Human Pathophysiology Essay

A 45-year-old grocery sales clerk has been suffering from bouts of severe pain in his left flank region. He blamed it on prolonged standing for 8 hours straight while working. He was taking over-the-counter pain medications for his pain. One day, he found fresh blood in his urine. He went to a doctor who performed urine tests, CT scans, and x-rays. He was diagnosed with urinary calculi. †¢Discuss possible factors that may have been responsible for the development of the stone and use this case to show how the patient’s diet and water intake can help analyze the composition of the calculi. Factors responsible for the development can include his family or personal history, being over 40, his gender, his diet, weight, over the counter medications, and possible dehydration. He will need to drink plenty of water, avoid excess caffeine, black tea, grapefruit and apple juices. He should also avoid foods high in oxalates, limit his sodium Intake, limit his animal protein and avoi d mega-doses of vitamin C. By following this dietary and water intake method it should help analyze if the calculi composition is Calcium oxalate, Calcium phosphate, Cystine, Magnesium ammonium phosphate, or Uric acid. †¢What would be the test results of his white blood cells, blood calcium levels, CT scan, and x-ray? Urinalysis will be positive for nitrite, leukocyte esterase, and blood. The white blood cell (WBC) count will be elevated, with a left shift. Creatinine level will also be elevated in outlet obstruction. CT scan will demonstrate bladder calculi if the test is performed without IV contrast material. The unenhanced spiral CT is sensitive but yet specific in diagnosing calculi along the urinary tract and even pure urate calculi can be detected this way. KUB detects radiopaque stones because pure uric acid and ammonium urate stones are radiolucent and can be coated with a layer of opaque calcium sediment. The sonogram will show a classic hyperechoic object with posterior shadowing, and it is effective in identifying both radiolucent and radiopaque stones. (Basler, 2014) †¢Suggest the best treatment for the patient and a plan to prevent recurrence post-treatment. Treatment is with analgesics, antibiotics for infection, medical expulsive therapy, and, sometimes, shock wave lithotripsy or endoscopic procedures. †¢Facilitate calculus passage with ÃŽ ±-receptor blockers such as tamsulosin. †¢For persistent or infection-causing calculi,  complete removal using primarily endoscopic techniques. (Preminger, 2014) Prevention Drink plenty of water, get the proper amount of calcium according to your age, reduce sodium , limit animal protein such as red meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood , and avoid stone-forming foods such as beets, chocolate, spinach, rhubarb, tea, most nuts rich in oxalate, and colas rich in phosphate. References: Preminger,G. (2014, July). Urinary Calculi. Merck Manuals. Retrieved from: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary_disorders/urinary_calculi/urinary_calculi.html Pendick, D. (2013, Oct). 5 steps for Preventing Kidney Stones. Harvard Health Publications. Retrieved from: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/5-steps-for-preventing-kidney-stones-201310046721 Basler, J. (2014). Bladder Stones Workup. WEbMd. Retrieved from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2120102-workup#showall

Information System Implementation

System Implementation When it comes to implementing or installing a new system within a company or organization, there are many factors to consider, not only technology. System implementation takes place when testing is complete and the team and project manager become responsible for implementing the new information system successfully for the sponsor or for the client’s organization or company. A successful implementation can result in overall organizational efficiency and also strengthen the organization. However, a failed implementation can result in a strain on funds, schedule, and on the organization.Even though there are different implementation methods, there are more things to consider such as: commitment, risks, resistance, user involvement, training, and planning. User commitment plays a huge factor on implementing and installing a system successfully. An implementation method, such as direct cutover, will create a huge sense of commitment. When the direct cutover me thod is used, the old system is being disposed of and the new one is being installed. It is as if yesterday, you were using an old computer or system, and today you came in and there is a new computer or system in front of you.This method creates a huge sense of commitment with users because there is no system to go back to. When it comes to user commitment, the user must also be committed to change. The company or organization must be willing to implement changes, procedures, structure, and any other factors that are crucial for the system to function. This commitment, however, should not only come from users, but through the entire organization from top management down through the entire project. Edgar Schein, a former management professor from MIT, describes the perfect leadership qualities for building commitment.He states that management should pay attention to the project effort and respond to project issues in an important manner. Schein also states that it is necessary to co ach the organization to be prepared for the new system. Executive level commitment is probably the most important because employees can follow the management’s lead and can encourage shared commitment of the project goal. Every systems project has some type of risk involved. This is because the system will impact the organization and organizations are constantly changing.To manage some risks, project managers or leaders should look at the size of the project. If it is too big, they should consider breaking it into modules. They should look at the changes in technology and determine if they can stick to the same technology or whether they really do need the latest technology and if it will be beneficial. Management should also look at the capability of their team. They should question the team’s expertise. Top management should be supportive and committed as well. They can look at the budget for the project and question if it is realistic or not.Lack of risk management is also a major risk factor. Management should have contingency plans if something goes wrong. Contingency plans can be very beneficial if the organization is constantly changing. Management will have more than one plan ready depending on what might happen. Management can also question the schedule and see if it is even possible to complete it on time. However, sometimes the organization will have clearly defined goals with top management support allowing the successful implementation. Communication is also a key success factor in system implementation.The direct cutover method, for example, might create a sense of high commitment which is a success factor; however, this method is also the riskiest. There is no system to go back to if this fails. Sometimes an organization may underestimate how much things will change when it comes to implementing a new system and overestimate the organization’s ability to handle these changes. Also, if a system is very complex, it directly re lates to the amount of risk involved. At times, system implementation can be effected be resistance. There are many reasons a new system may be resisted.Sometimes a person may resist because of factors unique to the group or themselves. In this situation, the individual or group must be informed or educated and the organization can increase user participation. This is an internal factor. An external factor would be the system itself. The system could possibly be non-user-friendly or have a poor design. In this situation, the system should be corrected. It can also be modified to better suit the organization’s processes or procedures. Sometimes factors can be both internal and external. This deals with the organizational interaction of the system.System could possibly be inadequate and users may resist using it. The parallel system implementation would be a good method to use. In this method, both systems are running simultaneously. This is the safest of all methods. However, this is the most expensive of all methods and has no user commitment. There is no commitment because users feel that they can always go back because the old system is sitting right there. User involvement is correlated to quality of management. When implementing a system in an organization or company, changes should be communicated to the users relating to their experience.When these changes are clearly communicated, users can compare and contrast and this can lead to a successful implementation. Users should also be involved in the decision process. Sometimes a new system can bring a hindrance of control over users’ work. In this case, a pilot implementation method would be beneficial. In this method, the new system is tested in one area. The old system eventually overlaps with the new. There is a low risk and a low cost. However, if the test group does not consist of many people, there is not much testing taking place.Some parts of the organization may resist being the test ing group. Training is also a vital factor in successful system implementation. A successful training plan should include everyone who will use and support the new system. There should be appropriate timing on when to schedule the training. Training should ensure that users understand the new processes, interdependencies, and workflows as well as the basic functions of the system. In this situation, a phased implementation method would be beneficial. During the phased method, the system is introduced to different parts of the organization or company.They may introduce the system in specific departments at certain times. This will allow the department to prepare and allow the project team to learn from experience when it comes to implementing the system in different parts of the organization. Planning is a huge part of any project, no matter the size. A project plan should be well defined. If an organization has strong leadership along with a great plan that is clearly stated and wel l accepted by the organization, then there will be a strong source of motivation allowing members of the rganization to work together to reach that common goal. A good project plan should have an analysis of the needs of the organization, specifications of team members’ roles, project schedule, success factors, risk analysis, training requirements, and functions and processes that will be effected. Having a clearly stated project plan will allow all members of the organization to know what to expect, how it is going to affect them, and how long it will affect them for.There may be more than one way to implement a system. However, commitment, risks, resistance, user involvement, training, and planning are important factors to look at. Some methods may be quicker or cheaper than others; however, if the organization is committed, all the risks have been analyzed, there is little to no resistance, the user is involved with proper training, and there is a clearly defined project p lan, the system implementation will most likely succeed regardless of what implementation method is used.

The Individualized Education Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Individualized Education Program - Essay Example When a student undergoes assessment on whether they need special education, they undergo a series of assessment tests. The first of these is visual and hearing tests. The screening for this test is necessary to examine bad performance, which may have resulted from difficulties in hearing or clear eyesight. Once this is completed, a test of intellectual ability follows. An intelligence quotient (IQ) test or simply a regular test for students of similar age and class is administered to check the intellectual level and ability. Achievement on schoolwork and even extracurricular activities is carried out to find the areas of strength and weaknesses. Parents provide the developmental history of the student, which is compared against the formal stages of development of other students. Lastly, the social and behavioral functioning is tested, where closer patterns of socialization such as more engagement in extracurricular activities are examined and recommended. The teacher's evaluation is the first step to assess the student's performance. According to Friend, teachers have experiences and knowledge of a student’s behavior and weaknesses/strengths in comparison to classmates. The teacher has to collaborate with the Intervention Assistance Team, which includes the general teacher, special education teacher, speech language pathologist, and school nurse. Parents, with guidance and supervision from the special education teacher, are the right party to handle the decision on the setting of the boy’s special education.

