enable them to be more efficient in providing care. In addition, ANPs were found to be less intimidating than doctors and more approachable in resolving care issues. Meanwhile, ANPs were faced with a number of challenges and have to ove rcome skepticism from other health professionals who have different views on the ANP role expectation and scope of practice. ANPs perceived that their education had not adequately prepared them for their clinical role. ANPs have great impact in nursing practice and patient care. Although the study strives to clarify the role of the ANPs, the findings regarding the role of ANPs are not clearly defined and lack consistency that may lead to role conflict and overload. Running Head: How are acute care nurse practitioners enacting their roles in healthcare teams? A descriptive multiple-case study This multiple-case study conducted in two-university affiliated teachings hospitals in Quebec, Canada aimed to understand how cardiology acute Care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) enacted their roles in healthcare teams. Data were collected from interviews, field notes, documents and time and motion study of NP activities. The work activity pace was faster before noon due to patient care demands. Participants in one hospital believed that NP role was not an integrated role of medical and nursing components but an expanded role because they assumed more expanded nursing role components than the medical role. In addition, NPs needed to consult with physicians for patient care decision making that were within their scope of practice. They did not have that much authority in regards to decision making due to lack of structures to formalize the organizational role. There were also inconsistent messages about the role expectations to attempt to formalize the prescriptive authority of NPs which had not been approved by the medical advisory board. On the other hand, participants in the other hospital believed that NPs enacted their role more in the medical component since the medical directives and prescriptive privileges had been approved by the medical advisory board. NPs had greater autonomy in their role and prescriptive authority. It was also noted that NPs participated very little in nursing activities such as implementing nursing care plans or use of clinical care pathways. In both hospitals, the largest role component was the clinical role. The transfer of prescriptive and decision-making authority must be addressed to enable NPs to work their full scope of role to optimize patient outcomes. Clarifying role structures were expected to enable the NPs enact their role in healthcare team and prevent role confusion. Running Head: Defining NP scope of practice and associated regulations: Focus on acute care This review of literature was conducted to define the NP scope of practice (SOP) with emphasis on NPs in acute care setting. Documents were gathered from different resources including National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN), individual state board of nursing, and NP scope and standards of practice. According to Federation of State Medical Boards (2005) and NCSBN (2009), à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“SOP is a set of rules, regulations and boundaries within which a fully qualified NP may practiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . It defines what activities a profession can undertake. Both practice acts (state regulatory board form of statutes approved by legislators) and its rules and regulations define NP SOP and require approval from legislators to become law. The Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) Regulation was developed to resolve different issues concerning inconsistent APRN education and licensure requirement across jurisdiction and issues in certification. It helps stand ardize regulations for APRNs. Professional regulators are working together in implementing a consistent SOP for NPs in all jurisdictions. According to American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), NPs are licensed independent practitioners that provide nursing and medical services emphasizing on health promotion and disease prevention. In addition, NPs have a collaborative practice agreement with the physicians. However, regulations are different from state to state NP SOP are not clearly defined and further clarifications are needed especially as it pertains to NPs working in acute care to ensure that NPs are practicing according to their education, training and competency as evidenced by the certifications they hold. Running Head: NURSE-DIRECTED INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE CATHETER-ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION This research focuses on the evidence-based practice guidelines conducted at the University of Colorado Hospital as a quality improvement project to initiate a nursing-driven approach to reduce the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection and improve patient outcomes. A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infection. It is a major health concern leading to prolonged hospital stay and increased healthcare cost. Evidence-based use of indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) must be enforced to reduce the prevalence of CAUTI. In this project, an intervention design was implemented to evaluate the nurse-driven intervention incorporating evidence-based guidelines. The goal is to decrease the prevalence CAUTI by emphasizing health education on specific unit-based nursing practice. Improving the nursing care by educating the nurses regarding insertion, management and early removal of IUC to ensure the best practice and expanding this education to ancillary services (eg. rehabilitation and transport staffs) were found to positively impact the CAUTI rates. Focused unit interventions such as providing education on postoperative catheterization, use of bladder scanner to check for urinary retention to minimize IUC reinsertion, and encouraging early removal of the urinary catheter were found to decrease the catheter days and prevent infection. Providing education by infusing the best evidence into current practice are important interventions to raise awareness. Incorporating evidence-based guidelines and strategie s by focusing of nursing-driven interventions can improve patient outcomes.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

The Targeting Rule in College Football Essay -- Reducing Head Injurie

