Changes in Unemployment Statistics in UK over Time Assignment

Changes in Unemployment Statistics in UK over Time - Assignment Example This paper investigates the unemployment using statistical techniques. Unemployment Statistics for UK (2006-2011) 1 Unemployment Rates in Percentage (%) Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average Rate 2006 5.2 5.3 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.5 5.6 5.48 2007 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.5 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.45 2008 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.4 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.5 5.68 2009 6.7 6.9 7.2 7.4 7.7 7.9 8.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 7.9 7.9 7.63 2010 7.9 8.1 8.1 8.1 8.0 8.0 8.0 7.9 7.9 8.1 8.1 8.0 8.02 2011 8.1 8.0 7.9 7.8 7.9 8.0 7.9 7.9 7.9 8.3 8.3 8.4 8.03 6.5 6.5 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.9 6.9 7.0 _______________________________ 1Trading Economics, â€Å"United Kingdom Unemployment Rate†. Trading Economics. 2012. , accessed 12, March 2012. Analysis the Unemployment Data Scatterplots Histograms Pie charts Cumulative frequency curves Measures of Averages Yearly Averages Measure Value Description Mean 6.72% The average of the rates of unemployment over the six year peri od Mode 8.03% The highest value on the histogram Median 6.66% The middle value, calculated by averaging the third and fourth value Monthly Averages Measure Value Description Mean 6.72% The average of the rates of unemployment over the six year period Mode 6.95% The highest value on the histogram Median 6.75% Middle value, calculated by averaging the sixth and seventh month What the data shows The social and economic impact of unemployment is insidious 2. Unemployment is usually attributable to the inability by able and willing persons to find sources of income regardless of active search for work. The unemployment data trend according to the histogram and the scatterplot indicate that the rate of unemployment has been rising over the six-year period ranging from 2006-2011. The greatest upsurge in the percentage unemployment rate was for the 2008 to 2009, where the rate rose from 5.68% to 7.63%, a 34.3% increase in unemployment rate 3. The unusual rise is attributable to the 2008 eco nomic meltdown, which forced many companies into liquidation and loss-making streaks for many corporations 4. The unfavorable economic conditions not only curbed growth in employment opportunities but also made corporate leaders lay off many workers to alleviate cost overruns. For the entire period the data concerns, particular salient features reveal themselves as to the general trend in the data. For instance, the earliest period, January 2006 has the lowest unemployment rate at 5.2% while the latest period, December 2011 has the highest unemployment rate at 8.4% 5. Unemployment rate in the UK is, therefore, on an increasing trend. ______________________________ 2 Bell, David and Blanchflower, David. What Should be Done about Rising Unemployment in the UK? Dartmouth College. 2009. p.2 3 Trading Economics, â€Å"United Kingdom Unemployment Rate†. Trading Economics. 2012. , accessed 12, March 2012. 4 ibid 5 ibid As the table and the graphs indicate, the unemployment rate, on average, increases on a yearly base. Despite the increase due to the 2008 economic crisis, the rate is yet to fall, although it remains considerably steady

Credit Protection and Identity Theft Essay Example for Free

Credit Protection and Identity Theft Essay If you find errors on your credit report, what steps would you take to correct them? Steps we can take include writing to the credit reporting company describing what we feel is inaccurate on our credit. If we do this the agency must investigate the claim. After the investigation is complete they will send us written results with a copy of our credit report if any changes had been made. Another way we can try and correct information is by contacting and disputing any information directly with the lender. If a lender does not resolve our problem then we can request that the lender attach a statement about the dispute for every time they report the credit agency. There are many organizations that claim they will repair your credit for a fee. From your readings, should someone use a credit repair service? Why or why not? What are some actions these organizations can take that should be a red flag? Have you, a family member, or a friend been a victim of identity theft? How did it happen? Describe the resolution process- ex. how much time did it take, what credit damage was corrected? I have never been a victim of identity theft nor do I know anybody who has. From what I have read the resolution process can be long and painful mentally and physically. It could also take a very long time as in years if not caught in time. We would have to contact lenders and close out and dispute anything that was not of our knowledge. I believe then an investigation will start and if the person is ever caught then they can begin on recovering your credit and removing whatever credit was used without your knowledge. Any credit we knowingly used is still our responsibility to repay. Using the FTC site, what can you do to minimize the chance of your identity getting stolen? According to the website we should keep record of our account numbers and phone numbers to contact the lender in case we feel fraud or an inaccuracy has occurred. We should shred any receipts and documents that contain important information that we plan on throwing away. A smart thing to do would be to carry some cards separate from our wallet in case our wallet gets lost. We should check our bills often and compare receipts to our statements to make sure they match and no errors occur. If we move we need to notify the lender of this so someone else doesnt get our mail and can possibly steal any sensitive information contained in the bill.

The Quest :: essays research papers

CHAPTER 1 There is a beautiful land called Taylem. It has no cities, just little districts spread across the land. The districts are like villages where everything the village needs is grown and made in the district. The country is a beautiful place of rolling hills, dense forests and plenty of natural wildlife. The districts are not joined by nasty concrete roads but instead they have dirt or cobblestone roads made by people in the districts. There are no cars, planes, busses or trains in Taylem. People get around by horse and cart, home-made bikes, and boats. The country that borders Taylem is called Barstland. It is not as nice as Taylem but more people live there. Anyway, Barstland claimed that Taylem used to belong to them. But what they really wanted was the natural resources that Taylem had so much of. There was an abundance of gold, diamonds, timber, coal, and plenty of fresh water. So with that excuse they invaded Taylem. In Taylem there is a certain man named Figmo. He is 25 years old. His district has not yet been affected by the war. His dream and goal has always been to be an adventure hero, but he never had the chance in such a peaceful country. He is a man who has the gifts of an adventure hero. He is very resourceful, skilful, and very, very brave. He is tall, thin, good looking, and very clever. Even though he has all these qualities, he has a bad habit of sometimes being influenced by the pressure of others. Both of Figmo's parents had died when he was 20 years old leaving him a sailing ship called "The Jubilee". Everything on the Jubilee was made up of solid timber with plenty of gold because of the abundance of them in Taylem. Even though Figmo has no brothers or sisters, he has a very close friend named Grest. They are the same age and they have been friends since they were children. Grest is a good companion to have around because he is very encouraging. He is very good at following instructions but not good at giving them. Figmo also has a cousin called Kab. Kab is the kind of guy you just have to love. He is a chubby, funny sort of guy who could make everybody laugh in the midst of the worst situations. His biggest problem is that sometimes he takes his jokes too far. He is 23 years old. Grest has a fiance called Tashi. She is very attractive and she is very athletic.