Is digital marketing a force for good or evil Use academic references Essay

Is digital marketing a force for good or evil Use academic references and practical examples to critically address this question - Essay Example nique that is used for the promotion of the products and services using the database-driven online distribution channels so as to reach the consumers in the relevant, cost-effective and personal manner. The digital marketing includes: online marketing such as website optimisation, Search Engine Optimisation, Video Search Engine Optimisation (VSEM), Social Media Optimisation (SMO), blogs & forums, online display advertising, and email marketing, mobile marketing such as messaging, mobile internet, and App Advertising, eMedia marketing such as video, audio, and the content delivered through the electronic devices. Despite businesses changing drastically into the digital marketing, the digital age has brought both the good and evil part. This paper will investigate the good and evil part of digital marketing. The emergence of the digital marketing has changed the modern market. Despite some of the limitation of the digital marketing in terms of the bandwidth, the diffusion and the technological issues, many of the offline transactions are now being replicated online in a quite successful manner (Boone, & Kurtz, 2013). Though this is comprehensive, it’s not yet exhaustive. The value of the examination of the list of the dual platform behaviours recognizes that digital marketing can affect certain aspects of the marketing behaviour via its unique features it presents to consumers, both negatively and positively. The increased competition, high costs and rivalry among firms demands that organisations establish long-term relationships with the customers to be able to retain and increase their market shares (Casalo et al., 2008). With relationship marketing winning, businesses are turning to digital marketing to understand consumers’ behaviours and to encourage brand loyalty and involvement. Additionally, digital marketing derives some benefits such as the perceived value, customer loyalty, and commitment. Customer loyalty can be defined as the perceived form of re-

Educational leaders Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Educational leaders - Assignment Example †¢ Creation of an extensive environment of collaboration within schools.  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Creation of an extensive environment of collaboration within schools.  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Most importantly, in schools, the formation of action groups facilitates in resolving the problems faced by children. The collective brainstorming sessions help to come to a consensus which is accepted by everyone concerned.It means to me that leadership initiatives are important factors that help inculcate a strong sense of responsible behavior and rational approach. I should always try to rationalize the contentious issue and apply critical thinking to come to the right decision. Knowledge becomes the single most important tool that empowers individuals and encourages one to understand the problem and resolve the issue through mutually. Moreover, I understood the importance of collaborative environment where teachers, administrators, and students together make collective decisions for the welfare of the students as well as for the school. Most importantly, shared goals should also promote collective decision making. Hence the formation of problem-solving work group greatly facilitates consensus that resolves the issue amicably.I intend to apply the knowledge gained to my life in general. Effective decision making is a responsible and hugely crucial aspect of personal and professional growth. As a student also, efficient and effective decision making based on informed choice greatly improves and improvises the productive outcome of all our learning processes involving projects, class work, and examination etc.

Special need offender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Special need offender - Essay Example In most countries, convicted sex offenders are required to register with the sex offenders’ registry in their areas of jurisdiction. These registry databases are open to the public for viewing (Borzecki, 2008). If an individual is involved in a high-level sexual offence, he or she is deemed to stay in the registry forever but if the crime is low level, he or she may be registered for a short duration of time. There are various programs that have been established to aid in treating the sexual offenders and all programs are geared towards one goal: making the offenders refrain from committing future sexual offences. Before an individual is admitted to a treatment program it is always essential for the individual to admit guilt and agree to be treated. The reason behind this is that all sexual offenders are manipulative in nature and when put together they will effectively confront their manipulative problem since all of them have had similar experiences. Another reason for group therapy is that the offenders will be free to share with each other without fear of being victimized. These therapy groups provide the sexual offenders with the right environment to be aware of the harm they cause to their victims; they acquire new skills of coping with life as well as learn healthy ways of meeting their sexual and emotional needs both from their peers and therapists (Borzecki, 2008). Group therapy has its own pitfalls in that some sexual offenders don’t fully explain their inner most feelings. Some may hide their true emotions and tell lies to their counterparts. As a result, ascertaining if a sexual offender is telling the truth to others could be difficult. Secondly, there’s always no evidence of success of this therapy to cure sexual abuse and prevent recidivism. It is just an approach that is insisted by the system. Community notification is also a program that has been put in place in order to curb sexual offences. In this program convicted sexu al offenders are required to register to the sexual offenders’ registry and these databases are left to the public for view. The state also has a role to play by informing the public about sex offenders who live in close proximity. This program is efficient in the sense that sex offenders who are known to the public are arrested more quickly for new crimes than offenders who are not known to the public. Community notification on the other hand, has resulted in many sexual offenders losing their jobs or home, getting threats or being harassed or losing their property. Research has shown that 19% of sex offenders have realized some negative consequences in other family members. (Furby, 2009). Community notification does not fully play its role of enhancing public safety by exerting stressors such as loss of employment, shame, isolation and depression on a sexual offender. These may force the sexual offenders to commit sexual crimes again in protest of their fate. Some states al so publicize the location of sex offenders without fully conducting risk assessment and this may bring anxiety among citizens making them live in constant fear. Residence restriction is also a program implored by many states to reduce sexual offenders’ activities. These states have enacted laws which prevent sexual offenders from residing in close proximity to a day care centre, a school or a school bus stop. The most common restrictive distance is 1,000 to

Nutrition discussion Unit 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nutrition discussion Unit 4 - Essay Example A checklist where dietician enters pertinent information about the patient is used. Since the rest of the team requires drawing reference to the information, the form is placed on the patient’s medical record. The process of checking the nutritional status of a patient is a four-step model. Every in-patient checking to the hospital must receive nutritional screening to determine whether they face nutritional impairment or not Coulston & Boushey (2013). Thorough screening is run on patients who are at risk of nutritional impairment and a nutritional support program is developed and initiated by the dietician. Monitoring to the patient is done to ensure positive response to the program. Although hospitals have been running these tests on patients, they have not put enough emphasis on the Programme. Out patients rarely receive the tests, yet they could also be suffering from the problem. The program is very expensive and only sustainable to patients who can afford it. Though hospitals are trying to eliminate cases of malnourishment, a lot more need be

Applied Science Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Applied Science - Personal Statement Example In my estimation, A scientist trained in the formal disciplines of Physics or Chemistry, engaged in academic activity can not claim superiority over a Scientific Man who by using his gifted faculties is able to translate his informal knowledge of science in to products of common use which actually are the raison-de-etre of science. I would like to pose a question that, what is the reason that prompts us to engage ourselves in the quest to understand what exists around us My answer is to seek benefit for humanity. A quest for knowledge cannot be and should not be an end in itself but should be aimed and directed at transmitting benefits to the people. The allegation that ideas conceived by some 'scientists' earlier are picked up by someone not formally trained in Scientific Disciplines are made in to products which can be used by ordinary people requires a response. I would like to argue that nothing can be termed as purely original, human mind has been thinking and dreaming since eons. We are specie of dreamers; God has granted us this unique ability, rather a superior ability among other animals. If a scientist thinks of a theory, I am sure someone not belonging to the select group, claiming monopoly over science, must have dreamt the dream sitting by the fire, after a tiring hunt. It is the dream which urges the creativity and the urge for quest. The dream of flying if ever it becomes a reality will be result of a dream rather then scientists arguing over polemics. Having said that I would now relate briefly how the dream of electric lighting became a reality and contrary to the claim of being branded unscientific, how it was endorsed by the scientific community and lauded by the public. It was as early as 1874 that my electric device was appreciated by Mr. George Barker at Franklin Institute. In the year 1878 it was none other then Mr. George Barker an eminent scientist, Professor of Physics at University of Pennsylvania, Associate Editor of American Journal of Science, member of NAS and later the President of AAAS, with whom I discussed the idea of electric lighting, on a trip to Wyoming to observe a solar eclipse, like other scientists. As it is common knowledge that Mr. Barker has impeccable credentials as a scientist, he appreciated my idea and arranged my visit to see the arc light bulb built by Messer Moses Farmer and William Wallace in Connecticut. Mr. Barker showed his sagacity while praising my work in the Washington meeting of NAS held in April 1878. In that meeting I demonstrated phonograph which was appreciated greatly by the audience as a great product of science. The same year I was invited to join AAAS and I joined. The prestigious organization theref ore recognized the scientific merit of my work. I would also like to further strengthen my scientific credentials in the eyes of those who take a negative view of my work, by stating that Mr. Upton a 'trained' scientist by the standards so jealously being guarded, is a close associate and assists my work. The very fact that he, a man of science is working with me demonstrates that what I do is nothing but Science. It has also been alleged that I do not adhere to the accepted norms of scientific scholarship. The particular allegation that I have in mind is the reference made to my reporting the scientific findings that I make, to the newspapers, which the public reads. My assertion is that;