The targeting rule in college football could be the â€Å"most significant rule† change ever made in the game (Matter). According to Greg Johnson of the NCAA, the rule was passed by the Football Rules Committee of the NCAA in February of 2013 to be implemented with the 2013 fall football season and is consistent with the committees’ continued attempt to address player safety. The new rule now places a tougher penalty on the defensive player for dangerous contact with the offensive player, notably direct helmet-to-helmet hits, or hits aimed above the shoulders of the offensive player. This direct, helmet-to-helmet contact is known as targeting. Although the implementation of the new targeting rule is controversial, it will help to reduce the number of serious lifelong head injuries to football players and make college football a safer sport. The targeting rule will help to reduce the number of head injuries received by football players, both in college and the NFL, that lead to lifelong health issues. As Geoff Calkins from The Commercial Appeal notes in his article about Brian McCrary, there are many former college football players who suffer from moderate to severe brain damage later in life due to playing college football and having received targeted hits. The long-term effects of these head injuries suffered in the game are just being understood and acknowledged (Johnson). Andy Staples, from Sports Illustrated, notes that the targeting rule is the committees attempt to recognize the problem and help to make football a safer sport. The main purpose of the rule is to â€Å"save players’ brains† from permanent damage, with the secondary purpose to help make the sport safer (Couch). Football is a contact sport, but with this ... ...13. Web. 19 October 2013. Matter, Dave. â€Å"SEC official calls latest targeting rule dramatic.† St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 18 July 2013: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 19 October 2013. Mihoces, Gary. â€Å"More padding the issue of concussions and better helmets.† USA Today Sports. 23 August 2013. Web. 29 November 2013. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2013 and 2014 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations. Indianapolis: NCAA, 2013. Print. Reardon, Dave. Editorial, Further Review Column. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 21 July 2013: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 19 October 2013. Shapiro, Leonard. â€Å"Appealing and Appalling.† The Commercial Appeal. 27 October 2013. 3V. Print. Staples, Andy. â€Å"New targeting rule well intended, but bound to spark controversy.† Sportsillustrated.com/college-football. 23 July 2013. Web. 19 October 2013.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Role of Unfulfilled Expectations in E. A. Robinsons Richard Cory E

The Role of Unfulfilled Expectations in E. A. Robinson's Richard Cory In E. A. Robinson's "Richard Cory", Cory commits suicide because he could not live up to everyone's expectations of him. In the very first stanza of the poem Cory is described by the author: "He was a gentleman from sole to crown, Clean favored, and imperially slim" (Robinson l. 3 & 4), suggesting and comparing him to royalty. Surely, living up to such a hierarchy is the most taxing task one can be appointed. The poem makes reference to his material possessions, suggesting this is one of the key qualities people admire him for. Cory possibly facing bankruptcy feels he will be nothing and thought of as nothing once these gifts are gone. Such high expectations and admiration of Cory have backed him into a corner where he feels the only escape is a suicidal death. It has been believed by many that royalty is directly appointed by God, such a position carries an immense amount of expectations. At times, these expectations are not even ascertainable due to the fact that royalty is looked at as flawless and all-knowing individuals. For a single human to cope with this is assuming a great amount of strength is possessed by the man. As stated by Robinson: "In fine we thought he was everything" (l. 11), expresses how immeasurably high the expectations were for Cory. To be held to such a high standard is difficult for any average human to manage and cope with. Fear of making the slightest mistake as the man is being watched under a microscope causes a permanent stress within one's soul. Living life knowing others are admirable of your status and position makes every day decisions just as crucial as a King's decisiveness. As an average member of societ... ...ost literal and logical sense, a self-inflicted death is a more supported idea, especially when Robinson writes: "Went home and put a bullet through his head" (l. 16). I talked of the death being made to look like an accident, but that is purely an outside spin that a reader has to put on the verse. Taking the literal meaning of what the author states is more convincing. The stresses that Cory endures due to the high pedestal he is held on is a stronger cause for an individual to snap than that of the envious and jealous nature humans are use to dealing with. Cory committing suicide is a much more believable approach than that of a murder. Work Cited Robinson, Edwin Arlington. "Richard Cory." Literature-Reading, Reacting, Writing, 4th ed. Laurie Kirszner & Stephen Mandell, eds. Fort Worth: Harcourt College Publishers, 2001. 986.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Voter

Voter ignorance and special interests often result to bad policy-choices and erroneous policy making processes. In a democracy, where people’s votes are important, policy-choices are largely affected by whatever wrong or right information people may have as regards issues. Unfortunately, biases and misinformation are rampant among people, especially among voters. The problem is that, instead of correcting these biases, politicians tend to play them up to acquire votes. Many of these biases come from the field of economics, a field which is very important to voters because of its effect in the quality of people’s lives. Four of these biases are discussed by Bryan Caplan in his article, The Myth of the Rational Voter. They are the anti-market bias, anti-foreign bias, make-work and the pessimistic bias. The Anti-Market Bias may be characterized as a bias against capitalism and free-market itself, or at least most of their features. The explained cause of this bias is usually the fact that actors in a free-market model of economy are all profit-seekers. This attribution of self-interest gives birth to a prejudice that no socially-beneficial outcome may possibly result from a free market (See Caplan, 2007, p.7). The result is â€Å"a tendency to underestimate the economic benefits of market mechanism (Caplan, 2007, p.7), such as the effect of competition in lowering prices, savings and maximization of resources or efficiency. There are many variations of the anti-market bias. One of them is â€Å"to equate market payments with transfers, [while] ignoring their incentive properties (Caplan, 2007, p.8). Under this, a profit is seen to be earned by the rich, at the expense of the poor, as if there is no exchange of value that happened. It ignores the fact that profits are not acquired without doing something, and that an increase in profits is often a result of increasing efficiency in the use of resources. The second is the monopoly theories of price. Under this variation, price is seen as a function of the decision, mood and agreement among CEO’s and other similar persons, without giving due regard to the interaction between supply and demand. (Caplan, 2007, p. 9) The Anti-Foreign Bias is an argument towards protectionism. Under this, foreigners are often seen as a source of economic downfall. â€Å"Whatever the reason, [foreigners] supposedly have a special power to exploit [locals] (Caplan, 2007, p. 11). They are often used as scapegoats for all economic problems that may exist such as lack of jobs, high price of goods and others. This bias may have brought about by a similar theory between a profit-seeker individual and a poor buyer from the point of view of the anti-market bias. â€Å"A rich country, in the same manner as a rich man, is supposed to be a country abounding in money; and to heap up gold and silver in any country is supposed to be the best way to enrich it† (Caplan, 2007, p. 12). The assumption is that no country may be better off without making another country less off. The problem with this belief is that it ignores the benefit of an open market from the point of view of comparative advantage. Under the theory comparative advantage, all countries will be better off if they all specialize. Even a country that is less productive compared to other countries in all products may benefit from specializing. It is more expensive to try producing all products for consumption rather than in specializing in some and trading for the others (Caplan, 2007, p. 11-12). The Make-Work Bias refers to the conflict between the businesses’ and economists’ desire to minimize waste of resources caused by paying for unneeded or inefficient labor and the belief that, to achieve economic growth, people need to be employed. The general tendency is to underestimate the benefits of conserving labor (Caplan, 2007, p. 13). Often, the rate of unemployment is seen as an indicator of economic growth. The policy is often to give jobs to more people. This is despite the fact that the same amount of jobs are required to be done. Employment is increased at the expense of efficiency (Caplan, 2007, p. 13). Instead of trying to increase employment by increasing the GNP through efficient use of resources, the work of one is divided between two or three people, making each of them less productive (Caplan, 2007, p. 13). The result is a prospect for prosperity for the individuals who are able to obtain the jobs and a decrease in efficiency and growth for the whole economy. Pessimistic Bias refers to the people’s negative, or even cynical beliefs, about economic conditions or growth. The general rule, as observed by Caplan (2007), is that â€Å"the public believes economic conditions are not as good as they really are† (p. 16). There may be advances in the economy, but they are taken for granted by people. In times of minimal economic growth, the perception is not of growth, but of stagnation. The problem with this is that, in terms of over-all economic growth, â€Å"progress is so gradual that a few pockets of decay hide it from the public view† (Caplan, 2007, p. 17). To measure whether an economy has actually achieved growth, it is best to compare the present condition to that of a distant past (Caplan, 2007, p. 16). Moreover, over-all success is not often observable across the whole country. There are some areas where economic conditions may not be good. However, these isolated instances of economic regression give rise to â€Å"a suspicion that the riches and industry of the whole are decaying† (Caplan, 2007, p. 17), when the reality is that the country is experiencing economic growth as a whole. It is also common for the pessimistic rhetoric â€Å"to idealize conditions in the more distant past in order to put recent conditions in a negative light† (Caplan, 2007, p. 16). This is a good way to emphasize economic decline. This is a nostalgic way of viewing things wherein the lament is always that things are better in the past, prices are cheaper, living is simpler, but better and others. Increase in prices and living standards are emphasized, while the values exchanged for such increases are ignored such as improvements in goods and services (See Caplan, 2007, p. 17). As Caplan has stated in this article, these biases show that â€Å"[p]eople do not grasp the invisible hand of the market, with its ability to harmonize private greed and the public interest† (See Caplan, 2007, p. 1). For the uninformed public, free market is the enemy. This belief translates into the policies that are adopted in a democracy. Since the power is now given to the people, policy choices by candidates are geared towards pleasing them. The best way to acquire votes is not to go against the wrong beliefs of people and to correct them, but to play up the same beliefs and use them to one’s own advantage. Reference Caplan, Bryan. â€Å"The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies.†

Thursday, October 10, 2019

How Stressed Children Are in a Primary School Essay

The recent publication of a Cambridge research paper on high stress levels amongst UK primary school children made national headlines. It told parents of an uncomfortable truth that primary classrooms are not the places of fun and learning that typifies an idealistic notion of education in the UK. It spoke of stress, anxiety and worry in classrooms, where children show signs of distress due to high expectations, excessive workloads and having to shoulder unrealistic responsibilities. But just how accurate is this picture? Is it possible to expect young children to understand the complexities of the manifestations of stress and the inaccuracies of self-appraisal given possible low levels of emotional literacy? This paper explores how feasible it is to collect accurate data from children about their own stress and evaluates how such information can be collected. It concludes that there are a variety of ways of gaining information about stress from children, some better than others, but leaves no doubt that children can be ideal subjects for such research if the design and execution of the study is given due consideration. The world of primary education, it would seem, from anecdotal evidence from parents of primary school pupils, is not what it used to be. Clichà ©s such as ‘its not like it was in my days!’ or ‘school was much easier and more fun in the olden days!’ can often be heard echoing across parents groups in school  yards or in local supermarkets. But is school such a difficult place for children today? A recent paper, published by a Cambridge University research group would suggest that life in a primary school is not as stress free as most parents would want to assume. In order to help understand this uncomfortable notion, this paper will explore whether children are capable of giving accurate information about their stress levels and how this could be collected. Stress research is a well established field spanning eight decades, from Walter Cannon’s seminal work in 1927 on flight and flight, to Mark Kovacs’ recent paper on ‘Stress in the Workplace’, (Kovacs 2007). It fact it seems that there are very few areas of modern life that stress research has not touched upon. In relation to everyday activities, research covers stress at work (eg Kovacs 2007, McCarthy & Sheehan,1996), stress in the street (Brennan,1993), paradoxically there has been studies around stress in leisure activities (Noakes 1991) and crucially for this paper, stress in school environments (eg Williams & Gersch, 2004; Murray and Harrison, 2005 and the recently published Cambridge Primary Review paper 2007). The subject base for stress research has also been highly eclectic, ranging from stress in the elderly (Hodgson, Freedman &, Granger, 2004), to stress at birth and even stress levels in individuals not yet born, (Graham, Heim, Goodman, Miller and Nemeroff 1999). There is a case to be argued however, that very much like the Freudian theory of psychosexual development, there appears to be a relative ‘hiatus of interest’ in the levels of stress in children between the ages of 6 and 11. This crucial period of education covers the majority of Key Stage 1 and all of Key Stage 2 and it would seem to be a pivotal juncture in a child’s education. It is in this period that most children will be structuring their leaning patterns and assimilating vast amounts of knowledge in all areas of the school both academic and social. It could be considered somewhat remarkable therefore that there is relatively less stress research done in education at this age. It is particularly pertinent when we consider that this active period of learning is then brought to a close with the mandatory Key Stage 2 SAT papers. It is perhaps this singular event that indicates, for most pupils, their rights of passage into the world of secondary education where structured exams and revision regimes are rife. So why is it that research during this ‘Latency Period’ (Freud 1905d) of a child’s educational  development is so under represented? It could be because it now appears to be a relatively settled period in a child’s educational life. It may be that in most areas of the UK, the predominantly two-tier education system has removed a major period of transition half way through this phase of schooling. This process of downsizing transitions eradicated a well defined cause of stress in pupils and exaggerated difficulties in coping (Rudduck.J, 2004; Lohaus. A, 2004). However could it also be argued that models of stress and theories for coping with traumatic events are not comprehensive enough to cover this very specific area of children’s development in such settings? It is important therefore to explore how adult models of stress address environmental and personal issues and whether these can be attributed to children in a primary classroom. Stress models for adults Modern stress research has placed itself firmly within the interactionist perspective characterized largely by Lazarus and Folkman (1984). Their model for the possible development of stress explores the essential thought processes that occur in any given situation and the judgments the individual makes in assessing their own ability to cope with the demands placed upon them at any one time. This ‘appraisal’ and subsequent stress levels are governed primarily by recollecting previous performances and the effectiveness of learned coping strategies in similar situations. It seems clear then that by using the interactionist model, there may be opportunities to provide greater opportunities to understand children’s stress in the classroom. In order to fully explore this area, it seems pertinent to start by delving into specific models of stress that add to our knowledge about its development in adults and explore whether these could be used with children in a primary s chool environment. One such model that may be relevant to this paper was developed by Palmer, Cooper and Thomas (2001) who looked at stress in the workplace. This model proposes that there are six contributors to the development and/or the management of stress levels in and around most places of work. These mitigating factors include work/environmental demands, support, change and the worker’s role within the ‘company’ (see below). It would seem on first inspection that this is truly an adult model of stress as it is located in adult world of work. However as  there do not appear to be any established or substantial research as yet, to determine the difference between ‘work’ being in an office, a factory or a shop and ‘work’ as in a classroom, it could be argued that if the ‘classroom’ was seen as a workplace and pupils considered ‘employees’, Palmer et al’s model does have some relevance. Below is Palmer et al’s mo del as published in the ‘Health Education Journal’ 2001. Figure 1: Palmer, Cooper and Thomas’s model of stress in the work place (2001) A Stress model for children? Using the key structure of this model, it is possible to transpose details into a new representation that may be appropriate to help explore stress in children in a school situation. This process of transformation can largely be done by ‘translating’ words and terminology used in the flowchart above into words relevant and applicable to similar aspects of a school environment. A typical example of this would be that the reference to ‘employees’ would need to read ‘pupils’. Perhaps the more difficult aspect of this translation relates to its exploration of ‘negative outcomes’. It is clear that increased and sustained stress levels in children is less likely to lead to coronary heart disease or RSI in the short term than it would in adults, so perhaps more pertinent aspects of this section of the model would relate to an escalation in poor behaviours or higher absenteeism. Table 1 below shows a complete translation of Palmer et alâ₠¬â„¢s terminology using this ideology. Once this translation of meaning has been established then it appears that this model does provide some insight into possible factors that may contribute to stress levels in children. Further exploration of Palmer, Cooper and Thomas’s model would establish