Monday, September 30, 2019

Retail Travel Operations

Independents An independent agent is usually family owned, they have been in the business for a long time and have years of experience and built up a lot of knowledge. They usually only have 1/2 branches and have a loyal customer base in their local area. Also they are independently owned. They are usually found in the back streets rather than on the high street or in shopping centres. An example of an independent agent is fails worth travel.The role of an independent travel agent is to sell holidays; they give advice on destinations and provide excellent customer service to their customers in hope of building up repeat customers. Independent agents offer a range of products and services such as tailor made holidays and charter flights. A tailor made holiday is a package suited to the needs of a particular customer. The joy of a tailor-made itinerary is that your holiday is designed around your requirements and you are not restricted to the set itinerary of a group departure.Dynamic packaging is when travellers use the internet to research their holidays and make their own travel arrangements direct with airlines, hotels, and car companies A charter flight is a private flight scheduled to meet the needs of specific passengers or organisations. Some flights leave at regular intervals with tickets being purchased up to the day of departure by the general public, where as charter flights are arranged by request.They can be used for a variety of purposes for example flighing time and moving passengers, the price for this service is usually higher than using a traditional passenger or cargo airline The products and services are made available to agents due to who they are linked with. Independents build links with accommodation providers so they can book rooms for their customers, they will have negotiates rates with accommodation providers especially if the agent does a lot of booking. An example of an accommodation provider is Ramada. MultiplesA multiple travel ag ent has more than 100 branches they are usually integrated horizontally or vertically. They have household names which are well known for example Thomas cook and they also have a good reputation. An example of a multiple travel agents is Thomas cook. Multiple agents offer a range of products and services such as traditional package holidays and ancillary sales. An ancillary sale is a service that tour operators and travel agents offer, for example rental cars, travel insurance, transport to accommodation and so forth. Package holidays are organised by a tour operator and sold to a constumer by a travel agent.Some travel agents are employees of tour operators, others are independent. A package holiday includes Charter Flight, Accommodation, Meals and Transfers between your destination airport and your holiday accommodation. These products and services are made available due to who they are linked with. Multiple agents is linked with ancillary providers because they can hire cars for them, they add on extras to their holiday, they do this to make more money. they don't just sell holidays in travel agents they also sell holidays on: the TV, internet etc.With this they are open to a lot of different customers E-agents An e agent is a online travel agent, you can book online as well as through call centres or shops, they are also cheaper because there are not many staff, with e agents you can book online at any time. An example of an e agent is Expedia. A role of an e agent is to find a holiday that is right for the customer. They allow customers to sort out their travel packages. e-agent offers a range of products and services such as traditional package holidays and shedualed flights.Scheduled flights fly on strict timetable this is usually beneficial for business people. e agent is linked with accomodation becuase the online travel agents can book a hotel for the customer. Home workers Home workers are people who can work from home instead of going out because s ome people might have children so they are unable to go out and work. Home workers can book holidays from home. The tour operator would come and install a computer, a credit card machine and a phone line in your home. The people might be working full time or part time.An example of a home working travel agent is future travel. A role of a home based travel agent is to sell flight tickets; they also get to form a direct relationship with the person whose holiday they are booking. Call centres A call centre is a place which you can ring up and they put u through to a tour operator. Many of them are tour operators and flight agents, however some are operated by travel agents for example STA. The role of a call centre is to make or take telephone calls on behalf of an organisation in order to fulfil customer requirements. hey sell their products over the phone, they have to reach their aim of the amount of sales they make per day. Holiday hypermarkets A holiday hypermarket is a large re tail travel agency, they have staff that specialise in particular holiday types. They are usually in large shopping centres where there are a lot of people passing by. They have lots of promotions, but are expected to hit high street sales targets. An example of a holiday hypermarket is First Choice. The role of a holiday hypermarket is to find the best price holidays for customers.They have a holiday comparison tool so can find a wide range of holidays to suit your particular interests and budget. They try to provide more entertainment for their customers than smaller agencies,they now have stores in supermarket for example travel choice. Muniples A maniple might have more than 5/6 branches one of them are in (North West). They don’t have as many branches as multiples but more than independent. An example of a maniple travel agent is Premier Travel A muniples role is to offer a personal touch by being able to give independent advice on holiday choices.They also give good cus tomer service, this will lead to repeat business. Consortia Consortia is a group of travel agents who come together and form a larger group e. g. global travel group they have more buying power and get better discounts. An example of a consortia travel agent is Freedom Travel. A consortium is an organisation of independent travel agency members, they try to combine their selling power to grow their businesses and achieve more profits. Accommodation-Generally, package holidays include either hotel or apartment/studio accommodation.Some hotels and apartments are specific to one particular tour operator, but many are available through more than one and prices can vary significantly between them. The role of a tour operator is to put together all the different components that make contracts with hoteliers, airlines and other trasport companies to put the package together. all the holiday details are incorporates into a brochure which is reor di either to travel to agents or directly to customers. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Package_tour http://www. holidaybargains. org/unc_package. htm http://www. insights. org. uk/articleitem. aspx? title=Travel+Agents

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Jasmine Revolution Essay

Leadership or Tyranny? Summary: Within just 28 days, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had no alternative but to step down from his 23-year presidency in Tunisia. A single spark set by Mohamed Bouazizi turned out to be a prairie fire across the whole country. Economic Growth Paradox Although the economy of Tunisia has been growing steady at an average rate of 5% for the past 23 years, the unemployment rate has been standing at over 10% since 2003, which is indeed alarmingly high. The rate is double for the young Tunisians, and even higher for the fresh graduates. A recent survey has shown that the unemployment rate stands at 25% and 44% for male graduates and female graduates respectively. If the economy is growing every year, why are there so many people out of job and struggling to survive against serious inflation? What is going on behind the scene? Surrender to Dictatorship In addition to the economic factors, the political situation in Tunisia has played a crucial role in this Jasmine Revolution. The Tunisians have been silent for years: minimal (if any) freedom of speech, deprivation of other political rights and stringent censorship over information and the press. Rampant corruption at the top tier level of the Ben Ali regime, as revealed by Wikileaks, is another burning issue. On the other hand, the Tunisians had to confront the unreliable and abusive police force from the government. Instead of being protected by the local police force, Bouazizi (who was operating as an unlicensed hawker) had his produce confiscated and his subsequent complaints entirely ignored, which eventually led to his self-immolation. Transactional Leadership The exchange relationship between the Ben Ali government and the citizens in Tunisia did not seem to be balanced. Prior to a series of protests and demonstrations and subsequent abdication of Ben Ali, the Tunisians had been resigned to the dictatorship of Ben Ali in exchange of a decent life. However, are the Tunisians getting what they are supposed to obtain? Undeniably, Tunisia has become one of the most stable countries in Arab. True, the slow yet steady economic prosperity and gradual increase in basic health care and education have made the Tunisians look better-off than their Libyan and Algerian counterparts. Nonetheless, they are also under constant threat of unemployment, corrupt officials and violent police force instead of what guarantees a decent life – law and order. Media in Play? While some critics have also partially attributed this revolution to Internet social media, Twitter and Facebook in particular, caution should be exercised in order to avoid playing up the actual influence of social media. No doubt, the speed of information transmission has been greatly enhanced with the introduction of the Internet. In the case of Tunisia, some have named it as â€Å"Twitter Revolution†. However, all social media are better seen as a vehicle or a catalyst of the protests and subsequent overthrowing of Ben Ali. In other words, they are not the sole enablers of such revolution. After all, the crux lies with the fact that when the leader realises his self-interests and benefits at the expense of the interest of the other party, such transactions can no longer be deemed as satisfactory or fair in the eye of the exploited party. What’s Next The single spark in Tunisia has already started a prairie fire in Egypt, with the flame spreading to Libya and China at a great speed. How should the leaders faced with similar dilemmas react? Adopting an even more high-handed approach on the people helps very little at best, and aggravates the problem further at worse. Stricter censorship and control over the information flow to the citizens might sound plausible, yet people can always find means to overcome such barriers. On the other hand, people do not seem intimidated by the dire consequence of their protests – arrest and torture. The self-immolation of Bouazizi is a case in point to show the ‘make-or-break’ determination of the people when pushed to the dead alley. Fair Deal If the transactional relationship is to be maintained, the leaders should identify, understand and respond to the true needs of people. Marginalizing any segment of the society is the last thing to do – frustration and disappointment of the people can evolve into a fatal blow to any regime. If people’s basic welfare were not well taken care of, could the government rest assured that social peace would be maintained? What can go hand in hand with the above is that the leader should create a vision for the people and motivate the people to pursue and actualize the same version, not for themselves only but for others as well.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The Concept of Communicative Action Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Concept of Communicative Action - Essay Example Knowledge-Constitutive Interest - a function of the objectively constituted problems of the preservation of life that have been solved by the cultural form of existence. Cognitive Interest - the relationship or the conforming of motivation and cognition. Knowledge and interest are essentially united. technical interest natural science practical interest human science emancipatory interest critical theory The technical interest relates to the human need to control nature for survival. Labor fulfills this need. Modern science and cost-benefits rationally serve this interest. The practical interest is the interest in human communication, interaction and common life. The discipline of psychology and psychoanalysis is needed. Emancipatory interest is the idea that knowledge must enhance man's freedom and improve human life by emancipating man from oppressive forces, be it in the field of politics, psychology, ideology, etc. The unit of knowledge and self-interest The achievements of the transcendental subject have their basis in the natural history of the human species. Knowledge equally serves as an instrument and transcends mere self-preservation Knowledge constitutive interests take the form in the medium of work, language and power. In the power of self-reflection, knowledge and interest are one. The unity of knowledge and interest proves itself in a dialectic that takes the historical trace of suppressed dialogue and reconstructs what has been suppressed. Approaches in the philosophy of Language The traditional way - it is characterized as interpreting language through the use of etymology, and understanding the application of language in a specific group The method of... Habermas focused his attention on epistemology, i.e. how knowledge is related to and affected by the interests of the knower. Habermas became critical of empiricism and positivism because of their assumptions and presuppositions deduced from practical interests in historical and social conditions. Habermas was influenced by Freud in trying to bring knowledge and interest into harmony through self-reflection. Decisionism - is a viewpoint concerning the irreducibility of categoral value judgments to scientific knowledge, hence not by scientific method, but the expressions of personal and arbitrary decisions. Thus, value judgments by themselves are purely subjectivistic. For Habermas, the above viewpoints of Weber are reductionist and limiting. Science (physical science) is not the only agency to have accurate and valid knowledge. There are limitations into it so with human sciences. Emancipatory interest is the idea that knowledge must enhance man's freedom and improve human life by emancipating man from oppressive forces, be it in the field of politics, psychology, ideology, etc. For Habermas, methodological scientific approach in the social sciences may end u