Inspirational Essay Example for Free

Inspirational Essay We walk around in the world and we as human beings look to find fulfillment and happiness in many things such as sports, friends, and boy/girlfriends and as young people when we get rejected by these things we act like we can’t go on with life. . But i challenge you to think about the meaning of LIFE. Well Life is a Gift of God, Abundance of receiving things. . In John 4 its speaks on living water and how Jesus uses both the physical and spiritual meaning of water when he speaks to the Samaritan Woman, He refers to the spiritual side as living water. People in the world tend to you suicide or hurting themselves as a way out of situations but God gave us eternal life so that we may be humble servants unto him. . God never puts more on us than we can bear. . Life is important so we really need to know the meaning of it because it seems to be lost in todays society. .I used to be bitter and sad before i had gotten saved. . I had a huge void that needed to be filled and nothing truly could fill it. . Except GOD.

Thomas Hobbes Essay Example for Free

Thomas Hobbes Essay Thomas Hobbes was an Englishman who wrote the Leviathan during the English Civil War in the 17th century. Naturally Hobbes spends chapter five, and most of the Leviathan describing how to avoid internal conflict. Hobbes argues that by using logical reasoning and eliminating disagreement a state can avoid internal conflict. Hobbes begins chapter five with a definition for reason and the operations that are involved. Hobbes continues his explanation of reason by describing the proper use of reasoning and how absurdity arises. He elaborates on errors and absurdities, explicitly their causes. Hobbes ends chapter five with his description of the connection between reason and science. Hobbes describes reason as the summation of information, or the analyzing of the repercussions of the actions to which we are reasoning for or against. Particularly, the consequences others will pay in one’s attainment of their goal. Hobbes describes operations used by mathematicians: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; Logicians use the same operations but with words. Politicians use these same operations to delegate duties among men. Hobbes elaborates, â€Å"In sum whatsoever the matter, a place for addition and subtraction, there is also a place for reason; and where these have no place, there reason has nothing at all to do†(32). Addition and subtraction are not caged in mathematics; these operations are also the foundation of reason. Hobbes then explains that reason does not exist without fault. Even the most capable, attentive, practiced men can reach false conclusions. Just as mathematicians can make mistakes in their calculations, no mans reason is certain even if approved by many. Hobbes states that reason can be driven by ulterior motives. Men create reasoning that will help to push their agenda and reach their intended goal. Hobbes explains that when we are using reason we must proceed cautiously. Man must carefully analyze the foundation of his reasoning. Hobbes then describes how an error and absurdity can occur. Relying on knowledge of previous reasoning can lead one to a different outcome; this is what Hobbes defines as an error. When one draws a conclusion based on false assumptions, this is what Hobbes defines as absurdity or senseless speech. However, Hobbes further explains that an error is a deception, there is no way to truly determine whether it is impossible. Hobbes argues that the phrase free will is absurd. The word free itself is not free from opposition. Hobbes argues that philosophers are the most guilty of preaching absurdities, â€Å"Nothing so absurd, but may be found in the books of philosophers†(34). Unlike mathematics, there is no solid foundation of information to work upon. Hobbes then explains how these absurdities arise. In seven points Hobbes explains that absurdity arises from the preaching of unaccredited philosophies and improper estimation of ramifications of applying said philosophies. Hobbes argues that a man can avoid absurdity by properly analyzing consequences of actions in order to reach a particular goal. A man must have a good foundation of principles in order to reason logically. Hobbes states that reason is not inherent, nor can it be obtained by experience only. There is no right reason constituted by nature. One must properly identify the components involved in their reasoning and have a solid method of operation to analyze the ramifications of one’s actions. Hobbes explains the connection between science and reasoning, â€Å" Science is simply the knowledge of consequences, and dependence of the one fact upon another†(35). To Hobbes, the process of science is reason. In practicality man should use prudence in reasoning, however many profess their sapience, using alternative untested methods to yield the same results. Rather than rely on the credited work by authors, they create their own version of reasoning and mode of operation. Hobbes argues that this philosophical reformation is necessary to the preservation of peace. This reformed logical reasoning will be easily applicable to everyone. If a state promotes the use of practical logic as definite as geometric logic, the state could avoid internal warfare. Hobbes argues that we must not accept that something is true just because many believe it to be true. In order to properly analyze the truth, the people must appoint a leader to judge and determine the proper way to deal with issues that face the state. Hobbes states that the only way to eliminate internal conflict is to eliminate disagreement. By subduing to a higher power that promotes logical reason rather than false philosophies, a state can eliminate internal conflict.

Factors Influencing Accuracy of Interpersonal Perception

Factors Influencing Accuracy of Interpersonal Perception What factors influence the accuracy of interpersonal perception  and the judgments we make about other people? Within the social environment, interpersonal perception is used frequently to make judgments about other people. The accuracy of these can have considerable bearing in a business context, affecting, for example, whether a colleague is considered trustworthy or an individual motivated enough to warrant managerial training. These are clearly important decisions which could prove detrimental to an organisation if incorrect, yet for a number of reasons, assessments of other people may be quite inaccurate. By recognising such risks, the organisation may be able to develop strategies to help ensure more effective decision-making and operations. Establishing the accuracy of social judgments is highly complex and perhaps impossible (Pennington 1993: 108). Most such assessments have a culturally situated element: they are made in socio-cultural contexts that influence what might be correct. For example, Saucier and Goldberg (2001), who have carried out research in the applicability of personality testing in different nations, find that terms used to describe personality do not have equivalents in all languages, resulting in a need to recognise different personality frameworks from region to region. Various cognitive phenomena have been identified that may also compromise accuracy. Stereotyping, for example, is identified by Huczynski and Buchanan (1991: 48) as present in interpersonal perception, and involves attributing particular qualities to an individual on the basis of limited information using prior knowledge and experience. The tendency to stereotype has been attributed to cognitive economy (Pennington 1993: 115-6). Because the environment is so rich in information, the cognitive processing capabilities of the mind struggle to respond to it all. Stereotyping allows a detailed assessment to be created from limited information processing, making fewer cognitive demands. However, because a large proportion of information is overlooked, stereotyping can lead to significant inaccuracies. The related concept of prejudice is described by Goleman as â€Å"emotional learning that takes place early in life† (1996: 157). Goleman notes that nevertheless, individuals typically deny prejudices and attempt to justify prejudiced decisions by formulating alternative reasons for them (ibid). This perhaps reflects the cognitive dissonance of wishing to appear reasonable within a context where prejudice is unacceptable while nevertheless holding such beliefs. This results in a situation where not only do prejudices lead to inaccurate assessments, but also the reasoning behind the assessments is itself inaccurate. The fundamental attribution error (FAE), described as â€Å"the tendency to attribute another person’s behaviour to their dispositional qualities rather than situational factors† (Langdridge and Butt 2004: 359), has been widely researched by psychologists working in the social cognitive tradition. In Western cultures, the FAE is reflected by a scenario where a worker blames having to de-ice their car (a situational factor) before driving to work for their lateness, while their employer may see it as a reflection that the worker is poorly organised (a dispositional factor). Again, cultural factors are influential: it has been found that in the US, dispositional biases are widespread while in East Asia a more holistic approach is taken (Norenzayan and Nisbett 2000: 132), resulting in the FAE being less commonly seen in eastern cultures (ibid). Huczynski and Buchanan (1991 48-9) suggest that if interpersonal judgments are to be more accurate, then it is important to be self-aware and recognise one’s own biases. However, even this process demands culturally-situated reflexivity and may be subject to similar inaccuracies. For example, Seligman finds that the majority of individuals overestimate their social skills, with the most accurate self-perception being among those with depression (1990: 109-110). This may suggest that a positively distorted view of oneself is advantageous to well-being, and that its abundance leads to poor evaluation of others because of individuals’ inability to recognise their own weakness of judgment. A further factor to consider is whether judgments are made by individuals or socially. Gleitman identifies the mechanism of social comparison as important in making judgments: this involves establishing what others’ views might be in order to help form a judgment (1995: 418). Group dynamics were explored extensively by Tajfel, who notes several characteristics of stereotyping in group situations with, for example, role stereotypes are more often applied by groups to themselves (the in-group) while ethnic stereotypes are more often applied to out-groups, the groups which are not part of the in-group (1982: 5-6). Additionally, if one member of a group stands out from the others, the tendency of the rest of the members is to stereotype them more actively (ibid: 8). The mechanisms by which judgments are made may contribute towards inconsistencies between individuals making them. Comparison is fundamental to assessment, according to Mussweiler (2003) who argues that this is done against a standard already established by the judge. Because of individual variations, different judges would be likely to use different standards, leading to different assessments. Comparison against low standards may lead to the ‘halo’ effect, where an individual is seen more positively than might be warranted (Huczynski and Buchanan 1991: 48). Another issue is the use of formalised models that may have limited flexibility and overcategorise. This is particularly relevant when applying theoretical constructs in the workplace. For example, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests that individuals move up through different levels of need as each lower level is satisfied (Maslow 1943). It has been criticised for its implication that one need will take precedence (Hersey et al 1996: 45), but it is possible that for some individuals, higher needs may be of little interest even when lower needs are satisfied. The challenge emerging from the above evidence is to establish whether it is possible to minimise risks of poor judgment through conscious effort to overcome the cognitive mechanisms leading to biases. While it is possible that formal controls such as empirically-tested measures could help, there are still issues of the informal judgment of one individual when introduced to another, not to mention the practicalities and ethical issues regarding testing. Overall, this appears to be an area where inaccuracies and biases may always be influential to some degree, thus awareness may be the best approach to preventing them having a detrimental effect on the organisation. Bibliography Gleitman H (1995) Psychology 4th Edition (New York/London: W W Norton and Company) Goleman D (1996) Emotional Intelligence (London: Bloomsbury) Hersey P, Blanchard K and Johnson D (1996) Management of Organizational Behavior: Utilizing Human Resources 7th Edition (New Jersey: Prentice Hall International) Huczynski A and Buchanan D (1991) Organizational Behaviour 2nd Edition (Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall International) Langdridge D and Butt T (2004) ‘The fundamental attribution error: A phenomenological critique’ in British Journal of Social Psychology Vol 43 pp357-369 Maslow A (1943) ‘A Theory of Human Motivation’ in Psychological Review Vol 50 pp370-96 Mussweiler T (2003) ‘Comparison Processes in Social Judgment: Mechanisms and Consequences’ in Psychological Review Vol 110 (3) pp472-489 Norenzayan A and Nisbett R (2000) ‘Culture and Causal Cognition’ in Current Directions in Psychological Science Vol 9 (4) pp132-135 Pennington D (1993) Essential Social Psychology (London: Edward Arnold) Saucier G and Goldberg L (2001) ‘Lexical Studies of Indigenous Personality Factors: Premises, Products and Prospects’ in Journal of Personality Vol 69 (6) pp847-879 Seligman M (1990) Learned Optimism (New York: Simon and Schuster) Tajfel H (1982) ‘Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations’ in Annual Review of Psychology Vol 33 pp1-39

