Vark Analysis

Reading and Writing Learning Preference Crystal D. Lynch Grand Canyon University NRS 429V November 11, 2012 Learning Style After completing the Vark questionnaire, this author showed a strong preference for learning by reading and writing. In the reading and writing learning preference, this preference is for information displayed as words (Fleming, 2001). Many students and teachers show a high preference toward this type of style. The ability to write, and read well are attributes widely sought by employers of recent graduates.In this learning style, emphasis is on text based input and output, using all forms of material especially manuals, reports, essays and textbooks (Fleming, 2001). People who prefer this model spend hours on the internet, gravitating toward power point presentations over audio presentation. In defining the reading and writing learning strategy, the author identified that the reading and writing learning model uses intake of material in a text-based format. It u ses lists, headings, dictionaries, handouts and textbooks as the prime source of intake material.Notes taken during lecture and manuals are also used as a source. When preparing to study, rewriting notes taken during lecture, and reading notes over and over, either out loud or silently, are some strategies used in this type of learning style. When preparing for test assignments or exams, taking practice exams with multiple choice questions is often helpful for students with the preference for the reading and writing learning style. In comparing, this authors’ preferred learning strategy to the identified strategies already in place, the model is actuate with only a few slight differences noted.This author finds it extremely helpful to use handouts, textbooks, and lecture notes as reference material when studying. Rewriting lecture notes, after class, has also been very beneficial for this author, as well as taking practice exams with multiple choice questions, which has been an effective aide in preparing for taking major examinations. Reading rewritten lecture notes out loud and over and over several times is a common study habit for this author.In contrast, however; the model suggests that students that lean toward this preference spend hours on the internet searching material and using power point presentations as a way to enhance their study habits. This author finds using the internet to be distracting, and cumbersome wasting time with material that is not beneficial. In addition, she finds the format of power point presentations hard to follow. The model suggests turning diagrams and charts into words as a helpful tool; not being accustom to using diagrams or charts this idea has not been tested by this author.The Vark questionnaire has raised some valuable points in the need for this author to make a change in the present study habits being used. Incorporating the differences into strategies already in place, with those listed on the Vark analysi s, should enhance the study habits, allowing for better results. The use of the internet as a resource as an enhancement to the study material can be beneficial, although the need to learn to use the internet in a more efficient way will help take some of the frustration out of searching endlessly for the material needed.The incorporation of the library as a resource is another area that this author will need to further investigate. Improving the way, in which the library is accessed, can be beneficial in enhancing the desired outcome for this student. In the final analysis of the Vark learning assessment tool: it is valuable, as it alert the student to the preferences they have toward learning. The assessment tool focuses on the best way to learn using a sensory model. The Vark model of learning styles is one of the most popular models in us today by students and educators.Developed by Neil Fleming in 1987, learners are identified by whether they have a preference for visual, audit ory, reading and writing, or kinesthetic learning (Cherry, 2012). The Vark questionnaire provides strategies that can lead to success in any learning environment (Fleming, 2011). The Vark model is not an exact science, but a guideline to help the student recognize their learning preferences, in an attempt to enhance study habits. By completing the Vark model assessment, the student is enabled to become more successful at tudying and to retain the information being taught. In conclusion, this author feels that the Vark questionnaire is a valuable tool in enhancing the success of students. By learning to recognize their study habits and incorporating those findings identified from the model, the student will become more proficient by limiting the time it takes preparing for an assignment. To be successful in the ever-competitive job market, students must learn to take advantage of all resources available.The Vark assessment is one such tool that can enhance the students’ abilit ies to succeed. Addendum Your scores were: Visual: 3 Aural: 5 Read/Write: 12 Kinesthetic: 1 You have a very strong Read/Write learning preference. References: http://www. vark-learning. com/english/page. asp http://psychology,about. com http://www. ehow. com Fleming, Neil copyright 2001-2011, Vark: A Guide to Learning Styles. Cherry, Kendra, About. com Guide2012, VARK Learning Styles: Visual, Aural, Reading, and Kinesthetic Learning. Vark Analysis The VARK Questionnaire is a great tool to use when deciding what one’s best learning strategy is. There is no wrong way to learn, only what works best. This paper will focus on multimodal study strategies and how other learning strategies compare. Summary of Multimodal Learning There are many different study strategies out there. According to VARK, the main study strategies include: Aural, Kinesthetic, Visual, Read/Write and Multimodal. In this case, multimodal will refer to using both visual and read/write study strategies.If one has many different ways they like to study they fit in to the multimodal category. â€Å"Approximately 60% of any population fits (this) category† (Fleming, 2001). Multimodal simply means that one utilizes more than one study strategy in order to learn certain subjects and/or material. Preferred Learning Strategies Visual learners prefer pictures, diagrams, graphs, flow charts, etc. For example, Jason wanted to score well on his exam. He used pictures and graphs he learned about in class, re-drew them repeatedly how he saw them, and chose the correct answer on the exam.Neil Fleming, the author of VARK Questionnaire, stated that one is â€Å"often swayed by the way something looks†¦and is interested in color and layout and design and you know where you are in your environment† (Fleming, 2001). For example, note cards used would be color-coded. Read/write study strategies focus on lists and words. Jason and others that think this way believe that â€Å"meanings are within the words† (Fleming, 2001). Jason, in this case, would utilize handouts, dictionaries, textbooks, and notes for studying.After reading these things through, Jason would then convert them into a way that was easy for him to understand. Diagrams, charts, and graphs would be turned into words and the meaning of the text would become much easier to understand. These words would then be written down on note cards to make for an easier and mo re efficient way of studying. With the combined visual and read/write study strategies, more of a secure feeling of knowledge is felt. In other words, the more ways he/she studies something; the more he/she will really learn it. Each student in a classroom has a unique and complex system of thinking and learning† (Lutz, 2011). Although multimodal studying works for Jason, it may not work for others. This is why there are several study strategies out there in order to cater to each unique individual. Comparison of Learning Strategies Two other study strategies that might help are Aural and Kinesthetic. â€Å"An aural learner soaks up information the easiest when it is presented in an auditory way. Speaking, listening and music all come naturally to the aural learner† (Priddy, 1999).In other words, he/she learns best by listening. He/she might tape class lectures, get together with a group to talk about certain subjects, or read their notes out loud when studying for an e xam. Kinesthetic learners â€Å"learn best when they discover things by doing them† (CLARE, 2010). If he/she is a kinesthetic learner, it might be hard to sit still in class and he/she will rarely take notes. He/she learns best by being active, physically. If he/she were this type of learner, it would help to make flash cards, and study for short periods over time.It is best to ask for help in class by way of examples. The more examples there are, the better. When comparing Jason’s preferred multimodal method of learning with the other above mentioned study strategies, multimodal works best for him. This is because he is able to combine more than one study strategy in order to achieve success in the learning environment. With multimodal referring to both visual and read/write study strategies in this case; VARK is spot on when detailing what works best for these learners.Visual, Aural, and Kinesthetic study strategies my be useful but will not give Jason the results th at his multimodal study strategies do. Study Habits Emphasis with these study strategies would be on utilizing highlighters, symbols, pictures and re-writing/re-reading notes over and over again (Fleming, 2001). However, one thing that Jason might want to include would be to imagine notes he made as multiple-choice questions in order to test himself on the info that has been collected. This is done in order to make sure that he is on the right track with his information.When in doubt always ask questions! Conclusion In conclusion, The VARK Questionnaire is indeed the best way to find out what one’s best learning strategy is. Not everyone learns the same way and it is because of that these learning strategies are out there. Multimodal studying works best for Jason but may not be the best choice for others. Find out what is, mold it in to a specialized, individual study plan, and stick with it. There is no wrong way to learn, only what works best. References CLARE. (2010, Decem ber 13).The study gurus: study advice for kinesthetic learners. Retrieved from http://www. thestudygurus. com/kinesthetic-study-tips/ Fleming, N. (2001). Vark: A guide to learning styles. Retrieved from http://www. vark-learn. com/english/page. asp? p=helpsheets Lutz, D. (2011, September 09). Learning strategies. Retrieved from http://www. seenmagazine. us/articles/article-detail/articleid/1663/multi-modal-learning-strategies-for-all-students. aspx Priddy, B. (1999). ehow: Aural learning style. Retrieved from http://www. ehow. com/about_5472528_aural-learning-style. html

