Thursday, December 26, 2019

Ch. 16 16-33 Comprehensive Question Control Activities in...

As part of the audit of Manor Company, you are assigned to review and test the payroll transactions of the Galena plant. Your tests show that all numerical items were accurate. The proper hourly rates were used, and the wages and deductions were calculated correctly. The payroll register was properly footed, totaled, and posted. Various plant personnel were interviewed to ascertain the payroll procedures being used in the department. You determine that 1. The payroll clerk receives the time cards from the various department supervisors at the end of each pay period, checks the employee’s hourly rate against information provided by the personnel department, and records the regular and overtime hours for each employee. 2. The payroll†¦show more content†¦The payroll register was properly footed, totaled, and posted. Various plant personnel were interviewed to ascertain the payroll procedures being used in the department. You determine that 1. The payroll clerk receives the time cards from the various department supervisors at the end of each pay period, checks the employee’s hourly rate against information provided by the personnel department, and records the regular and overtime hours for each employee. 2. The payroll clerk sends the time cards to the plant’s data processing department for compilation and processing. 3. The data processing department returns the time cards with the printed checks and payroll register to the payroll clerk on completion of the processing. 4. The payroll clerk verifies the hourly rate and hours worked for each employee by comparing the detail in the payroll register to the time cards. 5. If errors are found, the payroll clerk voids the computer-generated check, prepares another check for the correct amount, and adjusts the payroll register accordingly. 6. The payroll clerk obtains the plant signature plate from the accounting department and signs the payroll checks. 7. An employee of the personnel department picks up the checks and holds them until they are delivered to the department supervisors for distribution to the employees. Required Identify the shortcomings in the payroll procedures used in the payroll department of the Galena plant and suggestShow MoreRelatedAcc 4911271 Words   |  6 PagesCh. 8: Comprehensive Questions: Analytical procedures ( 8-15 and 8-16) ï‚ ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ch. 10: Comprehensive Questions:  Components of internal control (10-31 and 10-32) ï‚ ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ch. 11: Comprehensive Questions: Assessing control risk (11-21) 8-15 | (Analytical procedures)  In audit planning the audit of Construction Industry Resources, Inc., a building supply company. You have completed analytic procedures relevant to purchases and inventory. 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Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Importance of the First Two Scenes in King Lear

The Importance of the First Two Scenes in King Lear King Lear, as I see it, confronts the perplexity and mystery of human action. (Shakespeares Middle Tragedies, 169) As the previous quotation from the scriptures of Maynard Mack implies, King Lear is a very complex and intricate play which happens to be surrounded by a lot of debate. The folio of 1623, which was, as is well known, edited by two of Shakespeares fellow actors (Notes and Essays on Shakespeare, 242), contains not only historical errors, but errors which pertain to certain characters speaking other characters lines. Amidst all the controversy one fact can be settled upon by all; King Lear is one of Shakespeares best tragedies.†¦show more content†¦The fact that the two most important pieces of plot information are structuralized in the two opening scenes of the play add a profound amount of credit towards Marilyn Frenchs opinion that everything about the play hangs on the first two scenes. The plot of King Lear is not the only part of the play that rests on the first two scenes. An enormous amount of the dialogue is specifically used to reveal the values and morals of each character. It is very important to know the values that each character has in order to have a greater understanding of why the play unfolds the way it does. For example, it would be hard to believe that Goneril and Reagan could be so contemptible to their own father, without the incident in the first scene where both Goneril and Reagan show that they are morally corrupt, by making exaggerated claims of love and devotion to their father. The first scene plays a huge role in disclosing the views of Lear, Goneril, Reagan, and Cordelia while the second scene exposes Edmund for what he really is. The views of King Lear himself are more apparent in the first scene than the views of any other character. When the play starts out, Lear is very much in control of his kingdom but the very first scene gives us a hint of how Lear is going to loseShow MoreRelatedImportance of Self Knowledge and Forgiveness in King Lear Essay1215 Words   |  5 PagesThe importance of self-knowledge and forgiveness is strikingly obvious in the play King Lear. If we accept that the two characters most lacking in self-knowledge are Lear and Gloucester, we can examine how the importance of this quality for them is shown in the play. Whilst these two characters lack self-knowledge, the world around them quickly deteriorates. As a result of their lack of insight, evil is given space to breed and take over, and Lear and Gloucester are forced to suffer as â€Å"love coolsRead MoreEssay foolear Importance of the Fool in Shakespeares King Lear1195 Words   |  5 PagesImportance of the Fool in King Lear    William Shakespeares genius came from how closely he intertwined the two seemingly mutually exclusive realms to appeal to all socio-economic groups in his audience. The character of the Fool provides the closest intercourse of the two realms between King Lears royalty and Poor Toms poverty, while still maintaining their separation. The Fools role in King Lear was to counteract the Kings follies in order to bring him to his senses. With his honestyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s King Lear971 Words   |  4 PagesKing Lear Exam Question In all genres there are stereotypical elements. 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Whether Kent is an example of the dutiful servant or plays the intermediary between Lear and Cordelia he is essential to the functioning of the plot.    The role of Kent is important because of the use Shakespeare has for his characterRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello And Timon Of Athens1259 Words   |  6 PagesOf the many people to have critiqued King Lear, A.C. Bradley arguably does the most through job as seen in Lecture VII and VIII of his work Shakespearean Tragedy. In Lecture VII, Bradley begins by discussing the similarities King Lear has to Shakespeare’s other works including Othello and Timon of Athens (245-246). For instance, in Othello, Iago reminds of Edmund and Othello’s trickery reminds us of the deceitfulness of Gloucester. 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Thus, we will examine, in detail, two important scenes: Act I, scene i, and Act IV, scene iv, their impact on the action and main issues of the play (ambition/ greed, power, corruption, appearanceRead MoreTheme Of Family In King Lear858 Words   |  4 Pages Family In this paper, I will discuss the importance of family in the story of King Lear, written by the wonderful playwright William Shakespeare. I believe that the message of this book is based upon family. The writer is telling us the true inner workings of a family. In most families, you have those who are loyal until the end such as Kent, Edgar, and Cordelia. However, you also have those who are highly deceitful such as Edmund, Goneril, and Regan. My honest opinion is that Shakespeare explains