Behind the Myth of Sisyphus Essay

The philosophical essay of â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus† by Albert Camus was written in France, in 1942. Obviously during a very historical time of war in which had a lot of people on the edge. The piece of work written was motivated by what Camus thought about the situation during the time; such as suicide, absurdity and happiness. The meaning of life was defined in many different ways, and with that being said Camus had seen so much that he had different values and searched for the truth about life and its purpose, plus what motivated a modest philosopher. Society took this essay as something very absurd and really didn’t know how to react to it but wonder how meaningful is life and what is to be valued and what shouldn’t be. People were on the edge just thinking about these kind of things. Especially during this time people didn’t know what to believe or what to have faith on as well because of the war. Which is why society looked at this as dark comedy and could’ve also been an eye-opener to others as well. Just something to keep their minds off the situation that was occurring. The World War II was happening at the moment and it was a historical disaster for many. When the Germans invaded France, Camus joined the French Resistance. He was in it for four long years and also wrote for a paper so he had to know a lot of information about the war. I am most certain that from the experience having gone through the war made him realize many things about the values of life. â€Å"It was during this period that Camus formalized his philosophy that human life was sacred, no matter how inexplicable existence of life might be.† (Bree). Seeing the death toll from the war any one can see how sacred life is. That is when he gradually started looking into life’s philosophy and he came up with the conclusion that life was absurd. â€Å"[m]isunderstood as a philosophy of hopelessness. Camus did hold  that life was absurd — defying logical explanation, and ultimately irrational. However, Camus considered life valuable and worth defending.† (Bree ). Basically, if you had an explanation and reason to what you were doing in life and if you considered it meaningful, then it was meaningful. Other than that, according to Camus’s philosophy it was absurd. While Camus was arranging and discovering new thoughts about philosophy, he happened to write â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus†. It was a Greek myth about a man named Sisyphus who was punished to repeat a meaningless task of pushing a rock up a mountain and seeing it roll back down once it reached the top. Why push a rock if it is going to go down again. However, it can be meaningless but only if it was interpreted that way. This essay was written when he came to seek about the meaningless and the absurdity of life. When Camus came to the conclusion whether to find the meaning of life was suicide in a way it contradicted himself. â€Å"Without man the absurd cannot exist.† (Camus). Suicide is way to see how life is valuable but obviously impossible to tell and demonstrated it to others philosophically. â€Å"There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy.† (Camus). Therefore, suicide is just really an absurd thing to do and impossible to prove the point. That it when Camus came up with the idea that happiness and absurdity are similar. In â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus†, Sisyphus goes through a struggle pushing the rock but once he reaches the top he is, I believe, happy for having accomplished it. He accomplished pushing it up after such a struggle. â€Å"The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.† (Camus). Even though he was in a bad situation he saw the bright side of it. Either you were happy and realizing there are worst things than pushing a rock up a mountain, or sad because of the good things other people have that you didn’t. However, even though Sisyphus was happy for a moment, Camus thought it was absurd to be happy because Sisyphus knew his fate when he would reach the bottom of the mountain. Camus compared this to real life and it is the same awareness that an absurd man has in his life. The war strongly influenced Camus’s thoughts. â€Å"Historical revolt, rooted in metaphysical revolt, leads to revolutions seeking to eliminate absurdity by using murder as their central tool to take total control over the world.† (Knopf). Philosophically, in the war murdering was eliminating absurdity and thinking that it would get that answer whether life is meaningful or not. Today society believes life is meaningful, however, there are a few who don’t think so and therefore, they come down to committing suicide. That lead to Camus searching to see whether life is meaningful or not. When you discovery that life is meaningless, you can’t unrealized the truth about your life. You can’t go back and live life while ignoring yourself that there is no purpose. Which again leads to suicide, who wouldn’t want if knowing there is nothing for one in life at all. All you can have is hope for another day but even Camus argues that hope is not always a good thing it can also disappoint your expectations. I know it may seem confusing but as Camus believes that even the absurd can’t be understood at times. So even if life is meaningless it is precious! However, one cannot simply judge their own life and assume it is meaningless if you have not experienced everything. You cannot judge whether all you done was good or bad or if that was it in your life. Camus and Nietzsche are both similar in their own ways the only difference is that Nietzsche pursued for the truth about life and that life is meaningful. â€Å"Nietzsche’s point was that be wholly alive means being aware of the negative as of the positive, feeling pain, not shunning any experience, and embracing ‘even in its strangest and hardest problems’.† (Arson). Then that is when Camus seems quite confused because at first he declares that life is meaningless and when he reaches the end he is pretty much concluding â€Å"[t]hat life is to clearly by judged to be better than others†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Arson). Life is purely what we make of it and even Camus states at the very end of â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus† that â€Å"One must imagine Sisyphus happy.† (Camus). That is why I conclude that Camus was absurd and essentially everyone was too. In all it was an absurd contradiction. The main theme shared thoughtout the course that can relate back and forth is truth and the good and evil. â€Å"Camus mirrors Nietzsche’s own morality when he interrogates God as a moral instance. Both authors seem to start from a  fairly humanistic viewpoint: God is the constructed being, a named abstraction and an uplifted instance to distribute what is morally right and morally wrong.† (Svenja) With that said how are we to judge ourselves to know what is wrong and right and from there on serve a purpose in life? If we judge ourselves to having done something evil we usually feel bad and sometimes do the absurd and commit suicide. But even committing suicide is bad because you will never find out if there was meaning behind the a person’s life. So you can’t even eliminate all the evil from the world.   And if so, you cannot judge a person by their actions but philosophically judged on their intentions. â€Å"[t]hese figures try to re-feel themselves but they can only do so when they accept their fate as their own and not made by society.† (Svenja) In order to actually live life you must accept life and what becomes of it, meaningless or not, life will always be precious! Correspondingly, Camus must face his truth. â€Å"Like Sisyphus, we are our fate, and our frustration is our very life: we can never escape it.† (Satre) As a society that’s why we all must accept the truth in life and that is our fate as well. No matter if it has value, you must continue living, committing suicide is not the answer and by doing so you will prove to others that there can be meaningless lives. You can’t escape it and you can’t be absurd in Camus’s philosophy either. Camus even detects a level of absurdity in Nietzsche’s philosophy as well. Truth is that Camus is absurd, maybe he is searching for meaning of life so much that it becomes irrational. Which in that case leads to him believing about suicide but knew he was never even going to find meaning that way at all. He would be never be able to tell how valuable life is. Therefore, Camus must be happy about life and its meaning so he can actually live life as it is. The only problem philosophers have is that they can never admit that absurdity in their thoughts, so they make a reason and figure out a way out of it. That’s the only way you can actually live life in happiness and still have fate even though you believe there is no meaning behind life. If you search for your meaning in life you will just dedicate all your time doing so, and never actually living life. One must value life day by day. However, in a way I do agree with Camus because if you have fate about the next day being better and then being disappointed about it, it is really saddening. So why have fate when you can just enjoy life as it goes and actually grab a value out of it. Just as  Sisyphus did, when he actually became happy even though his fate was struggling all over again. He valued that he was doing better than other people who were suffering at the same time. I believe that’s how people should be in life, you should always seek out the good in bad situations no matter what. It is the only way people can live in true happiness. Works Cited Arson, Ronald, â€Å"Albert Camus† The Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Spring 2012 Ed. Edward N. Zalta. ed. 2012. Print Brà ©e, Germaine; Camus, (New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1959, 1961) Camus, Albert. Myth of Sisyphus. 1942. Print Knopf, A. Alfred. The Rebel: An Essay on Man In Revolt, New York. 1954. Print. Svenja, Schrahe. â€Å"Albert Camus and Friedrich Nietzsche† Albert Camus Society. 2011. Print.

Capstone Case Study †Arthur Andersen LLP Essay

1. Discuss the environmental, strategic and organizational changes that occurred over the life of Andersen in the context of figure 11.1. While Andersen started off as a stable environment, once changes started being made to the main focus of the company many changes were expedited. While still successful in it’s auditing business, other opportunities arose that allowed for quicker and more dynamic revenue growth. This strategic shift from auditing only to offering a number of other services (automated bookkeeping, information technologies, consulting, corporate staffing) eventually led to a rift within the company, the separation of operations into two companies under one umbrella, and the eventually severance of those two companies into two wholly separate corporate entities. Once the two companies (Andersen Consulting and Arthur Anderson) split, Arthur Andersen, which was originally the auditing only arm, but had dipped back into the consulting business even though it should not have per it’s agreement with AC, went full force into offering the full range of services. In the quest for the biggest sale and to drive non-audit revenue, managers were compensated based on sales targets instead of performance or quality of work. This lack of quality control and change in the focus of the business was the beginning of the downward projection of AA. The fact that there were changes in all three areas, environmental, strategic and organizational, made it difficult for there to be tight control at AA and almost made it acceptable to make questionable decisions as long as the clients got what they wanted and revenues continued to come in. 2. Evaluate Andersen’s claim that their problems on the Enron audit were due to a few â€Å"bad partners† in the organization. If you agree with this claim, discuss what you think were the root causes of the problem. It was AA’s decision to hire 40 auditors from Enron, then augmented by 150 of  their own staff, and place them within Enron as it’s in house accounting staff. Since the staff was on site at Enron, attended Enron meetings, and made decisions in the best interest of Enron and not with the idea of doing quality work, it is hard to put stock in AA’s claim that it was only a few â€Å"bad partners†. Also, AA made the decision to break up it’s own Professional Standards Group and re-locate members of that group to local offices. Once that happen though, their power was usurped and held no water. If they questioned decisions, they were removed. It is up to the company to make decisions that not only help generate business, but protect the company and it’s employees from any questionable situations or circumstances where unethical scenarios might play out. 3. Suppose you were Andersen’s managing partner in the early 1990’s. Would you have done anything differently than the actual management (assuming you knew only what they did at the time)? There are a couple of things that I could have done had I been the managing partner for Andersen in the 1990’s. I think the separation of the consulting business and the accounting business into two companies was actually a good move. The fact that AA eventually started to offer and go after non-auditing services business with clients was where a mistake was made in my opinion. If I were a partner at AA I would have strictly enforced the agreement that we would be sticking with auditing business only. While offering a lower margin than the consulting business, it was a solid foundation and allowed more oversight, tight controls and decreased the likelihood that questionable decisions would be made. I also would have kept the Professional Standards Group in tact to oversee and review all aspects of the operation. Splitting up the group and assigning individual members to local offices basically neutered their power and allowed for those looking to manipulate the system to do so. 4. Discuss the relation between what happened at Andersen and multitask principal agent theory. With the Multi-Task Agent Theory, certain tasks are rewarded and other tasks  are not, and because of this the non-rewarded tasks suffer from neglect of a decrease in quality. The first time this was an issue is was before the split into two companies, where those driving the consulting and IT business were unhappy with the fact that the auditing side had so much power over the company even though it was not the segment driving the revenue. After the eventual split into AC and AA under one umbrella, and then the total split into two separate corporations, with Andersen bringing in business other than auditing was rewarded more than auditing business, to the point that it was expect that managing partners brought in twice as much consulting and other business as it did auditing business, otherwise face penalties or even termination. In all three stages of the company’s history the inequality between the consulting business and the auditing business led to there being a de-emphasis on the auditing segment of the business (both in quality and as a driver of revenue). 5. Discuss the relation between the â€Å"hard† and â€Å"soft† elements of a firm’s corporate culture in the context of this case. In the case of Andersen, it almost seems as if the changes in the â€Å"soft† elements of corporate culture were either directly related to or a side effect of change in the â€Å"hard† aspects of the corporate culture. As stated in the case study, during the majority of the company’s existence, â€Å"tradition was everywhere†. From â€Å"soft† elements like the physical design of offices and the way partners dressed and looked to hard elements like the quality control exerted over all aspects of the business, there were standard all across the board. As changes started to happen in the â€Å"hard† culture, like the focus being on driving revenue as opposed to putting out quality work, changes were also seen in the soft aspects of the culture. Managing partners did not dress as sharp, the giants wooden doors of the offices (that seemed to be a metaphor for the strong, sturdy operation of the company) were removed, and a new corporate logo was introduced. 6. Do you think that the problems at Andersen were unique to them or did they exist at the other big accounting firms? Suppose you were the top partner at one of the other major accounting firms at that time of Andersen’s demise. What action, if any, would you take in response? Explain. As shown when Andersen themselves called into question the practices of one of it’s competitors (calling for an investigation), these issues at Andersen are not unique to their company (though it may not happen on as grand of a scale). If I was the top partner at one of the other major accounting firms at the time of Andersen’s demise, I would have immediately either called for an internal investigation of my firm’s practices or volunteered to have my company’s practices reviewed by the SEC or another appropriate authority. I would be open with what was found, make any necessary changes to organizational structure or practices, and move forward. I think this would be important because at the time of Andersen’s demise, it is likely the credibility of ALL accounting firms was hurt, and I would want there is to be proof that our company was doing things the right way. 7. In 2000, the SEC proposed new regulations that would limit consulting work by accounting firms. This proposal was not passed by congress. Do you think the legislators were trying to act in the public interest when they failed to pass this proposal? Explain. Legislators were not acting in the public’s best interests; they were bowing to pressure from the auditing industry lobbyists. Steve Samek, who spearheaded operations that already lead lawsuits, payouts, bankruptcies and fines, led the charge to oppose the proposal. At that point it should have been obvious that the right call was passing the proposal. The fact that different legislation related to the oversight of accounting firms was eventually passed later on in 2002 (the SOA) shows that oversight was necessary, but just needed a spectacular failure like Andersen/Enron to allow legislators to feel comfortable in taking a stand. 8. The American Institute of CPAs is the primary professional association for CPAs. It has developed a Code of Professional Conduct that sets the  standards of conduct for CPAs. People can file complaints about the ethical conduct of a CPA with the AICPA, which can levy sanctions and other penalties against its members. Do you think that the unethical conduct at Andersen (and possibly other accounting firms) was the fault of the AICPA for not setting and enforcing higher ethical standard among its members? Explain. While I think the AICPA has a place in setting standards and ethics in the industry, and has the right to levy sanctions and penalties against it’s members (based on complaints that are filed), they are not a regulatory agency and their reach only extends so far. In reality, being a member organization, if a corporation does not want to deal with or answer to the AICPA, they and choose not to be a member. It may hurt their reputation, but in the long run the work they do and the clients they have will have a much greater effect of their business than whether or not they are a member of the AICPA. While it is nice to have organizations like the AICPA and the SEC overlooking the practices of corporations in the industry, it is hard to transfer fault for the unethical behavior of a company away from the company that behaved that was to some member organization or regulatory agency. It is the organization or agency’s place to set guidelines and respond when corporations do not follow them. 9. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 established a new five-person board to oversee financial accounting in publicly traded corporations. The board is appointed by the SEC. Prior to the creation of this board the industry relied primarily on self-regulation through the AICPA. Do you think the establishment of the new oversight board was a good idea or should he profession have continued to be self-regulated? I think in practice, a combination of both works. The industry need to show that it is interested itself in keeping it’s practices on the level and being transparent. But at the end of the day, you will always find someone who likes to work outside the system. In these cases having the SEC oversight board is a critical tool to keep companies in line that may think they can work the system. Also, having SEC oversight can result in much  stiffer penalties for the organization, so it carries and extra layer of deterrent for companies who may think about making questionable decisions. Andersen themselves, in the form of managing partner Leonard Spacek, saw the power of SEC intervention early on (1947).