Most criminologists use a legal definition of crime

Crime is an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited. It is a criminal activity that engaged in fights and riots. These definitions connote negative impact to crime and as what it always does to human minds. Stereotyping will always apply every time people encounter the word crime as dangerous, harmful and destructive to humankind and the state. Sociologists define it as deviant act, non-conforming to society’s standard and violating all the rules that the state set up. Thus every act that does not conforms or follows the society’s standards are all considered crime and doers are criminals. Simple violations like way walking, loitering, over speeding, and making noise that disturbs the public are all considered crimes because it violates the society’s rules. To the extent that simple offender will easily be judge as criminal, thus given sanction and punished before the law, no matter how big or small the case was, as long as he/she committed violations punishment, is still given to him/her. Human law or society set standard are said to be righteous thus to be tag on and respected by all. All human kinds are abided to conform the said rules and standard. Acts, which are not set as correct by the state standards, are all crime and sin according to society’s laws. Violators of such are therefore tagged as criminal and thus sin committers. Every rules have corresponding sanctions, thus violators are subject to punishment base on how destructive and offensive the crime may be to people and to the state. Not all people in a state or society are all aware the rules to abide in their respective society. Many were punished without knowing what offenses they are committing or what violation they do. In addition, many are not conscious to policy and sanctions to the said laws. Thus, offenders effortlessly surrender their selves to avoid any possible trouble of non-conformance. With these, Australia New Zealand Policing Support Agency (ANZPSA) was established to give policy support, strategic advice, research, knowledge management and information giving out capacity across jurisdictions. This represents a momentous change in approach that involves the union of functions. An implementation team has been established too to commence the practical arrangements for the creation of the new organization. This agency was created to investigate possible causes of offenses, and possibly give massive information on how to avoid and handle crimes that may occur. This includes, thorough analysis of a certain case, its implications and root cause why such crime/offenses arise. There are many crimes reported everyday throughout the country. Each one needs a kin and careful investigation because authority cannot easily accuse the suspect as guilty without proper jurisdiction. Cases are being study, offenders are questioned; his/her family background, his/her status and the reason behind his offenses are also investigated. If suspect is proven guilty before the law, sanctions and punishments are given. This punishment varies from case to case bases, which are also set together with the rules and standard of a certain community. There are also violations that need not to punish right away. Offenders are usually given warnings or let be pay for a certain amount. Mostly are jaywalkers and loiterers. Crimes may vary from country to country, depending on how such country set its norm. According to National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) U.S most common committed crimes are gang crime, hate crime, organized crime, property crime, trafficking in persons, public offenses and drug crime, (http://www.acpr.gov.au/). Drug crime as the most common offenses committed anywhere; cause so much damage that resulted to other related crimes. Drug and alcohol crime are offenses that involve many related crime doers. These include the user and the pusher. User may led to addiction which may caused him/her to do acts which are not set as standards to the society as a whole, like theft, rape, and robbery that resulted to public disturbance and destructions. Crime involving drugs is most rampant violation that every one encounters, because drugs is present anywhere people go. Most people have access to it; even young ones can afford to hand it due to simple and easy to have resources. The Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring program (ADAM) deals the level of drug and alcohol use in risky population of people. They are designed to investigate on how do arrestees use the drugs, how frequent they use how they obtain it and what push them to do so. These data’s are collected either thru personal interview with the arrestees and careful observations. Dosage of offenders’ intake is also measured thru test and urinalysis. Investigations always occur during the arrest and not later than 48 hours to make documentation for proper reporting and study to come up a correct and accurate report on what alcohol and drugs are commonly abused and the effect it cause to the user and to the public. Crime as a deviant behavior said to violate a prevailing norms especially cultural standard that dictates people on how to behave well and what someone should avoid to do, (Berger, 1963). This view consider the complicated facts surrounding the definition of crime and seeks to understand how changing social political, psychological and economic conditions may affect the current definition of crime and the form of legal law enforcement. Crime perception may change from time to time. This changes depends on the cultural shift of one society also, which affects the criminal statistics rates of the state as well. Socio-economic status of one place plays a role in crime rate also. For example, in a drastically losing its resources country/society may affect the attitude of the people to crave for food for living especially if there is scarcity of its supply in their respective community. Scarcity of jobs will also affect criminal rate of a certain place. Absence may lead people to commit some expected job-less related crime like theft and robbery. If one place is in famine or less job opportunities, it is expected that crime will also rise. On the other hand, if the state is in good economic standing, crime rate will also lessen. Economic change and cultural shift determines the allocation of resources for the enforcement of law, and influences public opinion. In addition, changes in criminal rate will also affect on how the public think and perceived crime. Such adjustments, allied with the experience of people in their everyday lives, shape attitude to the extent to which the law should be used to enforce any particular social norms. There are many ways that behavior can control without having to resort criminal justice system, in those cases where there were no clear consensus on the given norm. The use of the criminal law by the group of authority to prohibit a particular action maybe considered improper for the others. Crime as called deviant act will also have a corresponding punishments attach to it. Every person involve is given an equivalent sanction to the crime committed. In such a way that the said criminal be stop and further damage to the public and to the state can then be avoided, because the state or the authority believes that allowing any crime to occur without doing any action is just like letting harms to spread without any preventing or stopping device to control it. This process involves criminalisation, with the involvement of the state as the authority to control the said crimes. It is a crime reduction device restricting individual liberty to minimize harm to others. Though every citizen has the right to liberty but not all liberty is harm-free to others. Because hat maybe considered crime to the others may not be crime for the other party. Criminalisation may provide future harm reduction even after the occurrence of crime, assuming that those act are more likely to cause further damage in the future. Criminalisation is intended for the crime doers to pay their crime offenses to stop the act at the early stage to prevent and minimize criminals. In this case criminalisation is a way to set the reward that criminals must have after committing certain evil action that are considered threat to the peacefulness of the society as a whole. In addition; criminalisation can be viewed as a state sanctioned to the crime doers. Because I personally believed that once a person is not aware of his deeds, whether he/she already caused damage to the others will continuously patronage his/her action if not being reprimanded of his wrong doings. In this sense, sanctions must be something that could make evildoers awake then, if not he/she more likely to repeat the said action again and again. Crime rate is measured to determine the number or crime incidence happen in that particular place. In order to compare on what specific year and month that crime rate rise and fall, so that the public has the idea when to be more careful and not as well as to be more familiar with the places where crime rate is high. Countries and societies have different methods in measuring crime rate. Some used survey, personal interviews and sample sampling. In Australia, they use fact and figures to gather and determine the occurrence of crime, which come from a variety of sources. They use two types of collection data. Namely, administrative and survey method. Both types of information needed to help our comprehension of the level and effects of crime to the people and in the community. The sources they use with these issues are listed in the reference for future retrieval and comparison. Administrative collection for criminal justice agencies keep record of their work process and progress related to crime in different stages. Criminal cases are being divided into different agencies to handle with in order for it to be carefully tackle. In addition, public has the idea on what agency to look for in looking for a particular crime. For example police keep incidents record, court record the details of cases and their disposition and correction agencies have details of the offenders and their corresponding charges. Most crime information come from administrative collections which tackle the whole population that come into contact with the criminal justice system and remain stable in terms of data collection and sources for the long period of time. There are limitations on spreading of the said data, including comparison across agencies and jurisdictions. For example police record details about offenses, courts record cases and correction agencies for the information about individuals’ prisoners. Although improvement arises in workflow of the said data sources, data definitions and collecting method used are not always the same across jurisdiction and recording quality maybe vary. It takes time to come up with an agreement at a national level on the key issue including definitions of new and arising violations. More detailed and close likely to accurate information about crime and justice is often available at the jurisdictional level, even when it is not possible to come up with national statistics. Not all crime is reported to police. Thus not all crimes were record and collected information then. Unreported crimes usually occur at rural areas where people do not have enough access to authority. Minor crimes like theft, sexual assaults, and minor incidence are the usual crime that is most commonly unreported. Twenty percent of crime related to sexual assaults is believed to be unreported and almost ninety five percent for motor vehicle thefts incidence. This is the reason why other sources of data collection use the method of asking questions to the public in order to come up with the highest and lowest common answers. These answers are then recorded in a similarly uniform way so that the information they provide is reliable and comparable. Crime surveys are believed to produce more accurate vision of actual crime rate in a particular society. Although survey is said to be more accurate than the others there is still possibilities of error with regard of its percentage, due to small sample population involved. But percentage of errors is also being recorded in order to determine the error. Crime brought negative connotation to individuals’ perception and thinking, based on how the state or society label it as such also. The imposed and practice rules and regulation culturally embraced society, because society has its norms and standard to follow. Doing the opposite to the said norms is therefore considered deviant. Thus doers are labeled as shame to the family where she/he belongs and to the community as a whole. These are labeled as such because the society set it as such also, and the people therefore are obliged to observe and follow the norms being an occupant of the society. Therefore, people committing such deviant acts are subject to face and suffer before the law. The consistent problem has been to justify the society’s use of force to coerce with its law. Natural law theory posits that the standard of morality are derived from or constructed by the nature of the world or of human beings. Thomas Aquinas said: â€Å" the law and measure of human acts is the reason which is the first principle of human acts.†(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crime. Since people are by nature rational beings, it is morally appropriate that they should behave in a way that conforms to their rational being. Thus any law must conform to natural law and coercing people to conform to that law is morally acceptable. Every human actions deal always with morality. The problem may arise if ones moral act which is set his/her nature may not be moral to the others, which probably came from other society whose moral value are not the same. Thus crime may also result to. But in dealing with these issues both parties involve must understand and know each others moral value to compromise to possibly eradicate the arising trouble, as well as the authority who have the power to weigh and decide it all. Majority of natural law theorist accepts that the primary function of the law is to enforce the prevailing morality. The problem with this is that it makes any moral criticism, if conformity with natural law is necessary conditions for legal validity. It s always necessary for the existing law to be just and fair to all individuals in a society. Equal treatment and punishment must be given to offenders regardless of their ethnicity, status and socio-economic standing. The law may be acceptable but the use of state power to citizens to comply with that law is not morally justified. Crime may be characterized as the violation of individual rights. Since right are considered as natural and crime as a man-made labeling. Therefore crime is also natural. Perfect example for this is that man’s nature is to look for food for survival, and he must take some actions on how to get his/her basic needs. In remote areas for example most people get their food anywhere they want and with any method they knew. Some cultivate food in their own, using the land they found regardless of the ownership of the said land. Whether it owns by the state or by other people. With this scenario, in natural moral aspect the act is right and legal because the nature dictates man to have food to survive. On the other hand, human implemented law states that it is illegal and criminal because of using the land which is own by the other people. It is invasion of property if the society law calls it. In this case, the man, which is just doing things that is for him legal, will be hold and question by the state before the law. Natural theory therefore distinguishes between criminality, which is derived from human nature, and illegality, which is derived from the interest of those in power. This view leads to a seemingly paradox that an act can be illegal that is no crime, while criminal act could be perfectly legal. Reference: Books: Berger, Peter. (1963). Introduction to Sociology, Doubleday and Co., Inc. New York. Dostoevsky, Fryodor. (1981). Crime and Punishment, Bantam Books. New York. Feinberg, Joel. (1973). Social Philosophy, Prentice Hall Englewood Cliffs. New Jersey. Halt, William. (1973). Social Control, Rinehart and Winston Inc. Forth Worth. Hess, Beth. (1976). Sociology, Prentice Hall. New York. Hudson, Helen. (1985). Criminal Trespass, G.P. Putnam’s sons. New York. Lerry G. Lao-Valdez. et.al. (2005). Introduction to Literature: A Book Of Reading†, Julbert Press. Department of English, College OF Arts & Social Sciences, MSU,   IIT, Iligan   City. Sanchez, Custodiosa. (1997). Contemporary Social Problems and Issues, National Bookstores. Manila.    Internet: Australasian Centre for Policing Research (http://www.acpr.gov.au/) Australian Legal Information Institute (http://www.austlii.edu.au (legal resources Crime. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Australia) Crime meaning. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crime) Criminality. (http://www.crimelibrary.com) Law Enforcement Links http://www.leolinks.com/ (viewed 19 April 2006) National Criminal Justice reference Service (http://www.ncjrs.org)      

