Monday, September 30, 2019
Literature Review on Assertiveness Essay
Literature Review on Assertiveness Introduction            Assertiveness is the ability to express one’s point of view, feelings, thoughts and needs while keeping the rights of others peoples in mind. An assertive individual learns which response to select, whether it can be acting non-assertively, aggressive or assertive on a case by case basis. Nevertheless, acting assertively is not usually the best selection in accomplishing the best possible results. An assertive individual has the capacity to stop and think what is in his or her best interest as well as the interest of others (Peneva, 2013).            The study of assertiveness began in the middle of the 20thcentury whereby it was associated with clinical practice. The clinical psychologists accepted non-assertiveness as a reason for some of the mental illnesses and thus to treat them, they implemented several programs with the main aim of developing assertiveness. In the 70s, when the civil rights movement in America was growing, some psychologists concentrated on assertiveness as a way of protecting the rights of individuals. They claimed that the capability to protect individual human rights in a humane and democratic manner, without prejudice to the fundamentals of others was among the significant features of assertive conduct. Therefore, the political and social associations during the 80s and 90s of the 20th century promoted the interest in assertiveness as a way of strengthening the human potential and attaining maximum individual fulfillment (Peneva, 2013). Various periodicals w ere published targeting professionals and incorporating theoretical description of training programs and studies as well as theoretical positions. The first study on assertiveness was performed by an American psychologist Andrew Salter in 1949 with the main aim of discovering the causes of uncertainty and find a mean to treat or reduce its neurotic influence (Peneva, 2013). According to him, uncertainty occurred due to the prevalence of retention processes over stimulation process in the nervous system. He also claimed that most people in the contemporary society suffered from a disorder of the balance nerve. This formed the theory of assertion, which is based in the premise that every person have certain basic human rights such as the right to make errors.            People who are assertive has characteristics such; emotionality of speech, expressiveness of speech, potential to oppose and counter others suggestions, accepting praises, and impulsive in own actions and refusal. On the other hand, individuals who are non-assertive lack the ability to maintain adequate boundaries between his or her rights and those of others. Non-assertiveness happen when one permits his or her boundaries to be restricted. A non-assertive person tends to internalize tensions and feelings and to experience such emotions as anxiety, fear, fatigue, nervousness and depression (Ames, 2008).            The review on assertiveness brought about other associated concepts such as professional light, assertive communication, self-confidence and conflict management. Assertiveness has been claimed as the background for understanding these concepts and their independence in assertiveness.Lizarraga.M et al, examined the impacts of teaching self-regulation, assertiveness, and empathy to forty middle school students in a compulsory education setting (Lizarraga et al, 2003). The study involved a quasi-experimental design, which utilized pre and post-test measurement. According to them, assertiveness refer’s to an individual capability to express and advocate interests, ideas and feelings easily without anxiety, but maintaining respect for other people.            Assertiveness is also connectedto self-esteem and self confidence because peoples who feel self-assured and competence interact more naturally and sincerely in establishing relationships. Anna Deltsidou in â€Å"Undergraduate nursing students’ level of assertiveness in Greece,†examined the assertive behavior in students’ interaction with each other as well as their studies in the first and second semester. According to Anna, the concept of assertiveness acquired meaning when defined in terms of chosen indicators such as autonomy, relationship and authenticity (Deltsidou, 2008). The study involved an assertiveness scale that measured assertiveness in relationships, which proved to be valid and reliable to a significant extent.It was concluded that nurses interact with colleagues, patients and other health care professionals whereby the interaction is improved when nurses have a good assertive communication skills.            Having the same idea with Anna, Amir Abbassi and Raghu claimed that assertiveness acquire meaning through autonomy, courage, and authenticity (Abbassi& Raghu, 2006). Furthermore, they claimed that assertiveness is a significant notion in counseling, sociology and psychology for dealing with matters in individual characteristics required for functioning various roles in the society. They concluded by claiming that autonomy, courage, and authenticity are interconnected to each other, which are the primary indicators of assertiveness and latter give meaning to assertiveness.            There is a comprehensive body of literature on assertiveness and assertiveness training. All the same, assertiveness is defined as the practice of traits that enables individuals to act in their best interest, express themselves and stand for themselves without denying the rights of others. ArvindSinghal and MotokoNagoya presented the definition of assertiveness in the similar manner through their study on â€Å"Assertive as Communication Competence,†which claimed that there is significant variation between individuals’ attitudes toward performing assertive behaviors (Singhal& Nagao, 1993). Nevertheless, it is clear that some people are more assertive than others. They also argued that assertive communication competence is situational and contextual whereby it vary from situation to situation depending on the gender, and concluded by claiming that there is a need for further investigation on assertiveness as a tool for measu ring communication competence in intercultural settings.            Daniel R. Ames explored the varying levels of assertiveness in negotiations and interpersonal conflicts in his article, â€Å"Assertive Expectancies†. According to him, assertiveness is a healthy and desirable behavior for all individuals who interact in a group situation insofar as it militates against personal powerlessness and can lead to personal empowerment, and ultimately benefit the workplace as a whole (Ames, 2008). According to Ames, individuals make idiosyncratic prediction of the social and instrumental implications of a given acquiescent behavior, which is in line with theories of personality that claims that outcomes expectancies shape behavior (Ames, 2008). Thus, it is possible that assertiveness is predominantly the product of expectancies and values, meaning that individuals who expect high assertiveness to be harmful could simply be more concerned with preserving relationships. He concluded by arguing that assertive ness there are many definitions of assertiveness that differ in accordance to the particular perspective or the purpose of the definer as well as the context. However, the meaning of assertiveness must concerns confidence, and behavioral pattern, which are the fundamental components of assertiveness.            In describing the behavior of consumer, ClaesFornel and Robertperformed an exploratory study of assertiveness, aggressiveness, and consumer complaining behavior. They defined assertiveness as a complex of behaviors that are produced by an individual in an interpersonal context, which shows an individual feelings, opinions, attitude, wishes, firmly and honestly while preserving the attitude, wishes, rights and opinions of others (Fornell& Robert, 1979). Moreover, they suggested that assertiveness does not concern an undue or excessive amount of fear and anxiety, but represents the standing up of an individual rights without violating the rights of others. This is in line with arguments of mental health scholars who argue that assertiveness is learned and depend on the situation to situation. Likewise, the impacts of assertive training involve increased positive response from others, increased self-esteem and decline in social situations for individuals having gone through a training program.            As the above literature review reveals, it is clear that the definition and source of assertiveness depend on an individual perception and the situation to situation. The key indicators of assertiveness are courage, autonomy and authenticity. References Abbassi.A, & Singh N, Raghu (2006) Aseertiveness in Marital Relationship Among Asians Indians in the United States. The Family Jounal.14.392-398 Retrived from http://www.sagepub.comAmes, R, D (2008) Assertiveness Expectancies: How Hard People Push Depends on the Consequences They Predict. The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.6. 1541-1557 Retrieved from http://www.columbia.eduDeltsidou, A (2008). Undergraduate nursing students’ level of assertiveness in Greece: a Queaionnaire survey. Journal of Nurs Education in Practice 9. 322-330Retrived from http://www.researchgate.netFornell, C & Robert.(1979) An Exploratory Study of Assertiveness, Agressiveness, and Consumer Complaining Behavior.Th Journal for Association for Consumer.6: 105-110 Lizarraga. M, Ugarte. M, Cardelle-Elawar, Iriarte.M &Baquedano.M (2003).Enhancement of Self-regulation, assertiveness, and empathy.Jounral of Learning and Instruction 13. 423-439. Retrived from http// www.elsevier.com/Peneva, I &Mavrodiev (2013).A Historical Approach to Assertiveness.The Journal of Psychology Thought. 6(1) 3-26 Singhal.A, & Nagao, M (1993). Assertiveness as Communication Competence: A Comparison of the Communication Styles of American and Japanese Students. Asian Journal of Communication. 3. 1-17 Retrieved from http://utminers.utep.edu Source document
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Behind the ‘Battle Royal’
A visage of violence, uprising, gullibility, and realization – Ralph Ellison’s short story â€Å"Battle Royal†depicts a different story that embroils the philosophical depths behind concepts of racism and suffering. It is about pleasing people that results to losing your own identity. It is a foreshadowing historical tragedy as the narrator attempts to transport his readers from idealism to realism and finally relating to the true meaning one’s social identity.In the beginning of the story, a nameless, first-person narrator instinctively intimates that for the first twenty years of his life, he has looked at others to answer questions of self-definition. Identity issues could instantly be implicated as he discovers that it is only him who can figure out who he really is. In order to do this, the narrator must first â€Å"discover that [he] is an invisible man! †As the story unfurls, it transfixes a scene in which he muses that it’s not only him who’s â€Å"blind†but also, those who abuse the narrator by belittling him as mere stereotype and erasing his individuality and human dimension.The primary objective of the narrator in the story is just to deliver a good speech. Uneasy about it, he was really worried. While blindfolded and being beaten in the â€Å"Battle Royal†, he is still going over his speech inside his head. Symbolically, he’s blind to the attackers that he must fend off. This is a stark depiction of the narrator’s utter blindness to racism happening around him and the all the dehumanizing acts that he is forced to participate in. Then, the narrator is softly remembering his grandfather’s death. The narrator overhears him imparting some words to his father.Those words haunted the narrator’s psyche for years to come. On his deathbed, the narrator's grandfather gives him a rather disturbing advice. The old man said: Son, after I’m gone I want you to ke ep up the good fight. I never told you, but I have been a traitor all my born days, a spy in the enemy’s country ever since I gave up my gun back in the Reconstruction. Live with your head in the lion’s mouth. I want you to overcome them with yeses, undermine them with grins, agree them to death and destruction, let them swallow you till they vomit or bust wide open. Learn it to the young ones.Using personification, Ellison represents the lion as the white man, who will roar throughout the duration of the story. The men roared as the narrator will struggle for the coins on the electric rug. When he tries to pull a white man onto the rug, the man raise up roaring with laughter and kicks him in the chest. During the narrator’s speech, the men yell for him to repeat the polysyllabic â€Å"social responsibility†and the room fills with the uproar of laughter. Clearly, the narrator’s question of identity could be traced back to the weary lives of his gr andparents who were born as African slaves and freed years before.Rhetorically, this freedom bestowed unto them and made them part of a â€Å"United†States. But in the closer analysis, in the social circles during their time and as what the narrator experienced, African-Americans are still separated from whites; it is somewhat like the separate â€Å"fingers on the hand†. Ellison descriptively used animals to symbolically represent people because in the course of history white men traditionally treated the black people as animals. In the first place, they were slaves. Also, when white men see naked white women as sexual objects, ironically the white men transform themselves to animals.One instance in the story depicted a man who watches the woman dance and holds his arms up like an intoxicated â€Å"panda†. Although the symbolism of the animal imageries is not very obvious, how Ellison showcased these symbolism reinforced his themes. It adds up to the life and vitality of mental pictures demonstrating the vividness of Ellison’s storytelling. Works Cited Ellison, R. W. Battle Royal. In Literature: Reading, Reaching, Writing. Compact Fifth Edition by Kirszner & Mandell, p. 174 -185.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Participative Leadership