how these factors would impact upon the individual and at the whole school level. Table 2 on page 7 shows how Palmer et al’s structure would apply to a school model. It seems clear that there is a probable link between stress levels of a child in the classroom and organisational dysfunctions in the structure of the classroom and possibly to aspects of the whole school. This new model also shows where possible stressors come from for the pupil and how this could be managed to alleviate higher levels of stress across a school environment. It could be argued that a central difficulty in attributing the interactionist perspective model of stress to children is flawed by the intrinsic tenet of the model. Lazarus and Folkman (1984) believe that the essential tool of stress appraisal is the ability to reflect on past experiences to determine the individual’s ability to cope with the current situation. How then, does this model apply to young children whose experiences are more limited than those of an adult? Does this lack of experience allow a young child the ability to accurately evaluate past experiences against past  performances? An example of this could be when pupils are required to complete the Key Stage 1 SAT papers. Even though teachers will have tried to prepare each pupil with several practices in answering unfamiliar maths and literacy booklets, the actual test is unfamiliar due to the heightened expectations of the day itself. How are pupils able to reflect on past experiences of this? Perhaps the best that can be achieved is the familiarity with the style of the test but not necessarily with the SAT day itself. If this is the case, when the interactionist perspective is extrapolated to Key Stage 2 SATs it is likely that a bad experience in the Key Stage 1 SAT papers will affect perceptions of performance during the SAT tests in Year 6. Using this model, it must be argued that in order to achieve better results in Key Stage 2 SATs, there is a case to be made to enhance the positive experiences of sitting formal tests at an earlier age. This could be achieved by either taking away the pressure to achieve in Year 2 or indeed use these tests and tasks to give the pupils positive experiences to build upon. It is likely that a bad experience in Year 2 increases the likelihood of future failures or anxieties. To facilitate this process the model outlined in table 2 above could be used to facilitate good practice, improve support mechanisms, strengthen positive relationships and encourage a greater ability to handle change. This may also have a positive impact on the pupils and the whole school in the long term. The adaptation of Palmer, Cooper and Thomas’s model will allow a school practitioner the opportunity to affect whole school social dynamics by focusing upon the ‘potential hazards’ and being pro -active in offsetting the negative impact they can have on a school environment. But how successful have primary schools been so far in this role? Stress in the classroom In October 2007 the Cambridge Primary Review explored life in a primary classroom from a child’s perspective. The process of data collection, which took place between January and March 2007, collected evidence from a whole range of professionals in the primary education sector as well as people drawn from the wider community. These subjects included children themselves, who are referred to as ‘witnesses’ in the paper. In total there were nine Community locations in different parts of England, culminating in a total of  87 witness sessions, attended by over 750 people. This is clearly an important piece of research that cuts across cultural boundaries and local government differences. It would seem that this research is an amalgamation of collective thought, however there may be some difficulties with interviewing subjects such as children which will be explored in greater detail below. However such research conclusions cannot go unnoticed for long and immediately after its publication in academic circles, their conclusions made national headlines. It was this research that spawned a raft of emotive headlines across all forms of media in the UK. Articles fronted by ‘Children ‘stressed and depressed’ and ‘Primary Cause for concern’ were used offering direct quotes about what causes children such stress, citing: â€Å"the gloomy tenor of ‘what you hear on the news’ or by a generalised fear of strangers, burglars and street violence.† ITN webpage – Friday 12th October 07:05 am Furthermore articles in the media were concluding that: ‘ †¦our young children are anxious, badly behaved, stressed, depressed and obsessed with the cult of celebrity’ Garner, 2007 page 1 These emotive and somewhat generalized media headlines, alongside the Cambridge’s research papers demonstrate that there appears to be a high level of stress and depression in primary classrooms, but there is also a lot of anxiety in the ‘media’ at the possibility of there being stress and depression in the classroom. These headlines echo Mays’ conclusions who observed in his paper in ‘Stresses in Children’ (1996): ‘ there is still much to frighten, to frustrate and to intimidate a growing child’ (page 41) But just how successful are research methods and models of stress in helping to clarify and explain possible sources of stress in the primary classroom? Is it possible to accurately measure stress in children given some of the constraints of data collection? Perhaps more importantly are children able to understand the complexity of stress responses and have sufficient levels of emotional literacy to be able to accurately describe whether they are stressed or not? It seems a foregone conclusion, in stress research, that the respondent themselves is able to understand what stress is and how it affects them and to be able to recognise when they are stressed or not in given circumstances. It seems that collecting stress data from children is fraught with implicit difficulties. However, this should not deter such research being completed; it means only that the data collected may need a greater level of analysis and more rigorous reflection to be able to make any real conclusions. Collecting Stress data from Children There are two key difficulties with any stress research, both of which are applicable when exploring stress in children. The first central problem is that there is an absence of a common definition of stress and this makes research difficult due to the amorphous nature of how stress can manifest itself in different individuals (Ramsden 2007a). The second, somewhat related difficulty is that the vocabulary used to describe stress is often used loosely or interchangeably. It is not uncommon to read in books and research papers subsequent paragraphs using terms such as stress, anxiety, and worry to describe similar aspects of this phenomenon. Furthermore there is a central need to take care when referring to stress in terms of how it would change a person’s demeanor and/ or thought patterns. Stress research refers to stress as both a definition and a symptom. This can be somewhat overcome by trying to establish key differences in terms of relating anxiety as a symptom of stress, in very much the same way as references are made to headaches, depression and irrational thought, all of which may be as a direct result of the stress a person is under. However some research is now suggesting that stress, anxiety and depression are indeed co-variants and the inter-relationship and synonymous presence of all of these problems  together may indeed be: ‘ the rule rather than the exception.’ Compass and Hammem (1996)pg 242 If this comorbidity of anxiety, depression and stress has such strong bonds, then trying to ascertain what the differences are between these manifestations may be an impossible task. If this is the case then the interactionist perspective may indeed be the significant filter that holds such research together. By taking the essence of the Lazarus and Folkman (1984) model, the reason why a person feels they can’t cope is of secondary importance to the fact that they feel they can’t cope with current demands. Furthermore if such feelings of helplessness are born out of, or are exacerbated by, depressive tendencies then this is irrelevant to the basic fact that the individual feels they can’t cope with demands and therefore will be stressed. This tenet must then hold true for stress research into children. It does not seem to matter why the child feels stressed, the fact that they do, means that they are! That is, provided that they understand what feeling stressed i s, which falls back to the central difficulty of how effectively can you measure a phenomenon such as stress within a child when a child may not understand the phenomenon themselves? However, this then leads onto another dilemma. If it can be demonstrated that the children at the centre of the research have obtained a sufficient level of emotional literacy to determine what being stressed feels like, then to collect stress data in children, a methodological choice between two specific models needs to be made. The first strategy for collecting data uses the principle underlined by Selye (1934) that stress is a biological response to the environment and therefore it is possible to use biometric measures such as blood pressure and galvanic skin responses An alternative model such as that proposed by Lazarus and Folkman (1984) uses reflective self analysis to determine the individual’s ‘perception’ of their own stress. This second method can be collected in a number of ways but perhaps the most basic, but not necessarily the most simplistic, is either through questionnaires and/or interviewing the individual themselves. Before these qualitative methods are  discussed it is important to explore the more quantitative methods of data collection in children. Some of these discussion points can be found in Ramsden (2007b) which explores variations in data collection in greater detail, however it does not elucidate how they can be utilized with children and therefore it is worth touching on some of those points again but with specific reference for research with children. Biometric data collection in children If the argument is that children do not have the experiential capability to understand what stress is and the ability to describe accurately how they are feeling, or indeed able to recognise when they are stressed, then it seems plausible to assume that a more standardized, less subjective and fundamentally, a less reflective method of data collection is needed. In terms of stress research, the collection of such ‘clinical’ information must revolve around measuring biological responses rather than a child’s ability to tell the researcher when they are feeling stressed, and how this is different to when they are not feeling stressed. This biological method of data collection has its foundation in some of the earliest research into stress. Some of the very first experiments into the stress response were conducted by Hans Selye (1907-1982), an endocrinologist who conducted his work largely in the first half of the Twentieth Century. In his studies, he used biometric measurements from laboratory rats to determine the level of stress they were under. Selye, who was later given the accolade of the first person to define stress, referred to it as: † a non-specific (i.e. common) result of any demand on the body, whether the effect be mental or somatic† page 32 (Selye1936) His definition may well have some value here. If we take the stance that young children are indeed unable to identify accurately what stress is, then we should be measuring this ‘non-specific’ demand on the body in a purely biological way. It would seem plausible then that by observing children in a primary school throughout a typical day or week, and by taking regular  measurements, there may be a case to correlate variations in biological states at certain times of the day. Collecting data such as changes in blood pressure, pulse rates and sweating may give an insight into times when the body is under stress and when the child is calmer and more relaxed. This information could then be matched with events, observations and activities and correlated to show changes in responses to situations encountered. Using this method it should be relatively easy to find out whether participation in SAT tests or some other social situations, that blood pressure, pulse rates and GSR increase to reflect the physical, and by default, the emotional state of the child, and therefore conclude that this was or was not a stressful event for them. There may be a problem with this type of research however. Apart from some of the ethical difficulties, there is a crucial observation to be made. It could be argued that for children, the actual process of data collection may affect their stress levels. It could also be surmised that the actual method of data collection can be as stressful as the event in itself and therefore eradicate any impartiality in the result. There may be echoes here of the ‘Hawthorne effect’ (Roethlisberger & Dickson, 1939). Although a concept that has been applied to business models, it is worth exploring a little here. First established by Elton Mayo, Fritz Roethlisberge r and William J. Dickson who saw it as: ‘a temporary change to behavior or performance in response to a change in the environmental conditions.’ Roethlisberger & Dickson (1939)., page14 This definition is a salient one in this discussion. It could be argued that even if the outline of a study was not described to children, and even if the children were not aware that they were being studied so closely, there would be a difference in their day because at somepoint some interactions are needed to measure changes to their physiological state. This would be even more prevalent if these changes were happening alongside other stresses such as SAT tests. It seems therefore that by measuring a response, as Shaver (1981) highlighted, evokes close links with the Hawthorne principles. ‘Almost no matter what experimental conditions were imposed†¦.the investigators had obviously influenced the subjects’ behavior merely by studying that behavior.’ Kelly Shaver p272 In order to measure stress in a primary classroom then, some continuous measurement needs to happen that can be compared to a baseline. This in itself could be problematic. For some children the basis of their stress and the source of their fears and anxieties may come from the school environment itself. If being in the school itself is a cause of high levels of stress, it would be very difficult to ascertain a baseline to measure relative changes to stress levels in the individual. Studies into autistic children in some school environments (Hiroshi 1991) show that for many individuals school can be one continuous bombardment of stressful events. Extensive studies into school phobia at the primary level (eg: Place, Hulsmeier, Davis and Taylor, 2002; King and Ollendick, 1989) also indicate that it would be very difficult to determine a relaxed state for a baseline. In order to address this quandary, one possible method of data collection would be to use a portable blood pressure (BP) kit for example that would pose less intrusive method that enables an individual’s BP to be taken automatically without the need to stop and prepare for the examination. But this in itself causes problems apart from the physical tightening process of blood pressure being taken, it also serves as a reminder that they are being observed. This could be offset however by having a period of acclimatization where the individual being measured would get used to such routines and this may normalize the influence of the measurements being taken. Studies using adults seem to suggest that repetetive BP monitoring does not interfere with the validity of the data (Georgiades, Lemne, De Faire, Lindvall, Fredrikson,1997; Steptoe and Cropley, 2000) but the evidence to suggest that this is the case in studies using children as subjects is not clear. In the absence of any certainlty as to whether collecting biometric data in children can provide reliable evidence, it is important to explore other ways of gathering primary data from children. Qualitative methods of data collection with children As discussed above, in order to collate qualitative evidence of stress in children, there needs to be a clear understanding of a child’s ability to know when they are feeling stressed as opposed to when they are feeling relaxed. Fortunately for the stress reasearcher in this field, there is now a plethora of commercial teaching materials available to schools on Emotional Health and Well-being. Furthermore with ‘Being Healthy’ formally on the national agenda through the Every Child Matters (ECM) outcomes (eg Every Child Matters: Change for Children. DfES publication -1110-2004), the PSCHE curriculum in the primary school seems full of opportunities for even the youngest of children to explore their own emotions. It can be said therefore, that pupils in today’s primary schools are better equipped to discuss their emotional state than they have ever been. It seems fair to assume from this, that there only needs to be some basic ground work teaching to occur to give children the necessary vocabulary and a sense of introspection required to respond to stress-related questions and produce meaningful results. Nevertheless, even with this encouraging notion, it is important that the researcher does not lose sight of the influence they may have when trying to obtain children’s views. As with any socio-psychological research, and especially any involving children, ascertaining views on levels of stress or trying to clarify what causes stress does not lead to the adult influencing the responses or the conclusions the child makes about a given situation. This is of particular interest to stress research because of its important in the Lazarus and Folkman (1984) model of Cognitive Appraisal. It is vital, that that the child themself, determines whether a particular situation was stressful or not, rather than the adult implying to the child that it was. This effect is known as ‘Psychological Causality’ and is important in stress research with children. Herbert describes this phenomenon as: ‘†¦the tendency in young children to attribute a psychological motive as a cause of events’ Herbert page 23 (1996) Although Psychological Causality is not usually associated with stress research, it is important to bear in mind that it may be a factor when determining sources of stress in the primary classroom. Especially if this research is conducted in and around other stresses such as SATs, school performances or parents’ evenings. In order to clarify what these stresses are, further research into this field is needed and would help to clarify the influencing factors of data collection. The use of questionnaires One formal method of collecting quantitative information is the use of questionnaires. Perhaps their greatest strength is that it can provide a fair and rigorous structure to the questioning procedure. By handing out questionnaires to all the children, each child will have the opportunity to answer the same questions as everyone else. This rigidity also allows the researcher the ability to analyse statistically the evidence. The use of questionnaires for children is not uncommon and can provide a useful insight into many research areas. The use of a questionnaire as a method of collecting data from children is not without its difficulties however. The first point and perhaps the most salient is that formalising questions through prose has two basic problems. 1. Do the questions allow children the opportunity to give answers that are meaningful to the research question? 