Friday, September 27, 2019

Captain John C. Holleran Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Captain John C. Holleran - Coursework Example He is the team leader, a coach, motivator, change agent and should provide a serene environment for effective service delivery. He should protect the assets of the firm through evaluation and control for instance utilizing budgets to bring the cost under control. When, the department reports anomalies, he is solely responsible. In the above case, retrenchment is imminent as the organization is large and this is what is driving costs higher than budgeted for. The paper will therefore respond to the above questions. The most vulnerable category of stakeholder will be the community or the society in general. This is because it will be deprived of the service rendered by the police officers retrenched. The community will also be exposed to indirect intangible cost of increased insecurity and increased crimes in the region. The living standards of the people will decrease due to decline in their income. Furthermore, captain is also likely to be affected through demotions redeployment or even redundancy. The employees will, lose their jobs, a decrease in purchasing power and some might suffer from psychological frustration due to stress. The department may have inadequate staff leading to poor quality service, straining of the small staff that could lead to fatigue. The creativity will drop significantly as the remaining vacant positions will not be filled with the right skill. It may spur up tension and mistrust among staff which in the long run will act negatively on the firm’s image, lowe r productivity. Lastly, society will be deprived of the vital service thus decreasing the social benefit enjoyed by the citizens. The society may be exposed to increase in crime rates which may destabilize it.(Pettinger,2002) According to Storey (1992), some of the resistance to effective change can either be behavioral or operational .These resistances include resisting to be redeployed, may resist the ‘new way’ and processes of

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Are Writing Deficiencies Creating a Lost Generation of Business Essay - 1

Are Writing Deficiencies Creating a Lost Generation of Business Writers - Essay Example Quible and Griffin (2007) explore most prevalent reasons for writing deficiencies. Based on their research, Quible and Griffin (2007) recommend solutions to the challenge of writing deficiencies. They propose three major approaches to addressing the challenge. First, they propose the modified context-based approach. Second, they recommend the glossing approach. The third proposal to addressing the challenge is the rules-based approach. Because of the necessity to have employers who are competent in oral and written communication, businesses meet various costs in upgrading such employees. American firms spend as much as 3.1billion dollars annually in making remedies for the writing deficiencies among their employees (Quible & Griffin, 2007). The move is justified by the need for businesses to keep a pool of employees with good writing skills to boost their competitiveness. Success among employees, among other factors, relies on effective communication skills. Consequently, communication deficiency among employees may cause losses to businesses. Businesses organizations that have employees with writing deficiency experience communication breakdown. In situations where there is writing deficiency, business clients find dissatisfaction in service delivery. Quible and Griffin (2007) cite a report by the NCW in their research. According to the report, students in schools lack essential communication skills due to writing deficiency. The research shows the students are today less effective than fifteen to twenty years ago (Quible & Griffin, 2007). The ineffectiveness resulted from teachers’ failure to teach standard grammar as evidenced in the report. English teachers focused on promoting context-based approach as they showed Traditional School Grammar as they termed it ineffective. Consequently, businesses fail to get a generation of good writers. According to Braddock as cited in Quible

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Managing Performance in Turbulent Times Research Paper

Managing Performance in Turbulent Times - Research Paper Example This paper examines how Google competes in the world of the internet and e-commerce. It examines the various points which Google uses to gain an advantage of its competitors and remain at the top of the industry. Barrows & Nechy (2011 p85) identify that the brain behind the success of Google lies in its ability to innovate. As compared to its competitors, Google spends more time and effort to identify new communication systems and methods at different points in time. Although Google started as a search engine company, it spent time and money to research and identify the true needs and desires of customers. In 2005, they launched personal email services which they believed was in demand by the markets. â€Å"They pursue a strategy that aims at increasing the capacity of computers and communication† (Png & Lehman, 2007 p3). This means that research and development are a fundamental part of Google. They put in more effort to find out what consumers need at every point in time and work to provide that specific service according to the highest standards and expectations possible. Google, therefore, sets out to organize the world's information rather than just make a profit for the sake of getting money from the consumers (Carter et al, 2011 p147). They, therefore, try to find ways of satisfying consumer needs at specific times. Google, therefore, has competitors not only in the normal internet companies but also, traditional publishers and other outlets. Google is aware that it operates in one of the most turbulent industries in the world. They, therefore, appreciate the fact that consumer needs change at a regular interval. Google, therefore, changes regularly to meet these demands. On the average, Google makes major changes to its strategy each month (Carter et al, 2011 p148). The internal structures of Google support its vision of leading in innovation. Googles workers are grouped in teams  of 20 – 50 employees under a single manager.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Irrigation and Water Distribution Research Paper

Irrigation and Water Distribution - Research Paper Example Water conservation is a general reference to methods or procedures applied for the purpose of achieving a reduction in water usage or consumption. Around the world, there are a wide variety of methods associated with water conservation, for an equally wide variety of purposes. Regardless of diversity in technique, there is a primary objective common to all the methods- the use of less water while achieving irrigation's necessary end. Needless to say, the interplay between the reduction in water consumption and achievement of viable irrigation introduces the question of water use efficiency. In irrigation, water reuse and recycling become crucial considering the heavy use of the resource (water), and indeed its wastage. The FAO Corporate Document Repository states in a report that "40% or more of the water diverted for irrigation is wasted at the farm level through either deep percolation or surface runoff." Moreover, "water conservation has been found to be a cost-effective way to meet increased water demands. Conserving water by consuming less, wasting less or reusing more reduces cost and postpones or eliminates the need for expensive and environmentally damaging new dams or similar water supply projects." (Texas Water Matters). For centuries, water reuse and recycle have been an integral part of the techniques applied to the irrigation of land, for effective ecosystem management (Noah). Without doubt, it is not totally devoid of drawbacks, in an environmental context. However, as a result of its relatively natural mode of application, it has (and is) successfully been used in many places around the world to achieve environment-friendly irrigation. Rain Harvesting and Water Conservation- Usefulness And Applicability in Irrigation: The interconnected nature of the entire ecosystem and the hydrological cycle ensures that ensures that irrigation does not function in isolation. For this crucial reason, water conservation as applied to irrigation, assumes greater relevance regarding the availability of water for other uses. A vital approach is that the end-use of water needs to feature more prominently in the methodology considerations of irrigating land. For instance, gray water usage- an aspect of water conservation- basic as it may be, surprisingly encapsulates the is water-efficiency philosophy. One of water conservation's crudest forms, gray water use is generally believed to be unsuitable for irrigating certain types of ground or plants- on account of its high acidic or chemical content- and in certain places (such as California) is restricted by legislation as applicable only to non-edible plants (Alyce). However, the author notes, it finds reasonable applicability, being useful in the "subsurface irrigation of non-edible plants." Conservation, in such a case, has successfully helped avoid a situation of wastage or inefficiency through a proper recognition of end use, even in this most basic or crude mode of irrigation. Other aspects of water conservation also appear to be naturally inclined to efficiency, particularly with the end use of water properly defined.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Cause and Effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cause and Effect - Essay Example Consequently, we should similarly examine body piercing or any kind of decoration, ornamentation or reshaping of the human body for that matter. The reasons for body piercing can be varied but it shows many facets of the truth about a person, whether that person wants to satisfy a desire, wants to express thoughts or feelings or wants to symbolize a meaning about him or herself. Desires are rational appetites which always aim to satisfy itself. Beauty is one of the most primordial desires of man, and some people wear body piercing plainly for aesthetic purposes. Women who pierce their ears often wear earrings with precious stones or metals because popular culture dictates that beauty is equated as something valuable and therefore precious. While others perceive piercing other body parts besides the ears as unique and therefore beautiful there are others who find pain and suffering as beautiful and they are referred to as sadomasochists. Though some may see this as a disorder, its psychological manifestations are viable and one such manifestation is having a lot of body piercing on the sensitive areas of the body such as the tongue and the eyes. The last desire that would make people consider body piercing is their desire to know. Many teens get pierced during their college years just because they are curious. College students get pierced mainly because they want to have new experiences while they are away from their homes and therefore dont have to worry about their parent’s reaction. Man is beautiful inside and man tries to creatively express this beauty through art hence art, properly defined, is the creation of beautiful things. The belief that body piercing can be used to exhaust creative individual expression can be traced with the emergence of body art. Piercing as a body art considers the many elements in body piercing such as the site of piercing and the kind of jewelry to be attached. Expression of the body is not