Why Racial Profiling is Acceptable

Why Racial Profiling is Acceptable Racial profiling can be an acceptable practice and a necessary tool if it is used by the police or any other law enforcement in the name of stopping crime or apprehending criminals. It can be a tool, and if used properly it can be effective, it can be seen as a necessary evil that sometimes must be used in the pursuit of justice. It is not acceptable if it is used to target a specific race or ethnic group for the sole purpose of harassment. The issue of racial profiling is a controversial one and it always has been. The United States is a country that is obsessed by race issues. There have been numerous highly publicized incidents in the past several decades that can be directly linked to suspected racism and racial profiling. Some examples of these types of cases are the Rodney King incident and the cases of Amadou Diallo and Abner Louima.Abdulameer Yousef Habeeb, Iraqi refugee who brough...These cases may have been extreme but they helped bring to light some of the problems that ra cial profiling and racism can cause in the criminal justice system. Racism is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race." (Merriam-Webster Online) Many people in America believe that this animosity towards people of different ethnic backgrounds greatly effects the lives of those minorities. The criminal justice system is probably one the areas of American life where accusations of racial profiling and perceptions of racial bias have the greatest impact.Until September 11, 2001 the major complaint of racial profiling had to do with white police officers using race as the sole reason for stopping suspected offenders. Most of the complaints dealt with white police...

Ace the Interview Behavioral Nurse

Ace the Interview Behavioral Nurse As in most medical fields where prior experience is required, behavioral nurse interview questions will ask you to provide specific examples from your previous positions. You want to have anecdotes at the ready to show your interviewer that you’re competent, knowledgeable, and well-prepared to join their staff. Describe a situation in which you recently had to handle a difficult and demanding patient.This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to resolve conflict. Prepare an anecdote that illustrates your excellent communication skills- including verbal persuasiveness and strong listening abilities, interactions with patients and families, understanding patient needs, explaining treatments, and displaying empathy. Avoid characterizing a patient in an overly negative or in a resentful way, and be careful not to compromise confidentiality.Describe a decision you had to make quickly regarding a patient.For this question, the interviewer will be asses sing  your judgment. Talk them through your decision-making process as you evaluated a memorable  situation and the criteria you used to make a decision. Be able to report back on the appropriateness of your actions in light of the outcome.Tell us about a time where you disagreed with a colleague over the management of a patient.This question is designed to identify your ability to work as part of a team, deal with colleagues maturely, draw on your own internal resources and department protocols for conflict resolution, practice active listening and information gathering, and then your ability to reflect and discuss what you learned from the experience. Avoid expressing anything stronger than a professional difference of opinion with the colleague in question.What changes have you contributed to established practices to improve patient care?If you’re asked this question in an interview, the interviewer is looking at your ability to take initiative, go beyond your routine, think critically and proactively about patient care protocols, and exercising excellent judgment about their implementation. It’s also likely you had to work closely with colleagues to get your changes implemented- be ready to highlight the valuable aspects of that process as well.And finally, four questions that all evaluate essentially the same abilities:Tell me about a challenging problem you faced in your previous job. How did you deal with it?Nursing work often involves a number of daily frustrations. Tell me about some of the frustrations you have dealt with recently.Take me through a typical day in your previous job.How do you manage high stress situations? Give me an example.These last questions test to see if you have an alert mind, evolved stress-management skills, the ability to reflect and assess daily responsibilities, and a degree of self-awareness. Make sure you have specific stories you can reference that showcase the best of your abilities. Practice with a f riend to get low-stakes exposure to how you’ll feel on your actual interview day.Good luck!

Amiable vs. Amicable

Amiable vs. Amicable Amiable vs. Amicable Amiable vs. Amicable By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between amiable and amicable? Their etymology is identical, but their senses are distinct. Amiable means â€Å"agreeable,† â€Å"friendly,† suggesting a person or an experience marked by a congenial personality or atmosphere: â€Å"He seems like the amiable sort†; â€Å"They were engaged in an amiable conversation.† The word ultimately derives from amicus, the Latin word for â€Å"friend,† which is related to amare, meaning â€Å"love.† (The latter term is the basis of amatory and amorous, both of which refer to sexual feelings.) Amicus itself was borrowed into English as a legal term; it is part of the phrase â€Å"amicus curiae† (sometimes shortened simply to amicus), which translates literally to â€Å"friend of the court† and refers to an individual or an organization that files an amicus brief or otherwise requests of a court the opportunity to weigh in about a legal issue. Amicus also survives in the Spanish word amigo, which means â€Å"friend† and is sometimes used as such in American English. Amicable means â€Å"peaceable, marked by goodwill, as in â€Å"We were relieved when we came to an amicable understanding about the issue.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Bare or Bear With Me?How to Punctuate Descriptions of Colors30 Words Invented by Shakespeare

Life Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Life Science - Essay Example Such constraints directly influence their life history stage, genetic diversity, reduced gene flow, poor genetic drift, deprived genetic multiplicity of breeding, inadequate space, thereby making the population inactive. Vast space is required for the appropriate mobility as well as to establish connectivity for the perseverance of population. Human activities not only restrict the mobility and connectivity of trouts population but also create barriers. Human deeds fragment touts habitat, eventually, causing loss of trouts population. Invasion of non-native salmonids generates potential danger too. Restricted space condenses demographic and stochastic destruction hazards. Efforts to protect and restore trouts population are being performed, but appropriate study is highly essential to protect trouts population. Some conservation methods have been proposed but fortification is required at the water shed level and catchments such as streams. Conservation measures for the protection of trouts population must be taken seriously in order to preserve their natural habitat, allowing them to move freely, minimizing fragmentation of their habitat and allowing them to have genetic

Unit IV Assessment#2 Sick Building Syndrome Essay

Unit IV Assessment#2 Sick Building Syndrome - Essay Example The agents coagulate in the rooftops and walls and people end up inhaling the particles in them (Wargocki et al., 2000; pg. 72). The biological contaminants inhibit respiratory activities thus causing SBS. SBS has been associated with several symptoms. The major symptom is a feeling of acute discomfort that results from throat, nose, and eye irritation, headaches, sensitivity to stenches, dizziness, fatigue, dry and/or itchy skin, and inability to concentrate. The occupants also have trouble in breathing, an inordinate feeling of weariness and tiredness. These symptoms fluctuate from person to person depending on the degree of exposure to the contaminants and the type of SBS (whether type 1 or type 2) (Gurjar et al., 2010; pg. 121). Though the symptoms are increasingly becoming prevalent due to occupants spending most of their time indoors, no medication for SBS has been discovered. The long lasting solution to SBS is improving the building techniques to improve structures and make them less problematic (Wargocki et al., 2000; pg. 104). This is attained by ensuring that buildings are fitted with ventilators and chimneys that absorb the contaminants and allow inflow of fresh air. The number and efficiency of HVAC ventilations should be improved. However, the short term and immediate solution to SBS is leaving the building (Gurjar et al., 2010; pg. 120). Those affected by SBS report feeling better after leaving the building, to acquire fresh air. Gurjar,  B.  R., Molina,  L.  T., & Ojha,  C.  S. (2010).  Air pollution: Health and environmental impacts. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Retrieved from

Nutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 7

Nutrition - Essay Example cosylation of tissue proteins due to persistent exposure to high glucose concentrations and the accumulation of larger quantities of sorbitol (a reduced product of glucose) in tissues are believed to be causative in the pathological changes of diabetes. The concentration of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is taken as an index of protein glycosylation: it reflects the state of glycaemia over the preceding 2-3 months ("What is Diabetes?"). Two major types of diabetes are- Type I or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), juvenile onset diabetes mellitus, which is caused due to the destruction of ÃŽ ²- cells of pancreatic islets, majority of the cases are autoimmune (type 1A) antibodies that destroy ÃŽ ²-cells and are detectable in blood. In all type I cases circulating insulin levels are low or very low and patients are more prone to ketosis. However this is less prevalent and has low degree of genetic predisposition ("What is Diabetes?"). Nutrition plays the most imperative part in our well being, as it directly relates to the physical and mental growth and development. Lack of proper and appropriate diet as well as deficiency of important and essential components results in malnutrition and hence result in overweight or underweight or some deficiency disorder. Diabetes is a condition where nutrition plays a vital role in the management. A well balanced and appropriate amount of nutrition helps in management of the condition by keeping the blood glucose level close to the normal value, thereby preventing the progress of diabetes to the higher level. Diet aids in management of the condition by avoiding medication dependence. A high-quality nutrition required by the diabetics involves eating a large variety of foods categorized under various heads as meal plan, a guide that enables one to understand the kind as well as quantity of food to be consumed in diabetes. For diabetics healthy diet is considered to have 40% to 60% calories that come from the carbohydrates,

Conflict of Interests Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Conflict of Interests - Term Paper Example This is because its consequences have the potential of adversely affecting the corporate image of an organization or public office. In addition, conflict of interest is considered unethical in the sense that it leads to biased considerations and ways of doing business that may lead to a downfall of an organization. As a result, it is always considered imperative for any organization or public office to put in place measures aimed at mitigating or preventing altogether circumstances that might give room for conflict of interest. This is particularly done by instituting ethical code of conducts among other strategies as will be elaborated in the paper. Conflict of Interests Introduction Conflict of interest is a common word, widely used in the world today. Nevertheless, many still does not understand well its full significance. What is certain is that the term is not complex as some may think. This is because conflict of interest illustrates situations that a majority of us find themse lves into particularly when we are confronted with ethical decisions regarding duties conferred upon us. However, what is acknowledged is that, conflict of interest is unethical and must be avoided by all means. This can be traced back to the biblical teachings, which says, â€Å"thou shall not serve two masters† (Gordon, 2005, p.16).... What is noted is that conflict of interest knows no boundary in an organization as can be witnessed among top chief executives, board of directors, managers, as well as employees. This paper will explore ‘conflict of interest as a major ethical issue in the world today. What is conflict of interest? To begin with, conflict of interest arises when an individual, particularly an employee has multiple interests with the potential of clashing against each other. In the workplace, self-interest usually arises when an employee pursues other interests other than the professional or public interests which he or she is expected to pursue. Conflict of interest is usually considered unethical under the company’s code of conduct because it affects the general performance of an organization since it causes an individual to diverge from the interests of an organization to personal interest (Lewis, 1997). Situations that constitute conflicts of interest There are a number of situations that constitute conflict of interest in the workplace that is likely to jeopardize the effective running of an organization. One such is a situation where a male manager happens to date a female employee who is directly answerable to him or where a female manager dates a male employee who reports directly to her. In such a situation, a conflict of interest arises because the relationship between the employee and the manager affects the effective management of the company, as the manager will in most cases tend to appear lenient to the employee even if the employee whom he is in a relationship with happens to have made a problem. For instance, the employee who is in a relationship with the manager may

How technology, with particular emphasis on the internet and Essay

How technology, with particular emphasis on the internet and computers, has changed world culture - Essay Example However after the introduction of automobiles it can be seen that even the third world countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh have started using them. People nowadays prefer travelling in automobiles than travelling in these carriages. Computers and internet similarly have had a huge impact on the cultural values of people. Previously people believed in interacting with each other through different means but never was it known that these people would interact through the digital world soon. After the introduction of computers, internet has evolved as a massive force controlling a group of the society. People interact through internet so easily that many prefer using it as a medium for interacting other than anything. Previously the culture of meeting in real was common for people however as times have changed it can be seen that the culture has also changed. With the evolvement of internet social networking websites have been given a way to change the culture previously prevalent. Face book, MySpace and Twitter are some examples of these networking sites which allow people to interact through the digital world. People usually prefer sitting at their homes and interacting with their friends and family members through these networking sites. It is here that a conflict arises between the new culture and the old culture.

Mortgage Market in the United States Case Study

Mortgage Market in the United States - Case Study Example However, the low interest rates offered by mortgage lenders as well as the requirement to service the mortgage debts of the home owners in relation to their higher take home pay will not bring back the sad economic scenario in the 1990s era. Also the high value attached to the homes has triggered the money lenders to enter into the home mortgage and the chattel mortgage economic market. Currently, the fixed costs that goes with maintaining a home is no longer as expensive as the mortgage homes of the early part of the 1990s(2003;p.5). Despite the unfortunate beginnings in the latter part of 2002 and until 2003, many people contributed to the economy by continuing their spending spree at moderate speed. This was one of the major factors that prevented the increase in severity of the economic downturn. Thus, government monetary policy theory states that the state must intervene in order to create a competitive economic environment (Roberts,2000;pp 77). In addition, Marshall theorized that people have the normal attitude of preferring to spend instead of saving their money in His Principles of Economics book as " Everyone is aware that the accumulation of wealth is held in check, and the rate of interest so far sustained, by the preference which the great mass of humanity have for the present over deferred gratifications, or, in other words, by their unwillingness to 'wait'"(Keynes, 1936; pp.242) The supply and demand theory states that as the mortgage interest increases, the number of borrower demands will decrease. And, the supply theory states that as the mortgage interest rate increases, the number of mortgage lenders will increase(Graziano, 1987;p129-145). Both theories state meet when the mortgage lenders lower their interest rates in order to attract more borrowers. For, the best mortgage interest rate that will make both the mortgagor borrower and the mortgagee lender happily meet in the middle is the equilibrium rate. In terms of mortgagor purchasing power, the timely increases in the take home pay off household owners as well as the gains in disposable personal income starting June of 2003 countered the ill effects of the consumer's spending spree. As proof, the share of personal consumption on Gross Domestic Products had reached a whopping seventy percent in the year 2004. For clarity, consumer spending is arrived at taking into consideration the increase in real permanent income, fluctuations in market prices and demographic factors(Su, 2005;p10). MORTGAGE RATE GRAPH Under the theory known as Markowitz economic model, the investors, including the mortgage lender, want to maximize expected return from their investments and minimize variances. For variance is synonymous with risk(Culp, 2001;pp.48-113). Thus, the lenders charge higher interest rates for more risky mortgage borrowers. The above graph shows that there are fluctuations in the mortgage interest rates from the period Aug 2, 2007 to Sept 27 2007. The graph shows that the Thirty -year mortgage rates had declined starting in the middle of July. Then decline trendily continued to decline until

How technology, with particular emphasis on the internet and Essay

How technology, with particular emphasis on the internet and computers, has changed world culture - Essay Example However after the introduction of automobiles it can be seen that even the third world countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh have started using them. People nowadays prefer travelling in automobiles than travelling in these carriages. Computers and internet similarly have had a huge impact on the cultural values of people. Previously people believed in interacting with each other through different means but never was it known that these people would interact through the digital world soon. After the introduction of computers, internet has evolved as a massive force controlling a group of the society. People interact through internet so easily that many prefer using it as a medium for interacting other than anything. Previously the culture of meeting in real was common for people however as times have changed it can be seen that the culture has also changed. With the evolvement of internet social networking websites have been given a way to change the culture previously prevalent. Face book, MySpace and Twitter are some examples of these networking sites which allow people to interact through the digital world. People usually prefer sitting at their homes and interacting with their friends and family members through these networking sites. It is here that a conflict arises between the new culture and the old culture.