2. Will the wording of each question be interpreted by children in the way the researcher wanted them to be answered? Because of these two issues, It is very important therefore to focus on the wording of these questionnaires so that specific vocabulary such as stress, anxiety, worry and nervousness are not misconstrued by the reader and answered in different ways. It seems that once again a lack of a formal definition of stress hampers validity and structure in research design. It seems that compiling a flawless stress questionnaire is very difficult. Fife-Schaw (2000) takes this notion further: ‘Designing the perfect questionnaire is probably impossible’ Fife-Schaw pg159 Nevertheless, even with such limitations, a questionnaire may be useful in ascertaining information but will need some very careful planning. Bath and North East Somerset Council provide some helpful guidelines in their ‘Children in Need Handbook’ on principles for using forms and questionnnaires with children and young people. This information offers advice suggesting that some feedback about the results are done ‘†¦either immediately and/or at a later session’, but most importantly in the implementation of the questionnaire to: ‘Allow plenty of time’ Bath and North East Somerset Council ‘Children in Need Handbook’ (2007) page 47 Giving children enough time to read and process the questions raises a number of key issues, all of which may impact on the validity of the answers collected. Central to these difficulties is the child’s ability to reflect appropriately on their own changing emotional states and determine which events, if any, could be regarded as being under stress. It could be that this variance in what children understand about stress may invalidate results as it may be difficult to ascertain any consistency amongst the data. This could mean that some children need additional or supplementary support in answering the questions. If the questions need to be read out or explained to the child then this could influence how the child answers the question. An immediate concern to the researcher therefore, is whether the responses given reflect the child’s true feelings or ones that are dictated by the way the question is received? This difficulty in ascertaining consistency however may not be such a diffcult obstacle in collating data as it could be in other areas of research. Once again the Cognitive Appraisal model is able to lessen these problems. If the assumption is that all primary children have a ‘basic’ understanding of what stress is and how it affects them, then any reference  to feeling anxious, stressed and or upset in a particular sitaution is pertinent to their ‘assessment’ and therefore their perception of the situation. This data can then be used qualitatively by the use of any ‘thematic analysis’ technique to attribute feelings associated with the notion of stress, irrespective of the possible misuse of language by children. It seems that using markers or coding systems can help capture a variety of words used and still maintain an acceptable level of structure to the analysis of the data. The questionnaire may also need some modification in the format according to the child’s developmental stage (Sadock and Sadock 2000). Given all of these variables and constraints, perhaps the more flexible method of collecting data would be to talk to the children directly. Interviewing children Interviewing children needs careful handling. Chan highlights the difficulty children have when answering open ended questions such as ‘How did you feel ?† to unknown adults, indicating that many may respond with a passive response such as â€Å"I don’t know’, Chan (2005). Conversely in an interview scenario, Breakwell highlights the problem of ‘Acquiescence Response Bias’ (ARB) when asking children direct or closed questions such as ‘Did you feel stressed?’ She feels that the ARB often leads a child to say â€Å"Yes† to any question posed by an adult, irrespective of their own true feelings. Her advice however may not necessarily be helpful given Chan’s perspectives. Breakwell (2000) advises: ‘Questions should be posed so that they are not open to a yes – no response’. Page 245 How then can a researcher obtain collectable data on levels of stress in children that has some validity? The answer to this may be by looking closer to the research subjects. The age of the child is going to be important and can affect the structure of the interview. In some cases it may be necessary to have an adult in with the researcher who can be used for moral support but the choice of the adult needs very careful thought. The ‘Save the  Children’ organization issue a very clear message about the sensitivity needed when choosing this person. ‘Ensure that adults are out of the way – except for the translator and perhaps a project worker, teacher, or another adult that the child knows and trusts.’ Taken from Save the Children/ ‘Interviewing children’ (2007) accessed on the web 17.11.07 In some cases however, especially where children are older and more confident in their social interactions, it may be sufficient to interview the child on their own but in a less formal and more relaxed environment. Furthermore, whether adults are present or not, the interviewer should not limit themselves to interviewing and/or questioning by the use of words alone. By structuring the communications around other activities it may be possible to elicit emotional responses through activities such as play, drawings or model building Gabarino and Stott (1989). Whatever the technique used to interview children, and whatever the age or developmental stage they may be at, it seems the central responsibility of the researcher is to make the child feel at ease with the information-giving process. It should be a central skill of the researcher to design an environment where natural, or as close to natural, observations can be made. The research design should take into account where children feel at ease in giving information to adults. It is fortunate for many pedagogical researchers that school environments are constantly interloped by adults seeking answers to questions. It would seem common in most Primary Classrooms that professionals such as Ofsted, Educational Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapists are more of a visible part of the school environment than ever before. At least for research purposes, it seems that children are used to being observed by visitors in school in one capacity or another and where children’s voices are being sought over some issue on a regular basis. Conclusion It seems that those parental opinions voiced in the playground or in lines at the local supermarket echoing dismay that school is ‘not what it used to be’ are correct on one level. Primary school environments today are more attuned to assessments being made and where adults conducting observations are more commonplace. Classrooms are regular hosts to a whole variety of adults making some evaluative judgments on one issue or another. Children are required to prove themselves in one academic discipline or another at all ages and where children are given numerous and onerous responsibilities in and out of a school environment. 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