Sunday, September 22, 2019

European Financial Crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

European Financial Crisis - Essay Example It did this for years and no country raised a hand to punish Germany. The financial crisis started back in 2007 characterized by a long phase of quick credit growth, low risk premiums, profuse liquidity and the growth of real estate bubbles. Overstretched leveraging made financial institutions susceptible to corrections in asset markets, according to Kolb (113). The parties that carry the most responsibility for the European economic crisis in the financial sector were banks. Banks in Europe had invested heavily in extremely complex, opaque and highly priced financial products (Van Den Noord 12). Many banks became uncertain of the credit worthiness of their counterparts who had engaged in such investments. This virtually resulted in the closure of the interbank market with risk premiums soaring on interbank loans. As a consequence, the banks faced grave challenges in rolling over their short term debt. In Ireland, for example, the banking system achieved exceptional growth thereby creating external debts far beyond the country’s gross domestic product. In the government sector, the structure of the Eurozone was widely to blame for the economic crisis. The zone uses one currency, and in the absence of fiscal union, the ability of leaders to respond adequately remained quite limited (Van Den Noord 23). Different countries failed to abide by the fiscal paths or requirements of the union. Governments are also to be blamed for the crisis considering that they did not deal with their over expenditure before the situation got out of control. In Greece, for instance, the government made great commitments to its public workers and gave them huge pension benefits and wages. Governments also borrowed so much from banks. The Eurozone financial problem is a detachment of a global problem. The global problem is all about lack of equilibrium between the private sector

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Themes in Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Themes in Hamlet Essay To what extent does Shakespeare deal with these themes in Hamlet? As consistent with all Shakespearean tragedies, Shakespeare uses the fatal flaws of the central characters to bring about their downfall which ultimately leads to their death. In Hamlet, deceit and betrayal initiates the failures of the main characters, particularly Prince Hamlet, King Claudius and Ophelia. These themes are pivotal to their actions and are used to expose the flaws of the characters that lead to their downfall and eventually, death. Shakespeare begins the play with the depressed, yet innocent Hamlet, who is in mourning for the recently dead king, his father. He is angry at his mother, for quickly marrying the new King, also his uncle. He feels betrayed by his mother because she was able to forget her previous husband so quickly and easily. He is melancholic because of his father’s death but more because of his mother’s â€Å"speedy marriage†. In his fury, he stereotypes all women as weak, â€Å"Frailty, thy name is woman. † He is uncomfortable with what he feels is an unacceptable situation and he senses, â€Å"It is not, nor can it come to, good. † Despite his negative feelings, his emotions are controlled and he does not even consider the possibility that his father was murdered and he is portrayed as blameless and wide open to deceit. Shakespeare creates the first twist of the play when Hamlet meets the ghost, his â€Å"father’s spirit†. The ghost divulges to a shocked Hamlet that his father was victim of â€Å"murder most foul† and urges the prince to â€Å"revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown,† thus revealing to Hamlet the betrayal and deceit of Claudius. Hamlet is outraged and disgusted by what he learns and promises the ghost, â€Å"Thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain. † He will seek nothing but revenge and he entrusts only the loyal Horatio and Marcellus with his sinister findings. Claudius murders his own brother and king to introduce the complex web of deceit and betrayal that make up the play. After Hamlet’s meeting with the ghost, Hamlet is convinced that he has been victim of betrayal and deceit as he refers to the spirit as â€Å"an honest ghost†. His previously controlled emotions reach boiling point and he is furious enough to call his mother a â€Å"most pernicious woman†. He is traumatised by the news and his emotions start to become uncontrolled causing Horatio to say, â€Å"These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. † Slowly, the idea of revenge overcomes all his thoughts and Shakespeare feeds idea of deceit and betrayal into his mind. Hamlet decides that the only way he can see through the deceit and confirm the murder claim is by deception himself. He decides to â€Å"put on an antic disposition† to enable him to spy on his uncle without arousing any suspicion. Ophelia, although innocent, is a character who is in the way of Hamlet without meaning to do any harm. Her father is the Lord Chamberlain who is capable of extracting all scraps of information from her, against her will. He is very loyal to the king and will pass on anything he knows to him. As a consequence, Ophelia cannot be trusted with the truth and is subjected to deceit and betrayal. Hamlet deceives her by deliberately acting mad to confuse her and telling her that he â€Å"loved her not†. This is a downright lie as is obvious towards the end of the play when he is distraught to discover her death and tells an equally distressed Laertes that â€Å"forty thousand brothers with all their quantity of love could not love her more than [he] did†. Hamlet betrays her by being cruel and sarcastic to her and making comments such as, â€Å"Get thee to a nunnery† to keep her away from him. Hamlet is forced to take this path because he knows she must not find out what he knows regarding his father’s death; otherwise he risks endangering his life from Claudius. Shakespeare uses all the deceit and betrayal to create a conflict of loyalty inside Ophelia and she is unsure whether she should stay true to her love Hamlet or obey her father. She betrays Hamlet by choosing to obey her father rather that staying loyal to Hamlet. Despite her feeble attempts to try to defend Hamlet by saying, â€Å"He hath importuned me with love in honourable fashion,† she cannot disobey her father. She is torn between a strong father and a strong lover but being the dutiful daughter she promises her father, â€Å"I shall obey, my lord,† when ordered to stay away from Hamlet and not to â€Å"give words or talk† to him. She deceives Hamlet when she allows Claudius and her father to spy on him by trying to engage him in conversation in the presence of the two men. Her decision to obey her father means she is completely reliant on him. Being a lady of her time, she does not have any independence and needs the support of a man which makes her vulnerable and ultimately a failure. Hamlet’s rudeness towards her and her betrayal of Hamlet makes her believe that he will not care for her again. When her father dies she feels as if she has lost everything and this drives her towards insanity and eventually, death. As is obvious from the beginning of the play, Hamlet’s main failure is that he is very indecisive and thinks about issues too much which lead to his downfall and ultimately, death. He is also quite lonely and throughout the course of the play, only Horatio remains loyal to the prince and Hamlet can talk to and trust only him. All others, including his girlfriend, Ophelia, betray him and he cannot speak freely with them. The lack of people to talk to means that thoughts build up in his mind and he is constantly thinking about issues, such as revenge and suicide, too much without being able to reach an appropriate decision. His main failure and fatal flaw is this inability to make quick decisions and take action before it is too late. Typically, Shakespeare shows Claudius’ main flaw and failure to be his ambition which is what possesses him to perform the evil deed of murdering the king. He confesses, â€Å"I am still possess’d of those effects for which I did the murder, my crown, mine own ambition and my queen. † He tries to convince himself that he cannot turn around and make up for what he has done because he has waded too far into the pool of evil. He offers what is really an empty prayer because his â€Å"words fly up† but â€Å"thoughts remain below† and he says, â€Å"Words without thoughts never to heaven go. † His failure is that he is too ambitious and greedy and he cannot bear to think about life without his throne and queen. He does not make any attempt to make up for what he has done because he does not want to which creates problems because eventually the truth is discovered and this brings about his downfall and death. All the actions of the main characters are shaped by Shakespeare through the themes of deceit, betrayal and failure. He uses the deceit and betrayal of Claudius and Ophelia to cause Hamlet himself to deceive and betray which enables him to discover the truth. Shakespeare uses the deceit and betrayal to bring out the failures of the characters that lead to their downfall and death.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Does Alternative Medicine Really Work?