Essay --

Brazilian Carnival History is more in-depth and more interesting than many people might think. There is a lot more to Carnival than simply parties. The pre-Lent festivities known as carnival originated in Italy in the 1400s. The tradition spread rapidly among Catholic countries in Europe and was in the end adopted in the Americas, taking hold especially in the devoutly Catholic nation of Brazil. The Carnival of Brazil is a festival annually held Friday to Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally restrain themselves from the consumption of meat and poultry. This is where the term "carnival" comes from, carnelevare, which means "to remove meat." Carnival has roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia which was adopted in Catholicism becoming a goodbye to things in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's dea th and resurrection. The Brazilian Carnival has gone from being just a party before the silence of Lent to being a major production. It can be traced back to Christian traditions, African influences and Brazilian Indians. Each part of Brazil has developed its own particular style for Carnival. The history of the carnival has multiple influences. Modern Brazilian Carnival History started in the 1800's. Throughout the 1800's a cobbler named Josà © Nogueira de Azevedo started having parades with his friends and family. In 1855 a more organized parade called the Grandes Sociedades, or Great Societies was held. In 1870 a more common parade began, complete with traditions of wearing masks and costumes. Samba Schools are a big 20th Century Part of Brazilian Car... ...ed, and a little something from the food stands that line the festival area. After the parade most festival participants indulge in the country's record famous dish, feijoada. Feijoada can be made in a countless number of varieties. However, in Brazil it nearly always has black beans and always includes a mixture of salted, smoked and fresh meats. Some types are a little spicy from the sausages while others are absolutely mild. Some people’s feijoadas are thick while others are more similar to a traditional stew. Regardless of the variation it is customary to serve this stew with white rice, black beans, and hearts of palm salad, hot peppers, and orange slices. I chose this holiday because it has many parties, different types of music, and amazing costumes. It is a huge festival that attracts many people from different places to just have fun and enjoy themselves.

Sophie’s Heart :: Essays Papers

Sophie’s Heart This novel is excellent and extremely well written. It follows the life of Sophie, a Czechoslovakian woman who immigrates to America. Sophie was a translator for the Czech Government and is fluent in German, Italian, Russian and Polish. Unfortunately, Sophie was not fluent in English. When Sophie comes to America she has huge difficulties in finding a job. After 9 months in America she meets Janet Ring at a local church. Janet and her family then slowly get to know Sophie and realize that Sophie is not happy working in a restaurant or happy living in Chicago. She realizes what a special person Sophie is, Sophie is a strong person who does not allow others to take advantage of her. Yet she has a tender heart and is able to share it with others. God then lays a solution for her brother on her heart. She approaches Alec about hiring Sophie as their housekeeper. There is reluctance on his side, yet he does not want his children burdened any more. He agrees to take Sophie on a trial perio d. Sophie wants to get out of the city and the restaurant. She loves children and jumps at the opportunity Janet offers her. When she meets the Riley family she realizes that God can use her there to help this hurting family. She has not desire to replace Vanessa Riley, but would like to help them as they adjust. Sophie moves into the apartment above the garage. She works every morning till late at night. Alec works lots and rarely gets to come home and eat with his family. The children miss their father but get used to his absence. Craig is reluctant to get even remotely close to Sophie. He is afraid that she is trying to take place of his mother. He also worried that if he gets close he will forget his mother. Tory the youngest is very attached to Sophie. She teaches Sophie the American ways. Introduces her to â€Å"The Price is Right† and other popular American TV shows. Rita, the eldest of the three is there helping Sophie with anything she needs to feel comfortable. She takes Sophie grocery shopping, as Sophie doesn’t drive. Rita also takes Sophie clothing shopping to help her with her style. Sophie does not want to be an inconvenience and is extremely polite. Sophie wakes up two hours early on Sundays to walk to church because she couldn’t dare ask the Riley family for a ride.