What is the definition of policy Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What is the definition of policy - Coursework Example licies have had a significant impact on the nursing field worldwide since she was among the first to offer or advocate for a full public health care system. Clear and well thought out policies are vital especially in times of rapid change in the health care field to advocate for improved communication within organizations so as to advance public health. Policies determine the care accorded to families, communities or individuals when accessing health care services. Thus, policy is primarily defined as a course of action which is followed by an institution, government or business to achieve the desired goal. According to Parahoo (2014) health policy is defined as both the private and public policies which are directly linked to the provision of health services. The primary purpose for the formulation of policies is to safeguard the health of the public. Thus, policies basically serve as a management tool for risk management while promoting health. McDonald (2006) states that Nightingale’s holistic approach to the concept of health focused on critical elements that mainly influenced health. These are good child care, safe childbirth, good nutrition, decent housing and access to clean air and water. Thus, policies enhance and increases safety in nursing practice (parahoo,

Income inequality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Income inequality - Essay Example The rich tend to earn more income than the poor, and so more wealth seems to fall majorly in the hands of a few rich people while the majority earn very little. One’s earnings depend on several factors such as the demand and supply for the person’s skills. As the factors influence wages, they end up affecting the distribution of a country’s income. With income inequality, the rich tend to earn higher income while the poor earn low incomes. That differentiates the poor from the rich. Such inequality has several impacts on the economy and the population. To measure inequality, economists use some measures. Through one such measure, they compare household incomes through surveys. The process involves a comparison of the sources of income and the consumption patterns of the households that participate in the survey. To rank individuals in accordance to per capita income for each household, economists subtract direct taxes from the total income for the household. They then divide the amount by the number of individuals in the household. The calculation and the ranking give the Gini coefficient. The Gini coefficient is a method applicable to the measurement of inequality. The Gini coefficient has a range of 0 to 100 whereby 0 represents a period when everyone has the same income (Milanovic, 2011 p.7). The income inequality in a country would generally range between 25 and 60 in the Gini range. In the assessment of income inequality, household surveys come out as the best instruments. However, they have some drawbacks. At times, the rich may refuse to participate in interviews or at times they may understate their incomes. Another useful measure of income inequality is the Lorenz curve. With this measure, economists seek to determine how cumulative percentage of households links to cumulative percentage of income (Mankiw and Taylor, 2014 p.386). By plotting the cumulative percentage of income against

Evaluation on Mathematics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evaluation on Mathematics - Term Paper Example Since the 1960s, the mathematic abilities of American Students has been deteriorating compared to those students from other nations. A recent study illustrated that mathematic performance depends more on education and attitude rather than inborn genetic talent (Kimball & Smith, 2013). As such, this particular analysis will focus on the ways in which mathematics is an essential component of the current society and how it is essential that students be effectively trained in math and taught not to simply â€Å"give up† if the first attempt (or attempts) were less than satisfactory. Math is objective, so students who do poorly on exams will tend to compare themselves to those who did well; not realizing that those students were well prepared. The dilemma occurs as the under-performing students identify themselves with the phrase, "Im just not good at math". From this point, it may seem the student will use this as a excuse that could decrease their motivation to prepare for math exams. This self-fulfilling prophecy can cause people to avoid approaching math with "perseverance, tenacity, and fearlessness," which is the attitude needed for people to succeed (Schwartz, 2006). Yet, as has been noted previously, the reality of this approach is that it creates generations of students that simply give up on math; rather than coming to appreciate the fact that it is a difficult subject that requires a certain degree of dedication and mastery to successfully understand and apply. In order to encourage the increased levels of dedication that should be reflected within st udents, educators would do well to remind them how fundamental math is and some of the reasons why is will come to be of ever increasing importance if these students would like to attain a well paying job after graduation (Goel & Reid, 2012). One of the first and

Negotiation Post 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Negotiation Post 1 - Essay Example This meant that these applications had to be keenly scrutinized so as to ensure that credit facilities were only offered to those individuals with the capability of repaying the loan offered to them. During the course of my duties as a bank sales executive, I quickly learnt that the majority of our customers borrowed long term loans due to the prevailing financial downturn. Therefore, given the bigger size of long term loans compared to short term loans, I had to be extra careful as to which customers to extend the credit and who no to. This entailed observing the credit worthiness of the customers against their information in the credit bureaus as well as ensuring that they had the ability to repay the loans, given their current state of finances. The most difficult part of it all was to negotiate the terms of the loans with the customers and also attaching an asset that would act as security over the duration of the loan. Due to the economic meltdown, most financial institutions ha d increased the lending interest rates due to the increased demand for credit in the market. Consequently, with the increase in the total cost of borrowing, borrowers found the interest rates to be too high such that most negotiations conducted stalled. In order to not lose business for the bank, I had to find innovative ways of negotiating with the customers in such a way that the bank did not lose on interest but at the same time the customers felt that they had agreed on a good deal. Therefore, during negotiations I often offered customers longer periods of paying back the loans but on the other hand maintaining the interest levels as much as possible. During the economic meltdown period, banks were being faced with huge default rate levels since most borrowers were unable to pay back their loans. Therefore it was made essential to me that all the customers seeking credit had to be vetted and adequate security obtained on the loans they borrowed. I issued credit to only those cus tomers who had assets that were correctly valued to mirror the value of their loans. Although a daunting task at first since customers found ways of putting up undervalued assets, I later found it imperative to ensure that all assets had to be valued by a professional valuer at first before credit was extended to the customer. By so doing, the customers came to me only with certified copies of the valuer’s report showing the correct value of the asset vis-a-vis the loaned amount. This experience of negotiating with bank customers came to my mind while reading Stuart Diamond’s Getting More in relation to what he terms as â€Å"getting to know what you are getting into†. Negotiation Post 2 Stuart Diamond reiterates the importance of valuing the other party as well as developing trust in Getting More. This got me thinking of an incidence that happened over five years ago when I was volunteering in an orphanage in my hometown. This orphanage gave orphaned, abandoned and other underprivileged children a place to call home. It had touched my heart since I first set foot and had vowed that I will do my best to contribute to its endeavors in any little way that I could. At the orphanage, there was a young man called Andrew who always came during the weekends to volunteer. I later came to know that he was once in the orphanage when he was 5 years old when his single mother could not afford his upkeep and gave him away to the orphanage. After a few

Rationale For Performance Based Assessment Essay

Rationale For Performance Based Assessment - Essay Example I believe that the role a teacher plays can shape the students’ lives. Hence, a teacher’s role is of foremost importance. To advance teaching skills, teachers must continually keep track of the recent researches and pedagogies and should use them in helping the English language learners improve on their English skills. It is also very important that the assessments taken by ELLS are fair by all means. A fair assessment is a necessary step in the progress of ELLs. I am responsible for teaching basic level English listening / speaking skills to my students who mainly speak Arab. A proper performance based assessment should be preceded by a proper imparting of learning to the ELLs. Hence, firstly, I would be highlighting the appropriate strategies that are used across the world for teaching the English language learner population. The advancement in technology has proved to be a great help in imparting learning to the ELL population since it has led to an increase in the m odes of teaching. Some effective strategies to impart effective learning to the ELL students are described below (Richard J. Stiggins, 2004): †¢Ã‚  Use of non-lingual representation†¢Ã‚  The students should be helped in recognizing the varied patterns†¢Ã‚  Different activities should be organized wherein the English language learners are given a chance to express compound ideas. †¢Ã‚  Another approach is to relate the learning to the students’ culture in some way. Arab music and pictures can be used as digital media for imparting learning to students.

Investigating Problems with Minorities and Community Policing Essay

Investigating Problems with Minorities and Community Policing - Essay Example How can we investigate problems between minorities and police services? Importantly, what is the nature and extent of the problems between the police and minority communities? How widespread are the problems and for whom are these issues problematic? Aiming to be both descriptive and prescriptive, the following will explore what has been done regarding this problem, and whether or not the innovations were effective? Finally, what are the possible solutions to the present problems between police and minority communities? Seeking to address these questions as they pertain to the issue of minorities within the United States and their relationship to the police services, the following will provide a thorough analysis of a complex phenomenon (Skogan, 2003). The United States of America boasts the highest incarceration rates on the planet, even higher than places such as China, Iran or Russia. According to a report released by the Pew Center for Research on the United States, nearly one in 100 persons in the United States is incarcerated (2008). Accordingly, the state of California alone spends $8.8 billion annually on incarceration costs and while the statistics above are, remarkable, so too are the racial disparities within the American penal system. Accordingly, while African-Americans account for just 13% of the total population, their incarceration rates are much higher than for all other ethnic groups. With nearly 50% of the total prison population in the United States, African-Americans account for a disproportionate number of inmates in this country. Importantly, it is estimated that African-Americans have a 16% risk of going to prison in their lifetime, compared to a 2% risk for whites. According to scholar Scot Wortley, â€Å"blacks are still 2 times more likely to experience a stop by police and four times more likely to experience both.