Does Alternative Medicine Really Work? Eduardo Gomez Mr. Thomas Corbet Alternative medicine range from herbal remedies to acupuncture and were typically used by people who are unable to use conventional medicine. However, today many people use alternative medicine because they fear big pharmaceutical drugs or cannot afford the rising cost of healthcare. People claim that alternative medicines work and heal them of illnesses but do alternative medicines really work when compared to conventional medicine? In a recent study, it was found that about 40 percent of United States adults use some of the following forms of alternative, medicine mind-body interventions, biologically based therapies, body-based methods, or energy methods. These methods of medicine became appealing to adults during the early or mid 19th century as they were markets as safe and natural methods. During this time alternative medicine actually competed with conventional medicine. However towards the end of the 19th century, alternative medicines were denounced as medical breakthroughs helped doctors understand the human body better. In todays society, alternative medicines have again gained popularity for two reasons, one is when they are marketed as safe because of the fear of vaccinations or super bugs that have developed because of some conventional practices(Ventola). Another reason is the gap between physicians and people today. In the United States, the cost of health care is incredibly high so many Americans resort to alternatives that are cheaper. Americans also have access to the internet, which allows people to spread false information about conventional medicine. For example, many people believe that vaccinations and antibiotics have links to cancer and therefore use alternative medicine instead of conventional methods. Alternative medicines range from an array of practices. Mind-body interventions include therapies such as hypnosis, meditation, yoga, biofeedback, and tai chi. According to a 2002 survey, 62% of adults in the United States use mind-body interventions. However, this practice is often only used on people with low physical and emotional risk whose condition is implemented by stress (Wahbeh). Therefore for physical conditions rather than emotional conditions, mind-body interventions loses to conventional medicine. Biologically based therapies include the consumption of herbs, foods, dietary supplements, and natural products (Ventola). The ideas behind the practice is to consume products that are rich in vitamins and minerals to help your body. Although over the years, many trials have been done on these therapies but only few have proven to be 100% effective. Some products such as herbal teas or cartilage of sharks are helpful by providing the body vitamins or minerals that you might be lacking. Thus, this type of alternative medicine could prove to beneficial over time. However for more immediate care to a health issue, conventional medicine would be more useful. Body-based methods which include massages, chiropractic, and osteopathic manipulation are proven to be as affected as conventional medicine. This practice focuses on allowing the body to heal itself by using force and massage therapies on bones, joints, and tissues. Patients of chiropractors and massage therapist have been completely satisfied when they are dealing with back pain or other issues. The problems with this practice is that many schools do not teach manual therapies for specific conditions and there lacks state of the art equipment for specific treatment (Rosenheck). Body-based therapies are very useful to patients around the world and sometimes are better than conventional medicines. Energy methods is most likely the alternative medicine that people find most skeptical.   The method in cludes Reiki, therapeutic touch and electromagnetic field exposure. Each of the therapies deals with a person either touching you or waving their hands over you body. The science behind the specific method of trying to heal someone body is questionable, however the therapies causes you to relax. Therefore the therapies may prove to be effective since relaxation can fix many health issues such as health disease. These practices of alternative methods are sometimes questionable but do prove to cause relaxation which is extremely beneficial to health issues. The effectiveness of alternative medicine is debatable. Many of its methods lack the science behind it when compared to conventional medicine. Therefore some people find it easier to use and believe in conventional medicine. The main reason behind the success of alternative medicine is the ability for a person to relax. Each method is easy to take part in and often involves the person being stationary. For example, some conventional methods are time consuming and difficult as alternative methods are usually easy and quick. Alternative medicine allows the person to relax which is extremely beneficial to the human body. However, in order to compare the effectiveness of alternative and conventional medicine in a person, we must look at that persons state of mind and their condition. If a person believes they can be cured using therapeutic touch then they will most likely be cured but if a person believes in doctors than any medication they are prescribed will most likely heal them. Hosp ital settings may also interfere with a persons ability to heal properly and therefore alternative medicines that can be done at home are often times better for the person. The patients desire to be healed and their beliefs play a crucial role when determining the effectiveness of each practice. The condition of the patient also plays a role because some conditions may require immediate attention which can only really be proved by conventional medicine. Serious conditions are better handled when using conventional practices when compared to alternative practices. The decisions ultimately comes down to the patient and how they want to be treated. Personally, I use and believe in both conventional and alternative medicines. I seek alternative medicines when they are appropriate because of the fear of superbugs or the side effects of conventional medicine. However, conventional medicine is also extremely useful and better suited for serious health issues. Therefore, people should take into account the situation, chose alternative or conventional medicine for what is better suited for them and be the own judge of the medicines effectiveness. References Ventola, C. Lee. Current Issues Regarding Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States. Pharmacy and Therapeutics. MediMedia USA, Inc., 8 Aug. 2010. Web. 14 Dec. 2016. Wahbeh, Helanà ©, Siegward-M. Elsas, and Barry S. Oken. Mind-body Interventions: Applications in Neurology. Neurology. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 10 June 2008. Web. 02 Jan. 2017. Rosenheck, Druss. Manipulative and Body-Based Practices: An Overview. Manipulative and Body-Based Practices: An Overview. WETA, 2009. Web. 02 Jan. 2017. Engel, Meredith. Does Energy Healing Really Work? NY Daily News. NY Daily News, 18 July 2014. Web. 02 Jan. 2017.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

knowledge :: essays research papers

2.4 There can be differences between the knowledge people access through school and that they feel to be really useful. Interview two members of your family about their views of school knowledge and what they have found to be really useful for them. Drawing on the reading for this Unit, analyse these interviews and discuss how what factors might have impacted on their view of what constitutes really useful knowledge. The concept of knowledge in any society is a fluid, ever-changing notion which has different connotations depending on time and place. Typically what is thought of as knowledge in any given society is greatly influenced by the demands of the work that society most commonly carries out. Today, for example, in Western twenty-first century society it is claimed that we are now living in a ‘post-industrial’ society or have ‘entered into an information age’ and as such what we define as knowledge has altered in as little time as three decades. Knowledge can be gained independently at one’s own free-will or from life experiences but it is via school that nearly all of British people gain the foundations of their own personal knowledge. What makes education such an interesting subject for scholars is that it is governments who define what knowledge should be taught in schools and what knowledge is ‘useful’ despite what pupils themselves may think. For the purpose of this essay I have interviewed two former students who both studied in state schools in Edinburgh albeit a generation apart. I wish to analyse what both these individuals thought constituted ‘useful’ and ‘useless’ knowledge taught during their schools lives and if the fact that one was at school in the 1960’s and the other attended school in the late 1990’s/early 21st century resulted in any differentiation in their opinions. Knowledge at school can be taught in three ways; Academic knowledge, practical knowledge and radical knowledge. Each of these systems has their own unique method of delivering knowledge to the pupil and have varying degrees of ‘usefulness’. Academic knowledge could also be known as the ‘traditional’ form of delivering information to school pupils. Proponents of such methods would claim that it is not the actual information which academic knowledge presents to the pupil, rather the methods in which this information is delivered that is beneficial. In this sense then it could be claimed that academic knowledge is merely knowledge for knowledge’s sake or ‘useless’.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Abortion - Is it Safe? Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Abortion - Is it Safe?      Ã‚   If you have been told that abortion is a "safe and legal" procedure, please keep reading. Many problems can occur either during or after a legal abortion. Most people are unaware of the many dangers associated with abortion.    Ten percent of women undergoing elective abortion will suffer immediate complications, of which one-fifth are considered life-threatening. The most common complications that can occur at the time of an abortion are: ripping or perforation of the uterus, excessive bleeding, infection, embolism, convulsions, hemorrhage, cervical injury, endotoxic shock, fever, second degree burns, vomiting, and chronic abdominal pain. You can learn more by reading "Physical Health Risks of Abortion: Scientific Studies Reveal Significant Risk," from the Elliot Institute.    Over 750 papers have been published regarding the risks to abortive women. Women fall into one of two categories: normal risk or high risk. Several types of women are at significantly higher risk for post-abortion problems. They should be particularly aware of the greater potential for complications.    Women under 20 experience a 2 times greater risk of medical complications than for women aged 25-29 (CJPH 73 (1982): 396-400). One woman in 24 (4.1%) have experienced immediate medical complications. (These have included severe bleeding, infection, perforation of the uterus, and part of the baby being retained.)(CJPH 73 (1982):396-400). 150% greater risk of cervical injury than for women over 30 years of age(NEJM 309 (1983):621-4). Women who've had a previous abortion have a 200% increased risk of miscarriage after two or more abortions (JAMA 243 (1980): 2495-9). 160% increased risk o... ...6 American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 166 (1992):100-103 American Journal of Public Health 72 (1982):253-6 Bernadell Technical Bulletin 1 (1989):1-2 British Journal of Cancer 43 (1981):72-6 British Medical Journal 290 (1985):907-9 Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 24 (1979):610-20 Canadian Journal of Publid Health 73 (1982): 396-400. Human Medicine 7 (1991):3:203-9. Journal of the American Medical Association 243 (1980):2495-9 McGovern, Celeste. "Hag-Ridden by Post-Abortion Guilt." British Columbia Report, 10/18/93; British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 87 (1980):1115-22 New England Journal of Medicine 309 (1983):621-4 Somerville, Scott, Esq. "Before You Choose." AIM publications 10/1/93. Willke, J.C., M.D. The Deadly After-Effect of Abortion: Breast Cancer. Cincinnati, OH: Hayes Publishing, 1993.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos

tatlong taong walang diyos (three year's without god) The film, set during the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines between 1942 and 1944, tells the story of Rosario (Nora Aunor), a young schoolteacher engaged to be married to Crispin (Bembol Roco). Crispin leaves Rosario to fight the Japanese as a guerilla, and in his absence a Japanese-Filipino officer named Masugi (Christopher de Leon) rapes her.Masugi later returns to Rosario apologizing for his act, bearing gifts of canned food and rice which Rosario at first refuses. Matters are complicated when Rosario's father Mang Andoy (Mario Escudero) is arrested by the Japanese and Rosario reveals to Masugi that she is pregnant. Rosario must make a choice: accept Masugi's proposal to make her his wife (saving her father and ensuring a safe and stable life for her child), or reject him and with him the baby they have conceived together. n the form of a blind man lighting a candle for himself and his palsied brother. The blind man careful ly picks up the child, and makes his way out the church just when a procession, complete with hundreds of candles and heavily costumed wooden saints, marches in. The symbolism is somewhat obvious–true faith walks quietly out the door, while pomp and pageantry make a grand, meaningless entrance.But the entire wordless scene is so quietly understated, so beautifully shot and staged–a perfect example of the purest cinema–that it literally takes your breath away. Yes, Crispin, there is a God–only he could have inspired O'Hara to shoot a scene like that. ipinapakita ng gumawa ng pelikulang ito kung gaano kahina ang mga pilipino sa panahon ng kahirapan at pag papahirap ng mga dayuhan sa ating bansa. sinasabi ng pelikulang ito na dapat maniwala lalo tayo sa diyos upang tayo'y matulungan niya sa panahong tayo ay nahihirapan.