Question Participative leadership style is always more effective than autocratic/directive leadership styles. Discuss. Executive Summary To say there has been an immense amount of research undertaken on the topic of leadership would be an understatement. The theoretical and empirical research on leadership in the workplace covers a diverse range of theory and there has been much critique and discussion of the theories to date. This paper review will discuss the path-goal leadership theory and it’s application in an organisational setting. The first part of the report will look at the evolution of this theory and the underpinning elements of each leadership style. The second part will compare participative and directive leadership styles using examples to illustrate the relevant use of each style and necessity for leaders to be able to use both or a combination of the two. Table of Contents Introduction p. 4 Path-Goal Leadership Theoryp. 4 Participative vs. Directive Leadershipp. 6 Practical Implicationsp. 8 Conclusion p. 9 Reference Listp. 10 Introduction For decades the study of leadership has been a focus in management, psychology and organisational behaviour with â€Å"over 35,000 research papers, articles and books written†on the topic in an attempt to define leadership and understand which style best drives effective leadership (Killian 2007). In 1974 Stogdill said, â€Å"there are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have tried to define the concept†(Yukl 1989, p. 251). A statement that is relatively true even 37 years on with many approaches to leadership still emerging and continued debate and discussion around the existing theories. A modern and fairly recent definition of leadership explains it as â€Å"influencing, motivating and enabling others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organisations of which they are members†– a definition agreed upon by fifty four leadership experts from thirty eight countries (McShane, Olekalns & Travaglione 2010). With so much research dedicated to the subject of leadership there are a vast array of theories and associated leadership styles including but not limited to: * Trait Theories * Contingency Theories * Situational Theories Behavioural Theories * Transformational Theories Each has their own unique approach and perspectives on what constitutes an effective leader however for the purpose of this report the focus will be on the path-goal theory and the leadership styles it encompasses. Path-Goal Leadership Theory The path-goal approach to leadership is one of several contingency theories. The contingency perspective is built upon the not ion that leaders choose their style to suit the situation and this contemporary model has had much noteworthy critique and testing over the years. Defined as an â€Å"expectancy theory of motivation that relates several leadership styles to specific employee and situational contingencies†((McShane, Olekalns & Travaglione 2010, p461), the theory suggests that a leader can have an influence on the performance, satisfaction and motivation of their subordinates which can be applied through all levels of an organisation. Evans and House first initiated support for the path-goal theory of leadership in the early 1970s following inconsistencies in the results of earlier research. A study by Evans (1970) of two organisations demonstrated a link between the behavior of leaders and the impact on the behavior and goal attainment of subordinates. In 1971 House presented a path-goal theory of leadership effectiveness derived from a path-goal theory of motivation, which posed a theory on the effects of leader behavior on subordinate satisfaction, motivation and performance. The study reconciled conflicting research that had previously been conducted on the topic and support of the hypothesis tested lead to further research and development of this theory. As illustrated below ((McShane, Olekalns & Travaglione 2010, p463) the performance and satisfaction outcome of subordinates is a result of three components – leader behavior, environmental factors and subordinate contingencies. According to the theory are there four clearly defined styles of leader behaviour (House & Mitchell 1974, House 1996): 1. Directive – the leader gives instructions about what, how & when tasks need to be completed and how performance will be measured. Ideal for ambiguous or non-routine tasks. 2. Supportive – leaders provide psychological and social support and go out of their way to make work pleasant for employees. Used in stressful situations that may be unsatisfying or frustrating. 3. Participative – the leader shares decision making with the team and encourages and takes their opinions and suggestions into account when making a decision. When team members are autonomous, need control and clarity and are heavily involved in their work this style can be used. 4. Achievement Oriented – behavior that is directed towards encouraging employees to achieve their peak performance through challenging goals. Ideal in situations where employees are highly motivated and driven to succeed. The path-goal model is based on the assumption that each leadership style will be effective in different situations depending on the two variables outlined above – employee contingencies and environmental contingencies. A leader needs to be able to adapt to different situations by selecting the style that suits employee needs or using a combination. Not all leaders will naturally exhibit all four leadership styles above or be comfortable using them but under this model a leader would need to have the ability to demonstrate all posing a potential development needs in some situations. Participative vs. Directive Leadership The question posed of whether participative leadership is always more effective than participative leadership cannot be completely justified under the path-goal leadership model as the premise of this approach is that the leadership style applied is dependent upon the environmental and employee variables. While there is a widely shared belief amongst a lot of the literature that participative leadership has greater advantages over a directive approach, there are arguments for both and each has its potential strengths and weaknesses. In this next section the role and outcomes of a participative leader will be compared to that of a directive (or autocratic) leader using organisational examples to illustrate their uses. Participative leadership will not work if subordinates do not have the necessary skills and experience to enable them to contribute to decision-making or make effective decisions themselves and the systems and procedures do not exist within the organisational environment as in the case of the Allied Machinery Company (Muczyk and Reimann 1987). In this example the General Manager’s approach of using a participative or democratic leadership style, which had worked for him, previously was not appropriate in his new role as the subordinates were not used to operating this way and expected guidance and follow-up from their leader. If more of a directive approach had of been taken and subordinates given specific guidelines, had expectations setout and rules or procedures explained then one would expect the outcome to have been significantly different. The key points illustrated here are how important it is for a leader to assess the situational variables (employee and environmental) before choosing their leadership style and secondly the necessity for a leader to be able to flex between styles rather than relying only on their natural or preferred style. A potential challenge to this could be how comfortable managers are with using an alternate style. For example, one study reported that Australian managers dislike using a directive style and some would go to considerable lengths to avoid doing so (Avery & Ryan 2002). The path-goal theory suggests that at times a leader may need to use a combination of leadership styles. In an interesting study on directive versus participative leadership in schools (Somech 2005) explores the effect of each style on school staff and makes several conclusions. A directive style can assist staff to challenge themselves and achieve high performance while a participative approach challenges through the sharing of knowledge however used together by leaders rather than as mutually exclusive styles they achieved a complementary result in terms of school effectiveness. Greiner (1973) also illustrates this point with an example of executives incorporating a few directive actions into their participative style to keep high performance goals in front of their teams. These are both great examples of using a combined approach of participative and directive leadership to maximise the result. Another area worthy of consideration in discussion of these two styles is the influence that demographics such as age, status, length of employment, gender and culture can have on choosing the most appropriate style. Sauer (2011) notes that for a new leader this is no correct style of leadership. In terms of leader status, the study suggests that when low status leaders use directive leadership or high status leaders use participative? leadership, the leaders are perceived as more self-confident and more effective. When comparing leadership across cultures it is also noted that participative leadership works better in some cultures rather then others (Den Hartog et al. , 2000). These examples highlights some other situational factors, potentially outside of the norm, that come into play when assessing the most effective style of leadership to pursue. Practical Implications The continued research into path-goal leadership theory and its application in the workplace highlights some reasonable considerations for leaders in engaging and motivating their subordinates. The literature suggests that participative and directive are the dominant styles and a great deal of the research highlights the benefits of a participative approach. What a lot of the research fails to look at is the negative outcomes if a participative approach is used in a situation that requires a directive approach as in the case of Allied Machinery used above. For practical application of the path-goal theory more focus needs to be placed on comparing the variance in outcomes of participative vs. directive leadership in a range of situations with varying employee and environmental. More importantly a combined approach should also be examined in this research. Conclusion There are many definitions of leadership in existence and varying opinions on the most effective theory and subsequent leadership style. The path-goal leadership theory has evolved over time since it was first proposed in the early 1970s and there has been ongoing critique and analysis of its validity, which in comparison to other contingency theories has held relatively strong. The path-goal theory highlights the key components that will impact the outcome – employee contingencies, environmental contingencies and leadership style. A leader needs to adapt their style to the situation and be able to flex between the four styles rather than relying on just one. The question as to whether participative leadership is always more effective than democratic leadership is not validated as this model illustrates the need for both either in isolation or as a combined approach. A participative or democratic approach relies on the team being engaged and motivated and is only effective if followers are willing and able to participate actively in the decision-making process, which is not always the case. There are so many variables that comes into play that neither of these styles can simply be labeled as the right choice for all situations. Reference List Dicksona, M. , Hartog, D. & Mitchelsona, J. 2003, Research on leadership in a cross-cultural context: Making progress, and raising new questions, The Leadership Quarterly, Vol. 14, pp. 729-768. Evans, M. G. 1970, The effects of supervisory behavior on the path-goal relationship, Organisational Behavior and Human Performance Vol. 5, pp. 277-298. Gayle C. & Avery, J. 2002, Applying situational leadership in Australia, Journal of Management Development, Vol. 21 pp. 242–262. Greiner, L. 1973, What managers think of participative leadership, Harvard Business Review, Vol. pp. 111-117. House, R. J. 971, A path-goal theory of leader effectiveness. Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 16, pp. 321-338. House, R. J. & Mitchell, T. R. 1974, Path-goal theory of leadership, Journal of Contemporary Business, Vol. 3, pp. 81-97. House, R. J. 1996, Path-goal theory of leadership: Lessons, legacy, and a reformulated theory, The Leadership Quarterly, Vol. 7, pp. 323-352. Huang, X. , Iun, J. , L iu, A. & Gong, Y. 2010, Does participative leadership enhance work performance by inducing empowerment or trust? The differential effects on managerial and non-managerial subordinates, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Vol. 1, pp. 122-143. Killian, S. 2007, The ABC of Effective Leadership A Practical Overview of Evidence Based Leadership Theory, Australian Leadership Development Centre, viewed 7 September 2011 http://www. leadershipdevelopment. edu. au/SiteMedia/w3svc674/Uploads/Documents/Effective%20Leadership%20An%20Overview%20of%20Leadership%20Theory. pdf Lewin, K. Liippit, R. and White, R. K. 1939, Patterns of aggressive behavior in experimentally created social climates, Journal of Social Psychology, Vol. 10, pp. 271-301. Muczyk, J. & Reimann, B. 987, The Case for Directive Leadership, The Academy of Management Executive. Vol. 1, pp. 301-311. Sauer, S. J. 2011, Taking the Reins: The Effects of New Leader Status and Leadership Style on? Team Performance, Journal of Applied Psy chology, Vol. 96, pp. 574-87. Smech, A. 2005, Directive Versus Participative Leadership: Two Complementary Approaches to Managing School Effectiveness. Educational Administration Quarterly 2005, Vol. 41, pp. 777-800. Yukl, G. 1989, Managerial Leadership: A Review of Theory and Research, Journal of Management, Vol. 15, pp. 251-289.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Organizations That Impact Mining Industry Essay - 1
Organizations That Impact Mining Industry - Essay Example safety and health administration), SME (Society of Mining Industry), NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health), NMA (National Mining association), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the Sierra Club. This paper will focus on how these institutes operate and the significance of these institutes for the mining industry (Woodard 416). The purpose of MSHA is to ensure and protect the miners’ of USA and the community from injuries, diseases and deaths caused due to mining activities. According to Mine Act, the function of the MSHA is to evaluate surface mines for twice a year and underground mines for four times each annum. This survey is conducted by the surveyors of the MSHA, they conduct this survey to ensure that the mines are developed in accordance to the guidelines provided by the Mine Act and the mine owners and managers are complying with the standards proposed by the mine Act. The Act further requires the inspectors of MSHA to issue an order to the operators of the mine in case of non-compliance with the Mine Act (MSHA, 2012). SME comprises of eight different divisions and each division is created to serve in the best interest of the members of SME. Members of these divisions include students as well as professional engineers. The function of SME is to bring advancement to the community of minerals with the assistance of sharing information and developing professionals. SME itself is a member organization of American Institute of Mining which was created during the era of 1871 by a small number of coal miners. SME provides information to its members and takes part in the development of its members by providing them with technical peer reviewed journal articles, hosting seminars, accrediting colleges and providing education to the common public. Students of the engineering field can benefit through SME in several ways (SME, 2012). They have to pay discounted price to become a member of the organization and with this membership they
Thursday, September 26, 2019
The Effects of One-On-One Intervention on Letter Recognition in Dissertation
The Effects of One-On-One Intervention on Letter Recognition in Kindergartners - Dissertation Example ention is not justified because at the end of the day, individual letters do not matter very much and other lesser grilling methods of teaching can be applied (Gillon, 2004). This study is, therefore, going to look at the effects that some of these interventions have on the kindergarten and establish whether to promote them or curtail their usage. Background and Justification According to Fulk (1997) et al., â€Å"there are various conflicts and concerns about the best way to help the pupil to achieve a concrete letter recognition ability, if at all that is needed.†There have been countless critics of the best way to approach this issue with the maximum result. They carried out a study which will be given shortly in the literature review section. It was clear that there were several methods of intervention such as picture mnemonics, letter speed race, letter, matches, rhyming concepts, ordering methods and so forth. The methods have existed from a very long time but also t here are those that have come up in the recent past which are either created by the individual teachers creatively approaching the subject. The other references that have been applied in this context also agree that the methods are a good mode of teaching (Bastano, 2008). The study is, therefore, justified to seek answers about the effectiveness of the specific letter-recognition intervention method that are being applied by many people in the learning institutions. Martinez (2010) argues that â€Å"despite the curriculum of teaching in schools putting emphasis on the pupils to be able to know letters in all formats and correctly name them, it is not as important as the effort that is put in it†. This poses a big conflict about the justification of the one-on-one intervention of the letter recognition... From this dissertation it is clear that there are various conflicts and concerns about the best way to help the pupil to achieve a concrete letter recognition ability, if at all that is needed. There have been countless critics of the best way to approach this issue with the maximum result. They carried out a study which will be given shortly in the literature review section. It was clear that there were several methods of intervention such as picture mnemonics, letter speed race, letter, matches, rhyming concepts, ordering methods and so forth. The methods have existed from a very long time but also there are those that have come up in the recent past which are either created by the individual teachers creatively approaching the subject. The other references that have been applied in this context also agree that the methods are a good mode of teaching. Martinez argues that â€Å"despite the curriculum of teaching in schools putting emphasis on the pupils to be able to know letters in all formats and correctly name them, it is not as important as the effort that is put in it†. This poses a big conflict about the justification of the one-on-one intervention of the letter recognition exercise. Because of these arguments the instructional techniques that are used in kindergarten setting ought to be customized for the pupils for better results. The question here there ore is how effective are those instructional strategies in the teaching environment and what are the impacts of them on the young minds.
Consumer Math Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Consumer Math - Essay Example The value of the annuity after five years will be the sum of all the deposits plus the interest earned over a period of five years. Another example where an annuity can be applied in one’s personal finances is when one plans for one’s retirement fund. An individual may decide to put in $2,000 at the end of each year for the next 20 years into an IRA. If the IRA promises a return of 12 percent per year compounded annually, the individual will get a certain amount from the IRA after 20 years. In making investments, annuities are very relevant. Several options are presented to individuals who want to make an investment. One such example is deciding whether to make a lump sum deposit or a periodic deposit for several years. If the interest rates are equal and the maturity date is the same, one has to decide which alternative will be more profitable. The examples presented above are just some applications of consumer math, specifically annuities. Indeed, it is essential for every individual to understand the concepts covered by consumer math because it has a huge impact on one’s personal finances. Chatham Central Schools. (n.d.). Consumer math – Annuities and the TVM solver. Retrieved May 10, 2012, from chathamcentralschools.com:
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Business and society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Business and society - Essay Example Therefore, when a few employees are causing a hindrance in the achievement of any or all of these goals, it is naturally the employer’s responsibility to approach the employee with at least constructive criticism, if not a serious warning. This restaurant chain employs hundreds of people to perform its daily operations. Most of them are young adults, due to the nature and the low wage rate of the job. As recent reports have indicated, in Western society, the abuse of drugs for recreational purposes is extremely high in the case of this age group. This fact automatically leads to the assumption that quite a few of this restaurant’s employees may be included in this national statistic. At a superficial glance at this assumption, there seems to be no need to explore the matter. As long as the employee performs at par at his or her job, there is no reason to interfere with what they choose to do in their personal life. It can even be labeled an ethical dilemma as to whether the employer should give this much attention to an employee’s personal life outside the job. However, if one chooses to explore the statistic that the reports have laid out, with more depth, there is more reason to explore the problem. As the reports go on to elaborate, this drug abuse has a major negative impact on the professional lives of these young adults too. The companies that they work for suffer major losses each year, due to the drug problem of these employees, as it causes delays, accidents, lower productivity, and expensive healthcare. The report estimates these losses to be around seventy five to a hundred billion dollars per year in the US. Considering these significantly huge figures, the directors of this company realize the importance of addressing the problem. They realize how relevant this issue could be to their own workforce, and how urgently it needs to be addressed. There is still the argument of whether it is fair to take on such a serious matter when it can be a very private matter for the employees. A casual drug abuser would not want their employers involved in such a matter, because not only would it they be in the danger of losing their jobs, but it would harm their reputation in society as well as for future employers. This major ethical dilemma would pose a problem for the employers wishing to take action against this possible drug problem. It would help, perhaps, to view this problem in the light of the ethical theory of utilitarianism. This theory preaches that the actions one takes should be those, which maximize the utility that can be derived from the action. Enforcers of this theory believe also, that one should always seek to maximize the benefit that their actions have on the whole of society, instead of just themselves. This is often a guiding principle for people who find themselves at a crossroad, and have to choose between an action that would seems right, and one that seems moral. In this case, it would be be neficial to view the problem at hand in the light of utilitarianism. It seems like the wrong thing to do to approach a group of employees and try to screen out the drug users from amongst them. Nevertheless, this action would be in the best interest of the employee, her coworkers, her family as well as the restaurant’s productivity. As this ethical theory states, one should always prefer the action which ‘brings about the greatest good for the greatest number’