Descriptive Profile of Milford Sound Fjord Essay

Descriptive Profile of Milford Sound Fjord - Essay Example They stand tall on either side of the narrow curving inlet and rise towards the sky protruding from the stretch of water. While some hills are coated a dark green hue with trees and appear all soft and bushy, others have streaks of lighter green canopy adorning them. Yet some others appear a bit grayish and rocky, whereas the peaks of the mountain are snow-capped with bits of a green impression on them like the ones done to blend two different colors in a painting. The white mist that seems to hang only on the mountain peaks are actually the vast spread clouds. There can also be seen clouds in the form of white fluffy puffballs that encircle the peaks giving the idea of a pointed birthday hat with a sphere on top. At some parts of the mountains, the eye catches white moving streaks falling towards the ground, which are the temporary waterfalls created after the heavy rains. However, the Milford Sound proudly shows off its two cascading beauties, the Stirling Falls, and the Lady Bowen Falls. The Bowen River trickles along the hill before it falls off the cliff and splashes into the inlet. The clear deep blue inlet is almost always dotted with ships that bring in tourists from all around the world. The blasts made by the whistles of the ship bounce of the cliffs and fade into the distance. Another sight to watch is when the powerful winds blow, the temporary waterfalls get pushed back vertically and they tend to move upwards, as the current of the water is changed by the wind. If one is lost in a hypnotic trance from the scenic beauty, they will be brought back to senses by the calls of dolphins, seals and also the penguins, just like I was. A rare creature present here is the Whio (blue duck), the males of which â€Å"whistle† and the females make â€Å"guttural rattle-like† calls (Milford Track 5). The climate at the sound is very pleasant as there is rainfall mostly and it proved to be much better than any man-made equipment that adjusts room temperature.

Suggest a Performance Management Systems for a small government Essay

Suggest a Performance Management Systems for a small government department. Explain how can the Balanced Scorecard complement the Performance Management System - Essay Example The performance management system outlined in this paper come from the personal experience of CEOs of big and small companies, business analysts, consultants and major players in the business world as well as management experts in non profit organisations. While these individuals may differ on how the performance management system should be constructed, they are all united on the point that such systems and the performance review process itself is an essential part of employee growth which in turn leads to the growth and development of the organisation. In fact, Jack Welch served as the CEO of General Electric for more than two decades and links performance management to the overall mission of the company. He says that â€Å"Every decision or initiative was linked to the mission. We publicly rewarded people who drove the mission and let go of people who couldn’t deal with it for whatever reason (Welch, 2005, Pg. 16).† This idea connects directly with the idea of the balanced scorecard given by Kaplan and Norton (1992) primarily due to the fact that it connects employee performance management with the idea of promoting the objectives and mission of the organisations rather than any other factor. GE’s own mission, when Welch was running the company, was to be the most competitive company in the world which fits with the approach of rewarding and doing the utmost to keep the best talent within the organisation and letting go of those who do not perform to a certain level. Such tactics could only be employed when an effective performance management system is place and GE’s system for performance reviews has been lauded by critics as well as copied by the competition simply because it is one of the best. In the modern concept of governance, government departments certainly note the importance of human resource management. However, the process of applying the concepts of human resource management which are created in a

A pair of blue eyes Essay Example for Free

A pair of blue eyes Essay With reference to the first seven chapters, show how Hardy uses the novels setting to develop character It has been said by many critics, that the main focus of Hardys pre-19th century novel The Return of the Native, is none of the characters, but the almost animate heath land upon which it is set. Hardys methods of describing the heath, allows us to view it as several different things to several different characters, for example, Eustacia Vye, to whom the heath is a prison, or Clym Yeobright, husband of Eustacia, who views Egdon Heath as an area housing the commonest man, a group of people who have been transformed into simplicity by the heath, who he can educate. One possible reason of this is because the heath is written to seem almost ancient, thus has had time to adapt to the way nature shapes the landscape at its will, at present, a place perfectly accordant with mans nature . With features such as barrows, Hardy has created a religious, almost pagan feel to the heath land, with on which the main characters congregate in the first few scenes, to hold a bonfire, giving the night air upon the land an eerie feeling throughout the rest of the book. The weather upon the heath through the early chapters is somewhat harsh, the storm was its love, the wind was its friend yet still the characters persist to roam the heath at night, Eustacia especially, searching endlessly for an escape. One good example is where Eustacia awaits Wildeve upon a barrow, but she utters a sigh as she waits, pondering whether he will arrive, thrown out with the winds, it became twined in with them. It is events like these which Hardy gives us insight to, that we can see the development of the characters, for example, this is just another step of Eustacia becoming even more heavily buried within the land. Hardy also uses inanimate objects other than the heath, to create an atmosphere, such as the fire which burns between Wildeve and Eustacia as they speak, The revived embers of passion glowed clearly in Wildeve now. However, Eustacia does not light a communal bonfire for the sake of community, nor for the sake of sanity, similar to the locals who feel that communication through bonfire separates them from the heath, perhaps as many as thirty bonfires could be counted within the whole bounds of the district. She lights her fire, and attempts to communicate with something which will set her free from the realm a man, to either take her from Egdon to America, such as Wildeve promises, or back to Paris, the location from which her husband has come. Another interesting feature of Hardy using objects, rather than words or actions to describe how a character feels, is Eustacia constantly viewing the heath from her telescope, as if she is hoping for some kind of miracle, a knight in shining armour to come and whisk her from her feet. Another good example of a similar event is her checking her hourglass while waiting upon the heath. These two items, the telescope in particular being from distant places (of which she wishes she could travel to), differ significantly from peasant tools or items, from which she is eager to disassociate herself from. However Hardy is again referring to the vastness of the heath, by implementing a telescope, and the immense age of the heath, by an hourglass, however, for Eustacia, the hourglass diminishes the vastness of the heath, almost providing her with something shes wished for. The heath folk seem to exist in a more than comfortable relationship with the heath, and the heath in a comfortable relationship with civilisation, as it becomes overgrown; the humans cut the furze and faggots, and put them for good use fire. The folk seem to be driving off the darkness, upon November 5th, Guy Forks night, upon a barrow used for burials in the past, the ashes of the original pyre which blazed from that summit lay fresh and undisturbed in the barrow beneath their tread. The locals dont even appear to be celebrating this fact, more so finding comfort in the spotting of other fires lighted in the district. The people here are highly superstitious, and due to the size of the community, and involvement with other communities (very little), the heath only fuels their ideas, as is shown in the third chapter, when the heath folk are talking about Christian a man who no man would marry, for the reason of the date he was born upon having no moon,No moon : hey neighbours, thats bad for him? This early superstition in the novel serves many purposes, the main ones being reader interest, and plot evolution for it is a form of superstition, voodoo, which a heath folk uses against Eustacia as she finally tries to negate the heath, causing her death. Another pastime which suitably provides the heath inhabitants when they are not creating fire is gossip. The heath only fuels the peoples desire to talk about others business, because the community is very small, so hence everybody is aware of the news of everybody else, for instance, the news of Clyms success as a scholar travels for miles before he has even reached the age of three. Personally, I do not subscribe to the belief that the heath is a character within its own right, even though Hardy inspires such thoughts with phrases such as The storm was its lover, the wind was its friend. I believe that Hardys immense concentration upon the heath is merely a sign of two its importance to the play, and as a method which he can use to develop the rest of the characters, such as Eustacia, helping her to constantly arrive at a state of enlightenment which feels that nothing is worthwhile..

Inner Beauty Matters Essay Example for Free

Inner Beauty Matters Essay Inner beauty matters How many times do we see ourselves in the mirror and make negative comments about our looks. I’m not pretty or I’m too fat or I’m too overweight. These are few of the phrases that first come to mind in most girls when they look at themselves in the mirror. Well, 90% of teenage girls do not like the way they look or appear. The reason for that is in our society you get attention from people if you look attractive and stunning. Some girls who are overweight would get negative comments from peers like- ‘That girl is too ugly’ or ‘That girl looks like a bulldozer’. Fat is not something you have, it is something you are. We dont say You have fat, we say, You are fat. We identify with our bodies. So the teenager gets the message that this fatness is badness. Some of the teenagers who don’t accept the way they look, try to change themselves by dieting which leads to illnesses and diseases like anorexia. Dieting is the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. In most cases the goal is weight loss in those who are overweight or obese, but some people these days start dieting because they want to change the way they appear to the society. But what really matters in life? An old proverb states, â€Å"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. † Something or someone is beautiful, depending on the perspective of the person looking in. But the major thing that matters is- Is the person good-looking from inside? Because Without a doubt inner beauty lasts forever whereas outer beauty fades. Anyone can fake the outside to make himself or herself look better and pretty but inner beauty cant be faked. For example you could be the most beautiful person in the world but if you have a horrible personality it just makes you ugly. Your body image is how you perceive, think and feel about your body but this may have no link at all on your actual appearance. For instance, it is common in Western nations for women to believe they are larger and fatter than they really are. Only 16% of women are satisfied with their body weight. Our body shape is already decided before we are born. Each one of us is a unique human being with our own genes from our mum and dad. There is only one person in the world shaped like you. Dieting does not change body shape. The distribution of weight on your body is going to stay the same so learn to love who you are. Dieting is not effective dieting changes a persons metabolism so that they are more likely to lose muscle mass than fat. Instead of dieting to look better and attractive, you can exercise, which is the best and safest way to become healthier. Feeling good about your body as it is helps you to maintain a positive outlook in other areas of your life.