Monday, September 16, 2019

The Program No Child Left Behind Education Essay

The NCLB plan was proposed by the disposal of the President George W. Bush shortly after they took office. The measure passed on June 14, 2001 and was signed in to jurisprudence on January 8, 2002 by the President. The plan was called to back up the educational reform that was based on the belief that set uping of mensurable ends and high criterion scenes could be able to better single educational results. The Act obliged provinces to make and develop appraisals in all basic accomplishments and give it to all pupils in schools that receive federal support. NCLB does non maintain any national criterion of accomplishments ; they are set by each province separately. Nevertheless, present President of the United States Barack Obama during the 2011 State of the Union Address announced that â€Å" nicklebee † is traveling to be replaced. What are the grounds? Without some of import alterations this plan is improbable could be re-authorized. Sanctions of shutting schools with low public presentation without giving options make kids to halt attention schools in vicinity and visit distance schools in which public presentation is higher. It is one point of unfavorable judgment of NCLB. Another negative side is approximately high bets proving that replaced an effectual instruction as a chief focal point of instructional scheduling. Under the present jurisprudence, the AYP ( Adequate Yearly Progress ) is increasing every twelvemonth, i.e. any schools, or establishments who in one twelvemonth did n't do the AYP are often far behind in the following season. Besides, the NCLB gave some demands that many per centums of particular instruction pupils increase their public presentation at the little or basic degree to the high or adept degree. In the NCLB last reauthorization, they allowed up to 3 % of kids to travel for an interchange appraisal on their degree of disablement. Children that are 2 or 3 old ages below normal grade degree are asked to take the suited class degree rating. The different job with the bing statute law is that every province has its ain manner of developing its trial. In an dry point of position, the province whose rating is more close to the consequence of their pupils on the NAEP does non basically have the maximal per centum of high degree pupils at the 8th and 11th class, which in other words shows the silencing of some provinces evaluation, most particularly in the southern parts of the United States. Before to discourse critics of NCLB let us look through some good sides and accomplishment of the plan. Recent NAEP ( National Assessment of Educational Progress ) consequences show accomplishment of pupils in reading and math were improved. The most important advancement was made by nine – twelvemonth – olds kids. Some research workers try to contend the consequences of this accomplishment. Nevertheless, the plan was non wholly useless. Let us advert some of import betterment. Improvement of local criterions ; notably New York State supported the commissariats of NCLB because they were certain that the plan could let to utilize the longitudinal informations much more efficaciously to supervise YAP. Hayes ( 2008 ) declared that as a consequence of â€Å" nicklebee † provinces all over America achieved betterment in their advancement ; Increased answerability ; this is the 1 strong positive point that is claimed by NCLB protagonists. Legislation obliges schools to go through annually trials which are traveling to look into how much betterments scholars achieved during a twelvemonth. The trials are the chief mean to see whether a school lives up to the needed criterions or non. If the consequence is negative, a school will run into decrease support or other type of penalty. Supporters province that NCLB helps schools and instructors to recognize the importance and significance of the educational system and how the low degree of answerability impacting the American state. Nevertheless, some oppositions are against a penalty because it would instead impact a school than aid it because no penalty contributes to the betterment of schools and pupils ; Attention to minority populations ; NCLB aimed to make the common outlooks for everybody ; it meant to diminish racial and category spread in schools. Harmonizing to the plan ‘s requires, territories and schools supposed to concentrate on the academic accomplishment of those groups of kids that were traditionally underserved ( for illustration, pupil with disablements, low income or from cultural and racial subgroups ) ; Quality of instruction ; an ideal end of NCLB plan was to increase the quality of instruction improve schools ‘ public presentation. Requirement for schools supposed to be following: to implement in schoolrooms researches that are based on scientific discipline, to supply different plans with parents ‘ engagement, to assist those pupils that were non encouraged in developing professional activity. Besides schools were expected to supply Early Reading First enterprise to back up early literacy. Language humanistic disciplines, scientific discipline accomplishments, mathematics and emphatic reading required to be include in to core academic topics. We mentioned some good sides of the plan NCLB. Some of those ends were partially achieved ; some of them left on a paper of the measure. Let us discourse critical point. The attraction of NCLB ‘s events is vehemently disputed. It is really hard to measure the utility of the act ; this is because it applied to all provinces doing it hard to deduce what would hold happened without the act. Nevertheless, surveies of the province duty systems that were in topographic point before NCLB specify that liability for consequences led to faster advancement in achievement for the provinces that conveying together such schemes.A The uninterrupted geographic expedition of province trial Markss before and after executing of NCLB besides supports its optimistic influence.A Owens & A ; Sunderman ( 2006 ) mentioned that a chief animadversion emphasizes that NCLB could shrivel operative direction and pupil instruction because it may do provinces to subordinate achievement purposes and influence instructors to leave to the appraisal. Packer ( 2007 ) said that a chief helpful entitlement proclaims that methodical proving offers facts that shed visible radiation on which institutes are non learning simple accomplishments successfully, so that interventions can be made to retrieve merchandises for all students while dropping the attainment spread for deprived and disabled students. The Critiques of NCLB can be systematized into the undermentioned categorizations: Unrealistic ends Harmonizing to Alabama State Superintendent Joe Morton on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 â€Å" There ‘s a misconception in the jurisprudence and everyone are familiar with it, â€Å" Confering to the No Child Left Behind Act, by 2014 all kid is supposed to prove on rating degree in analysis and math. † Harmonizing to Daggett & A ; Gendron ( 2010 ) : â€Å" That ca n't go on you have excessively many variables and you have excessively many scenarios, and everybody knows that would ne'er go on † . Harmonizing to Caylor, M. J. , Alabama State Board Member: â€Å" I do n't believe that No Child Left Behind has benefited this province. † She claimed the end of 100 % ability is inaccessible.A Harmonizing to Murray, C: A † the United States Congress, moving with big bipartizan bulks, at the goad of the President, enacted as the jurisprudence of the land that all kids are to be above norm † . â€Å" Bet oning † the system The strategy of temptations and effects sets up a solid enthusiasm for institutes, parts, and provinces to act upon trial consequences. For case, schools have been made known to engage â€Å" originative reclassification † of drop-outs to decrease negative measurings ) . Many critics claim that these and other attacks generate an exaggerated consciousness of NCLB ‘s accomplishments, chiefly in provinces with high fringy populations. Liston, Whitcomb, & A ; Borko ( 2007 ) stated that the incentives for an sweetening besides may do provinces to decrease their certified ethical motives. For the ground that every province can give its ain consistent appraisals, a province can do its general appraisals at easiness to upsurge scores.A Missouri, for case, enhanced ambitious tonss but flexibly self-proclaimed that they pull down the principles.A A 2007 reappraisal by the United States Dept. of Education specifies that the sensed changes in provinces ‘ testified tonss is fundamentally due to alterations in the stringency of their ethical motives. Problems with standardised trials Harmonizing to Abedi ( 2007 ) we see that disparagers have debated that the attempt onA consistent analysisA ( all students in a province return equal trial in the same fortunes ) as the agencies of rating inspires instructors to clear up a little division of abilities that the instructor considers will upsurge assessment public presentation, instead than accent on obtaining profound apprehension of the full, wide-ranging prospectus. The exercising of giving all students equal test, in the same state of affairss, has been alleged of built-in cultural bias for the ground that different civilizations may rate different endowments. Besides, it may fight with theA Persons with Disabilities Education ActA ( IDEA ) , which states that institutes must lodge helpless pupils. Gifted, talented, and high-performing pupils Specific local schools are merely endorsing direction for indispensable subjects or for disciplinary distinguishable instruction. NCLB puts load on schools to assure that about all students will run into the least skill phases that is set by all province in reading, authorship, and computation, but necessitates nil outside these lower limits. Plans that are non critical to achieving the directed lowest accomplishments are ignored or disregarded by those quarters. In precise, NCLB does non ask any plans for skilled, talented, and other high-performing scholars. Consequence on humanistic disciplines and electives The chief focal point of NCLB is on abilities in reading, composing and arithmetic, which are parts connected to pecuniary success. Shared with the economic catastrophes in theA Late 2000s slack, some schools have cut or eradicated Sessionss and resources for many capable extents that are non portion of NCLB ‘s duty principles.A Ever since 2007, about 71 % of schools have abridged some tuition clip in topics like history, humanistic disciplines, linguistic communication and music, in attempt to give more period and resources to arithmetic and English. In many schools, the categories remain present, but different pupils who are non adept in basic abilities are sent to corrective reading or mathematics lessons instead than humanistic disciplines, athleticss, or other voluntary topics. Restrictions on local control VariousA conservativeA orA tolerantA critics have claimed that NCLB groups a new customary for regionalizing instruction and puting a form for farther devastation of province and local control. Harmonizing to Dollarhide & A ; Lemberger ( 2006 ) , libertarians and some conformist farther claim that the cardinal authorities has noA constitutional authorization in acquisition, which is why part in NCLB is purely elected: States need non carry through with NCLB, every bit long as they are eager to release the federal subsidy that comes with it. The provinces that select non to obtain subsidy will hold their responsibilities used in another province alternatively. Additions Segregation in Public Schools Sarant ( 2007 ) is certain that many persons accept as true that No Child Left Behind has played a portion in the growing of separated public institutes. Probes have revealed that many African American bookmans attend the bottommost acting schools in the state, and African Americans score significantly inferior on about every gage of academic wellbeing than do offspring of a Caucasic decent. Sogunro, Faryniarz, & A ; Rigazio-Digilio ( 2009 ) presented that one current survey has revealed that many schools in California and Illinois that have non encountered AYP function 75-85 % alternate pupils while schools run intoing AYP have fewer than 40 % minority pupils. Besides, even though institutes that do non come across AYP are obligatory to offer their bookmans ‘ parents the opportunity to reassign their pupils to a non-failing institute inside the part, it is non critical that the other school receives the pupil. The parents with more preparation and capitals are most likely to go forth minor schools. And besides they are more expected to analyze the institutes and do an up-to-date pick on where to handover their kid. This over and over once more intimations to stray schools by reciprocally race and category. It is easy to see that it turned to be instead difficult to run originally good thoughts. Some critics argue that NCLB plan is irreclaimable. However, the reform received some proposals. Tommy Thompson, the former Health and Human Services Secretary and Roy Barnes, former Georgia Governor, which were co-chairs of the Aspen Commission on No Child Left Behind Program, made the Commission ‘s concluding recommendation about reauthorization populace in February 2007. The Commission put attempts on the betterment of NCLB and on doing it more utile in shuting spreads between disadvantage pupils and their equals. The Commission was analyzing the consequence and analysis during one twelvemonth and showed successes of the Program and those facets of it that need to be significantly modified or changed. One more alternate proposal was offered from The Forum on Educational Accountability ( FEA ) , the Joint Organizational Statement on NCLB working group. The chief thought of the proposal is to switch the Program NCLB to back uping communities and accountably keep them if they make alterations that help pupils to better acquisition. Sum uping all the information above, we can see that NCLB had many utile ends. Decreasing spread between disables, racial groups and other kids is among them ; but the Program demand to be significantly improved. The present President of the United States Barack Obama works on the procedure of the reauthorization for the ESEA that was a precursor of â€Å" neclebee † . He and Congress are presently working on induction of the reform measures ; Congress take a firm standing on the legion amendments to the measure. Obama claims his end to moo that spread between white and black pupils. Now the community is waiting for the new consequences and hope that all positive promises and claims will be achieved in a short clip..