Existentialism and Metamorphosis Essay

Existentialism is defined as a modern philosophical movement stressing the importance of one’s experience and accountability. Its focus is the make on the personal reflections that these make on the individual, who is seen as a free agent in a deterministic and seemingly meaningless universe. Its philosophy is meticulous that, in a nutshell, advocates a diverse arsenal of responses and solutions to the ‘existentialist attitude’; which, essentially, is what an individual feels when confronted by the absurdity of life. Throughout humanity, rumination and self-proclaimed ‘ultimate’ truths have assumed various forms: poetry, religion, and numerous other doctrines and textual works. In The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka narrates the ramifications of a metamorphosis in which the subject and protagonist, a man named Gregor Samsa, is transformed into a bug. Despite the novella’s literary methods and influences, the most prominent being the way Kafka so nonchalantly describes such irregularity in his life, The Metamorphosis is also hailed as a prime textual work of existentialism, the previously mentioned philosophical movement. Both prior and subsequent to the transformation, Kafka portrays Gregor as a man who seems lost within himself, and lacking identity. The reminiscences of his past are neither nostalgic nor poignant: his human life is seen to revolve solely around trivial matters. His social life pays the price from this, his failure to assert a concrete and consistent existence. The extent of his lack of individuality is further exemplified by his reaction to the metamorphosis: finding himself â€Å"transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect† (Kafka, 296), he prioritizes work over all else, even in his newly equated insect form. Furthermore, he panics because â€Å"the next train went at seven o’clock; to catch that he would need to hurry like mad and his samples weren’t even packed up† (297). Gregor’s identity crisis is a device for conveying Kafka’s belief of an impersonal society where individualism is drastically mitigated as a result of excessive materialism. Gregor, in the context of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Notes from Underground analogy, would be the ‘ant’ in the anthill— thus rendering his metamorphosis ironically. Another dominant theme prevalent throughout the novella is the absurd situation Gregor is confronted by. These nonsensical happenings (296-327) reflect the world as seen from the existentialist perspective: a world absent of a rational and comprehensive objective. Jean-Paul Sartre postulated that ‘every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance’. This meaninglessness is precisely what Gregor is victim to in the microcosm of society that Kafka generates: Gregor flounders about, beleaguered by absurdity and helplessness, presumably because he is unaware of Nietzsche and Kierkegaard’s somewhat consoling conclusions that one must devise meaning for one’s own existence ex nihilo. Once again, Kafka utilizes a combination of plot and character to convey his angst concerning an apparently pointless existence. Freedom— or rather the lack thereof— is another existentialist tenet that Kafka addresses. Gregor is depicted as someone constrained by self-imposed burdens, the most demanding being the role as the financial pillar of the family. Despite having the freedom to repudiate this role, Gregor instead pursues it with feverish ardor to the extent that it becomes his ‘sole desire’ (310). Yet his harangue regarding his career (297-298) reveals that this is not due to personal desire, but rather the belief that he must replace his father financially, regardless of preference. Gregor’s delusion regarding an absence of choice contradicts what Kafka perceives as the truth: that freedom is ubiquitous in spite of any ethical obligations we may be expected to adhere to, and that the individual defines his or herself via one’s decisions. A quasi-motto of existentialism coined by Sartre, ‘existence precedes essence’. In conclusion, Kafka employs the fictional literary elements he constructs to address the very non-fictional, existentialist aspects of society and life. Akin to Dostoyevsky’s Notes from Underground, it can be interpreted as both a rumination and tirade against impersonal communities, restriction of freedom, and the absurdity of life.

Tok ‘Habit Is Stronger Than Reason’ to What Extent Is This Tru in 2 Aoks

‘Habit is stronger than reason. ’ To what extent is this true in two areas of knowledge? Habit could be referred to as a tradition people have. Many people have habits that they are unaware of, for example, when people put their socks on, some people do the right first and some people do the left first. Habit is a factor that is present all through a person’s daily life. Habit represents the way in which we do things because we do it every day continuously. Habit is particularly important because learning something doesn’t make you better at it unless you practice it enough times.An old kung fu saying is â€Å"I’m not afraid of the man that known 1000 moves and practiced them all once, I’m afraid of the man that knows one move and practiced it 1000 times. † This quote means that when someone has a habit of doing something, the habit keeps getting stronger and stronger also meaning that it could become much harder to stop. When a person learns something new, there are a few stages which the brain as to go through. The first one being where you don’t know about it and you don’t know how to do it.Then there are a couple of steps where your brain learns to adapt to it and where you can practice something enough times but you still have to think about every step you are doing. The last step to this is where the all of it becomes automatic and that is when habit overpowers reason. An area of knowing where habit is much stronger than reason is in Ethics. My uncle who is a heavy smoker and knows all the consequences of smoking has obviously developed a habit of smoking and cannot stop it. My uncle comes home from work every day and the first thing he does is smoke a few cigarettes before eating or sleeping.Sometimes a habit can lead to an addiction where it can become dangerous showing how strong a habit can get. My uncle is aware that the habit has become too strong to stop it. He is aware of everything tha t he is putting himself into but refuses to stop smoking. He had told me last year that he feels that every part of his body is telling him to stop smoking and everyone around him tells him to stop smoking, but he said that it is something that helps him calm down even though he is causing harm to his body.This shows that when a habit has developed, it is hard to stop and you feel incomplete without it, as if something is not right. This is also another way in which we can say that habit is stronger than reason. Another way in which ethics shows that habit is stronger than reason is; when someone drops their books in front of you, a person’s instant response would be to help them pick the books up because it is the right thing to do and there is no harm in picking up someone’s books.However, if you had known that the person whose books just fell was a murderer, would you still pick up the books? Reason would indicate that you should run away from the murderer. Most peo ple though would never think that the person whose books just dropped would be a murderer (because of how good ethics and morals teach you that everyone is good on the inside and I someone needs help, the right thing to do would be to help them) which is why you would help the person pick up the books because no one would ever think of it being a murderer.This shows that people with good ethics and good morals never need a reason for doing the right thing, it can become a habit to be a ‘good person’, this includes opening the door for someone or helping an old lady cross the road. Moreover, another area of knowing where habit has been shown to be stronger than reason is in the Arts. In the arts, say theatre arts, dance and photography, habit can be a lot stronger than reason. They say practice makes perfect, like mentioned before. This does not mean that reason is no longer important. What it means is that habit takes priority.In movies for example when actors are pract icing their acting or musicians are practicing their instruments or when dancers are practicing their dancing, they would need to practice over and over again until the performance becomes a habit. Until the actors become their character and everything comes out natural and fluent and until the musicians practice their music enough times that they don’t need to read their notes because they remember every note of every song and it becomes unlikely that they will forget it and until the dance becomes something that becomes automatic and there is no need to think about when you are doing.This is an example of how a habit can be adapted on purpose and the person is fully aware that they have adapted this habit but they are still able to stop this habit without reasoning. There are cases where habits are shown to be much stronger than reason but there are some cases where reason is more powerful than habit. Where no matter what habit you have adopted, your reason is stronger and the habit becomes nothing. An example of this would be in Mathematics where reason is generally more important than habit. In math you would learn many different equations and finding the correct way to solve a problem.To approach a problem in mathematics, you would need to use reasoning to find out how to approach the answer. Even though you may need some form of habit to help you layout your answer, reason is much more important than habit in this case. Many answers in math require you to evaluate the question and understand a lot more than what the question is asking you to do and there can me a lot of information and many questions may require different processing skills so habit is not an important factor compared to reason in this case.Humans by design are creatures of habit. Every day we tend to go through the same ritual if daily life. It may be the same routine every morning (i. e: wake up, shower, change cloths, pack bag, put on shoes, etc) or it could be sitting in the sa me seat as you do every day even when you can move if you want to. Sometimes however, you can break out of your habit easily and sometimes it can be very difficult because it becomes a way of life.