New Generation Sequencing Technologies: Population Genetics

New Generation Sequencing Technologies: Population Genetics New generation sequencing technologies have the potential to rapidly accelerate population genetics research, allowing scientists to comprehensively understand complex evolutionary histories, as well as functional and ecological biodiversity (Shokralla, et al., 2012; Shendure Hanlee, 2008). Prior to 1977, sequence production involved the handling of toxic chemicals and radio-active isotopes, restricting sequencing to persons of high expertise and speciality (Hunkapiller, 1991; Swerdlow, et al., 1990; Sanger, et al., 1977). In 1977, Fred Sanger and Alan R. Coulson published two methodological papers describing a new form of DNA sequencing technology, which would lead to the method (capillary-based, semi-automated Sanger biochemistry) used almost exclusively in the field, for the next 30 years (Shendure Hanlee, 2008). Sanger sequencing transformed biology. It became a tool for deciphering complete genes and, later, entire genomes. Due to the unprecedented extent at which Sanger techn ology grew, factory-like enterprises, called sequencing centres, were established, housing hundreds of DNA sequencing instruments, operated by cohorts of personnel (Schuster, 2008; Hunkapilla, et al., 1991). Despite the dominance of Sanger sequencing in laboratories, for a number of decades, the technology had and continues to be hampered by inherent limitations in throughput, scalability, speed and resolution (Shendure Hanlee, 2008). To overcome these barriers, an entirely new technology was required, one that democratised the field, putting the technology of comprehensive genetic analysis into the hands of individual investigators, not only major genome research centres (Shendure Hanlee, 2008). The need for new technologies was pushed for by the facilitators of the Human Genome Project (HGP) (Ventor, et al., 2001). The excitement and successful completion of the HGP, by two competing research bodies, lead to collective hunger for more advanced, economical sequencing technologies. Next-generation sequencing (NGS), also known as massively parallel sequencing, was such a technology and has ignited a revolution in genomic science, similar to that seen when Sanger technology was presented in 1977, honing in on the era of ‘post-genomic’ research (Schuster, 2008). The revolutionary nature of NGS technologies first became apparent in 2005, in two separate publications, 454 Life Sciences (Marguiles, et al., 2005) and the Multiplex Polony Sequencing Protocol (Shendure, et al., 2005). The methodology of both research groups resulted in vast reductions in the necessary reaction volume, while dramatically extending the number of sequencing reactions (Schuster, 2008). Despite such advances, in sequencing technology, NGS had a slow uptake in the scientific community, with a number of scientists having reservations. According to Schuster (2008), scientists accustomed to Sanger sequencing, as well as the initial scepticism echoed by funding bodies, resulted in a fear that large financial investments into Sanger-sequencing technologies would not produce returns, due to the technologies becoming obsolete. Other concerns were also raised, regarding the sequencing fidelity, read length, infrastructure cost and the handling of the large data volumes produced by NGS (Zhang, et al., 2011). It was the process of combining ongoing Sanger sequencing projects with NGS technologies that promoted its acceptance, into the scientific community. Once the enormous potential of the technology had been realised, along with new and upcoming biology projects that required sequencing outside of what the current Sanger technology could feasibly produce, the concerns raised by NGS’s early sceptics started to be overlooked. A combination of both first and second generation technologies are now used in sequencing facilities and projects around the world, the implications of which, for the fields of evolutionary biology and population genetics is vast. Researchers now have the ability to observe small changes in ecological community structure that may occur following anthropogenic or natural environmental fluctuations (Hajibabaei, et al., 2011; Leininger, et al., 2006; Hunkapiller, et al., 1991). Such implications of NGS technologies has led to the generation of whole-genome sequence data, for thousands of individuals (Akey Shriver, 2011; Harismendy, et al., 2009). The availability of such data is leading to a better understanding of evolutionary processes, such as descriptions of sex-biased dispersal and mutation rate biases (e.g., Wilson Sayres, M. A., et al., 2011). Furthermore, the ability to sequence the genomes of species, that have been long extinct, is no longer nonsensical, provided the samples from which DNA is to be extracted is still viable (Green, et al., 2010; Reich, et al., 2010). The hope that such projects may help population geneticists better understand the process of extinction, whether anthropomorphically or n aturally induced, may help those endangered species whose current possibility of extinction, in the near future, is high (Akey Shriver, 2011; Miller, et al., 2011). However, despite such ambitious aspirations of population geneticists, one large area of research that remains surprisingly unanswered, within the literature, is the definition of a population or ‘the population concept’ (Waples Gaggiotti, 2006). Given the importance of such a concept, one might expect to find a commonly used definition, one that is applicable to wild species, to determine how many populations exist within a delineated geographic area and the relationships amongst them (Waples Gaggiotti, 2006). However, one does not exist, rather there is evidence that what makes a ‘population’ is based on the research question. NGS technologies are providing population geneticists with the opportunity to flesh out a detailed definition of a population, on the molecular level. For example, Waples Gaggiotti (2006) ask â€Å"How different must molecular units be before individuals can be considered a part of separate populations?† Different criteria can be established and assigned to individuals, in order to determine the answer. The interplay of different evolutionary forces (selection, migration, drift) will favour different species, with different forces being more obvious, at the molecular level, than others. The ability to pose a research question, pertaining to the individuals, within a particular habitat, is now possible due to the ability to sequence numerous samples with NGS technologies. The implications, in population genetics, for a new generation of sequencing technologies, are a greater focus on testing expectations. Such expectations, simultaneously, result in excitement and daunt to those undertaking evolutionary and population genetic research, at present. Excitement exists because fundamental questions, pertaining to the patterns of genetic variation, within and between species, can now be analysed, with new generation sequencing technologies, such as NGS. Although NGS technology may still be in its infancy, the powerful possibility of analysing massive data sets is within reach of the individual and large-scale sequencing facilities alike, at a highly reduced cost. However, the methodological tools and theoretical models needed to interpret such large data sets are equally daunting to both new, and experienced, evolutionary and population geneticists. Despite such present and future challenges, population genetics research is looking promising, thanks to adv ances in NGS adoption and computation. References Akey, J. M. Shriver, M. D. (2011). A grand challenge in evolutionary population genetics: new paradigms for exploring the past and charting the future in the post-genomic era. Frontiers in Genetics 2, 1-2. Green R. E., Krause J., Briggs A. W., Maricic T., Stenzel U., Kircher M., Patterson N., †¦ Pà ¤Ãƒ ¤bo S. (2010). A draft sequence of the Neanderthal genome. Science 328, 710–722. Hajibabaei, M., Shokralla, S., Zhou, X., Singer, G. A. C. Baird, D. J. (2011). Environmental barcoding: a next-generation sequencing approach for biomonitoring applications using river benthos. PLoS ONE 6, e17497. Harismendy, O., Ng, P. C., Strausberg, R. L., Wang, X., Stockwell, T. B., Beeson, K. Y., Schork, N. J., †¦ Frazer, K. A. (2009). Evaluation of next generation sequencing platforms for population targeted sequencing studies. Genome Biology 10 (3), 32-39. Hunkapiller, M. W. (1991). Advances in DNA sequencing technology. Current Opinion in Genetics Development 1 (1), 88-92. Hunkapiller, T., Kaiser, R. J., Koop, B. F. Hood, L. (1991). Large-scale and automated DNA sequence determination. Science 254, 59-67. Leininger, S., Urich, T., Schloter, M., Schwark, L., Qi, J., Nicol, G. W., Prosser, J. I., Schuster, S. C. Schleper, C. (2006). Archaea predominate among ammonia-oxidizing prokaryotes in soils. Nature 442, 806-809. Marguiles, M., Egholm, M., Altman, W. E., Attiya, S., Bader, J. S., Bemben, L. A., †¦ Rothberg, J. M. (2005). Genome sequencing in microfabricated high-density picolitre reators. Nature 437, 376-380. Miller W., Hayes V. M., Ratan A., Petersen D. C., Wittekindt N. E., Miller J., Walenz B., †¦ Schuster S. C. (2011). Genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered marsupial Sarcophilus harrisii (Tasmanian devil). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 108 (30), 12348-12353. Reich D., Green R. E., Kircher M., Krause J., Patterson N., Durand E. Y., Viola B., †¦ Pà ¤Ãƒ ¤bo S. (2010). Genetic history of an archaic hominin group from Denisova Cave in Siberia. Nature 468, 1053–1060. Sanger, F., Air, G. M., Barrell, B. G., Brown, N. L., Coulson, A. R., Fiddes, J. C., Hutchison, C. A. III, Slocombe, P. M. Smith, M. (1977). Nucleotide sequence of bacteriophage phi X174 DNA. Nature 265, 687-695. Schuster, S. C. (2008). Next-generation sequencing transforms today’s biology. Nature Methods 5 (1), 16-18. Shendure, J. Hanlee, J. (2008). Next-generation DNA sequencing. Nature Biotechnology 26 (10), 1135-1145. Shendure, J., Porreca, G.J., Reppas, N. B., Lin, X., McCutcheon, J. P., Rosenbaum, A. M., Wang, M. D., Zhang, K., Mitra, R. D. Church, G. M. (2005). Accurate multiplex polony sequencing of an evolved bacterial genome. Science 309, 1728-1732. Shokralla, S., Spall, J. L., Gibson, J. F. Hajibabaei, M. (2012). Next generation sequencing technologies for environmental DNA research. Molecular Ecology 21, 1794-1805. Swerdlow, H., Wu, S. L., Harke, H. Dovichi, N. J. (1990). Capillary gel electrophoresis for DNA sequencing. Laser-induced fluorescence detection with the sheath flow cuvette. Journal of Chromatography 516, 61-67. Ventor, J. C., Adams, M. D., Myers, E.W., Li, P. W., Mural, R. J., Sutton, G. G., Amanatides, P., †¦, Zhu, X. (2001). The sequence of the human genome. Science 291, 1304-1351. Waples, R. S. Gaggiotti, O. (2006). INVITED REVIEW: What is a population? An empirical evaluation of some genetic methods for identifying the number of gene pools and their degree of connectivity. Molecular Ecology 15 (6), 1419-1439. Wilson Sayres M. A., Venditti C., Pagel M., Makova K. D. (2011). Do variations in substitution rates and male mutation bias correlate with life history traits? A study of 32 mammalian genomes. Evolution 65 (10), 2800-2815. Zhang, J., Chiodini, R., Badr, A. Zhang, G. (2011). The impact of next-generation sequencing on genomics. Journal of Genetics and Genomics 38, 95-109. Influences of Greek Culture: History of the Spartans Influences of Greek Culture: History of the Spartans The Spartans In the summer of 480 B.C a battle took place that would forever change the history of the Greeks and that would eventually influence the way in which the Western world looked at war. The Spartans took their stand against the massive army of Persians in a three day battle which resulted in the Persians taking the win but may have very well led to the Greeks winning the Greco-Persian War. A culmination of strong tactical skill and bravery contributed to the Spartans making a stand much longer and stronger than anybody could have ever predicted. The Persian king Xerxes led his massive army through the narrow mountain pass known as Thermopylae expecting no considerable fight on the part of the Spartans. The Persians bid to conquer Greece was significantly halted because of the Spartan resistance, which was led by Leonidas,followed by a small army of Spartans, amounting to no more than 300. But no matter the size of Spartas fleet, Sparta if not the strongest, was one of the strongest mili tary powers in ancient Greece. And despite them being vastly outnumbered by the Persians at Thermopylae, they did indeed prove their military strength and sophistication which resulted in their near defeat of the Persian army. Greek culture was and still is up to today a heavy influence on the modern cultures of the Western world. It is because of this heavy influence of Greek culture in the western world, the knowledge of their history proves crucial to many aspects of our understanding of our own cultures. This heavy influence on the development of the western world could very easily be the reason that the Battle of Thermopylae and other battles surrounding it, have become of such importance and high level of study. The valiant stand of the Spartans at Thermopylae lead to the Greeks defeat of the Persians in the Greco-Persian war and enabled the further development of a culture from which the western world gains many of its principles and ideas. If the Spartans had not delayed the Persians at Thermopylae there may have been a very different ending to the Greco-Persian war. This being an important observation because the Greco-Persian war played such a crucial role in the history of Greece, a defeat could have resulted in a very different future for the western civilization. The culture of Greece was one that strived for perfection in every sense of the word, but there was a dark side to the culture that so many have grown to praise. This dark side can be seen in the Spartans treatment of the Helots, who were in essence a Greek culture in their own, the Messenia’s, but early on became enslaved by the power Spartans who were in desperate need to acquire more land to deal with the burden of overpopulation. The Spartans held true and easily demonstrated as what is seen as Greece’s inability to incorporate. The poor treatment of the Helots lead them to begin a 30 year revolt, in which the Spartans took twenty years to take control of the situation. Fear of more events like this, is what turned Sparta into the war state that it became. The attempt to suppress the Helots, by the Spartans, in many ways assisted the Spartans in their attempt to defeat the Persians. No longer willing to undergo a similar revolt, the Spartans devoted a considerable a mount of time and energy making certain to prevent all such events. It was because of these efforts that major components of Spartan culture, as we know it today, were all enforced. This can be easily seen in the devotion to physical perfection and warring techniques. And equally as important as their attempt to suppress the Helots was the contribution of the Helots in constructing their armor and warring tools. So despite the overwhelmingly poor treatment of the Helots, they played a crucial role in preparing the Spartans for the challenges to come and in the heat of battle. Even though they may have played an indirect role the affect that had on both the culture and the Battle of Thermopylae itself was indeed direct. The Greeks had a large influence on the development of western world in many respects. Whether it is an influence on science or art, to anyone who has studied Greece in the days of its glory the influences be easily pinpointed. These influences continue into the art of war. As previously stated, war was a constant in Greece so much so that it became imbedded in its very culture. Consequently the way in which war was conducted in ancient Greece has become a portrait of the way in which it should be conducted, and set a standard around the Western world for years to come. Despite war being one of the most immoral, barbaric, and most appalling of all human creations, the Greeks did the impossible, by successfully portraying war as something of beauty, patriotism, freedom and self-sacrifice. Therein lays a reason the significance of the Battle at Thermopylae. That one battle not only captured the spirit of the Greeks, more specifically the Spartans, in three days but became a turning poi nt of the art of war. But the Battle of Thermopylae more importantly defended the very future of the modern world. It was Spartan culture, which in many ways, influenced the Spartans ability to stand against the Persians as long as they did. To overlook the role of Spartan culture in relation to their stand at Thermopylae would be to overlook one of the most influential aspects of the battle. Spartan culture was one of great complexity having many intricate characteristics, which adapted to the situations that they held witness to. Spartans were people of extreme patriotic pride and military prowess, who sought perfection in every form. But equal to their patriotism was their oppressive tactics towards their captives. Spartans weren’t people who believed in the concept of freedom. The Spartans for several centuries, while in Laconia and Messenia, exercised a ruthless enslavement of other native Greeks, whose land they conquered. Sparta was a military aristocracy, who wasn’t a military state for the sake of being a military state. In many respects Sparta’s army, parallel to no t other, was created and maintained for the sole purpose of suppressing the Helots. In theory it was because of Sparta’s ‘inability to incorporate’ that lead to their standing army. Sparta’s military achievements are, no doubt, the most impressive of all their possible accomplishments. By the middle of the sixth century Sparta was already considered the strongest military force in Greece. Despite the brute strength the of the Spartan army, the Spartan were still worried that a revolt from their underclass (the Helots)would cripple their advancement as a society. â€Å"The Helot underclass were always threatening to rise up in significant numbers against their masters. So, at the beginning of each new civil year Sparta’s chief elected officials, the board of five ephors (overseers, supervisors), formally declared war on them. If any Helots did choose to rebel, they might then be killed with impunity†¦.† The awareness of a possible revolt kept the Spartans military forces extremely strong. This tension between the Spartans and Helots, strongly prepared the military forces for both the expected and unexpected, a beneficial trait which played to their advantage at the Battle of Thermopylae. Another trait that played to their advantage was the educational system of Sparta. The agoge was instated into Spartan culture to both develop the physical and mental maturity of all Spartan boys and was a requirement for all Spartan males.