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Lighting in the Office Enviroment

In the developed countries the number of people who do the office work is great nowadays and it’s rapidly increasing. The U.S is not an exception, thus millions of Americans spent one third of their lifetime in the office environment. They are usually the most active consumers of painkillers, and the favorite clients of the companies producing glasses and contact lenses. Numerous researches proved that office work is one of the most harmful for the workers health, as it doesn’t provide the needed amount of physical activity, in the same time making the employee spend great amounts of time in a place where some vital for health conditions, like airing, the level of noise or level of lighting are not appropriate. The doctors consider poor lighting one of the main reasons that leads to the excessive eyestrain, muscle fatigue, headaches and poor posture, the article about the lighting in the office from the Officinado Website says. Except for this it lowers the effectiveness of the employees’ labor due to the visual and muscle stain the office workers experience when the lighting conditions are poor. The researches found the roots of this problem. The thing is that the level of lighting is excessive in most of the offices due to the fact that the appropriate level was calculated proceeding from the assumption that paperwork would be the main activity of the workers. But time passed, and more and more offices began to refuse from the pen and paper methods. Instead the computers appeared which completed the needed tasks more quickly and effectively, and without the piles of paper lying everywhere. But the thing is that the level of lighting intended for paperwork is excessive for the PC users. Thus the employees have to work in the accommodations with the inappropriate lighting conditions, which causes discomfort to them, and, of course, makes their labor less effective than it could’ve been if the lighting was proper. To make their work more comfortable and effective the intensity of general lighting should be reduced, and the desk lights should be put for the pan and paper tasks. One of the visual effects that appear because of the excessive lighting and improper disposal of the lighting sources is glare. The article Ergonomics in the Office by Bryan Galloy defines glare as the â€Å"visual effect caused by large differences in brightness between an object and its surroundings†. He advises several methods for reducing it, which are: Positioning light sources outside the employee's visual working field; Covering light sources with glare shields; Using matte finishes to reduce the reflectance of surfaces; Installing glare screens on the VDT; Covering windows or skylights with blinds or films. The doctors say that in some extreme cases the glare can even impair vision temporarily, but in the office environment it’s usually not that intensive. Nevertheless, it can cause visual fatigue and eyestrain. One more factor that causes visual discomfort for the office workers is the light reflected from the shiny polished objects. The PC users suffer from it much more than other workers, as the monitors reflect the light from the sources that are located behind the user or above him. To reduce this effect the specialists advise to put the computer workstations between the rows of overhead lights instead of stationing them directly below them in order to reduce the intensity of light. The specialists also advise to put the computers in such a way for the person who operates the computer would not face the window or sit back to it, to make the light   fall at the right angle and to move the source of light from the line of sight of the person who operates the PC. Two primary types of lighting exist in the office, which are task lighting and ambient lighting. Ambient lighting is for satisfying the needs for general lighting and for low visual-demand tasks, while the task lighting is used for completing the tasks that demand certain preciseness. The specialists advise that the task lighting should be three times the intensity of ambient lighting. The authors of the Office Ergonomics say that the lighting for the offices that use the PC together with completing the paperwork should be about 300-400 lux (30-40 footcandles). For the offices where the paper documents are not used it shouldn’t be more than 200 lux (20 footcandles). It is also useful to minimize the outside lighting with the help of drapes, dark film, blinds or louvers, as it reduces the strain on the workers’ eyes. One more way to reduce the light reflections on the monitor screen exists which is the monitor filter. It is a good idea to replace the light office desktops with the reflective finishes with the darker ones whose finishes are matte. The specialists also advise the computer users to adjust the screen's brightness and contrast controls to reduce the strain on the eyes. As we see, proper lighting is very important for creating a comfortable and stimulating working environment for the employees. This goal can be reached by regulating the level of artificial lighting in the accommodation, reducing the outer light with the help of the drapes, dark film and blinds and proper disposition of the computer workstations. Works Cited n.d. Lighting Your Office. Officinado Website, 2004. < http://www.officinado.com/user-articles/Lighting-Your-Office.html > Galloy, B. Ergonomics in the Office.   Rice University Website. < http://www.rice.edu/projects/depts/ehs/ergo.htm > Kroemer, K. H. E. Kroemer,A.D. Kroemer Karl H. E. Office Ergonomics. CRC Press, 2001

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Integrated library system Essay