Woolf Professions of women Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Woolf Professions of women - Essay Example I wanted to know more about the challenges that a modern woman faces at work, and this curiosity and interest has inculcated the motivation in me to research this topic. I am eager to learn about the psychological barriers holding modern women back. We see that women are getting more and more independent and a break from their traditional domestic and familial responsibilities generally as they are integrating into the socioeconomic system. While the physical barriers to freedom have been eradicated to a large extent, most women still cannot use their skills and competencies optimally because of the psychological barriers. (Woolf) has expressed this very clearly in her writing as she said, â€Å"The Angel was dead; what then remained? You may say that what remained was a simple and common object – a young woman in a bedroom with an inkpot. In other words, now that she had rid herself of falsehood, that young woman had only to be herself. Ah, but what is â€Å"herself†?† (Woolf cited in Rainbolt and Fleetwood 302). I want to learn what sort of psychological barriers are encountered by working women in general and how they deal wi th them. I also want to know more about what are the goals of a vast majority of the working women. I want to learn their preferences and priorities. I want to know if personal freedom and autonomy is more important for women in the modern age or they generally want to work and earn money in order to be able to take care of their families better domestically as well as financially. In order to find answers to my queries, I shall first conduct a thorough review of literature. I shall read the novels, autobiographies, and journals of famous women writers, and note down any quotations, passages, and narrations that qualify as answers to my questions in any way. It would take me five to six drafts to finalize my research paper that would be structured in a way that

Gran Torino Essay Example for Free

Gran Torino Essay After a while, the two bonded and where Walt helped him through manhood by toughening him up, providing dating advice and helping him get a job in construction. During this, Walt learned that Thao had tried to steal the car to be a part of the gang that he confronted earlier in the movie. Throughout the rest of the movie, the gang had harassed Thao by destroying his construction tools, conducted a drive-by shooting, sexual and physically assaulting Thao’s sister. He then realized that Thao and his sister will never safe as long as the gang is still in the neighbourhood. For this reason, he had gone to the gang member house and committed one final act to help save them. In this paper, the effects of social construction of race and how it is portrayed in the film will be examined. First, the concept of social construction will be analyzed, providing an overview of the definition and its effects. Furthermore, how it is illustrated in the film will be examined. Race as a Social Concept Historically, race has been utilized to differentiate individuals based on their biological and physical appearance. Traits including body shape, skin color and hair style were used to divide individuals into particular racial group (Machery and Faucher, 2005, pp. 1208). However, no empirical evidence exists to supports these classifications. This, in turn shows that differentiations are not rooted biologically or based on getting differences. Rather, the concept of race is explained through process of social construction. Through the lenses of social constructionism, it does not deny the evident physical differences in skin color and characteristics of individuals (Rothenberg, 2008, pp. 10). It simply sees these differences on a continuum of diversity rather than as reflecting innate genetic differences among people† (Rothenberg, 2008, pp. 10). Therefore, race exists due to society’s placing significance on the differentiation between individuals. Effects of Social Construct of Race Takaki stated that â€Å"race†¦has been a social construction that has historically set apart rac ial minorities from European immigrant groups† (as cited in Rothenberg, 2008, pp. 9). Throughout time, the categorization of race had form white hierarchy and domination over other groups of race. This in turn caused an effect of inequality, marginalization and unfair treatment towards particular groups. Asians, Blacks, Aboriginals, and Latinos are among the groups who are subjected to this form of treatment. Some examples include the justification of enslavement of black people, and the denial of access to Canada for non-white individuals. The success behind these social constructs is these divisions of race appear to be natural and a part of everyday lives rendering it to be invisible (Perry, 2011, pp. 16). Thus making it easy to be taken for granted (Perry, 2011, pp. 6). As Michael Omi and Howard Winant (1994) stated, Everyone learns some combination, some version, of the rules of racial classification, and of her own racial identity, often without obvious teaching or conscious inculcation. Thus we are inserted in a comprehensively racialized social structure. Race becomes ‘common sense’—a way of comprehending and being in the world. (as cited in Perry, 2011, pp. 16) Therefore individuals are aware of these divisions but choose to accept it as it has become a natural dynamic in society. Identifying Asian The concept of race is a social process that constructs differences creating divisions among individuals. Throughout time, the classification of certain groups has resulted in prejudice and stereotyping of particular racial groups. This is portrayed in one scene in Gran Torino when Walt was looking with scorn at Thao’s grandmother and said, â€Å"Why the hell do this chinks have to move in this neighborhood for? † (Eastwood, 2009). The protagonist’s use of the word â€Å"chinks† shows the stereotypical label of the Asian community. Chinks† is used to refer to the epicanthic fold found in the inner angle of the eye (wisegeek, n. d. ). This use of this term is associated to the racialization of the Asian race because this difference in appearance was utilized to negatively identify members of this group. Other perceptions in the film include Walt’s snarky comments such as â€Å"aren’t Asians supposed to be smart? Or the assumption as the Hmong as â€Å"jungle people† (Eastwood, 2009). These stereotypical and prejudiced statements are seen extensively throughout the movie. The irony of it is the statements reflect society’s views of the Asian identity. This leads to the notion that through the social process of differentiating groups based on racial traits and characteristics leads to the division of races with the effect of oppressing some. This, sequentially cause the stereotypical and prejudiced associations to be made. If society had not placed a meaning on physical appearance or characteristics, the racial assumption would not exist. Furthermore, if no classification were made towards these individuals, the Asian race will not exist. Youth Asian as Gang Members The Montreal police define a street gang as ‘a group of individuals, usually adolescents and/or young adults, who use the power of group intimidation in order to carry out, on a more or less regular basis, violent criminal acts’ (as cited in Chan and Mirchandani, pp. 116). Police documentation had identified five ethnic groups where street gangs originated (as cited in Chan and Mirchandani, 2002, pp. 117). Among the five is the Asiatic ethnic group (as cited in Chan and Mirchandani, 2002, pp. 117). The process of police construct of race in terms of street gangs involves the process of racialization (as cited in Chan and Mirchandani, 2002, pp. 123). Robert Miles defines it as â€Å"a process of categorization through which social relations between people are structured by the signification of human biological characteristics in such a way as to define and constructs social collectivities† (as cited in Chan and Mirchandani, 2002, pp. 12). It is when negative characteristics, traits and behaviour are associated with particular groups (Jiwani, 2011, pp. 43). This is due the perception and presumed differences of the group (Jiwani, 2011, pp. 43). In terms of the police construction of police, this can be seen through the provision of â€Å"Images of violence-prone ‘ethnic youth’ from war-torn countries (it is taken as given that the ‘ethnic youth’ in question are male) (as cited in Chan and Mirchandani, 2002, pp. 123). When compared to children in Quebec, Ontario, a police man stated â€Å" ‘ Here in [Quebec] our kids are born with a hocky puck in their hand, but there [a country of origin of immigrants] they come into the world with a grenade in their hands† (Symons, 2002, pp. 18)†The culture belief portrays the racialization of the street gang issue (Symons, 2002, pp. 118). The ideology that street gangs originated from the upbringing in a war-torn country signifies street gangs as an immigration issue. As another police stated â€Å"‘They have guns there [in country of origin],â€⠄¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ ‘It’s part of their more’† (Symons, 2002, pp. 118). This is seen with the portrayal of the Hmong gang in Gran Torino. Earlier in the film, Sue had shared to Walt that the reason they resided in America and is to escape the violence that is occurring in their homeland (Eastwood, 2009). By providing this background story of escaping a war torn country and the portrayal of young Asiatic gangs terrorizing the neighborhood, supports the racialization of Asiatic gang members. This has come from the social process of constructing that living a life in a war-torn country makes the individual a gang member. Since this living condition is associated with the Asian youth, these members are automatically perceived as a gang member. Other scenes in the film include the portrayal of the ethnic group Latinos as gang members, which are also identified as the patent of street gangs Minority groups and Immigrants as Criminals A key stereotype of Asians race is that of the mysterious, devious, fearsome Asian† (Zong and Perry, 2011, pp. 115). This consecutively marks the group as different and foreign which causes them to be feared and avoided. (Zong and Perry, 2011, pp. 115). Within society this is reflected through minorities and immigrants being â€Å"over police and under protected† by the criminal justice system (as cited in Chan and Mirchandani, 2002, pp. 69). Often times, during the legal process, immigrants are provided longer sentences and severe punishments compare to those who have lived in Canada for 20 years and more (Chan and Mirchandani, 2002, pp. 8). In terms of other minority groups, Blacks and Aboriginals are overrepresented in the correctional system ((Zong and Perry, 2011, pp. 115). Individuals in society are aware of these unfair treatments, but many still links race and crime together. This is due to the belief and perception of immigrants and minorities as dangerous and different. It is important to note that these factors cannot be found when looking at the white population. This leads to the notion that â€Å"‘Canadians’ do not break the law, but racialized ‘immigrant groups do’† (Chan and Mirchandani, 2002, pp. 9). The portrayal of minority groups and immigrants in the film can be seen when no white individual is shown to be a criminal. The members of the street gangs were of Latino, Black and Asian descents. The white characters portrayed were successful businessmen, a hero and a priest. In fact, the protagonist was a Korean War veteran where he killed several men in battle. Instead of being convicted for his actions, he was provided a medal of honor. The portrayal of these scenes shows that white individuals do not commit crime and so cannot be identified as criminals. Society had classified certain inviduals to be part of the Asian and Black race dividing them from the white population. Throughout various events and social processes the perception of Asian and Black race to be dangerous was constructed. This in turn had let these groups to be viewed as criminals. This is believed to be taken a significant effect due to unfair treatment and portrayal of minorities and immigrant in the criminal justice system. White as ‘powerful’ The notion of race as a social process has caused an effect where certain groups are marginalized. Within the society, a white individual is the dominant and superior while others are oppressed, and inferior. This perception has led to the view of that the white population is powerful compared to the other racial groups. The portrayal of this can be seen with the protagonist of the film. Thao and the other gang members had gone to his house to attack him. During the fight, Walt comes out pointing a rifle towards the gang threatening them to get off his lawn and leave. By doing this, he earns the respect of Thao’s family and the Hmong community. To show their gratitude, they showered him with gifts, meals and flowers. Through the remainder of the movie, Walt was shown to be a leader, influencer and hero. He was guiding Thao away from becoming a gang member by providing a job, teaching about manhood and purchasing items for him. He was also shown as a savior when he gave up his life so that Thao and his family can live a life without any gang violence. Within the racial context, the representation of Walt as the savior illustrates the ideology that white is powerful, whereas the Asian group is seen to be helpless, powerless and vulnerable. This leads back to the notion of social constructionism where the division of race had caused some groups to be in power and the others as powerless. In this case, the white group is seen to be of dominance while the Asian group is perceived to be inferior and vulnerable. Conclusion A once popular belief in society was that everyone was born into distinctive biologically and natural based differences known as race (Rothenberg, 2008, pp. 9). However as time passed, the notion of race had transformed into the idea that it was created through human interaction known as social construction. In other words, through social processes, the differences between racial groups were constructed and not from nature itself. However, through the development of division among groups, some were placed in a position of power while others in a minority position. Throughout time, the white group have become the dominant and powerful group over other racialized group. This, sequentially have led to several unfair treatment, marginalization, and oppression against this group. These effects have been portrayed in the film Gran Torino in regards to the racial group of the White and Asian. Through social constructionism, prejudices and stereotypical terms have been used to identify the Asians groups. Secondly, the notion of Asian youth as gang members. Thirdly, the perception of Asian individuals as criminals. Lastly, the ideology of white power over Asian groups. These reflections of currents societal beliefs and perception towards the White and Asian groups originated from the process of social construction. In other words, the reason why it the racial groups of Asians and White exist is through social collectivities . If society did not place a meaning towards the differentiation among individuals, race would not exist, thus these assumptions would be of non-existent as well. References Eastwood. C. , Gerber, B. , amp; Lorenz, R. (Producer). (2009). Gran Torino [Motion Picture]. United States of America: Warner Brothers. Jiwani, Y. (2011). Mediation of Race and Crime. In B. Perry (Ed. ), Diversity crime and justice in Canada. (pp. 39-56). Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press. Jiwani, Y. (2002). The criminalization of race and the racialization of crime. In Chan, W. , amp; Mirchandani, K (Ed. ), Crimes of Colour (pp. 67-86). Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press. Machery, E. , amp; Faucher, L. (2005). Social Construction and the Concept of Race. The Philosophy of Science Association, 72, 1208-1219 doi: 0031-8248/2005/7205-004. Perry, B. (2011). Criminal Justice/Social Justice. In B. Perry (Ed. ),  Diversity, crime, and justice in  Canada  (pp. 3-38). Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press. Rothenberg, P. (2010). Race, class, and gender in the United States  (8th  ed. ). New York: Worth Publishing Symons, G. (2002). Police constructions of race and gender in street gangs. In Chan, W. , amp; Mirchandani, K (Ed. ), Crimes of Colour (pp. 115-127). Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press. Zong, L. , amp; Perry, B. (2011). Chinese Immigrants in Canada and Social Injustice: From Overt to Covert Racial Discrimination. In B. Perry (Ed. ),  Diversity, crime, and justice in  Canada  (pp. 106-124). Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press.