Meaning of Life and Fast Lane Essay

leave well enough alone | let well enough alone Meaning: If you leave well enough alone, or let well enough alone, you don’t try to improve or change something that’s already good enough. For example: The kids seem happy enough now so let’s just leave well enough alone and forget about finding a new school for them.? skate on thin ice- Meaning: If you’re skating on thin ice, you’re doing something risky, or you’re in a situation that could quickly become dangerous. jockey for position- Meaning: If you jockey for position, you try to get yourself in a good position in relation to others who’re competing for the same opportunity or the same goal. let the cat out of the bag – Meaning: If you let the cat out of the bag, you let someone know a secret. You could have knocked me over with a feather. – Meaning: You can say â€Å"you could have knocked me over with a feather† to show how surprised you were when something happened, or when you heard about something. add fuel to the fire If you add fuel to the fire, you do something to make a bad situation even worse. Ahead of the game You are ahead of the game if you have an advantage over your competitors in any activity in which you try to do better than others, such as in business, academia, sports, etc. all the rage Informal If something is all the rage, it’s very popular or it’s in fashion at the moment. asking for trouble If someone is asking for trouble, they’re doing something risky that could lead to a problem. itchy feet Informal If you have itchy feet, you feel the need to go somewhere different or do something different. in the long run If you talk about something â€Å"in the long run†, you mean over a long period of time. At cross-purposes If you’re at cross-purposes with someone, you think you’re both talking about the same thing but you’re actually talking about different things. at loose ends If you’re at loose ends, you feel restless and unsettled because you don’t have anything to do. a blessing in disguise You can say something is a blessing in disguise if it appears to be bad at first, but it results in something very good in the end. back to square one If you have to go back to square one, you have to stop and start again, usually because something isn’t working as well as expected. bite your tongue | hold your tongue If you bite your tongue, or hold your tongue, you force yourself not to say something you really want to to say. the icing on the cake | the frosting on the cake If something is the icing on the cake, or the frosting on the cake, it makes a good situation or a good result even better. joie de vivre If you have joie de vivre, you feel the joy of living. make hay while the sun shines If you make hay while the sun shines, you make good use of the chance to do something while it lasts. Fast friends good, loyal friends. The two of them had been fast friends since college. See also: friend fast one a clever and devious trick. (Compare this with pull a fast one. ) That was a fast one. I didn’t know you were so devious. This was the last fast one like that you’ll ever catch me with. life in the fast lane a very active or possible risky way to live. (See also in the fast lane. ) Life in the fast lane is too much for me. See also: lane, life make short work of something to deal with or finish something quickly We made short work of the food that was put in front of us. fast and furious if an activity is fast and furious, it is done quickly and with a lot of energy The first half of the game was fast and furious with both teams scoring three goals each. Ngn av dessa till din story a queer fish Meaning: If someone’s a queer fish, they are a bit strange and can sometimes behave in an unusual way. For example:Your great grandfather was a queer fish, Johnny. He used to write funny poems and then he’d read them aloud to everyone on the train on his way to work let the cat out of the bag Meaning: If you let the cat out of the bag, you let someone know a secret. For example: We’d planned a surprise party for Donna, but some guy she works with let the cat out of the bag, so now she knows.? Don’t forget that this is a secret, so whatever you do, don’t let the cat out of the bag.? †There? s an elephant in the room† – Meaning: If you make a killing, you make a lot of money from a sale or a deal of some sort. For example: My aunt made a killing when she bought some shares in a company as soon as they were issued, and sold them a few weeks later for three times what she paid.? Lots of people made a killing when property values went so high back in the nineties. †Bark is worse than his bite†, †put your money where your mouth is† – prove it.. alot of not air? all hell broke loose Meaning: You can say â€Å"all hell broke loose† if a situation suddenly became violent or chaotic. Bad news travels fast ’ â€Å"Bad news† means news about â€Å"bad† things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But â€Å"good news† (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly. Least said soonest mended Possible interpretation: When we do or say something bad to someone, a long apology and discussion does not help. In such a case, the less we say the better. It’s written all over your face. If you say â€Å"it’s written all over your face†, you’re saying that the expression on someone’s face is showing their true feelings or thoughts. Group 20 ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Words Relating to More Than Enough (did you get it? ) ample copious lavish myriad plethora profuse prolific superfluous surfeit Memory tips: use these mnemonics (memory devices) to boost your vocabulary. Make up your own memory clues for words in this lesson that are personally challenging. Add these tips-and your own-to your Vocabulary Notebook. Copious let yourself see the word copies within copious, and think â€Å"lots of copies. † Certainly â€Å"lots of copies† leads to the defining ideas of abundant and plentiful. Plethora Let the ple lead you to plenty. When you write plethora in your Vocabulary Notebook, underscore the ple with a colored pen or marker. Superfluous The prefix super means over and above. This knowledge is helpful because superfluous means â€Å"above what is needed; extra. â€Å" Surfeit Like super-, sur- is also a prefix meaning over and above. So a surfeit is an amount over and above what is needed. Using apperception, (http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/apperception) link a word you most likely already know, surplus, to the new word, surfeit. These two-syllable synonyms even have the same number of letters! Solidify the meaning of surfeit in your memory. Ample think of the word sample but get rid of the S. and since Ample means more than enough you can think of many samples! Lavish think of marangsvisch with lakris sas! And put the letters LA from the word Lakris instead of S. Profuse(overflodande) think about refuse and proactive, because proactive is â€Å"overflowing† with vitamins. Change the re to pro Prolific, the word productive has the same meaning, so take the PRO from productive and add it with lyric which at least makes me think of lific. So think productive lyric. Myraid (skiftande mangd) think My ride†¦ Group 19 (2nd cluster for Fall Term) Wonderful You Are! Words Relating to Praise and Respect (did you get it? ) Acclaim accolade adulate esteem eulogize exalt extol laud panegyrize revere venerate Laud If you know applaud, then simply connect the new word laud to the word you already know, applaud. The meanings of these two verbs are closely connected. Plaudits means praise. Revere You remember Paul Revere from American History, right? Now, I am sure you’ll agree that it’s only right to respect, or revere one of our nation’s Founding Fathers! Another tip: you can repeat this chant to yourself over and over â€Å"Revere the Reverend. Revere the Reverend. Revere the Reverend† Acclaim think of ass, but with cc, and slajm (slaim)! Accolade think of assa, but with cc and chocolade Adulate ad-ul-ate Esteem think of S team, but with double e Eulogize think ekoloogisk / EU logisk Exalt think Exaltera, without era, since exalterad means vara upprymd like exalt. Extol, ex stol Panegyrize think, pannkakor & risgrynsgrot Venerate Think â€Å"ata vanner†, but switch place, let vanner lead you 2 Vener, and ata-ate.