Computer technology the major culprit in the beginning to provide help in solving problems it has generated. Research and development is taking place on many front beyond libraries, including the information industries, and this trend is certain to continue. In today’s complex societies, access to information has become central to making division about the daily conduct of public and private life. As a result, contemporary libraries service entails not only the traditional functions of preserving and providing access to vast amount of printed material but also the creation of a more sophisticated information environment, one that make use of the full range of information technologies to serve the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs of students. Libraries are most effective when their policies, procedures, collection, personnel, services, and facilities follow the best practice in the field. To achieve quality library service, libraries required professional and support staff coupled with a system that allows automated processing of library services or transactions. For libraries, information retrieve has always been a human problem. As a result of the impact of computers, telecommunications, and new information technologies in the field, library and information studies education program have undergone significant changes. While the library remains the central organizational focus, it needs to improve its system in order to effect change. One of which is the conclusion of information technology. It is for this purpose that the researchers undertake a study automated library system. It is hope that this study will contribute in enhancing the library services of Vito National High School. Making them more efficient and effective in servicing students in particular and in society. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Vito National High School is within the area of Barangay Vito, Sagay City, Negros Occidental. It is located 15 kilometers east of Sagay City along its coastal boundary. It started as Barangay High School in 1967 by virtue of the Republic Act no. 6054, â€Å"an act to Institute Charter for Barrio High Schools† which was approved on August 4,1969. It was supervised by an Elementary School Principal, Mr. Angel Ventor in 1967 with only two teachers in a one Section first year class squatting in the elementary classroom and also they are sharing the library with the Elementary School. Only a few books was there inside the library. As Mr. Ventor retires, he was succeeded by Mr. Antonio Cawit in 1973 to 1976 who built the first Vito National High School Library with only 535 books inside it. From 1976-1985, the school was headed by the very dynamic and ever loyal to his job as principal, Mr. Serafin Ignalaga. After his leadership, he was succeeded by Mr. Rodrigo D. Sanchez in 1986, then Mrs. Felicidad Magbanua in 1987 . With the issuance of Republic Act 6655, otherwise known as the â€Å"Free Secondary Education Act†, the school was converted into a Nationalized High School on June 10,1988, with Mrs. Aida P. Perfido, the pioneer teacher as teacher- in- charge (1988-1995), but she was promoted as principal of Col. Griffin Memorial National High School, Minapasok, Calatrava. With that, Mrs. Gina P. Ferraris took the responsibility as OIC , after a year, Mr. Nicanor A. Alparito became the Head Teacher I of the School (1996-1997). He was then promoted as Education Supervisor I, T. L. E. of the newly established Division of Sagay City. It was June of 1998 when Mrs. Gina P. Ferraris was assigned as Head of the School, and was promoted to Principal I, under the supervision of Mrs. Mildred L. Garay, Schools Division Superintendent, Sagay City Division. During the term of Mrs. Ferraris, she requested more books to the Local and City Government, for the students to have more resources of learning. She got 1,150 total of books from both Local and City Government. It is Mrs. Naneth O. Moraca, took the responsibility as School Librarian. Library hours was from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If the student want to enter in the library, they have to log in two ways. If they will just go there and read their notes they will just log as library users. And if they want borrow books they will also log to the library users and to the borrower’s log book. Borrowing of books policy: the due date of the books of the borrowed books was three days after the borrowing date, if t student can’t return it after the due date they will have a penalty or fine of ten pesos or a pack of floor wax. Maximum of three books, as student can borrow using his or her library card. After ten years of service Mrs. Gina P. Ferraris, it was June 2009 when she was promote as Education Supervisor I for Science. With that, Mrs. Villa Tupaz from Eusebio Lopez Integrated School took placed as Division Principal II. December 10, 2010, Mrs. Villa Tupaz was transferred to Sagay National High School as a replace to Mrs. Bingkas that was promoted also as Educational Supervisor for MAPEH. Mr. Unilo C. Timtim from Eusebio Lopez Integrated School took the responsibility as principal for Vito National High School up to the present. He took much to the library. He gave 5000 pesos budget every school year. He donated his own books during his high school and college years. The library now contains 3,150 total of books. Still Mrs. Naneth O. Moraca was the librarian up to the present. Core Values Excellence, Eco-Awareness, Responsibility Vision A high performing school with competent and dynamic administrator and teachers with strong stakeholders elaborate to produce responsive individuals through a sound learning environment, preserving the gift of nature. Mission  Vito National High School aims to produce graduates who are academically competitive, pro-environment and well-equipped with technical abilities to contribute in the total development of the community. Vito National High School Organizational Structure SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Students High School Faculty Canteen Staff Janitorial Staff Cashier Canteen In charge Treasurer Guidance Councilor STUDENT SERVICES Property Custodian Librarian General Objective The purpose of this study is to have a review of the manual library system of VITO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL. Specific Objective 1. To know the current library system used by Vito National High School. 2. To prove that using manual library system maximizes the work of the librarians. To proposed a system that reduces spare time in organizing and storing library files and data. NONESCOST LOCALE VNHS VITO CEMETERY OLDSAGAY HIGH-WAY . VITO BRGY. HALL CROSSING BULANON TO BRGY. VITO BRGY. BONIFACIO CROSSSING VITO SAGAY HIGH-WAY ESCALANTE HIGH-WAY BRGY. RAFAEL BARERA Vito National High School is within the area of Barangay Vito, Sagay City, Negros Occidental. It is located 15 kilometers east of Sagay City along its coastal boundary. Scope and Limitation The scope of the study is on the automated library system for Vito National High School specially in borrowing of books. It does not seek to include other systems or subsystems that the school uses. The aspects that the researchers considered are limited to the specific problem. The study covers by interviewing the librarian, the faculty and staff, and the students of Vito National High School. Review of Related Literature Library Management System is a system program that is used in a library for an easy use of addition of books, burrowers, issue dates, return dates, fine payments. It is done through a database programmed so, it gives a good interface to the operating user and a safe database for the storage of data like books and burrowers. It is very useful software for librarians and it requires a computer for the operation According to Ken Chad of Ken Chad Consulting we are at a major point of change in the wider information economy within which library systems form part of a larger whole. He was writing in a briefing paper about the study in library management systems . This study examined the systems used in higher-education libraries across  the UK and came up with some significant observations and recommendations. It noted that the LMS market in UK higher education is already mature and that four main vendors (ExLibris, Innovative, SirsiDynix and Talis) have almost 90 per cent of the market. This market maturity means, according to the study authors, that the benefits to libraries of changing LMS provider are limited. Library users expect to find everything together says Stephen Abram, vice president for innovation at SirsiDynix, the leading provider of software solutions and associated services for libraries. According to her traditionally, the library management system or integrated library system (ILS) was responsible for running libraries efficiently and effectively. Over the last few years, the role of the ILS has been expanding from meeting library needs to delivering user experience. According to Elisabeth Robson usability is a key requirement for users, says Elisabeth Robson, Product manager for Online Computer Library Center. The catalogue has become a way to pull together disparate resources, including commercial resources and web links. Library management systems also allow circulation, including check in/check out and enable libraries to purchase materials and track where they are. Accessibility remains the key all information use. As people have become familiar with computer a trend to more direct access has placed increased pressured on libraries and other information agencies to proved users friendly retrieval system for their client. Research and development is taking place in many fronts beyond libraries, including the information industries and this trend is certain to continue, effort is concentrated in such as automated system. Including natural language processing, digitized imaging techniques and telecommunication. Artificial intelligence is being used with saurian for more cognitive approaches to data, including automatic query reformulations when there is insufficient response to the initial combination of research terms. Frequently involving cognitive psychologist and linguist in addition and information scientist for librarian’s information retrieval has always been a human problem. Researcher’s now realize that no application of technology of artificial intelligence. Parallel processing or networking can be truly effective without knowledge on how people think, learn and cumulate. (Mary E. Dykstra, school of library information studies, Dalhausie University). Methodology This section present method of research used in the study. It also includes the fact-finding technique, procedures and modeling tools. This aims to describe the nature of situation as it exists at the time of the study and to explore the causes of particular phenomena. MODELING TOOLS A. INTERVIEW: An interview is a face to face conversation between two people (the interviewee and the researcher) where questions are asked by the researcher to obtain the desired information from the interviewee. Interviews are useful to gather information from individuals. Given below is the interview between the researchers and the librarian, during the information gathering stage of the development of our proposed automated library system. B. OBSERVATION: A method of data collection in which the situation of interest is watched and the relevant facts, actions and behaviors are recorded. It is also one of the earliest method of gaining or acquiring more knowledge. In this method the researchers observe closely to the behavior of their subject which undergo an investigation in various natural setting. Is either an activity of a living being, such as a human, consisting of receiving knowledge of the outside world through the senses, or the recording of data using scientific instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during this activity. An observation can also be the way you look at things or when you look at something. FACT FINDING TECHNIQUES A. Data and Gathering Interview and Documentation. In gathering our information, we send an email to the Principal’s Office of Vito National High School, Barangay Vito, Sagay City, Negros Occidental asking permission if they will allow us to conduct an organizational review about their school specifically in their library. We included in the email our contact number. After we received a message from Vito National High School, we immediately go there. We directly go to the principal’s office to ask permission personally. He ask us to explain what is written in the letter. After we explain him what we want to know, he write a letter of accommodation to the librarian as well as to the teachers. We were amazed of the teachers there because they are so very kind and generous to us. In fact, one of the teachers there told us that she felt nervous. We were flattered because we felt that they really never put themselves higher than us. We asked the librarian some questions about their policies and other matters that can help us. We also asked the students there, at first no one wants to be asked, they were afraid that they might not answer our questions. So, we explain to them that all questions are easy. We have get the information we need to know. Observation Vito National High School had a very kind and generous teachers and students. They are so very open to us. They give the information’s we want to know. In their library, they have problem for borrowing their books because some books were not returned after borrowing. That is why in the next school year they need to buy new books in replace to the books that had not returned. The teachers there is so very kind and so very hospitable. Students in the first time are ashamed to us, the researchers and they are afraid to be asked. As a whole, the students and teachers in Vito National High School are very good. And about the principal, Mr. Unilo C. Timtim is, our first impression to him is, we thought that he is very strict and he is not approachable but our expectation is reversed to his real attitude, in fact he is very approachable and he also share some of his knowledge to us. Researcher’s interview with Librarian Researchers: Hi, we have come to talk to you regarding the functioning of your library. Librarian: Hello, do come in. I was expecting you. Researchers:oh! Really? We came here to conduct for a review in your library Librarian: I’ll give you my whole contribution. Researchers: Tell me are you excited about the idea of having an automated system for your library? Librarian: Yes, I do. Very much. After all it’s gonna reduce our loads of work. Researchers: Will you elaborate on it? Librarian: Major problem is managing the cards of members. There are so many of them. Many times cards get lost. Then we have to issue a duplicate card for it. But there is a flaw in it. It is difficult to find out if it is genuinely the case. Member can lie about it so that he/she gets an extra card. And we can’t do anything about it. Researchers: What do you think be ideal solution to this? Librarian: There should be no cards at all. All the information should be put into computer. So in this way, we plan to get huge revenues after we have an automated system. Researchers: How many books are there? Librarian: About 3,150 books Researchers: Do you keep records for them? Librarian: Yes. Researchers: Do you want facility of booking a particular title in advance? Librarian: No we don’t want any such facility. It is an overhead. So we don’t have any such facility presently. Researchers: How do you categorize your books? Librarian : By dewey decimal system. Researchers: Would you prefer online registration for users rather than the printed form? Librarian: Yes , we really would. Sometimes we lose these forms then we don’t have any information about that particular member. It will be better to have it on computer. Researchers: Do you have any other expectation or suggestion for the new system? Librarian: It should be able to produce reports faster. Researchers: Reports? I completely forgot about them. What reports you people produce presently? Librarian: Well first is for books in the library, another for members listing, one for our current supplier of books, and reports for finance. Researchers: Do you have some format for them? Librarian: Yes we do have and we want that the same format be used by the new system. Researchers: Yes we’ll take care of that. Any other suggestions? Librarian: No. You have already covered all the fields. Researchers: Thanks for your co-operation. It was nice talking to you. Librarian: My pleasure. Bye. SIGNED BY: SIGNATURE OVER PRINTED NAME We, the researchers took interviews of few students in the library in order to know about their viewpoint about the new system. One of such interview is given below. Researchers interview with a student Venue: Library Researchers: Hello. If you are free, I need to ask you few questions. Student: Sure. I pleasure. Researchers: Do you know the library people are planning to have an automated system? Student: Yes , I do, our librarian already told us about it. And I’m feeling good about it. Analyst: Are you ready to pay more if there is a automated system? Student: In the overall functioning is going to improve then I think no one will object to paying more. It should help us finding the books easily. But by what amount, it should matter. Researchers: Well as far as I know they are planning to hike library fee from 100 to 200 for full year. Student: That would be too much. Then in that case, they should increase the number of books to be issued. Also the number of days a book can be kept by student should also be increased. Researchers: What you do think, how much books to be allowed for issue and for how many days. Student: Well these people should increase number of books from 3 to at least 4. And the number of days for which a book is kept should be increased by 4 days. Presently it is for 3 days. It should be 5 days. Only then the fee hike will be justified. Researchers: Yes, they have such plans. Student: Then it should not bother members. Researchers Are you keen on online registration of students instead of normal paper one? Student: Yes. It’ll be a good practice. Researchers: Should there be a facility to reserve a book in advance? Student: Presently they have many copies of a single title. Usually a book is always available. I never have felt the need to reserve a book in advance. Researchers: On what basis a book should be categorized? Student: Well, it should be on the basis of dewey decimal system. Researchers: What do you think on what basis a search for a particular book can be done? Student: It can be searched using subject or title. Researchers: How often you visit this library? Student: Daily Researchers: Do you think magazines and cassettes should be made available in the library? Student: I think it’s a good idea. Researchers: Do you like this library? Students: Yes, very much. That’s why I come here daily. Researchers: oh! That’s nice. Well, continue doing . Thank you for your time,. Students: Thank You.. SIGNED BY: SIGNATURE OVER PRINTED NAME Questionnaires Since the time was less it was not practical to interview every student. So to get the opinion and ideas of a few students and staff, the researchers distributed questionnaires to all of them. 1. How is the borrowing of books done [ ] Manual [ ] Automated? 2. If we’re doing to proposed an automated library system of Vito National High School, this can help in your study, are you willing to use it? [ ] Yes [ ] No 3. If ever there will be a proposed automated library system. Do you think it is economically feasible to Vito National High School? [ ] Yes [ ] No 4. Is the manual library system convenient to use? [ ] Yes [ ] No 5. Is there system provided timely responses to the student complaints? [ ] Yes [ ] No 6. Are you amenable to change the manual library system to automated library system? [ ] Yes. [ ] No 7. Do you think automated library system is effective? [ ] Yes [ ] No 8. Do you think consider computer is the most and important tools in processing of data and string of information? [ ] Yes [ ] No 9. Do you think your school can afford to implement on automated library system? [ ] Yes [ ] No 10. Do you think automated library system are useful to the a. Teacher[ ] Yes [ ] No b. Students [ ] Yes [ ] No c. Faculty and staff [ ] Yes [ ] No d. Vito National High School [ ] Yes [ ] No 11. Do you think manual library system is effective in terms of: a. Procedure [ ] Yes [ ] No b. Manpower [ ] Yes [ ] No 12. Do you believe that through this system it can really help improvement of the school? [ ] Yes [ ] No SIGNED BY: SIGNATURE OVER PRINTED NAME Library Policies General Rules 1. Return books three days after the borrowing date if borrowed and if not return it after using so that readers may use them. 2. Sleeping, eating, talking, laughing or doing industrial work is prohibited. 3. Observe proper behavior in the library at all times. Talk softly so as not to disturb other students who are studying. 4. Take every possible care of each book, magazine and other library materials while they are in your possession. 5. Honesty should be practiced at all times. A student caught stealing books, tearing out a page or pages of a book or other library properties will lose his library privileges. He will have to abide by whatever sanctions the librarian and the Discipline Officer will impose upon him. 6. Keep the library clean. 7. Push the chair back against the table after using without dragging them. Identification Card 1. All students must log on to the log book and live their library card. 2. A lost library card is replaced as soon as the student has applied for replacement. A fine of P20. 00 is imposed. 3. Library cards are non-transferable. Any student who lends his/her library card or borrows somebody’s card is subject to suspension of library privileges in which case both will be answerable for this violation. * Circulation of Library Materials * High School students from first year to fourth year are allowed to check out books from the library. * General Reference books like encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, newspapers, magazines and other periodicals are read only in the library and are not allowed to be borrowed and brought out in the library. * Maps, Charts and other visual aid materials can be borrowed by the teachers for classroom use only. * Home reading or fiction books can be borrowed for three days from the borrowing date and can be renewed for three days also. * Students are allowed to borrow three (3) books at a time. * Books borrowed on Friday should be returned on the following Monday. * Fines and Penalties A daily fine of P10. 00 or a pack of floorwax is imposed on every book kept overdue. (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are not included) * Lost Books 1. When the book is lost, the borrower should report it immediately to the librarian so that fines will not accumulate. Students who have overdue books cannot check out book(s) until they clear their records. Otherwise, a student should replace the same book with the same title. 2. A book damaged beyond repair must be replaced with the latest edition of the same title and author. 3. Before leaving the librarians counter, borrowers are encouraged to carefully inspect the book(s). They are to report to the librarian immediately any damage that they discover. The last borrower will be held responsible for any damage to the books. * Procedures in borrowing * The student must present his/her library card to the librarian. * The librarian will write the complete name of the borrower in the log book. * A due date will be stamped at the log book. Republic of the Philippines Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology College of Information and Technology Old Sagay, Sagay City, Negros Occidental October 12, 2011 MR. UNILO C. TIMTIM Principal, Vito National High School Brgy. Vito, Sagay City Madam: Greetings in Christ name! As part of our requirement on System Analysis and Design, we the Junior Information Technology students of NONESCOST are going to conduct research study on system and procedures of government and private agencies as well as business establishments. We are required to come up with a research paper to develop such procedures. In this connection, kindly allow us to conduct an interview for a â€Å"Proposed Automated Library System†. Please extend all other assistance we may need. We promised to keep all data confidential. Hoping for your favorable response. Respectfully yours, Members: MA. FE S. DELA REALJO-ANN M. PABALATE JUDITH PEARL T. MINANOWENALYN M. ALISAN Noted by: SAMSON M. LAUSA, MSCS Dean Republic of the Philippines Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology College of Information and Technology Old Sagay, Sagay City, Negros Occidental October 12, 2011 MRS. NANETH O. MORACA Librarian, Vito National High School Brgy. Vito, Sagay City Madam: Greetings in Christ name! As part of our requirement on System Analysis and Design, we the Junior Information Technology students of NONESCOST are going to conduct research study on system and procedures of government and private agencies as well as business establishments. We are required to come up with a research paper to develop such procedures. In this connection, kindly allow us to conduct an interview for a â€Å"Proposed Automated Library System†. Please extend all other assistance we may need. We promised to keep all data confidential. Hoping for your favorable response. Respectfully yours, Members: MA. FE S. DELA REALJO-ANN M. PABALATE JUDITH PEARL T. MINANOWENALYN M. ALISAN Noted by: SAMSON M. LAUSA, MSCS Dean FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION In general, performing a study and to conduct an organizational review is not easy but through the unity of our group and to the cooperation of the principal, faculty and staff, and students of Vito National High School we have able to finish our review. We’ve been through different level of interviewing, observing,gathering data and reviewing our work so that our study would be done very well. This review helps the librarian to lessen their works in borrowing books faster and easier, as well as to the students  to have an easy way of borrowing books from the library. Thus in conclusion, this study will help the Vito National High School for entering the names of the students and teachers who borrowed books. After we reviewed their manual library system we found out that it needs much time for the librarian to record all the borrowed books, so, we suggested them to implement an automated library system for an aim to help the librarian lessen her work. The system is easy to use and easy to developed but we recommend that every assigned librarian or librarian assistant must know how to properly use the new developed automated library system. Bibliography Atkinson Ross â€Å"the acquisition librarian as a change agent in the transition to the E-library† no. 36 (1992). Foskett, A. C. the subject approach to information 4th Ed, (C. Bingley 1982) Rowley, Jennifer E. organizing knowledge, an introduction to information retrieval (Gower 1987) â€Å"Practical guide to thesis and desertion writing† by Maximiao M. Rivera, Jr. and Roela Victoria Rivera (Katha publishing, Inc. Quezon, Boulevard Quezon City, Phil. 1996) http://www. nordis. net/? p=7410 http://www. deakin. edu. au/library/findout/research/litrev. php.