Hamlets Hesitation as his Tragic Flaw in Hamlet by Shakespeare Essay

Hamlet's Hesitation as his Tragic Flaw in Hamlet by Shakespeare In the play Hamlet, Hamlet is described as daring, brave, loyal, and intelligent. However, he is always consumed by his own thoughts, this being his tragic flaw. There are numerous times Hamlet does not act when he should, like his inability to act on his father's murder, his mother's marriage, and his uncle's assuming of the throne. 'Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder,' says the ghost of Hamlet. The fact that his own uncle could kill his father leaves Hamlet dumbfounded and confused. Although Hamlet knows something is wrong in Denmark, he begins to question everything that the ghost has told him. When something is needed to be done, Hamlet is to busy thinking about his problems. An example of this is when Hamlet has his knife over the head of Claudius, and is prepared to murder him. He talks himself out of it. Instead, Hamlet writes a play in which the actors play out the same story that the ghost told Hamlet. This is when his tragic flaw, his hesitance to act, actually comes into play. His plan is to study Claudius's reaction to the play to determine his guilt. However, after Hamlet decides his uncle is guilty, he still does nothing. This would have been a great time to confront Claudius, but Hamlet seems more interested in taking credit for what he did instead of seeking revenge. By putting o n that play Hamlet has plenty enough evidence to show Claudius was guilty, therefore he should have carried out his revenge as soon as possible, but again, his thoughts take over. This should have been the final piece of action for Hamlet to avenge his father?s death. Hamlet should have then stabbed Claudius the moment he knew he was guilty. This would... .... Away" and Hamlet was sure of his uncle?s guilt. This was the perfect time for Hamlet to face Claudius. The king was in a difficult state and could have been easily dethroned. Unfortunately, Hamlet decides to speak to his mother instead, thus putting Hamlet in an emotional state of mind and giving Claudius time to re-think his options. Hamlet should have never allowed this for Claudius. He could have stopped all of the pain he caused himself if he would have just acted out his revenge as soon as he could. Although Hamlet seemed to be superior in all other characteristics, his one flaw cost him his life. Without doubt, it cost the lives of many others as well. If Hamlet could have taken immediate action, many deaths could have been avoided. Although Hamlet succeeds in his revenge, his procrastination proves to be his flaw in every event that took place.

King Lear :: William Shakespeare England Essays

King Lear Shakespeare's King Lear is a tragic play about an English king and his three daughters. It is a tragic play because it takes Lear all his long life and much suffering to realize the true value of the thing that he takes for granted, his youngest daughter Cordelia. The old king, Lear, spoiled by his absolute power and his habit of receiving instant gratification, asks his daughters to verbalize the feelings that each has for her father in exchange for his kingdom. At this point the old king's downfall and a late life lesson for what years remain in Lear's life begin. The first two daughters, Goneril and Regan, put on an unnecessarily hyperbolic display of flattery just as their father requests, but the youngest daughter, Cordelia, plainly acknowledges that she loves her father according to her bond. This plain declaration made by Lear's favorite daughter infuriates the old King, and, blinded by his rage and old age, Lear disowns Cordelia, revokes her dowry and banishes her. Despite this, the King of France marries Cordelia and makes her queen of France. Not much time transpires before Goneril and Regan throw their own father out into the storm. Lear finds himself without a kingdom, and without family, for he rejects his youngest daughter for telling the truth and shortly after his two eldest daughters, who showered him with flattery when the time was right, reject him. Alone and powerless, Lear spends the night under a stormy sky and embraces the natural elements that lash out at him. To his surprise and disbelief, Cordelia lands with the French forces in order to restore her father's name and to redress the wrong that her two sisters have committed against the old Lear who, in the reader's eyes, exchanges his title of "King" for that of "Fool." GRAPH

Physics Archimedes Principle Lab Report

Measurement of Mass, Volume, and Density through Archimedes Principle Overview: The purpose of this experiment was to measure the density of a solid and a liquid using Archimedes principle. Archimedes is one of the greatest inventors and mathematicians of all time. The principle we used in this experiment was discovered when Archimedes stepped into a full bath tub. Using Archimedes principle, we were able to determine the density of a lead rod, water, and an unknown liquid.Physical Data: Name| MW (g/mol)| ? (g/cm3)| bp (? C)| mp (? C)| water| 18. 01 g/mol| 1 g/cm3| 100 ? C| 0 ? C| lead| 207. 2 g/mol| 11. 34 g/cm3| 1749? C| 327. 5? C| Equations: Spring ConstantF=-kxThe equation was used to calculate the spring constant of spring i. | Density? =massvolumeThis equation was used to calculate the density of an object. | Buoyant ForceB=? mg=? f VobjgThis equation was used to calculate the buoyant force of an object. | Experimental Procedure:ProcedureA: * Setup similar to the spring constan t lab * Use the same or a similar spring from the spring constant lab * Find the spring constant of the smallest spring used from previous lab if not already foundB: * Use the same metal rod from the Error of Propagation experiment and attach it to the bottom of the spring * Fully submerged the metal rod in a beaker of water * Record the displacement of the submerged object * Repeat several times making sure the object is fully submerged and steadyC: * Dry the object and then repeat part B with an unknown liquid| Observations * Used spring i.We worked with a different group so we used their spring with their known spring constant. * Used an iron rod, which is what the group we worked with used before. * Starting volume decreased after the first trial * Displacement in the unknown liquid was very similar to that of water| Data/Results: A: Spring constant: k=0. 023 N/m This was received from the group we worked with. B &C: Spring constant (spring i): 0. 023N/cm| Object| Mass (g)| Hang ing (cm)| Displacement in H2O (cm)| Displacement in unknown (cm)| Spring| Spring| 11. cm| 0| 0| Spring + 5g| 5| 15. 8| 15. 5| 16| Spring + 10g| 10| 17. 5| 17. 3| 17. 4| Spring +15g| 15| 19. 7| 19. 3| 19. 4| Spring +20g| 20| 21. 7| 21. 2| 21. 3| Spring +25g| 25| 24| 23. 2| 23. 3| Lead cylinder| 70. 71| 4| 38. 9| 39| Average| | 17. 11666667| 19. 34285714| 19. 48571429| Mass of lead in H2O (g):| 67. 2977| Volume of Pb (cm3):| 3. 422567703| Mass of lead in unknown (g):| 66. 1091| Density of unknown (g/cm3):| 1. 344283123| | | | Previously obtained volume lead (cm3):| 5. 455| Average density of Unknown (g/cm3):| 0. 843428048|Calculations: ? Mass of Lead Rodma=kx? m=(0. 023Nm)(0. 4)9. 8 m*s-1? m=9. 38Ãâ€"10-4 gThe mass of the lead rod was determined by using the spring constant formula. The spring constant of the spring was multiplied by the displacement, and then divided by gravity. | Volume of Lead RodB=? mg=? f VobjgVobj=? m? fVobj=9. 38Ãâ€"10-4 g1. 0 g/cm3Vobj=9. 38Ãâ€"10-4 gThe vo lume of the rod was found by dividing the mass of the zinc rob and the density of the fluid (water). | Density of UnknownB=? mg=? f Vobjg? f=? mVobj? f=7. 04Ãâ€"10-49. 38Ãâ€"10-4? f=0. 50gThe density of the unknown liquid was found by dividing the mass of zinc rob by the volume of the zinc rod. | Discussion: The objective of this experiment was to measure the density of a solid and an unknown liquid by using one of the oldest principles, Archimedes’ principle. For part A of the experiment, we were able to use the spring constant found from the previous lab, in order to help determine the change in mass and volume of an object, and the density of an unknown liquid. The spring constant that was found from the previous lab was 0. 23 N/m. In part B of the experiment, we were able to determine the change in mass of the lead rod from the air to the water and the volume of the lead rod. After conducting five trials, we were able to find the change in mass of the lead rod by using the spring constant formula of F=kx. After modifying the formula to solve for mass, we were able to find the change in mass for each trial by multiplying the spring constant and displacement of the lead rod in air versus water, then dividing by gravity. The average change in mass was found to be 9. 8X10-4g. Once we had found the mass of the lead rod, we were able to find calculate the volume of the lead rod by modifying the buoyancy force formula to solve for the volume of the object. Find that formula, we divided the mass of the lead rod by the density of water as shown in the table of literature. The average volume of the lead rod was found to be 3. 422 cm3. In part C of this experiment, we were able to determine the change in mass of the lead rod from air to an unknown liquid and the density of the unknown liquid.We used the same method in part B to calculate the change in mass of the lead rod. The average change in mass of the lead rod in the unknown liquid was found to be †¦ Since the volume of an object does not change when submerged in various liquids, we were able to use the average volume of the lead rod found in part B. then, we were able to find the density of the unknown liquid by dividing the mass of the lead rod by the volume of the lead rod. Average density of the unknown liquid was found to be 1. 44 g/cm3. Since the unknown liquid had an aroma of rubbing alcohol, we hypothesized that the unknown liquid was a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. Using Archimedes principle, our hypothesis can be supported since the average density of the unknown liquid was 0. 843 g/mL. An alternative method for this experiment would be to set up the beaker so that the liquid level would be completely leveled, versus when a person lifts the beaker with an unleveled liquid level.A way a person could do this would be to place a book under the beaker with a leveled liquid level, so that the lead rod is equally and fully submerged in the liquid. Conclusion: The objective of this experiment was to determine the mass and volume of an object and the density of an unknown liquid using Archimedes Principle. For part A, we used the spring constant from the previous lab to help determine the mass of the lead rod in part B. The displacement of the lead rod from the air to the water was found in order to help determine the average mass of the lead rod.The average change in mass of the lead rod from air to water was 9. 38Ãâ€"10-4g. The average volume of the lead rod was 9. 38Ãâ€"10-7cm. In part C an unknown liquid was used. A similar method was used to determine the average change in mass of the lead rod in the unknown liquid, which was found to be 7. 04Ãâ€"10-4g. Since the volume of an object does not change in different liquids, the volume of the object found in part B was used in part C to help determine the density of the unknown liquid. The density of the unknown liquid was 0. 75g/mL.