Psychological Measure Essay

Team B examines the aspects of psychological tests and measurements by focusing on the Beck Depression Inventory. Examining the two articles over the Beck Depression Inventory aids Team B in deciding services, servers, and backgrounds of the measure. The psychological testing that has developed and progressed and is used in a wide variety of settings by a wide variety of individuals is called the Beck Depression Inventory. Testing aids in serving professionals in figuring out sickness or deficiency and lending a hand in making one of a kind and individual treatment procedures. The Beck Depression Inventory is an individually administered test with 21 items, calculates personal experiences, and psychological symptoms linked with depression. Team B examined both of the articles concerning Beck Depression Inventory and was skilled in deciding the services, servers, and the background where the Beck Depression Inventory is relevant and how the psychological measure is helpful in psycholo gical regulations. Beck Depression Inventory Articles Beck Depression Inventory Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a set of 21 self-reported questions to measure the intensity, severity, and depth of depressive symptoms in patients aged 13-80 years old. A shorter BDI consists of seven questions for administration by primary care providers. The Beck Depression Inventory detects, assesses, and monitors changes in depressive symptoms among people in a mental health care environment. Aaron T. Beck, a pioneer in cognitive therapy, developed the first BDI in 1961, adapted in 1969, and copyrighted in 1979. In 1996, a second version of the BDI (BDI-II) was developed and published reflecting the revisions in the fourth edition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) (Fundukian & Wilson, 2008). The long version of the BDI consists of 21 questions or items with four possible responses. Each response contains a score from zero to three indicates the severity of the symptom the patient experienced in the previous two weeks. The version used by primary care providers (BDI-PC) consists of seven self-reported items. Fundukian and Wilson (2008) state, â€Å"Individual questions of the BDI assess mood, pessimism, sense of failure, self-dissatisfaction, guilt, punishment, self-dislike, self-accusation, suicidal ideas, crying, irritability, social withdrawal, body image, work difficulties, insomnia, fatigue, appetite, weight loss, body preoccupation, and loss of libido† (para. 6). BDI also detects depressive symptoms in a primary care setting. Completion of a BDI for a psychological or medical evaluation occurs between five to ten minutes (Fundukian & Wilson, 2008). According to Fundukian and Wilson (2008), BDI tests score differently for general population and clinically depressed individuals. The sum of BDI item scores determines the severity of depression. For the general population, a score of 21 or higher indicates depression. Clinically diagnosed individuals contain a variety of scores. Zero to nine scores indicate minimal depressive symptoms, 10 to 16 scores indicate mild depression, 17 to 29 scores indicate moderate depression, and 30 to 63 scores indicate severe depression. The BDI distinguishes between different subtypes of depressive disorder, such as major depression and dysthymia. The BDI contains content validity because of development from a consensus of clinicians about depressive symptoms in psychiatric patients. The BDI contains concurrent validity because at least 35 studies present concurrent validity between BDI and measures of depression, such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-D. The BDI contains construct validity because it relates to medical symptoms, anxiety, stress, loneliness, sleep patterns, alcoholism, suicidal behaviors, and youth adjustment. The BDI contains factor analysis because the BDI interprets as one syndrome composed of three factors: negative self-attitudes, performance impairment, and bodily disturbance. The BDI test for reliability, following established standards for psychological  tests and contains internal consistency. The BDI is valid and reliable and higher scores relate to educational attainment (Fundukian & Wilson, 2008). Breast Cancer and Breast Disease In the Kuopio Breast Cancer Study, 115 women with breast cancer symptoms participated in an in-depth interview and completed standardized questionnaires. Study variables were retrieved before completing diagnostic procedures. BDI evaluated the depression of study participants. Eskelinen and Ollonen (2011) reported, â€Å"Clinical examinations and biopsies discovered breast cancer in 34 patients, 53 patients with benign breast disease, and 28 healthy individuals. Healthy women exhibited less sadness (BDI mean score, 0.27) than women with breast cancer (BDI mean score, 0.56) and women with benign breast disease (BDI mean score, 0.49). Healthy women were less pessimistic (BDI mean score, 0.15) than patients in the breast cancer group (BDI mean score, 0.44) and the benign breast disease (BD mean score, 0.42)† (para. 3). The group of healthy women contained less self-accusation than the breast cancer group and breast benign disease group. The group of healthy women reported less work inhibition and weight loss than the breast cancer group and breast benign disease group. The results of the study do not report a specific relation between BDI scores and breast cancer risk, but patients with breast cancer and breast benign disease have an increased risk for depressive symptoms (Eskelinen & Ollonen, 2011). Compare and Contrast Each articles contains specific information about Beck Depression Inventory. The first article focuses on the definition, purpose, precautions, description, and results of the BDI. The second article focuses on a case study relating BDI to women with breast cancer and breast cancer disease. The first article focuses on an overview of BDI, but also includes BDI contains content validity, concurrent validity, construct validity, factor analysis, and reliability. The second article focuses on a specific disease and case study connecting with BDI. Both articles relate because they include BDI scores and depressive bodily symptoms relating to BDI. Analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory Beck Depression Inventory (DBI) is a questionnaire that consists of â€Å"21 items, each describing a behavioral manifestation together with between four and six self – evaluative statements from which the respondent is ask to choose the one that is most applicable† (Colman, 2006, p. 84). The originally developed in 1961and revised in1993 the DBI-II was published in 1996. There are more DBI tests that are designed to measure other conditions such as suicide, anxiety and hopelessness (Colman, 2006, p, 84). This test can be self – administered or oral for people with learning disabilities. Anyone can be trained to administer and score this test however; according to (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 2012, para. 6) it can only be properly interpreted by a psychiatrist. This process begins when the patient first sees their primary care physician and complains of feeling sad, hopelessness, loss of sleep, problems with eating whether eating too little or over eating, or even ache s and pains. â€Å"In Beck’s view, the person who becomes depressed usually has a pattern of negative thoughts† (Robbins, 2003, p. 145, para 11). Some things that might be experienced by the patient are a belief of inadequacy, failure, and they are receiving unfair treatment by life. It is a common practice to have a brief questionnaire in the primary care physician office concerning the signs and symptoms of depression to help identify people with depression. Once the primary care has exhausted their scope of treatment, they will refer the patient to a psychiatrist or psychologist for further evaluation and treatment who will administer a more detailed version of the BDI, BDI-II or the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Settings that the DBI can be used in are a clinic, in or out patients setting, counselor office, cognitive therapist, or by a psychologist. The place would depend on the patient and his or her state of mind and physical condition at the time undergoing the necessary treatment for depression. For instance the person had tried to commit suicide and needed to remain hospitalized a social worker would interview them and refer him or her to a psychologist or psychiatrist for proper treatment. Valid or Invalid The Beck Depression Inventory â€Å"has been used for 35 years to identify and assess depressive symptoms, and has been reported to be highly reliable  regardless of the population. It has a high coefficient alpha, its construct validity has been established, and it is able to differentiate depressed from non-depressed patients† (Beck, Steer; Brown, 2006). â€Å"The BDI-II manual reports correlations with a variety of other tests, arguing for both convergent and discriminant validity. It attempts to show, in the case of discriminant validity, that the test is not primarily a measure of anxiety. A factor analysis suggests that the BDI-II items tap two dimensions, one labeled Somatic-Affective, the other labeled Cognitive† (Hogan, 2007, p. 501). â€Å"The manual presents reliability and validity data based on a sample of 500 outpatients clinically diagnosed according to DSM criteria at four sites, as well as on a sample of 120 students from one Canadian college. The BDI-II manual reports alpha coefficients of .92 for the outpatient sample and .93 for the college sample. Test-retest reliability of .93 is reported for a subsample of 26 cases from the outpatient group, with a retest interval of one week† (Hogan, 2007, p. 502). â€Å"The mean scores of the first and second total scores were comparable with a paired t (25) =1.08, which was not significant† (Beck, Steer; Brown, 2006). According to a research conducted â€Å"The widely used Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was initially standardized on a sample of Caucasian university students and its use with minorities has only recently been investigated† (Sashidharan, Pawlow; Pettibone, 2012, p. 203). The research called an examination of racial bias in the Beck Depression Inventory-II, intended to examine the possibilities of bias within ethics groups and in more specific the African American race. â€Å"A hierarchical multiple regression compared the scores of the BDI-II with a similar measure of depression that is standardized for use with African Americans† (Sashidharan, Pawlow; Pettibone, 2012, p. 203 ) â€Å"The studied was perform with â€Å"977 students (139 African American students [14.2%] and 838 Caucasian students [85.8%]) was recruited from a medium-sized, public, American midwestern university’s undergraduate psychology participant pool. Data were collected over the course of an academic year, with the goal of obtaining a minimum of 100 African American participants† (Sashidharan, Pawlow; Pettibone, 2012, p. 204). â€Å"There was no evidence of racial bias discovered in the BDI-II in this sample. Implications and future directions of research are discussed.† (Sashidharan, Pawlow; Pettibone, 2012, p. 203). Conclusion The Beck Depression Inventory is helpful in psychological measurements and regulations. Team B decided the services, servers, and backgrounds of the measure while explaining the definition and uses of Beck Depression Inventory. Beck Depression Inventory aids professionals in discovering sicknesses and deficiencies in patients and aids in providing unique, individual treatment procedures. In the conclusion of Team B’s research, the team discovered the Beck Depression Inventory is relevant, helpful, and a complex topic. References Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. (2012, September 11). BECK DEPRESSION INVENTORY-SECOND EDITION (BDI-II); 1996. Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs,gov/programs/opre/ehs/perf†¦/res_meas_phic.html Beck Depression Inventory. (2008). In L. J. Fundukian & J. Wilson (Eds.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Health (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 123-124). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2699900051&v=2.1&u=uphoenix&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w Colman, A. M. (2006). OXFORD DICTIONARY OF PSYCHOLOGY (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc. Eskelinen, M. & Ollonen, P. (2011). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in patients with breast disease and breast cancer: a prospective case-control study. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21282743 Hogan, T. P. (2007). Psychological testing: A practical introduction (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Robbins, P. R. (2003). understanding PSYCHOLOGY (3rd ed.). Portland, ME: Walch Publishing. Sashidharan, T., Pawlow, L. A., & Pettibone, J. C. (2012). An examination of racial bias in the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Cultural Diversity And Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18(2), 203-209. doi:10.1037/a0027689 T. Beck, R. A. Steer, & G. K. Brown (2006). RCMAR Measurement Tools Beck Depression Inventory – 2nd Edition (BDI-II). Retrieved from http://www.musc.edu/dfm/RCMAR/Beck.html