Media Representations and Popular Fears of Crime

Is there a relationship between media representations and popular fears of crime? Illustrate your answer with contemporary examples. In society today, the media affects most people’s lives in one way or another. The extent of this effect however, varies depending on the individuals themselves. Popular fears of crime, is a term which is used to describe what kind of crimes scare people in the sense of being a victim of that crime and what it is about particular crimes which make citizens feel un-safe.Some of the crimes that people are most fearful of are not the most popular of crimes though, which questions why they are feared the most and does the media have a part to play in this? There are many factors which come into account when thinking about popular fears of crime. Each person will have a different view as to what they fear, depending on their own thoughts or feelings and also their social groups. While fear of crime can be differentiated into public feelings, thoughts and behaviors about the personal risk of criminal victimization, distinctions can also be made between the tendency to see situations as fearful, the actual experience while in those situations, and broader expressions about the cultural and social significance of crime and symbols of crime in people's neighborhoods and in their daily, symbolic lives† Gabriel, U. ;amp; Greve, W. (2003). The psychology of fear of crime: Conceptual and methodological perspectives.British Journal of Criminology, 43, 600-614. Fears also tend to be similar amongst similar groups of gender/age or ethnicity. Among young women, there is a popular fear of sexual assault or rape occurring, and although this crime can happen to men it doesn’t tend to be a fear which they have. Different races may have a fear of racial abuse from a different ethnic group, mothers everywhere could fear for child abuse to happen to their own children, and elderly people tend to fear groups of young people, despite if they are committing an actual crime or not.A survey carried out in Wokingham, England showed that the most popular fear of crime was young people hanging around the streets as well as dangerous driving. Although this may be the case, this shows that statistically the likelihood of the survey being answered by the older generation to be very high, however it does outline that age can be a strong factor in differentiation of fear.A fear which happens rarely, but seems to be a popular one, is terrorism. Although we hear about this more often nowadays, it is not a crime which happens as regularly as other crimes occurring in the UK and world today. It’s a more recent â€Å"fear† which came to light mainly after the 9/11 incident in the USA. This is a crime, which is of fear to everyone regardless of any factors, because it can happen to anyone and does happen in society today.