Hr Manuel-Hbm Pharmaceuticals Lahore Essay

There are certain easons behind adapting the employee recommendations intensively. Firstly, current employees know the best about the jobs need to be filled so, they can better recommend person who can better perform the particular jobs. Secondly, current employees will never suggest an applicant unless they make sure that he or she can perform confidently in front of managers. Because sending incapable applicant distort the image of employee who is promoting new applicant. 3. 1. 2. External searches: Other sources of recruitment are newspaper advertisements. This is the most popular method the company uses when it wants to publicly announce about its vacancies. Besides, HBM also use notifications pasting on different locations like walls and polls. The notification carries information of ‘Argent need of medical representative†. This help company to generate wide pool of applicant for the recruitment purpose Recommendations: Our company HBM uses advertisements for recruitment but company should also use the cyberspace method for recruitment. This method will ultimately help company to reduce its recruitment cost. Universities and collages notifications: HBM should use university and collages as sources of recruitment. Company should place information on the universities and collages notice boards and the websites. There company can capture fresh candidates. This method is also a cost effective method and beneficial for the recruitment. 3. 2. Selection phase: Company selection criteria include number of step the candidate has to pass through. 3. 2. 1. Initial screening: At this stage of selection, criterion company see that if candidate is fulfilling the minimum qualification, the candidate who meets the minimum qualification standard is then passed and eligible for the next coming stage. Rests of the candidates are rejected. 3. 2. 2. Completed application: HBM use a simple application form which contains simple questions like Name, Address, Telephone and Other personal information. It may include candidate’s experience, education and other experience certificates. Upon verification, if company finds any information faked, the candidate can be rejected. 3. 2. 3. Employment test: Because HBM’s major workforce is SPO (Sales Promotion Officer), merely SPO’s are required to qualify in the test. This simple test is based on memory the candidate is required to memorize medicine literature then his pronunciation, speaking fluency is checked. The pass candidates proceed for the next stage. In contrast, HBM does not take any test for candidates who are striving for other professions like accountant, storekeeper and security guard. Comprehensive interview: Here directors and zonal sales managers take the comprehensive interview. Applicant’s confidence and its emotional stability are checked here. Almost all candidates, belong to different knowledge background are required to pass through the comprehensive interview in order to check their confidence level. 3. 2. 5. Unconditional Job offers: After the comprehensive interview if applicants perform intelligently, HBM will offer conditional or unconditional job. Recommendations: HBM should use employment test for accountants, storekeepers and other applicants in order to measure applicant’s abilities, communication skills and analytical skills. Depending, which applicant fall in which category that’s how company can fill vacancy with who is better fit for the particular job. SPO’s should also be given test to gauge their selling techniques as they spend most of their time in selling medicine. SPO’s personal grooming should be give significant importance during hiring process. For Accountant position, HBM must take test to make sure their analytical skills 4. Socialization and Orientation Plan: Loneliness and a feeling of isolation are not unusual for new employees-they need special attention to put them at ease. So, the organization must follow the socialization process to update each new employee about the values and norms of working at HBM Pharmaceuticals. 4. 1. Socialization Process: †¢ Pre-arrival stage: The organization will use selection process to inform prospective employees about the organization as a whole. †¢ Encounter stage: If the new employees found the differences between their expectations about job and reality then these employees should be socialized to detach them from their previous assumptions and replace these with the organizations’ pivotal standards. †¢ Metamorphosis stage: Higher management will provide help to recently hired employees in case of any problem they faced during working in the organization. Each individual should be informed about the evaluation process. That is, they’ve gained an understanding of what criteria will be used to measure and appraise their work. A trusted environment should be developed and maintained by the higher management so that each employee should feel comfortable to work with the organization. Socialization of new employees can also be possible through the new-employee orientation process. 4. 2. New-employee Orientation Process: Activities that introduce new employees to the organization and their work units are the part of orientation. 4. 2. 1. The CEO’s Role in Orientation: The CEO as the head of the company’s executive management should participate in the orientation process to encourage new employees to work for this organization and also let the new employees to talk about their concerns. The CEO should visit each regional office at the announced date for at least once in a month to meet collectively with all new employees. 4. 2. 2 HRM’s Role in Orientation: The role of Human Resource Department is very important in the orientation because generally this department is responsible for recruiting and selection process. Currently, as there is no functional HR Department in the HBM Pharmaceuticals, so it is the duty of Director Sales and Zonal Sales Managers (ZSM’s) to play their role by conducting the official gatherings where the new employees will meet with the old employees and their interactions will develop. If the new employee is hire as Regional Sales Manager (RGM) or Zonal Sales Manager (ZSM) then The CEO will be present at the orientation ceremony. If the new employee is hired at other position, except that mentioned above, than the ZSM’s are responsible for orientation. ZSM should offer these new employees what else he/she can do for them in the future. 5. Training and Development Plan: 5. 1. Employee Training: There are two types of training available in HBM Pharmaceuticals: one for the new hiring and the other is for the existing employees. 5. 1. 1. New employees: Training is only available for new hiring as Sales Promotion Officer (SPO). It is mandatory that new employees for all other positions available should be experienced and they should have the skill set required for the specific job. 5. 1. 2. Existing employees: Major portion of job positions in HBM Pharmaceuticals is sales oriented. If the employee at certain level is not fulfilling his/her responsibilities according to the job description then he/she will be offered a training session by his/her immediate officer. In that meeting, problem should be discussed with the targeted employee and try to identify the potential solution for that problem. If the officer recommends then the employee should be sent on training. Training can also be offered in such a case if the existing employee is promoted from one position to other position and the management perceives that training is needed to enhance the skill set and abilities of the employee. 5. 2. Determining training needs: 5. 2. 1. SPO: The job of Sales Promotion Officer is very critical for the organization. Newly hired SPO should be offered 1 month training: to enhance his/her subjective knowledge about the products; to increase communication skills; and to develop the interpersonal skills to work as a team. Existing SPO’s have to fulfill their targets. If any SPO is unable to fulfill his/her target then RSM/ZSM will discuss the matter with him/her at weekly meeting. RSM/ZSM will try to identify and solve the problem. If the SPO can not improve his/her performance after the counseling session then RSM/ZSM can recommend a training session for the particular employee. 5. 2. 2. Office staff: Training will be offered to office staff if working pattern has changed in the organization. For example: by implementing new technology equipment, or the addition of new process in the job description of office staff. 5. 2. 3. RSM/ZSM: These are experienced staff. Their responsibilities are also high because it is their duty to manage a group of subordinates. Managerial level skills are required for that job. If the employee at this position has some problem regarding his/her attitude or leading a team then Director Sales can recommend a training session to enhance their interpersonal skills as well as their leadership skills. 5. 2. 4. The CEO and Director Sales: HBM Pharmaceuticals is a partnership concern and it is owned by two persons: one is CEO and other is Director Sales. So, training is the personal discretion of these two individuals. If they think that through training, they can manage their business more effectively then they can go for a training session. 5. 3. Training Methods: There are several methods which can be used by the management to train their employees according to their needs and the job position. 5. 3. 1. SPO: For new joining SPO’s, it is most appropriate to use â€Å"classroom lectures† to train them because this is the method used to increase their subjective skills. It will also helpful for them to enhance their communication skills. For existing SPO’s to increase their productivity, RSM/ZSM should meet them personally and give them personal support. Due to this meeting, the problem will be solved and along with benefit, SPO’s morale will be increased. 5. 3. 2. RSM/ZSM: Classroom lectures as well as On-the-Job Training Methods are used to train RSM/ZSM. Director Sales will recommend the most appropriate method according to the situation and problem. 5. 4. Employee Development: Employee development focuses more on the employee’s personal growth. Successful employees prepared for positions of greater responsibility have analytical, human, conceptual and specialized skills. 5. 4. 1. Employee Development Methods: There are several methods which are used to develop managerial and non-managerial staff. Appropriate method selection will depends on situation. 5. 4. 2. Developing Office Staff: Job Rotation is the appropriate and recommended method to develop office staff. The concerned authority can choose horizontal or vertical Job Rotation to develop office staff according to the skill set of the staff. 5. 4. 3. Developing SPO to Senior SPO: Job Rotation is a good method to develop the abilities of SPO so that he/she can become Senior SPO. Vertical Job Rotation can be selected for this situation. 5. 4. 4. Developing Senior SPO to RSM: RSM is quite big position for senior SPO. So it is recommended that â€Å"Assistant-to-Position method† should be used to develop senior SPO to RSM. Senior SPO will work as an assistant to RSM to get in depth knowledge of the responsibilities of RSM and he/she can develop himself/herself in a better way according to the new responsibilities. 5. 4. 5. Developing RSM to ZSM: RSM and ZSM both are managerial positions and the position holders are experienced professionals. The only difference is the level of responsibility. ZSM is responsible for the sales of whole zone which is a quite big responsibility. Therefore, it is recommended that â€Å"Assistant-to-Position Method† and â€Å"Lecture courses and Seminars† are used to enhance the decision making skills of RSM and to improve more team management skills. 5. 4. 6. Developing ZSM to Director Sales: In the current organization settings, ZSM can only become Director if he/she became the partner of HBM Pharmaceuticals. It is recommended that the position of Director Sales should not be fixed for Partners and ZSM should be developed to this position on the base of his/her performance. 6. Performance Appraisals: Performance appraisals must convey to employees how well they have performed on established goals. It’s also desirable to have these goals and performance measures mutually set between the employee and the supervisor. 6. 1. Appraisal Methods: There are several methods which are used by management to evaluate employee performance. According to the nature of business of HBM Pharmaceuticals, we are recommending a method called â€Å"Using Achieved Outcomes to Evaluate Employees† or â€Å"Management by Objectives (MBO)†. 6. 1. 1. Management by Objectives (MBO): Four ingredients are common to MBO program: 6. 1. 1. 1. Goal specificity: The objectives in MBO should be concise statements of expected accomplishments. Tangible objectives should be expressed in the statements. 6. 1. 1. 2. Participative Decision Making: Participative decision making should be used by manager and employees, in setting objectives and agrees on how they will be achieved. As the interests of managers and employees are directly linked with stretched objectives and achievement of these objectives then they will definitely put their maximum effort to achieve those objectives. 6. 1. 1. 3. An explicit time period: Each objective has a concise time, too, in which it is to be completed. In our situation, it is 1 month. 6. 1. 1. 4. Performance Feedback: Continuous feedback on performance and goals are recommended. Twice a week meeting should be conducted by ZSM to get performance feedback and to discuss the routine matters with the field staff and to countercheck the performance whether the sales are meting the monthly goal plan. 6. 2. Performance Evaluation Standards and Appraisals: There are different performance evaluation standards for different positions: 6. 2. 1. Office Staff: If the office staff performs their responsibilities according to their Job Description then their salary will be increased by Rs. 500 quarterly. If the employee performance is excellent from consecutive 3 months then a special pay raise can be offered by the Director Sales. 6. 2. 2. SPO: Each SPO has some sales targets given by RSM/ZSM. It is his/her responsibility to fulfill those targets. Performance Appraisal meetings should be conducted at the end of each quarter. Upon the achievement of 80% targets for consecutive 4 months: 30% basic pay rise. Upon the achievement of 80% targets for consecutive 3 months: 20% basic pay rise. 6. 2. 3. RSM/ZSM: Upon the achievement of 80% targets for consecutive 4 months: 30% basic pay rise.