Right Stuff :: essays research papers

The Right Stuff   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As one advances in their educational process it becomes apparent that some of their instructors were a significant cut above the rest. These few individuals are inevitably viewed as master craftsmen. But why is it that some instructor’s posses the â€Å"right stuff† for being effective with their students while others do not? When one analyzes their educational experience, those instructors that were extremely effective appear to them as makers of fine wine, turning grapes into a drink which is pleasurable to the pallet. All instructors’ careers starts out in much the same manner as a trade’s apprentice. First, they must go to school themselves. Then, they must observe experts in action. And finally, they have to exercise their newly acquired skills. The instructors that eventually become effective quickly realize there is much more to the fermentation process than this. They realize that to be effective with a student there are additional requirements that must be adhered to. To make a fine wine they must learn to delicately blend the right ingredients of personality, motivation, and above all patients.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The initial ingredient required to becoming an effective instructor is of personality. The personality of the instructor affects each and every student they are in contact with. An effective instructor will develop a personality that conveys humor into the learning process. It is only natural that what one finds humorous, one tends to remember longer. Additionally, if an instructor to be a cut above the rest, their personality must be of fairness and equality for each student. Students feel that, if their instructor really doesn’t like them much anyway, there isn’t much use in trying as hard as they would otherwise. As the apprentices of the instructor trade begin to integrate a warm, humorous, and friendly personality into their instructional style, the first process in fine wine making is achieved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Secondly, the instructor then adds motivation to their students’ behavior. When an instructor motivates a student to do well, the student usually tries to succeed beyond that point. This can most easily be done by the positive reinforcement of the students’ abilities and through constructive criticism. When an instructor portrays to their students that they believe in their abilities, the student unknowingly starts believing that they do posses the same abilities. Through applying the second ingredient to becoming an effective instructor, motivation, the grapes start to ferment and the apprentice now becomes a journeymen of the wine making trade.

A Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel-Garcia Marquez. Essay

A Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel-Garcia Marquez. The book "A Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel-Garcia Marquez is about a murder in a small South American Village. It is based on an actual murder that took place in 1951 in the town of Sucre, Colombia. This novel provides a detailed insight to the culture of Latin America as it pertains to many aspects of an individuals life. Instances such as religion, marriage, death, and justice and interactions due to the concepts of honor and gender. Culture in most respects should be looked at holistically. Examining specific ideas and concepts within it become seemingly difficult because they form an intricate web, which can be related to other concepts and premises. Actions, dialog and even the descriptions of objects, people, and scenes enable readers to formulate a basic outline of the culture exhibited by the society expressed by Marquez. The story takes place in a small South American town some time in the mid-nineteenth century. While the story makes no direct mention of the year or city many sources indicate it was based on an actual event and dealt with people the author knew directly. It is an unconventional recollection of the author to the events prior to, during, and following the murder of a Santiago Nasar, wealthy young local Arab man. A native woman of the town, Angela Vicario had become the love interest of a flamboyantly rich and young Bayardo San Roman, son of famous and renown civil war general. In a matter of four months they were married. On the first night of their union San Roman learned his new wife was not the blessed virgin he thought he married. Angela Vicario was furiously beaten by San Roman and taken back to her home... ... is that as wedding gifts Bayardo received a new car and Angela received a gold plated 24 person dinner set. The indication of gender roles is abundantly clear that upon marriage men take on responsibilities for taking care of family by means of employment and the women practically regress into becoming pure domicile dwelling individuals. Ones culture within a society provides many individuals with many different interpretations of commonly accepted ideas and themes. "A Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez outlines much of the culture of a small Latin American town and demonstrates the intricacies of culture. Various concepts have direct involvement with the carrying out of other concepts. Defending ones honor in an act that would bring about death coincides with justice, which often times materializes in the act that defies religion