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Objectives of the 1933 Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Objectives of the 1933 Act - Essay Example The second objective is to prohibit, misrepresentations, deceit, and other misguiding activities when selling securities to the citizens (Johnson, 76). The act says that the offered securities sold to the citizens need to undergo registration by filing the statement of registration with SEC. The prospectus is normally files together with the statement of registration. The statement of registration contains the issuer’s property, security’s description, information about the issuer, and the security’s information. Assuming the statement is suspected to be incomplete, the SEC is entitled to disapprove the statement. When any of the material is missing, SEC is allowed to suspend the registration. The agency tends to provide letters of deficiency after the registration documents are reviews (The Securities Act Of 1933). The SEC uses the technique to suggest or require changes of additional information. Additionally, the act has some exemptions which tend to exempt al l secondary trading that involve the sold and bought
Monday, September 23, 2019
Somali Pirates Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Somali Pirates - Personal Statement Example They possess automatic weapons along with loads of AK-47s, tracking equipments, advanced communication devices. They have different levels of attack and methods of dealing within each level. In my line of thinking, they are the true masters of deception and entrapment although this includes physical attack; their camouflaging is better than the chameleons themselves. One aspect of piracy which surprises me a great deal is the inability to sustain security onboard and on the seaways. In other words, world’s massive trade is moved through these very seas estimated to be at more than 90% of the world’s economy is most prone to attacks and loss of billions of money through piracy! The only explanation I can think of is a refusal to attend to the indifference. But then in my opinion these areas have the largest amount of poverty and are, one way or the other, entitled to the world’s money. And the corporations suffering the loss deserve it because poverty began when the world denied people the right to have money. Although several corporations are involved in helping the Somali pirates buy the latest technology; getting their hands on such technology is something that they cannot accomplish by themselves. It is a known fact that the waters of Somalia cannot be regulated at all much less 24/7, the reason being as simple as the government being unable to impose further responsibility on their already strained assets. Although in my opinion is it is not entirely impossible because if a huge force is to arrive on the scene, piracy can be lessened. NATO and other such organizations are patrolling the area though without guarantees of any sort. Piracy has become socially acceptable in Somalia; after all what is one supposed to do after almost two decades of unending conflict. Somalia’s need for food aid is estimated to be at about 50 % of
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Draft MOU with Diponegoro university Essay Example for Free
Draft MOU with Diponegoro university Essay ThisMemorandumof Understanding(MoU) recordstheintentionofDiponegoro University, in particular its Business School, (hereinafter referred to as DU†) and the Institute of Management Technology (hereinafter referred to as IMT†) to work together to establish one or more agreements for international. academic collaboration. It is made as a non binding gesture of goodwill between the two institutions. Period of Agreement ThisMoUshallbecomeeffectiveonthedateoffinalsigningandwillberenewableevery 5 years upon the mutual consent of both parties. This MoU may be revised or cancelled by mutual written consent by the signatories or their designated representatives. Other matters not covered by this Memorandum shall be decided by mutual agreement and may be subject to the conclusion of formal written contracts between us. The parties shall review the operation of this Memorandum on an annual basis. Purpose and Areas of Potential Collaboration DU and IMT share an aspiration to: 1. Promote the exchange of qualified graduate students, enrolled on their respective postgraduate degree programs, who will be admitted according to the entry regulations of the host institution; 2. Promote the exchange of faculty for joint teaching and research; 3. Promote collaborative research in areas of mutual interest with a view to publishing by joint authorship; 4. Organize joint International conferences/seminars, symposia and workshops; 5. Develop any other programs mutually agreed upon during the period of this MOU. The development of a collaborative relationship between the parties is subject to: A. The approval of the relevant authorities of both DU and IMT and will be subject to norms procedures of academic standards of both the partner Institutions. B. Obtaining all necessary or advisable governmental, regulatory or other relevant approvals, consents or licenses. The parties agree to the following for the period of this agreement, subject to specific agreement at any particular time: Student Exchange: 1. The parties shall exchange a maximum of 5 graduate students per year, with parity to be achieved over the period of this MoU. If parity is not achieved, the parties agree not to request financial or other compensation; 1. Exchanges shall be arranged for a maximum of two semesters/terms. The period ofstudy maybe followedby aninternship,thearrangementsforwhich shallbe agreedbythepartiesinadvanceofthecommencementoftheexchangeto comply with any visa regulations; 2. Students participating in the program will be accepted as non-award candidatesbythehostinstitution,providedthattheyfulfilltheadmission requirements of the host institution. Since instruction in both the institutions will be conducted in English, students selected for exchange must satisfy- the minimum language requirements normally required by the host institution for exchange students; 3. The students shall be selected on the basis of an excellent academic background, excellent command of the subject-specific language required for their integration to the chosen curriculum; strongmotivationtostudyforthe academic program offered by the host institution; and the maturity to live and study in a foreign environment. 4. Students will be nominated and recommended in writing by an official representativeoftheirhomeschool/institution. Followingthereceiptofthe applicationmaterial,thehostschool/institutionwillprovidethenecessary assistance and documentation to satisfy visa requirements and other formalities, such as health insurance; 5. The parties will assist exchange students to find suitable accommodation and insurance. Accommodation and mess facilities will be provided at IMT; 6. The selected exchange students of DU and IMT shall pay their current tuition feestotheirrespectivehomeschool I institution i. e. DU or IMT, prior . to participation in the program, at the dates normally specified by their respective home school I institution for the payment of such fees; 7. The parties will agree in advance the credits that exchange students will be required to take. Non-award course work may not be used at a later time to fulfill requirements for a degree program, and students may not change academic objectives; 8. All expenses including air fare, local travel, health insurance, accommodation, food etc. will be borne by the student. Faculty Exchange, Research and ConferencesÃ'Ž 1. The parties shall exchange an agreed number of faculty members and specialists basedontheavailabilityofopeningsandthenumberofqualifiedfaculty members interested in participating in the program; 2. Exchange faculty will remain employees of their home institution for the purposes of terms and conditions of employment; 3. The home institution shall cover international travel expenses while the host institution shall, on the basis of reciprocity, cover local transportation, accommodation and hospitality for exchange of faculty. Otherdetails,including the financial arrangements, will be agreed on a case to case basis; 4. No later than ninety (90) days before the start of each academic year both partieswillpresentalistofnominatedfacultymembersalongwiththeir credentials to each other for participation in the program for the upcoming academic year- 2011-12 5. The parties agree to organize joint international conference/seminars, symposia andworkshops; commission joint research projects and exchangeof publications. Governance and leadership The Director of IMT-Nagpur, Dr. Rajendra Nargundkar and the Professor-Faculty of Economics- Dr. Waridin of Diponegoro University, Indonesia or their designees will provide the senior leadership within their respective organizations to move the venture forward. Exchange of information Each party will exchange information with the other with a view to understanding whether it would be effective and practical for the institutions to work together. Confidentiality ThisMemorandumandanyinformationprovidedinconnectionwithitmaynotbe disclosedtoanythirdpartyotherthan(a)thepartiesprofessionaladvisers;(b)as required by law or a relevant regulatory authority; (c) with the prior written consent of the other party; or (d) where the information has come into the public domain through no fault of the party wishing to disclose it. Intellectual Property Unlessagreedotherwiseinwriting,anyIntellectualPropertyrightsbelongingtothe parties,whetherinexistenceatthedateofthisMemorandumorcreatedduringthe course of it, shall belong to the respective parties. Publicity 1. The parties will not include the name or logo of the other party in any advertising or publicity material without the prior approval of the other party on a case-to- case basis. 2. Neither party will do anything which in the reasonable opinion of the other, would damage the others reputation and/or business. Disputes 1. The parties shall attempt to resolve in good faith any dispute arising between them out of the operation of this Memorandum. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, it shall be referred to the Head of the Business School of DU and the Director of IMT- Nagpur Dr. Rajendra Nargundkar. 2. This Memorandum shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws in India/Indonesia. 3. Any dispute arising out of the operation of this Memorandum shall be finally settled by arbitration under the Rules of Arbitration and Conciliation of the International Chamber ofCommerce by two ormore arbitratorsappointed under those rules. The place of arbitration shall be New Delhi and the dispute resolution proceedings shall be in English. This MOU is signed by the parties on this 17th day of September 2010 at Nagpur (India) and the parties have affixed their Seals. ForINSTITUTEOF MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY- NAGPUR. (Dr. Rajendra Nargundkar) Director. SEAL For DIPONEGORO UNIVERSITY, SEMARANG-50241, INDONESIA. (Dr. Waridin) Professor- Faculty of Economics.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Effect Of Music And Noise On Working Memory Psychology Essay