Brant Case Analysis

97 and for the first five months of 2004, it fell to $9. 07. Question 2: When comparing performance during the first five months of 2004 with performance in 2003, which warehouse shows the poorest change in performance? The worst change is the company’s own warehouse (located in Fargo), where costs per unit shipped increased 31%. Among the public warehouses used, Denver was the worst in terms of cost per unit handled. It is also the most expensive public warehouse that Brant uses. Question 3: When comparisons are made among all eight warehouses, which one do you think does the best job for the Brant Company? What criteria did you use? Why? Using the cost per unit handled criterion, St. Louis does the best job, closely followed by Chicago. Question 4: J. Q. is aggressive and is going to recommend that his father cancel the contract with one of the warehouses and give that business to a competing warehouse in the same city. J. Q. feels that when word of this gets around, the other warehouses they use will â€Å"shape up. † Which of the seven should J. Q. recommend be dropped? Why? Denver has the lowest volume and highest unit costs among all the public warehouses used. In addition, it had been closed by a strike which must have inconvenienced the Brant Company. It may be that the warehouse workers’ unions are strong in the Denver area. J. Q. should probably check out rates and productivity measures of other Denver warehouses before deciding to drop its current warehouse there. Question 5: The year 2004 is nearly half over. J. Q. is told to determine how much the firm is likely to spend for warehousing at each of the eight warehouses for the last six months of 2004. Do his work for him. There is not enough information to do a very precise forecast. J. Q. assumes that the proportion of costs occurring during the first five months of 2003 should be in the same proportion in 2004. (1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (4) Warehouse location| % 2003 costs occurring in first five months| Actual costs for first five months of 2004 ($)| Projected total costs in 2004 ($)| Projected costs in the last six months of 2004 ($)| Atlanta| 22. 88| 40,228| 175,822| 116,204| Boston| 44. 00| 29,416| 66,885| 32,085| Chicago| 53. 43| 141,222| 264,312| 105,556| Denver| 35. 00| 14,900| 42,571| 23,714| Fargo| 54. 00| 9,605| 17,787| 7,012| Los Angeles| 72. 20| 93,280| 129,197| 30,781| Portland| 49. 30| 42,616| 86,442| 37,559| St. Louis| 44. 80| 19,191| 42,837| 20,265| The projected costs in 2004 (column 3) are calculated by dividing the actual costs for the first five months of 2004 (column 2) by the percent of 2003 costs that occurred in the first five months (column 1). For example, Atlanta’s actual 2004 costs of $40,228 divided by 2003’s 22. 88% yields projected 2004 costs of approximately $175,822. The projected costs in the last six months of 2004 (column 4) are calculated by subtracting the actual costs for the first five months of 2004 (column 2) from 2004’s projected total costs (column 3). This gives us the projected costs for the last seven months of 2004. However, we are only interested in the last six months of 2004, so this number is multiplied by 6/7, or . 857. Continuing with Atlanta, 2004’s projected total costs of $175,822 minus the first five months’ actual costs of $40,228 equals $135,394. Multiplying this by 6/7 yields projected six months’ costs of approximately $116,204. Question 6: When comparing 2003 figures with the 2004 figures shown in Exhibit 13-A, the amount budgeted for each warehouse in 2004 was greater than actual 2003 costs. How much of the increase is caused by increased volume of business (units shipped) and how much by inflation? There are several ways to approach this question. One involves calculating the volume difference and inflation difference for each warehouse, as follows: Volume difference = 2003 unit costs x (2004 units shipped – 2003 units shipped) Inflation difference = 2004 units shipped x (2004 unit costs – 2003 unit costs) For example, Atlanta’s volume and inflation differences are: Volume difference: $8. 99 x (18,000 – 17,431) = $8. 99 x 569 = $5,115 Inflation difference: 18,000 x ($9. 97 – $8. 99) = 18,000 x $. 98 = $17,640 Question 7: Prepare the firm’s 2005 warehousing budget, showing for each warehouse the anticipated number of units to be shipped and the costs. Again, this can be done in several ways. One is to assume that the 2004 to 2005 increases will be exactly the same amount as the 2003 to 2004 increases (with units shipped rounded to the nearest hundred, and costs rounded to the nearest $500). This would yield the following results: Warehouse location| Differences in units shipped b/w 2003 and 2004| Units shipped  in 2004| Projected units shipped in 2005| Difference in warehouse costs b/w 2003 and 2004 ($)| Warehouse costs in 2004 ($)| Projected warehouse costs in 2005 ($)| Atlanta| 600| 18,000| 18,600| 21,000| 178,000| 199,000| Boston| 300| 7,200| 7,500| 9,500| 73,000| 82,500| Chicago| 1,900| 30,000| 31,900| 38,500| 285,000| 323,500| Denver| 100| 3,100| 3,200| 3,000| 31,000| 34,000| Fargo| 0| 2,000| 2,000| 500| 17,000| 17,500| Los Angeles| 500| 17,000| 17,500| 24,000| 176,000| 200,000| Portland| 700| 9,000| 9,700| 12,000| 85,000| 97,000| St. Louis| 2,100| 8,000| 10,100| 4,000| 56,000| 60,000| Another method would use percentage changes. Question 8: While attending classes at the university, J. Q. had learned of logistics partnerships. Should Brant Freezer Company attempt to enter into a partnership relationship with these warehouses? If so, what approach should it use? Assuming that a partnership approach was to be used, Brant would have to think of some sort of sharing of potential risks and profits. Offhand, the case does not provide much information to go on, other than cost containment or reduction is an issue. Brant Case Analysis 97 and for the first five months of 2004, it fell to $9. 07. Question 2: When comparing performance during the first five months of 2004 with performance in 2003, which warehouse shows the poorest change in performance? The worst change is the company’s own warehouse (located in Fargo), where costs per unit shipped increased 31%. Among the public warehouses used, Denver was the worst in terms of cost per unit handled. It is also the most expensive public warehouse that Brant uses. Question 3: When comparisons are made among all eight warehouses, which one do you think does the best job for the Brant Company? What criteria did you use? Why? Using the cost per unit handled criterion, St. Louis does the best job, closely followed by Chicago. Question 4: J. Q. is aggressive and is going to recommend that his father cancel the contract with one of the warehouses and give that business to a competing warehouse in the same city. J. Q. feels that when word of this gets around, the other warehouses they use will â€Å"shape up. † Which of the seven should J. Q. recommend be dropped? Why? Denver has the lowest volume and highest unit costs among all the public warehouses used. In addition, it had been closed by a strike which must have inconvenienced the Brant Company. It may be that the warehouse workers’ unions are strong in the Denver area. J. Q. should probably check out rates and productivity measures of other Denver warehouses before deciding to drop its current warehouse there. Question 5: The year 2004 is nearly half over. J. Q. is told to determine how much the firm is likely to spend for warehousing at each of the eight warehouses for the last six months of 2004. Do his work for him. There is not enough information to do a very precise forecast. J. Q. assumes that the proportion of costs occurring during the first five months of 2003 should be in the same proportion in 2004. (1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (2)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (3)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (4) Warehouse location| % 2003 costs occurring in first five months| Actual costs for first five months of 2004 ($)| Projected total costs in 2004 ($)| Projected costs in the last six months of 2004 ($)| Atlanta| 22. 88| 40,228| 175,822| 116,204| Boston| 44. 00| 29,416| 66,885| 32,085| Chicago| 53. 43| 141,222| 264,312| 105,556| Denver| 35. 00| 14,900| 42,571| 23,714| Fargo| 54. 00| 9,605| 17,787| 7,012| Los Angeles| 72. 20| 93,280| 129,197| 30,781| Portland| 49. 30| 42,616| 86,442| 37,559| St. Louis| 44. 80| 19,191| 42,837| 20,265| The projected costs in 2004 (column 3) are calculated by dividing the actual costs for the first five months of 2004 (column 2) by the percent of 2003 costs that occurred in the first five months (column 1). For example, Atlanta’s actual 2004 costs of $40,228 divided by 2003’s 22. 88% yields projected 2004 costs of approximately $175,822. The projected costs in the last six months of 2004 (column 4) are calculated by subtracting the actual costs for the first five months of 2004 (column 2) from 2004’s projected total costs (column 3). This gives us the projected costs for the last seven months of 2004. However, we are only interested in the last six months of 2004, so this number is multiplied by 6/7, or . 857. Continuing with Atlanta, 2004’s projected total costs of $175,822 minus the first five months’ actual costs of $40,228 equals $135,394. Multiplying this by 6/7 yields projected six months’ costs of approximately $116,204. Question 6: When comparing 2003 figures with the 2004 figures shown in Exhibit 13-A, the amount budgeted for each warehouse in 2004 was greater than actual 2003 costs. How much of the increase is caused by increased volume of business (units shipped) and how much by inflation? There are several ways to approach this question. One involves calculating the volume difference and inflation difference for each warehouse, as follows: Volume difference = 2003 unit costs x (2004 units shipped – 2003 units shipped) Inflation difference = 2004 units shipped x (2004 unit costs – 2003 unit costs) For example, Atlanta’s volume and inflation differences are: Volume difference: $8. 99 x (18,000 – 17,431) = $8. 99 x 569 = $5,115 Inflation difference: 18,000 x ($9. 97 – $8. 99) = 18,000 x $. 98 = $17,640 Question 7: Prepare the firm’s 2005 warehousing budget, showing for each warehouse the anticipated number of units to be shipped and the costs. Again, this can be done in several ways. One is to assume that the 2004 to 2005 increases will be exactly the same amount as the 2003 to 2004 increases (with units shipped rounded to the nearest hundred, and costs rounded to the nearest $500). This would yield the following results: Warehouse location| Differences in units shipped b/w 2003 and 2004| Units shipped  in 2004| Projected units shipped in 2005| Difference in warehouse costs b/w 2003 and 2004 ($)| Warehouse costs in 2004 ($)| Projected warehouse costs in 2005 ($)| Atlanta| 600| 18,000| 18,600| 21,000| 178,000| 199,000| Boston| 300| 7,200| 7,500| 9,500| 73,000| 82,500| Chicago| 1,900| 30,000| 31,900| 38,500| 285,000| 323,500| Denver| 100| 3,100| 3,200| 3,000| 31,000| 34,000| Fargo| 0| 2,000| 2,000| 500| 17,000| 17,500| Los Angeles| 500| 17,000| 17,500| 24,000| 176,000| 200,000| Portland| 700| 9,000| 9,700| 12,000| 85,000| 97,000| St. Louis| 2,100| 8,000| 10,100| 4,000| 56,000| 60,000| Another method would use percentage changes. Question 8: While attending classes at the university, J. Q. had learned of logistics partnerships. Should Brant Freezer Company attempt to enter into a partnership relationship with these warehouses? If so, what approach should it use? Assuming that a partnership approach was to be used, Brant would have to think of some sort of sharing of potential risks and profits. Offhand, the case does not provide much information to go on, other than cost containment or reduction is an issue.

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