Comparing Synge’s Riders to the Sea and Beckett’s Endgame :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Synge’s Riders to the Sea and Beckett’s Endgame 1 1 Introduction Riders to the Sea by John Millington Synge (1904) and Endgame by Samuel Beckett (1958) show many similarities despite the eventful half a century that passed between their years of publication. The similar elements (the setting, the relation of the characters to the outside world, etc., related in detail in the next section) seem to create an atmosphere in both works that is fit for the creation of a new mythology. However, by separating the physically present elements from those which are conjured up only by words in the texts (determining the A/B structure of the works), one of the—probably—most important differences can be discovered between the two plays: namely, that while in Riders to the Sea, a new myth is actually being created, this act of creation is missing from Endgame—possibly because newly created myths (and values) are deemed impossible by Beckett in the light of the two World Wars of the 20th century. During the course of the essay, it will also be suggested that this creation is, in fact, what characters (more specifically, Maurya, Hamm and Clov) are all waiting for; and that while the world-view of Synge’s play reflects, to a certain extent, the views of objective idealism, Beckett not only lowers the level of idealism to the subjective level, denying the existence of a rational, global control, but also goes further to deny the existence of any ord ering power in the world at all. 1 2 â€Å"Outside of here it’s death† (Beckett 2:2475). Environments Fit for Myths It has been suggested many times (for example, Tokarev 1:12), that mythology was the main instrument for the so-called ‘primitive’ cultures to understand the surrounding world. If this is so, then the world, in a pre-mythic or mythless state, must present itself as dangerous and inconceivable, as it actually does in both plays. In both works, the setting is a room: â€Å"Bare interior† (2:2472) in Endgame, and a â€Å"cottage kitchen† (83) in Riders to the Sea, outside which room, in both cases, lies the realm of (literal) death. In Endgame, this is expressed directly, as Hamm declares often: â€Å"Outside of here it’s death† (2:2475) and â€Å"Beyond is the†¦ other hell† (2:2481), when feeling the wall that separates the two spaces.

Holy War Inc Book Review

In Peter Bergen’s Holy War, Inc, the reader is ushered through a head-spinning trip around the globe that serves to highlight the far-reaching effects of Al Qaeda, a terrorist organization that Bergen likens to a Multi-national holding company. While Bergen makes reference to similarities between the management of a Multi-national Corporation and that of al-Qaeda, it is seemingly not the primary focus of the book nor does it serve as a particularly suitable metaphor, especially in light of the events that have transpired since the book was released. Despite the title of the book, Bergen does a fine job setting a backdrop to the organization and illustrating how it operates in an increasingly technologically intertwined world system, as well as outlining factors contributed by the West. It seems there are few people on the planet who are as qualified as Peter Bergen to tackle as complex a task as explaining al-Qaeda to the masses. It is a feat he has clearly accomplished though, evidenced by the fact that the book became a New York Times best seller, was named one of the best non-fiction books of 2001 by The Washington Post, and has been translated into eighteen different languages. Bergen has traveled extensively through Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to report on bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. In 1997 Bergen brought the Western world bin Laden's first television interview as a producer for CNN. It was in this interview that Western audiences first heard bin Laden’s declaration of war against the United States (1). Due to his extensive travel and research, Bergen displays an understanding and empathy, if not flat out admiration and sympathy for the Muslim struggle. He spends virtually no effort in further vilifying the terrorists, but concentrates rather on explaining the history and motivation behind the attacks with vocabulary that is, at times, nearly poetic. This ranges from the description of the â€Å"hopelessly brave warriors who†¦suffered so much for their faith† during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, to the moving experience of watching Muslim men at prayer. He reflects on how â€Å"the act of collective worship woven into the fabric of daily life is something we have almost entirely lost in the West (2). My personal favorite however, is his description of Pakistan during Ramadan where the â€Å"mornings were chilly, but by midday the sun had warmed the velvet breezes that blew the turning leaves off the trees† (3). Apart from the eloquence employed in his writing, it is still most surprising the great lengths Bergen went through to assemble a case of innocence for Khaled al-Fawwaz, the man who had first arranged CNN’s meeting with bin Laden and who was incidentally arrested by British authorities while Bergen was in London. Khaled is still being held in Britain fighting extradition to the U. S. for his involvement in the bombings of the two U. S. embassies in East Africa despite Bergen’s construct of innocence (4). Bergen does not excuse the terrorist acts performed by al-Qaeda and the Taliban, but certainly works to explain to the Western world the factors and policies that have contributed to their justification for violence. He is critical of the U. S. Government from the outset of the book where he examines U. S. ulpability for placing extremists in power and for providing an arsenal of weapons still employed by Afghan extremists today. During the brutal Afghan war, the U. S. provided political and financial support as well as stinger missiles (via the Pakistani government) to the Hizb party headed by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, an Islamic extremist who â€Å"consistently placed the long-term goal of Islamic revolution over resistance to the Soviets†(5). Bergen identifies Ahmed Shah Massoud, a moderate Islamic general as having been a better choice of leaders, but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. More importantly, Bergen seeks to establish the ignorance on which the United States’ policies have been formed. An Army Supervisor told Bergen that in his eight years in the Middle East that he had heard daily of how U. S. policy was â€Å"dead wrong†. Though these are not Bergen’s own words, it seems this is the overriding message he seeks to convey. He makes it abundantly clear that the Muslim world has not made war on our culture, but rather on our politics, particularly pertaining to the occupation of Saudi Arabia. He explains the fundamental difference between U. S. and Islamic thought: the concept of the ability to separate the sacred and secular. In a land where the â€Å"separation of church and state† is held as a value, it is difficult to conceive a system where politics and religion are one in the same. As difficult as it is for us to imagine policy being dictated by religion, it is equally as difficult for them to perceive an occupation as anything less than an attack directly on Islam itself. In fact, our policies are rarely grounded on moral principal, much less religion, unless there are first grounded in national interest. In the eyes of al-Qaeda, U. S. occupation of Saudi Arabia, a most holy place in the Islamic faith, is akin to â€Å"sending Jihad to the Vatican† (6). Every military move the West has made in light of the Saudi occupation only furthers the belief that the U. S. seeks to dominate the Muslim world. This includes military activity in Somalia and other predominantly Muslim countries in Africa, to the support of Israel, to the ongoing occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. A little more than a year after this book was released, the U. S. and Saudi Arabia agreed that it was in both nations’ best interest for U. S. forces to leave the area. It does not seem, however, that this is having the effect on bin Laden that Bergen and U. S. policy makers had hoped for. According to the BBC's Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi, bin Laden will not be satisfied until all Muslim societies are â€Å"liberated from foreign troops and what they see as ungodly secular rulers† (7). Bergen further discourages American occupation by making note of Afghan history, marked by numerous foreign invasions that have consistently, and brutally been averted by Afghan warriors to the demise of their attackers. Bergen states that the â€Å"British came to realize that to occupy Afghanistan was to invite disaster (8)†, a sentiment echoed last year by Saudi Prince Turki Al-Faisal in his assessment of the Obama Administration’s goal to extract U. S. troops from Afghanistan. He states, â€Å"Nobody, throughout history, has ever succeeded in [conquering Afghanistan]. Go back to Alexandrian times and more recently to Soviet times. Afghanistan has always been the deathbed of invading armies. â€Å"(9). Support is given to these ideas rather than to the title, which I imagine was cooked up by Bergen’s publisher as a means to sell books to its target market, the capitalist West. There is no doubt that bin Laden and his family have been extraordinarily successful in their business ventures, funneling a great amount of the resulting wealth into terrorist organizations. To say, however, that al-Qaeda acts as a â€Å"multi-national holding company† is a stretch, at best. Bergen himself defines the structure of a holding company as â€Å"controlling partial or complete interests in other companies†(10). Even this limited definition does not seem to apply to al-Qaeda’s methods, but when the definition is extended out further, it seems to become even less applicable. A holding company provides a means of concentrating control of several companies with a minimum of investment and risk to the holding company. This would suggest that the product, which in this case would be varying brands of Jihad, are simply managed and controlled by al-Qaeda, when in fact they are the organization doing the exporting of a particular brand of Jihad. Bergen contradicts his own thesis in his discussion about the nature of the organization in regards to intelligence gathering. He states, â€Å"The bin Laden network is by contrast a loosely affiliated transnational group with a more diffuse organizational structure that makes it hard to penetrate†(11). Bin Laden knows business and has surely employed many of his organizational management skills to al-Quaeda, but that does not a business make. It is true that al-Quaeda is â€Å"as globally minded as any other national company† (12) and has attracted a â€Å"polyglot† of followers (a word Bergen employs multiple times) but what this really speaks to his observation that â€Å"bin Laden’s organization†¦is as much a creation of globalization as a response to it† (13). Bergen acknowledges that umma the world community of Muslims, is a value long held by the Islamic faith. Globalization has simply shored up that value. If al-Quaeda were the top-down corporation that Bergen suggests, it would be a machine whose components could be easily disabled. In 2009, Bergen gave testimony before the U. S. house of representatives that â€Å"Al Qaeda has sustained and can continue to sustain enormous blows that would put other organizations out of business because the members of the group firmly believe that they are doing God's work and tactical setbacks do not matter in the short run. 14)† Perhaps the organization is approaching the point that Bergen predicted in the closing of the book, where our victory in the war on terror is defined by a reversion of terrorist threats similar to the â€Å"status-quo of pre-9/11, where terrorism was an irritant for American Policy Makers, but not the major national security concern†(15). Or perhaps as he suggests it is â€Å"devolving into local franchises† (16), though it seems this metaphor would have be en more fitting from the beginning. In fact, in Bergen’s Senate testimony he says of the organization: Indeed, it is my assessment that the al Qaeda organization today no longer poses a direct national security threat to the United States itself, but rather poses a second-order threat in which the worst case scenario would be an al Qaeda- trained or -inspired terrorist managing to pull off an attack on the scale of something in between the 1993 Trade Center attack, which killed six, and the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995, which killed 168. While this, of course, would be tragic, it would not constitute a mass casualty attack sufficiently large in scale to reorient American national security policy completely as the 9/11 attacks did (17). This suggests al-Quaeda as something less of a franchise but rather more of an inspiring business model. While there are still terrorists who have been directly trained by al-Qaeda, or employees if you will, the preeminent threat stems from those who are inspired by the group’s successes. To carry the corporate metaphor out further, these are the people who decide to open their own shoe store after learning about the successes of Nordstrom. I would most certainly suggest this book to others, particularly Americans who tend to be apathetic toward foreign policy. A move toward understanding the collective psychology of the group is infinitely more productive that blind defiance. It is a superbly written book especially in light of the intertwined cast of characters who were often difficult to keep track of, given their travel in and out of regions and with lengthy names consisting of strings of consonants unfamiliar to the English-speaking world. It would be difficult to put these globe-trotting, name-dropping narratives could together in any less complicated manner though, unless one were to rename individuals such as â€Å"Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman† as â€Å"Abe† for instance, but I suppose that would wholly undermine the book’s authenticity. When certain individuals reemerge in the plot, Bergen is often kind enough to remind the reader that of where they had first appeared, such as the case of Ramzi Yousef who was mentioned briefly in two chapters. Bergen reminds that reader that he was the fellow who had an early mishap with some explosives he was experimenting with, resulting in smoke pouring from his Manila apartment (18). Given all the Arab names in the book, the Oh-I-remember-that-guy-now tactic proves rather helpful. Bergen leaves the reader with quite a lot to chew on and digest in regards to foreign policy and trade by expressing a liberally optimistic worldview. Any hope seems to lie in closing the gap of ignorance in the West toward Islam as well as the Islamic world’s blissful denial of the damage done to the West by Islamic radicalism. For instance, the results of the poll of Muslim countries cited by Bergen found that the U. S. attacks on Afghanistan were perceived as unjustified. It was a bit more revealing that the same poll showed that the terror attacks on the U. S. were perceived as equally unjustified and that 61 percent did not even believe that Arab terrorists carried out the 9/11 attacks (19). Bergen seems confident though that the Democratic Islamic Movement holds potential stating that, â€Å"any number of political models are possible in an Islamic environment† (20) and that as long as governments are stabilized, extremism will hold less appeal. I don’t know that Bergen would have written this book has he thought the West could not have a positive role in creating that stabilization. He admonishes the U. S. government and Middle Eastern countries for working in cooperation against al-Quaeda and for establishing trade policies that benefit unstable regions. This type of cooperation is paramount in his view. Bergen closes along the real thesis of the book, which has nothing to do with terrorism as a multinational corporation, and everything to do with explaining Muslim sensibilities and how deeply the U. S. continues to offend them. His exhortation is for the U. S. to behave in a manner that looks toward peace rather than ignorantly and haughtily labeling the entire region as an â€Å"axis of evil†. Readers of this book will hopefully walk away with an understanding of the motivation behind al-Quaeda as well as our own national propensity toward the pride that has motivated unthinkable offenses toward the Muslim people. Bibliography (1) â€Å"Biography. † PeterBergen. com. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . (2) Bergen, Peter. Holy War, Inc. . New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2002. p. 153. (3) Holy War, Inc. p. 150. (4) â€Å"US Most Wanted Terrorist Suspect in New Extradition Fight in Britain – Telegraph. † Telegraph. co. uk: News, Business, Sport, the Daily Telegraph Newspaper, Sunday Telegraph – Telegraph. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. . (5) Holy War, Inc. p. 72. (6) Holy War, Inc. p. 101. (7) â€Å"BBC NEWS | Middle East | US Pulls out of Saudi Arabia. † BBC NEWS | News Front Page. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. . (8) Holy War, Inc. p. 53. Bibliography (Cont. ) (9) â€Å"Cornell Chronicle: Saudi Prince on U. S. -Saudi Relations. † Cornell Chronicle Online. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. http://www. news. cornell. edu/stories/April09/PrinceTurkiCover. gl. html (10) Holy War, Inc. p. 32. (11) Holy War, Inc. p. 120. (12) Holy War, Inc. p. 83. (13) Holy War, Inc. p. 200. (14) â€Å"Articles – Congressional Testimony: Reassessing the Evolving Al Qaeda Threat to the Homeland. † PeterBergen. com. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . (15) Holy War, Inc. p. 245. 16) Holy War, Inc. p. 238. Bibliography (Cont. ) (17) â€Å"Articles – Congressional Testimony: Reassessing the Evolving Al Qaeda Threat to the Homeland. † PeterBergen. com. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. . (18) Holy War, Inc. p. 222. (19) Holy War, Inc. p. 227. (20) Holy War, Inc. p. 238. http://www. peterbergen. com/articles/details. aspx? id=411 Cornell University, Chronicle Online. April 24, 2009. Saudi Prince Hopes Obama Wi ll End Region's conflicts. George Lowery http://www. news. cornell. edu/stories/April09/PrinceTurkiCover. gl. html 2