Effect Of Music And Noise On Working Memory Psychology Essay Memory is an integral part of everyday life. It is required for simple tasks, such as keeping a phone number in mind before dialling it, or for more complex tasks such as learning a mathematical formula to apply to a sum. Memory is based on three basic processes. It can be defined as the process by which individuals encode, store and retrieve information (Feldman, 2004). Encoding is the receiving of sensory information and transforming it into some form which can be stored. Storing is the process of putting the information into memory. Retrieval is the process of gaining access to the stored information (Morgan, King, Weisz Schopler, 2008). The interaction of these three processes is required for the proper functioning of memory. Memory failure, that is forgetting, can occur when information has not been properly encoded and stored and therefore, there can be no retrieval (Baddeley, Eysenck and Anderson, 2009). The working of memory cannot be reduced to just a single explanation. It is composed of various interrelated systems. In 1968, the Atkinson-Shiffrin Model of Memory was proposed. It stated a three stage model of memory. Information, which was recorded by an individuals sensory system, enters sensory memory which holds the information momentarily. The information then moves to short-term memory, where it is stored for 15 to 25 seconds. And finally, the information moves to long-term memory where it is relatively permanent. The amount and kind of rehearsal of the information determines whether the information will move from short-term memory to long-term memory, or not (Feldman, 2004). Stimulation of extremely brief duration is stored in sensory memory. This is the first kind of information presented by the environment to individuals. The term sensory memory denotes different types of memory (Feldman, 2004). In the early 1960s, scientists at Bell Laboratories in USA analysed the fleeting visual memory system, which later came to be known as iconic memory. It is the brief storage of visual information. The auditory counterpart or auditory sensory memory is echoic memory (Baddeley, Eysenck and Anderson, 2009). Iconic memory is said to last for less than a second while echoic memory lasts for two to three seconds. Sensory memory can store information for a very brief time only. If the information does not pass to short-term memory, then it is lost forever. Information that is stored transiently in sensory memory is not meaningful as it is only a representation of raw sensory stimuli. For long-term retention the information is passed on to short-term memory which is the next stage of memory (Feldman, 2004). Short-term memory is the performance on particular types of task involving the simple retention of small amounts of information which is tested either immediately or after a short delay. Short-term memory forms a part of working memory. There are various methods of testing short-term memory. One of the classical methods is the digit span test which requires remembering digits for a short period of time. Specific amounts of information can be held in short-term memory. George A. Miller, one of the founders of cognitive psychology, in 1956, suggested that memory capacity is limited by the number of chunks of information. A chunk is a meaningful group of stimuli that can be stored as a unit of short-term memory (Baddeley, Eysenck and Anderson, 2009). For the transfer of information to long-term memory from short-term memory, rehearsal is required. It is the repetition of information that has entered short-term memory. If elaborative rehearsal is used, the information is more likely to get transferred to long-term memory; otherwise it may only remain stored in short-term memory. Elaborative rehearsal is the strategic organization of information (Feldman, 2004). In the late 1960s, the idea of short-term memory being a unitary system was discarded and new theories emerged. These explained short-term memory as involving a number of systems interacting with each other. One such model is of verbal short-term memory. It is the concept of phonological loop. The phonological loop features a part in the multi-component working memory model proposed by Baddeley and Hitch in 1974. The phonological loop is composed of two parts, a short-term store and an articulatory rehearsal process. This store has a limited capacity. The items are stored as memory traces and decay within a few seconds. But, these traces can be retrieved by sub vocal rehearsal. A prominent feature of the short-term store is the phonological similarity effect. This is a tendency for immediate serial recall of verbal material to be reduced when the items are similar in sound. Therefore, remembering a series of dissimilar words is easier than remembering a list of words that are phonologically similar. But, this effect does not appear when the lists are lengthened and if there are several learning trials involved. It is also seen that there is a tendency for verbal memory span to decrease when longer words are used. This is the word length effect. Another factor which disrupts verbal short-term memory is the irrelevant sound effect. It was found that music interfered with digit recall. Vocal music was more disruptive that instrumental music. The retention of serial order can be disrupted by irrelevant stimuli provided they fluctuate over time. Another concept of short-term memory is the visuo-spatial short-term memory. The visual and spatial components have been proposed as a part of the visuo-spatial sketchpad which is a component of working memory. It is a counterpart of the phonological loop (Baddeley, Eysenck and Anderson, 2009). After the 1960s, short-term memory has transformed into the concept of working memory. According to this, information is not only retained for a short period of time, but can also be manipulated and can be involved in higher order processing activities such as comprehension, problem-solving and reasoning (Levin, Thurman and Kiepert, 2010). In 1974, Baddeley and Hitch drew two main observations from studying the effect of an irrelevant memory load on verbal reasoning. The first was that an irrelevant short-term memory task interfered with cognitive tasks. This was consistent with the idea of a common working memory system that combines temporary information storage with ongoing mental operations. Secondly, the concept of working memory went beyond that of short-term memory. It included an additional resource which was not shared with short-term memory (Graham J. Hitch). Working memory refers to the ability to coordinate mental operations with transiently stored information during cognitive activities (Graham J. Hitch). It is a system for temporary maintenance and manipulation of information that is helpful in performing complex tasks (Baddeley, Eysenck Anderson, 2009). An example of the usage of working memory is complex mental arithmetic where the task is broken down into several stages. The various stages have to be coordinated and the early stages generate transient information that has to be maintained for use in the later stages (Graham J. Hitch). Working memory and cognitive abilities are related to each other. Working memory affects cognitive tasks and, in turn, cognitive abilities are required for the understanding and manipulation of working memory. The Baddeley-Hitch Model of Working Memory, which was proposed in 1974, is highly influential and attempts to give a clear understanding of working memory. According to this model, working memory has three components: the phonological loop, the visuo-spatial sketchpad and the central executive. The phonological loop is specialized in holding sequences of acoustic items. The visuo-spatial sketchpad performs a similar function for visually and spatially encoded items. This entire system is controlled by the central executive which is an attentionally limited system that selects and manipulates material in the subsystems (Baddeley, Eysenck Anderson, 2009). A few factors affecting phonological memory are the phonemic similarity of items as well as the word length of the items. Memory spans vary with the length of the items. They are higher for shorter items than for longer items. But, these effects did not appear when the items were presented visually. Spoken stimuli accesses the articulatory loop automatically whereas visual inputs have to be verbally recoded, a control process that involves subvocalization. The phonological loop also explained why the presence of background speech disrupts short-term memory for visually presented verbal stimuli. According to Baddeley, irrelevant noise was easier to ignore than irrelevant speech which suggested that unattended speech enters the phonological store whereas non speech sounds do not. Working memory is thought to be under the control of the central executive. It is responsible for the coordination of mental activities in working memory as well as supervision of phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad and the interaction with long-term memory (Graham J. Hitch). In 2000, Baddeley proposed a fourth component of the working memory model which would explain its interaction with long-term memory. It was called the episodic buffer and was assumed to be a storage system which could hold about four chunks of information in a multidimensional code. It acts as a link between the various components of working memory, and connecting the components with input from long-term memory. It has been studied that music has a favourable effect on working memory. Classical music such as Mozarts Sonata for two pianos in D Major, K.448 and Vivaldis Four Seasons: Spring are said to have an especially beneficial effect, by improving cognitive performance of individuals (Copley, May). In 1993, Rauscher et al claimed that after listening to Mozarts sonata for 2 pianos (K.448) for ten minutes, subjects showed better spatial reasoning skills than after listening to relaxation instructions or silence (Jenkins, 2001). This came to be known as the Mozart Effect. Rauscher et al stated that the participants IQ increased by 8 to 9 points over the two other conditions- relaxation and silence (Smith, Waters and Jones, 2010). The Vivaldi Effect was observed in a study when it was found out that those who listened to Vivaldi while exercising increased their scores of verbal fluency tests after their workouts compared to those who exercised without music (Roberts, June). Background noise is any sound that distracts or interferes with an individuals focus of attention. Background noise is said to disrupt the concentration of an individual. It can affect a persons ability to think clearly and retain information and can impair learning and memory (Andrews, January). Noise can include road traffic, people talking in the background, etc. Working memory is an important component as everyday cognitive tasks rely on it. It is integral in the development of language and reading. The study aims to explore the influence of music (classical) and background noise on working memory, which is responsible for enabling complex cognitive activities. The Mozart Effect has been observed to have a beneficial effect on visuospatial performance. This study aims to see if it can be extended to the performance of working memory as well. The study will also observe whether conditions of silence and music will elicit a better performance of working memory than the condition of background noise and the condition of background noise and music. The objectives of this study are to find out if music has a positive effect on working memory and if noise has a detrimental effect on working memory. In addition, the study aims to compare the effects of silence and music on working memory as well as to find out if background noise and music will have a detrimental effect on working memory. The hypotheses of the study are that music will have a positive effect on working memory, noise will have a detrimental effect on working memory, silence will have a better result on the performance of working memory than music and background noise and music will have a detrimental effect on working memory. Chapter Two Review of Literature Various studies have been conducted which show the positive and detrimental effects of music and noise on working memory. The following research articles look at studies which have been conducted which express the relationships between music, noise and working memory. The Effects of Background Music and Noise on Working Memory was conducted by Amanda Eiras and Kaycee McNeil. It examines how verbal working memory was affected by background music and noise. The study was conducted on 14 participants between the ages of 18 to 30 years. The participants were made to recall a list of 30 words in 30 seconds under four conditions: in silence, in music, in noise and in music and noise. It was found that the presence of music was not statistically significant F(1,11) The Effect of Background Music and Noise on the Cognitive Test Performance of Introverts and Extraverts was conducted by Stacey Dobbs, Adrian Furnham and Alistair McClelland. This study examines whether background noise is as distracting as music and the effect it has on introverts and extroverts while they do cognitively complex tasks. 118 female school children between the ages of 11 to 18 years were the participants of the study. The participants were made to complete 3 tasks- RPM, Wonderlic Personnel Test and Verbal Reasoning Test Byron, 2006 under 3 conditions: noise condition, music condition and silence condition. The results showed that in RPM, the performance in silence was significantly better than in the presence of music and the performance in music was significantly better than in the presence of noise. In the Wonderlic Personality Test, the performance in silence and music was significantly better than in the presence of noise. The performance in the presence of silence was not significantly different from performance in the presence of music. In the test of verbal reasoning the performance in silence was significantly better than with music and just failed to be significantly better than with noise. There was no significant difference between performance under music and noise conditions. Recall of Words Heard in Noise was conducted by Anders Kjellberg, Robert Ljung and David Hallman. This study examines if recall of words and recognition of sentences, when orally presented, were affected by the presence of background noise. 