Social Exchange Theory

Reaction Paper #2 The Social Exchange Theory was very interesting for me to research as I was not familiar with it before this class. I learned about the basic parts of the theory, how it can pertain to marriage and divorce, and how it can help me in parenting. Self-interest is the main focus of this particular theory and can be described as a utilitarian way of thinking. After more research, I learned that utilitarian thinking in family studies is concerned with achieving outcomes that are most valued (White & Klein, 2008). Within this theory, the actors are most concerned with rewards and costs. Rewards are considered anything that is perceived as beneficial to the person’s interest, and the costs are just the inverse of the rewards. As a past math teacher, this was analytically easy for me to understand, but seemed very selfish to me. To me, someone who based their relationships and choices on this theory did it for their own personal profit and maximization. Even if there are no rewards, the actors will make whatever choices are necessary to minimize the costs (Chibucos & Leite, 2005). I did not fully accept and understand the social exchange theory until I read the additional assigned readings. One of these articles was written by Susan Sprecher. She completed a longitudinal study on the social exchange theory within dating couples (Chibucos & Leite, 2005). As I examined her findings, I realized that most individuals make choices based on rewards and costs, and I sometimes refer to them as pros and cons of a decision. It did not seem so selfish, but more of a well thought out plan. I also realized that I had made choices as described by the social exchange theory many times in my life, specifically concerning my long-term relationships. I chose to get married in 1990 because the benefits outweighed the costs of marriage. Yes, I even made a list. The benefits included companionship of the one I loved and trusted, the option to start a family and have children, and begin building lifelong relationship with the person that I had chosen to grown old with. I knew there were going to be costs to a marriage, but as a young adult, I did not realize all of them. The costs, in my mind, included a loss of independence, putting our money together, accountability, and maybe some contention. It seemed to me that my benefits were greater than any costs, and I was willing and excited to make my vows. As time went on, children began arriving into our home. It seemed that as the stresses of family life increased, so did our marital contention. Somewhere during our fifth year of marriage, I made a list of the benefits and costs, or pros and cons as it seemed at the time, as to whether or not to continue my marriage. The benefits were about the same, but the costs were increasing annually. Finances were very tight, my husband chose to spend a lot of time away from home, anger problems were escalating, and being a mother of two children was hard without help from my husband. Nonetheless, the benefits seemed to outweigh the costs, because I knew divorce would be more costly. By the eighteenth year of our marriage, my marriage had taken a terrible turn. A private investigator informed me that my husband was living with a 22-year-old and had been for over three months. I had five children, relied solely on my husband’s salary for support, and did not want the identity of being â€Å"divorced. † But I think the devastation of discovering his romantic relationship, the length of his infidelity, and the fact that he made no attempts to resolve matters, made my benefits and costs equation easy to solve. My benefits were to teach my daughters that this was unacceptable behavior and should never be tolerated and to teach my sons that there are dire consequences to such choices as a husband. I almost felt that my agency had been taken away as I had to choose to divorce my husband. Now three years later, I can examine that divorce equation and see that I made the best choice for my family, and that without even realizing it, I was using the social exchange theory to resolve a great issue in my life. This theory is more easily seen within large issues to me, what about my everyday parenting? I have watched for the past few weeks how I can help my children within these guidelines. With some careful thought, I helped one of our children decide the best place to sit on the school bus. If he chose one seat, he could sit with more popular kids, but he stood a higher chance of getting in trouble for misconduct. If he chose a less desirable seat, he could stay out of trouble and befriend a new student who recently moved into town, therefore, making a new friend. With some discussion, he was able to analyze on his own which seat would be more beneficial to him. Another time I was able to use this knowledge within parenting was in helping my daughter with her math teacher. My daughter dislikes math anyway, and sees no longterm reason to learn it. She was assigned a specific teacher at school and was not doing especially well, per her grades. My daughter disliked the teacher stating that she was too strict and assigned too much homework. Her friends told her that she did not need the specific math class to graduate and encouraged her to change classes. Using the social exchange theory, we not only discussed the importance of math, but how learning to get along with this math teacher could greatly benefit her grades. We encouraged her to talk to her teacher about her difficulties and to request some clarifications about specific concepts. My daughter chose to try it out because during our discussion she could see the benefits, although, she was not completely convinced. She went to her teacher, worked out some differences, and her grades reflect the benefits. I now more fully appreciate the opportunity I have had to research, analyze, and give a presentation on the social exchange theory. It increased my knowledge and gave me the opportunity to reflect on some past decisions I have made in my life. I can see that this theory is not applicable to all choices, but it is helpful to know that it is an option when dealing with difficult decisions pertaining to relationships. I can see why some would consider it reductionist (Piercy class notes, September 29, 2011). I think I would feel that a therapist was not taking my personal issues seriously if they were reduced to just costs or benefits. With this in mind, a marriage and family therapist might not want to use this framework when working with major relationship issues. When the social exchange theory was further explained in class, I was able to grasp the thought of being under benefitted and over benefitted in a relationship (Piercy class notes, September 29, 2011). I do not think that any relationship is ever equal, but if we think about how and/or if each person involved benefits, we can help each person better relate to one another. This might be a better way that a therapist could use this theory in a counseling setting. As Dr. Piercy said, â€Å"Satisfaction and commitment are more important than equity† (Piercy class notes, September 29, 2011).