Common Biases and Errors in Decision-Making Process

COMMON BIASES AND ERRORS IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESS In addition to winning in bounded rationality, an accumulating body of lay down tells us that closing makers allow regular biases and errors to creep into their judgments. These come out of attempts to cutoff the decision bidding. To minimize effort and parry difficult trade-offs, heap endure to avow also heavily on experience, impulses, gut feelings, and convenient a? rules of thumb. a? In galore(postnominal) instances, these shortcuts argon helpful. However, they dismiss track down to severe distortions from rationality.The following highlights the most customary distortions. certitude deviateItas been verbalize that a? no problem in judgment and decision reservation is to a greater extent prevalent and to a greater extent potentially ruinous than overconfidence. a? When weare confiden substantial questions and asked to judge the probability that our answers are correct, we track down to be far too opti mistic. For instance, studies deport found that, when people say theyare 65 to 70% confident that theyare right wing, they were actually correct only hale-nigh 50% of the age. And when they say theyare coke% sure, they inclineed to be 70 to 85% correct.From an organisational standpoint, one of the more interesting findings think to overconfidence is that those individuals whose intellectual and interpersonal abilities are weakest are most promising to overestimate their performance and ability. So as mangers and employees gravel more knowledge fit about an issue, the little believably they are to display overconfidence. Overconfidence is most alikely to sur demo when organizational members are considering issues or problems that are immaterial their area of expertise. Anchoring BiasThe anchoring bias is a tendency to fixate on sign culture as a scratch point.Once set, we then fail to adequately find for subsequent information. The anchoring bias occurs because our mind appears to go through a disproportionate amount of accent to the first information it receives. So initial impressions, ideas, process, and estimates carry undue weight carnal knowledge to information received later. Anchors are widely used by professional people such as advertising writers, managers, politicians, real estate agents, and lawyersawhere persuasion skills are distinguished For instance, in a mock jury trial, one set of jurors was asked by the plaintiffas attorney to make an award in the site of Rs. million to Rs. 25 million. other set of jurors was asked for an award in the range of Rs. 25 million to 75 million. agreeable with the anchoring bias, the median awards were Rs. 5 million versus Rs. 25 million in the two conditions. charter the role of anchoring in negotiations and interviews. Any time a negotiation takes place, so does anchoring. As soon as someone states a summate, your ability to objectively ignore that number has been compromised. For ins tance, when a prospective employer asks how more than you were making in your prior job, your answer typically anchors the employeras base on balls.Most of us understand this and up a? adjusta? our previous salary in the hope that it will encourage our employer to offer us more. Anchoring can distort use of superbs and services interviews. The initial information you might know interviewing a job candidate is likely to anchor your assessment of the applicant and unduly influence how you interpret information that you happen later. Confirmation BiasThe rational decision-making process assumes that we objectively gather information. But we donat. We selectively gather information.The information bias represents a specific case of selective perception. We stress out information that reaffirms our past choices, and we rebate information that contradicts past judgments. We in addition tend to accept information at face value that confirms our preconceived views, while beingness ness critical and skeptical of information that challenges these views. The information we gather is typically biased toward livelihood views we already hold. This confirmation bias influences where we go to collect narrate because we tend to seek out places that are more likely to tell us what we want to hear.It also leads us to give too much weight to supporting information and too little to contradictory information. Availability BiasMany more people acquire from fear of flying than fear of effort in a car. The reason is that many people think flying is more dangerous. If flying on a commercialized airline was as dangerous as driving, the equivalent of two 747s filled to force would let to crash every week, kill all aboard, to match the chance of being killed in a car accident.But the media give a lot more charge to air accidents, so we tend to overstate the risk of flying and understate the risk of driving. This illustrates an example of the availability bias, which i s the tendency for people to base their judgments on information that is right away visible(prenominal) to them. Events that evoke emotions, that are in particular vivid, or that have occurred more deep tend to be more available in our memory. As a result, we tend to be prone to overestimating unlikely events like an airplane crash.The availability bias can also explain why managers, when doing yearbook performance appraisals, tend to give more weight to recent behaviors of an employee than those behaviors of six or nine months ago. Escalation of Commitment Error some other distortion that creeps into decisions in work out is a tendency to increase fealty when a decision stream represents a series of decisions. Escalation of committal refers to staying with a decision even when there is clear conclusion that itas harm.An example of this is of my friend, who has been dating a woman for about four years. He admitted that things werenat going too well in their affinity he certified me that he was going to marry the woman. A bit surprised by his decision, I asked him why. He responded a? I have a lot invested in the relationship a? It has been well documented that individuals escalate commitment to a failing run-in of action when they view themselves as a responsible for the failure. That is they a? throw good money after bada? o essay that their initial decision wasnat wrong and to avoid having to admit they made a mistake. Escalation of commitment is also congruent with evidence that people try to appear undifferentiated in what they say and do. Increasing commitment to previous actions conveys consistency. Escalation of commitment has obvious implications for managerial decisions. Many an organization has suffered large losings because a manager was determined to prove his or her original decision was right by continuing to commit resources to what was a lost cause from the beginning.In addition, consistency is a characteristic often associated with effective leaders. So managers, in an effort to appear effective, whitethorn be motivated to be coherent when switching to another course of action. In reality, effective managers are those who are able to differentiate between situations in which tenacity will pay off and situations in which it will not. http//www. citeman. com/384-common-biases-and-errors-in-decision-making-process. html