32 participants between the ages of 18 to 34 years were chosen. The participants were required to complete two memory tasks: recall of words and recognition of sentences under two conditions- with background noise and without background noise. The results show that the number of words correctly recalled were significantly lower in the noisy condition (mean= 8.50 and 11.03 for noise and control condition respectively.) In the recognition of sentences task there was no significant differences between the conditions. Does music enhance cognitive performance in healthy older adults? was conducted by Nicola Mammarella, Beth Fairfield, and Cesare Cornoldi. This study examines whether music can enhance cognitive performance. 24 participants between the ages of 73 to 86 years of age were chosen. The participants were required to do two tests: a forward version of digit spans and word fluency test under three conditions: music, no music and white noise. The results for digit span show that the music condition showed a significant advantage over the white noise condition and the non-music condition. There was no difference between the white noise condition and the non-music condition. The results for the phonemic fluency show that there is a significant advantage of music over white noise and non-music conditions. And the difference between white noise and non-music conditions were not significant. Listening to the Vivaldi excerpt led subjects to show a significant increase in phonological working memor y capacity and phonemic fluency. Acoustical Barriers in Classrooms: The Impact of Noise on Performance in the Classroom was conducted by Julie E. Dockrell and Bridget M. Shield. The study examines the effect of classroom noise on the performance of primary school children. 158 children were chosen as participants for the study. Their mean age was 8 years and 6 months. The participants were given four tests to complete: an aptitude test, verbal tests which included reading and spelling, non-verbal tests and an arithmetic test under three different class noise conditions: base (normal classroom condition when children are working quietly and no one is talking), babble (noise consisting of childrens babble) and babble with environmental noise. The results showed that verbal task performance is worst in babble and best in base condition. In the non-verbal tests, the performance is best in the babble and environment noise condition. The study, The Effect of Background Music and Background Noise on the Task Performance of Introverts and Extraverts was conducted by Gianna Cassidy and Raymond A. R. Macdonald. This study examines the effects of music with high arousal potential and negative affect, music with low arousal potential and positive affect and everyday noise on the cognitive performance of introverts and extraverts. The sample size was 40. It included 20 university student, 10 adolescents and 10 non-studying/working adults. The materials used were music with lyrics and background noise (which was everyday general sound, classroom working sounds, traffic and conversation including laughter). The participants had to complete 5 cognitive tasks. They were the Stroop Neuropsychological Screening Test, a delayed recall task from the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (version A, item 6 A), a free recall task which had 20 six letter words, a distractive task which was a numerical task and the delayed recall task. The participants completed the five tasks in one of the four background sound conditions: positive low arousal music which was relaxing, negative high arousal music which was aggressive, background noise and silence. Performance on all the tasks was poorer while listening to background sound (which includes music and noise) compared to completing the tasks in silence. Listening to high arousal music was significantly more detrimental to task performance than listening to low arousal music across all tasks. Background noise and high arousal music significantly reduced performance across all tasks compared to the silence condition. High arousal music was more detrimental to task performance the Stroop task. The Effects of Acute Background Noise on Recognition Tasks was conducted by Daniel Diegard. 23 students were chosen as the participants for the study and the mean age was 22 years. The materials used were random white noise, encoding items, a distracter task which was a mental arithmetic task and a working memory capacity test which required the participants to complete an arithmetic test and alternating between equations and memorizing word sequences. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the four noise conditions effects on the participants recognition score. There was a significant within-subject effect on the participants response times, dependant on the presence of noise during the recognition part [F(1,21)=5.60, p=0.028] and also a between-subject ffect for the two experimental groups [F(1,21)=8.57, p=0.008]. Background white noise had no significant effect on the participants learning capacity. It was seen that the interaction effect of the experi mental group and encoding noise did approach significance. The results of this study are shown to be inconsistent with most previous studies conducted. Effects of Prior Exposure to Office Noise and Music on Aspects of Working Memory was conducted by Andrew Smith, Beth Waters and Hywel Jones. The participants of this study were 36 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 to 25 years. This study was further divided into two studies. The first examined whether habituation occurred to office noise and how long it takes for habituation. The second study was an attempt to replicate the Mozart Effect which represents an improvement in spatial reasoning following listening to Mozart. In the first experiment, a mental arithmetic task was given to the participants. After the first mental arithmetic task, a habituation period to office noise was presented for five minutes. There were three conditions which were used. The first was continuous noise condition which was heard throughout the presentation of all the mental arithmetic tasks and the habituation periods. The second was the noise control condition in which the participants heard n oise during the mental arithmetic task but not during the intervening habituation period. The final condition was the quiet condition in which no noise was presented during the mental arithmetic task. The habituation phase was for 20 minutes in total placed between the arithmetic tasks. The results showed that there was a significant effect of noise condition [F(2,33)=8.3, p In the second experiment 24 undergraduate students were chosen to be the participants. Their mean age was 22 years. The participants had to complete spatial ability tasks in three conditions: after listening to Mozarts piano sonata, after positive mood induction and after sitting in silence. The results showed that the participants had higher scores on the test in the Mozart condition than in the other 2 conditions. Music Listening While You Learn: No Influence of Background Music on Verbal Learning was conducted by Lutz Jancke and Pascale Sandmann. This study examined the influence of listening to background music on verbal learning performance. The sample size of this study was 75 and the participants were randomly assigned to five groups. The participants had to learn the presented verbal material with and without background music. Each group of participants was exposed to one of five different background stimuli: in-tune fast, in-tune slow, out-of-tune fast, out-of-tune slow and noise. This study did not find any consistent or consequential influence of background music on verbal learning. There was neither an enhancement nor a decrease in verbal learning performance during the presentation of the background sound conditions. The Relative and Perceived Impact of Irrelevant Speech, Vocal Music and Non-Vocal Music on Working Memory was a study conducted by Thomas R. Alley and Marcie E. Greene. The sample size of this study was 60. The study examined the effects of vocal music, equivalent instrumental music and irrelevant speech on working memory to understand how music affects performance and the degree of impairment. The participants completed a digit span task in the presence of irrelevant speech, vocal music, instrumental versions of the vocal music and silence. The results of this study showed that speech and vocal music hindered performance. The performance in instrumental music was better than that of vocal music but was not significantly different from speech or silence. Chapter Three Methodology The aim of this research will be to study the effects of music and background noise on working memory. Research Design A quantitative study will be carried out and experimental research design will be used. The study will involve a group of individuals who will be made to recall lists of words under four different conditions- silence, background noise, music and music and background noise. Hypotheses Music will have no effect on working memory. Noise will have no effect on working memory. Silence will have no effect on working memory. Background noise and music will have no effect on working memory. Sampling Sample size consisting of 40 individuals including males and females in the age range of 19 to 23 years. The sampling method to be used will be convenience sampling. The study is an experimental and quantitative research as variables will be measured and analysed using statistical techniques. Ethical Consideration Informed consent will be given to the participants before the experiment is conducted to ensure that their participation is voluntary. Confidentiality of identity of the participants will be guaranteed. The participants will be allowed to leave the experiment when they want. Tools Used 16 list of 20 words each Mozarts Sonata for 2 pianos in D, K.448 Vivaldi- Spring Clip of background noise on a busy street Data Analysis The Analysis of Variance or ANOVA will be used as there are more than two variables which will be taken into consideration as well as the interaction between the two. Operational Definitions Working Memory- Working memory is the ability to temporarily store words while performing other cognitive tasks. Music- Music can be defined as the vocal and instrumental sound to produce form, harmony and expression. Noise- Noise is defined as unwanted sound. In this study, noise is that which is not important to the main focus of attention.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Archetypes In The Lion King :: essays research papers
Archetypes In The Lion King John Berry Edwards Per. 2 4/18/96 Â Â Â Â Â The Lion King is a story containing many archetypes. Archetypes are patterns or models of literature that reoccur in many stories. In this paper I will discuss three of these archetypes. They are the hero, death & rebirth of the hero, and the symbolism and associations of water vs. desert. These archetypes can be noticed easily and help things come together. Â Â Â Â Â The Lion King has a very evident hero, Simba. Simba meets many of the characteristics of an archetypal hero. Among these is the way that he is taken away from his home, the Pridelands, and grows up with Timon and Pumbaa. After Simba arrives with Timon and Pumbaa, we see very little of his life until he is fully grown. When the film returns to Simba, he soon decides to return to Pride Rock and face his past. He returns to save his kingdom from its desolation caused by Scar and the hyenas, and to restore it to its glory. The hero of a story commonly goes through some of these events. Â Â Â Â Â Simba faces a common archetypal situation, death and rebirth. Although Simba never physically dies, in spirit he does die. The spiritual death of Simba is when he runs away from the Pridelands into the desert. Everyone in the Pridelands thinks that he has physically died. In fact, he nearly does die in the desert. Luckily, Timon and Pumbaa find him and keep him alive. The spiritual resurrection of Simba occurs when he returns to his home at Pride Rock. Everyone discovers that Simba is alive. It seems as if he has risen from the dead to them because for such a long time they believed that he was dead. At Pride Rock, Simba returns to his previous life and faces all of his problems. Â Â Â Â Â The symbolism of water and desert in the Lion King is very important. Water often accompanies a change in a story. Water can also be a sign of birth and rebirth. An example of water foretelling a change is Simba's lie when he says that he and Nala are going to the water hole. They actually visit the Elephant Graveyards. This visit causes Simba to get a view of reality, not from his sheltered world. When Simba is found by Timon and Pumbaa in the desert, they splash him with water to bring life back into him. Another example of the symbolism of water is the rain when Simba defeats Scar and assumes his position on the throne of Pride Rock.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Post-Cold War Period Causes of Conflict Essay -- Papers USA Conflict H
Post-Cold War Period Causes of Conflict The end of the Cold War meant that the ideological conflict of dominance between East (Soviet Union and Eastern Europe) and West (USA and Western Europe) was over. Contrary to the expectations that world would be much safer in the post-Cold War, United States and Soviet Union were faced with new security issues that they did not know how to deal with. The objective of this essay is to show that with all these changes that occurred with the end of the Cold War, causes of the conflict indeed altered from the classic ones. First the end of the Cold War and the changes in the world order that followed will be outlined. Secondly, the increase in wars within states and the question of whether today's conflicts are, in fact, new, will be discussed. Finally this essay will argue that there is a new type of threat: worldwide terrorism, and it will look at what measures are being taken to tackle this problem. The end of bipolarism The democratic countries (USA and Western Europe), enjoyed 50 years of peace and economic development, because of the measures they took after the World War II, not to repeat the same mistakes that initiated the previous wars. They developed a democratic-political culture, which emphasised respect for human rights, rule of law, civil society, and independent media. However, apart from 1953, 1956 and 1968, the eastern bloc enjoyed peace and relative stability as well. The military power of both the super powers made US and Soviet leaders very reluctant to start a war. This was clearly illustrated by the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. The end of the Cold War end... ... Soon Miss The Cold War (August) http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/foreign/mearsh.htm Muldoon, J. (1999) The Challenges of Multilateral Diplomacy in 1999, United Nations Association of USA, (February), http://www.iwa.org/Publications/Lectures/muldoon.html Pfetsch, F.R & Ch. Rohloff, Ch. (2001) Global Change, Conflicts and Conflict Research 'New Data On Armed Conflict' at the 42nd Annual ISA Convention, Chicago, IL 20-24 (February) http://www.uni-duisburg.de/Institute/INEF/Intra/debate_Rohloff_Pfetsch.htm Sens, A G. (2000) Canada on the Security Council :International Security in the 21 Century: Challenges facing UN, http://www.unac.org/en/link_learn/canada/security/21_century.asp. Snow, D. (1991) The Shape of the Future, The Post-Cold War World; M.E.Sharpe, Armonk, New York and London.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
An Analysis of Roland Barthes’ Death of the Author Essay -- Death of th
An Analysis of Roland Barthes’ Death of the Author â€Å"The birth of the reader must be at the cost of the death of the Author.†– Roland Barthes Must the Author be dead to make way for the birth of the reader? In Roland Barthes’ essay â€Å"The Death of the Author,†Barthes asserts that the Author is dead because the latter is no longer a part of the deep structure in a particular text. To him, the Author does not create meaning in the text: one cannot explain a text by knowing about the person who wrote it. A text, however, cannot physically exist disconnected from the Author who writes it. Even if the role of the Author is to mix pre-existing signs, it does not follow that the Author-function is dead. Moreover, Barthes attributes â€Å"authorship†to the reader who forms meaning and understanding. The reader is, however, an abstraction â€Å"without history, biography, psychology†(Barthes 1469). These contexts – history, biography, and psychology – can only be set by the Author. Thus, the Author is alive and well because the text cannot exist without the Author, the mix ing of signs is the Author’s art, and the reader’s meanings forming abilities are nourished by the Author. According to Barthes’ notion of the â€Å"cut-off hand,†a text’s origin is language itself (Barthes 1468). Moreover, â€Å"linguistically, the author is never more than the instance writing, just as I is nothing other than the instance saying I: language knows a ‘subject’, not a ‘person’†(Barthes 1467). What about the Author’s physical presence? Certainly, language itself does not know its physical creator, but it is akin to shutting one’s eyes on reality to not acknowledge the Author who is â€Å"out there.†Because his texts were considered â€Å"da... ...r-Response Criticism.†October 1998. The College of New Rochelle. March 27, 2004 . O’Brien, John. Milan Kundera and feminism: Dangerous intersections. Minnesota: University of Minnesota, 1995. Project Gutenberg. â€Å"What books will I find in Project Gutenberg?†March 28, 2004 . Zilcosky, John. â€Å"The Revenge of the Author: Paul Auster’s Challenge to Theory.†Studies in Contemporary Fiction 39, 3 (Spring 1998): 195-207. 1 â€Å"Himself†, â€Å"him†, â€Å"his†, and â€Å"he†are used for brevity in expressing pronouns of both the male and female genders. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1][1] â€Å"Himself†, â€Å"him†, â€Å"his†, and â€Å"he†are used for brevity in expressing pronouns of both the male and female genders.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Blood Alcohol Level (Bal) Essay
The amount of alcohol in your blood stream is referred to as Blood Alcohol Level (BAL). It is recorded in milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, or milligrams percent. For example, a BAL of . 10 means that 1/10 of 1 percent (or 1/1000) of your total blood content is alcohol. When you drink alcohol it goes directly from the stomach into the blood stream. This is why you typically feel the effects of alcohol quite quickly, especially if you haven’t eaten for a while. BAL depends on: 1. Amount of blood (which will increase with weight) and 2. The amount of alcohol you consume over time (the faster you drink, the higher your BAL, as the liver can only handle about a drink per hour–the rest builds up in your blood stream). Understanding the effects of a rising BAL can be very useful in controlling drinking. Below are the consequences of various Blood Alcohol Levels,from a book by William R. Miller and Ricardo F. Munoz called, â€Å"How to Control your Drinkling: A Practical Guide to Responsible Drinking (1982): .02 MELLOW FEELING. SLIGHT BODY WARMTH. LESS INHIBITED. .05 NOTICEABLE RELAXATION. LESS ALERT. LESS SELF-FOCUSED. COORDINATION IMPAIRMENT BEGINS. .08 DRUNK DRIVING LIMIT. DEFINITE IMPAIRMENT IN COORDINATION AND JUDGMENT. .10 NOISY. POSSIBLE EMBARRASSING BEHAVIOR. MOOD SWINGS. REDUCTION IN REACTION TIME. .15 IMPAIRED BALANCE AND MOVEMENT. CLEARLY DRUNK. .30 MANY PASS OUT. .40 MOST PASS OUT; SOME DIE. .50 BREATHING STOPS. MANY DIE. As can be seen, the most reliably pleasurable effects of alcohol occur when BAL rises to about . 03-. 05. Alcohol researchers have discovered that low levels of alcohol have a specific effect on thinking; alcohol results in a reduction of â€Å"self-monitoring. †(Hull & Reilly, 1986). What this means is that small quantities of alcohol enable you to take your mind off yourself and your worries. Not surprisingly, this effect reduces tension and enhances relaxation in many people. Some people find this effect so rewarding that they continue to drink. Unfortunately, these relaxing effects diminish as BAL rises above . 05. Instead emerge a host of negative effects, such as less emotional control, coordination and judgment impairment, hangovers and obnoxious behavior. One way of controlling alcohol is to learn to gauge BAL by internal sensations and to attend to the reinforcing signs of a low BAL. Doing so will enable you to be more in control of how much you drink and, by focusing your attention on the initial pleasurable effects, be able to enjoy alcohol with less negative consequences. Blood Alcohol Level Charts are available in a number of resources. For example, â€Å"How to Control your Drinking: A Practical Guide to Responsible Drinking†(Miller & Munoz, 1982) Contains tables which list BAL values by gender, weight, number of drinks consumed and number of hours drinking. THE FINAL CALL BREATHALYZER is a very useful tool in monitoring BAL. The one-time use breathalyzers are small glass tubes which contain yellow crystals that have been impregnated with a reactive chemical that turns green when alcohol is present. One must breath into the balloon provided and then let it deflate into the tube. The BAL reading appears in about a minute. Final Call assesses BAL with a margin of error of plus or minus . 02. The Final Call Breathalyzer is useful because your BAL can be quickly assessed so that you get immediate feedback.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Uniform Code of Military Justice
Article 92 is perhaps the most important article in the entire Uniform Code of Military Justice. It lays down the ground law, which is the absolute line that may not be crossed. Everything else in the UCMJ is an explanation of the various forms that disobeying an order can take. Without the support given by Article 92, service members would be free to do whatever they want, whenever they want, and wouldn't be any more accountable than a civilian could in a civilian job. However, service members are held to a higher standard.We are the line that protects this country and we are the defense against the storm. Without us, this country would not exist and could not exist. And for that, I have to follow the orders and instructions given by anyone appointed over me. The fact that I didn’t get to an appointment on time showed lack of accountability on my part, a lack of discipline to follow orders I was given and a lack of respect to those who are appointed over me as a leader. I fai led to be at my place of duty, which costs the Army money for another Soldier who could’ve been at that appointment and been on time.The military can only function if orders, when given, are obeyed. We would like to trust in the honesty and integrity of the Soldiers who made that oath and put their lives on the line for their country. The truth is that there are many out there that, if not given a clear set of rules, will not follow the rules. Will not care about the punishments, will not be productive or efficient members of the military machine. That is why Article 92, and the entire UCMJ, are necessary. They reinforce the behavior of those who do the right thing, promoting it and praising it.They punish those who do not do the right thing, undercutting and stamping out such behaviors. With such a system, the bad eggs, those who are unable to fit into the machine, will be ground up by it and spit out. Broken, incomplete, forever bemoaning the lack of foresight and flexibili ty that would have saved them. Accountability in the Army is paramount to the successful completion of the mission. It is a soldier’s personal responsibility to keep all his or her items accountable at all times. This ensures that the Army mission will be completed and that the soldier will remain prepared at all times.On a daily basis, thousands of Soldiers are seen at appointments varying anywhere from surgery on better eye sight to putting a broken foot into a cast for 6 weeks to heal. Appointments can be located anywhere on or off post depending on the type of appointment or preference of the Soldier. It is every Soldier’s right to choose where they would like to receive health care services. The Army spends Billions of dollars on medical supplies, medications, the latest and newest high tech equipment, and the healthcare facilities and the healthcare providers. When a Soldier misses an appointment, the Army’s money is then wasted.Money that could have been used on something such as new trucks, weapons and equipment. With budget cuts on funds within the ranks, missing an appointment is money the Army could use elsewhere. Of all the complications for military funding due to budget cuts, missing an appointment should not factor into it at all. Budget cuts have influenced the Chain of Command and their decisions on requiring Soldiers to pay out of pocket for their missed appointment. The government was starting to discuss having Soldiers pay out of pocket for their missed appointments.Have the Soldier pay out of pocket for the injuries received in an accident because they neglected their profile restrictions. Whether this has taken effect now or it will in the future, Soldiers will be less likely to miss any kind of appointment. If the responsibility were to fall on the shoulder of each individual Soldier, the Army would more than likely not have to inflict budget cuts and â€Å"Troop Cuts†we have all been reading about in The Arm y Times. If each Soldier were accountable for paying for their appointments, there wouldn’t be another wasted appointment because the Soldier was forgetful.It is every Soldiers responsibility to be healthy and remain in a fit condition. When Soldiers fails to do so however, the consequences can be catastrophic or even fatal in some cases. Best example, a Soldier has a tooth ache but ignores it because he or she thinks it’s a sign of weakness, that tooth ache can develop into something much worse than a cavity filling, the Soldier could end up being hospitalized because they didn’t take care of the issue when it was small. They ignored their MEDPROs warning about being past due for a check in.This action seems small, but when the Soldiers fall out of the ranks because they needed more medical attention such as surgery. That unit needs to replace that Soldier to remain fit and ready to deploy. This can led to issues and financial problems within that unit. Their d own a Soldier, which means they have to file paperwork to request a Soldier to replace him. That leads to more money to have that new Soldier coming in for travel and new training. Everything costs money. From the paper we use to request a Soldier to the training that he or she must receive so they can be ready to deploy on a mission.All of that money spent on the new Soldier could have been completely avoided if the Soldier had not ignored his MEDPROs dental warning. Something so small, like a tooth ache, turned in all new training requirements for a new and unprepared Soldier to keep a unit ready for a mission. If Soldiers were required to pay out of pocket for all of their appointments they made, the Army could spend more money where it is needed most. Such things are better training for Soldiers, Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers, better equipment for deployed units and faster approval on funding.This increase in money in better areas can lead to more successful missions an d fewer fatalities on the battle field because the equipment is more accurate. Soldiers have been trained to the highest level, instead of just the basics for life saver course. The Army can afford to push every Soldier through the advanced kind of training needed to save lives. All of this could happen if every Soldier was held responsible for their actions of missing an appointment. Including, if every Soldier made it to all their appointments on time.If every Soldier was paying out of pocket for their appointments, the bigger picture we see is more saved lives in the combat zone. Every Soldier has the right to be seen for health issues. The well being of every Soldier, whether it’s their mental state or their physical health, is required for the best combat ready Soldier the Army has. That is the reality in today’s forces. The citizens of our country need us at our highest peak in health. So when unexplainable and tragic accident such as 9/11 ever happens again, a f orgotten dental appointment will not hold out any Soldier.The responsibility in accountability is every single individual’s duty for themselves and their team. The rank is not a concern when compared to responsibility. No one is singled out. It is my responsibility and my responsibility alone to maintain my physical and mental health state. I have to maintain myself at the highest level for Soldier readiness. That is my responsibility, no one else’s. However, in the long run, I affect someone else’s life if I neglect that responsibility. A simple phone call to change the time of my appointment could have avoided all of this.Neglecting to call was a failure on my part completely. I do not blame nor will I blame anyone but me. On the next appointment, I will be sure to make my appointment on time with enough reminders that it would be impossible not to forget. This standard for accountability needs to be a high priority of every Soldier who does not know much abou t the Army. Such as young privates coming out of Basic and AIT, can be trained and carry on the standard for responsibility and accountability. So future funds can be focused more for the training and not for missed appointments. Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 92 is perhaps the most important article in the entire Uniform Code of Military Justice. It lays down the ground law, which is the absolute line that may not be crossed. Everything else in the UCMJ is an explanation of the various forms that disobeying an order can take. Without the support given by Article 92, service members would be free to do whatever they want, whenever they want, and wouldn't be any more accountable than a civilian could in a civilian job. However, service members are held to a higher standard.We are the line that protects this country and we are the defense against the storm. Without us, this country would not exist and could not exist. And for that, I have to follow the orders and instructions given by anyone appointed over me. The fact that I didn’t get to an appointment on time showed lack of accountability on my part, a lack of discipline to follow orders I was given and a lack of respect to those who are appointed over me as a leader. I fai led to be at my place of duty, which costs the Army money for another Soldier who could’ve been at that appointment and been on time.The military can only function if orders, when given, are obeyed. We would like to trust in the honesty and integrity of the Soldiers who made that oath and put their lives on the line for their country. The truth is that there are many out there that, if not given a clear set of rules, will not follow the rules. Will not care about the punishments, will not be productive or efficient members of the military machine. That is why Article 92, and the entire UCMJ, are necessary. They reinforce the behavior of those who do the right thing, promoting it and praising it.They punish those who do not do the right thing, undercutting and stamping out such behaviors. With such a system, the bad eggs, those who are unable to fit into the machine, will be ground up by it and spit out. Broken, incomplete, forever bemoaning the lack of foresight and flexibili ty that would have saved them. Accountability in the Army is paramount to the successful completion of the mission. It is a soldier’s personal responsibility to keep all his or her items accountable at all times. This ensures that the Army mission will be completed and that the soldier will remain prepared at all times.On a daily basis, thousands of Soldiers are seen at appointments varying anywhere from surgery on better eye sight to putting a broken foot into a cast for 6 weeks to heal. Appointments can be located anywhere on or off post depending on the type of appointment or preference of the Soldier. It is every Soldier’s right to choose where they would like to receive health care services. The Army spends Billions of dollars on medical supplies, medications, the latest and newest high tech equipment, and the healthcare facilities and the healthcare providers. When a Soldier misses an appointment, the Army’s money is then wasted.Money that could have been used on something such as new trucks, weapons and equipment. With budget cuts on funds within the ranks, missing an appointment is money the Army could use elsewhere. Of all the complications for military funding due to budget cuts, missing an appointment should not factor into it at all. Budget cuts have influenced the Chain of Command and their decisions on requiring Soldiers to pay out of pocket for their missed appointment. The government was starting to discuss having Soldiers pay out of pocket for their missed appointments.Have the Soldier pay out of pocket for the injuries received in an accident because they neglected their profile restrictions. Whether this has taken effect now or it will in the future, Soldiers will be less likely to miss any kind of appointment. If the responsibility were to fall on the shoulder of each individual Soldier, the Army would more than likely not have to inflict budget cuts and â€Å"Troop Cuts†we have all been reading about in The Arm y Times. If each Soldier were accountable for paying for their appointments, there wouldn’t be another wasted appointment because the Soldier was forgetful.It is every Soldiers responsibility to be healthy and remain in a fit condition. When Soldiers fails to do so however, the consequences can be catastrophic or even fatal in some cases. Best example, a Soldier has a tooth ache but ignores it because he or she thinks it’s a sign of weakness, that tooth ache can develop into something much worse than a cavity filling, the Soldier could end up being hospitalized because they didn’t take care of the issue when it was small. They ignored their MEDPROs warning about being past due for a check in.This action seems small, but when the Soldiers fall out of the ranks because they needed more medical attention such as surgery. That unit needs to replace that Soldier to remain fit and ready to deploy. This can led to issues and financial problems within that unit. Their d own a Soldier, which means they have to file paperwork to request a Soldier to replace him. That leads to more money to have that new Soldier coming in for travel and new training. Everything costs money. From the paper we use to request a Soldier to the training that he or she must receive so they can be ready to deploy on a mission.All of that money spent on the new Soldier could have been completely avoided if the Soldier had not ignored his MEDPROs dental warning. Something so small, like a tooth ache, turned in all new training requirements for a new and unprepared Soldier to keep a unit ready for a mission. If Soldiers were required to pay out of pocket for all of their appointments they made, the Army could spend more money where it is needed most. Such things are better training for Soldiers, Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers, better equipment for deployed units and faster approval on funding.This increase in money in better areas can lead to more successful missions an d fewer fatalities on the battle field because the equipment is more accurate. Soldiers have been trained to the highest level, instead of just the basics for life saver course. The Army can afford to push every Soldier through the advanced kind of training needed to save lives. All of this could happen if every Soldier was held responsible for their actions of missing an appointment. Including, if every Soldier made it to all their appointments on time.If every Soldier was paying out of pocket for their appointments, the bigger picture we see is more saved lives in the combat zone. Every Soldier has the right to be seen for health issues. The well being of every Soldier, whether it’s their mental state or their physical health, is required for the best combat ready Soldier the Army has. That is the reality in today’s forces. The citizens of our country need us at our highest peak in health. So when unexplainable and tragic accident such as 9/11 ever happens again, a f orgotten dental appointment will not hold out any Soldier.The responsibility in accountability is every single individual’s duty for themselves and their team. The rank is not a concern when compared to responsibility. No one is singled out. It is my responsibility and my responsibility alone to maintain my physical and mental health state. I have to maintain myself at the highest level for Soldier readiness. That is my responsibility, no one else’s. However, in the long run, I affect someone else’s life if I neglect that responsibility. A simple phone call to change the time of my appointment could have avoided all of this.Neglecting to call was a failure on my part completely. I do not blame nor will I blame anyone but me. On the next appointment, I will be sure to make my appointment on time with enough reminders that it would be impossible not to forget. This standard for accountability needs to be a high priority of every Soldier who does not know much abou t the Army. Such as young privates coming out of Basic and AIT, can be trained and carry on the standard for responsibility and accountability. So future funds can be focused more for the training and not for missed appointments.
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