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Are people typically geniuses Essay Example For Students

Are people typically geniuses? Essay Are people typically geniuses? Statistically, people probably are not. In fact, most people probably arent even intellectually gifted at all. Most people are likely to be pretty much average, maybe a little bit above average, or a little below, but very average none the less. It is universally understood that people strive to learn to become wiser and more informed about the world around them. The more people learn, the more powerful they can become. It is the speed at which people learn that separates the geniuses from the average people and from the learning disabled. Geniuses dont run into problems while earning, because they learn very fast. It is everyone else that could really use help. One solid way to increase the speed at which people learn is with music. People learn through music and their minds grow faster because of it. Some music, when implemented properly, can have positive effects on learning and attitude. Music is a powerful thing, and when we understand its significance, it can bring dramatic changes both positive and The earliest stages of learning for young children are the most important. The fundamentals of learning are instilled into a child at a very young age. How much mportance is placed on these fundamentals can have dramatic affects on the future of the childs learning. Music, when applied in a constructive way, can have positive effects on a childs ability to learning and can help them in many ways. One way that music can make learning easier for a young child is by implementing music lessons into a childs normal activities. A small study was done two years back involving ten three-year-olds who were tested on their ability to put together a puzzle and the speed at which they could do it (Learning Keys 24). After the initial test was taken, five of the hildren were given singing lessons for 30 minutes a day and the other five were given piano lessons for 15 minutes a week (24). The lessons were conducted over a six- month period of time, and after the six months, all of the kids showed substantial improvement in the speed at which they could put together the puzzle (24). The researchers understand this skill in putting pieces of a puzzle together as the same reasoning that engineers, chess players and high-level mathematicians use. In this study of inner-city kids, their initial scores were below the national average, but afterwards their scores nearly doubled (24). The term given to this type of reasoning and thought that goes into putting pieces of a puzzle together is called abstract reasoning. By teaching music, people exercise the same abstract reasoning skills that they use for doing math or some other exercise in which the people have to visualize in their head. An eight month study was conducted by Frances H. Rauscher of the University of California at Irvine. In this study, nineteen preschoolers, ranging in age from three to five, received weekly keyboard and daily singing lessons while another fivteen preschoolers received no musical training at all (Bower 143). At the begining, middle and end of the study, the subjects were tested on five spatial reasoning tasks (143). After only four months, scores on the test to assemble a puzzle to form a picture improved dramatically for the group with the musical training, while the control group didnt, even though both groups started out with the same scores (143). It can be stated that this kind of improvement may not be substantial enough to alter the way people are fundamentally taught, but its results cannot be ignored. Rauscher explains, Music instruction can improve a childs spatial intelligence for a long time, perhaps permanently (qtd. n Bower 143). Implementing such changes and improvements into a young childs learning could have great effects on them in the future when dealing with the same spatial reasoning skills. With its resulting improvements in spatial reasoning, music can also be a very helpful tool when actually implementing it into the classroom and intergradting it with basic school curriculum. In New York City, a program called Learning through an Expanded Arts Program, or LEAP, has been going on for a while and provides both music and the arts is implemented into the school curriculum to improve scholastic scores of children at all evels (Dean and Gross 614). One way in which music is implemented is with math. They call it musical math, in which the teacher incorporates rhythm with counting and gaining a grasp on the fundamentals of math (618). With the rhythm, they are able to learn basic elements of math like fraction and multiplication. Christine Bard, the LEAP consultant explains, Music helps teach the precognitive skills. It gives students the capacity to trust themselves by providing internal discipline through a highly repetitive structure (qtd. in Dean and Gross 618). On the whole, students feeling of self-confidence nd accomplishment are great and most importantly, the students attitude toward math and learning is increased dramatically (618). Music as a separate and thorough curriculum can have dramatic positive changes in the learning process of young people. Mary Jane Collett, the Director of the Office of Arts and Cultural Education of the Division of Instruction and Professional Development of New York City Public Schools says: well taught sequential music curriculum not only results in music learning that has inherent value; it also gives students the chance to listen, react, see, touch, and move. Instruction in music skills, appreciation, and theory also provides a wealth of learning strategies that enhance childrens analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating skills. Students learn to process information and transfer knowledge through these concrete, kinetic, and cognitive experiences (Collett 61). Mary Jane Collett is an advocate for a program called Learning To Read Through The Arts (LTRTA), which makes music and the arts a separate course in the elementary curriculum instead of using it as an aid to different parts of the curriculum here and there (61). Music is taught through listening to different types of music while talking about the music, trying to understand it and interpret it in different ways and in many ways, imitate These integrated music experiences provide excitement in learning for children and thereby improve students reading, writing, thinking, and analyzing skills and strategies. Learning through all the senses expands the learning process to accommodate different learning styles. Opportunities for integrating communication arts, literature, science, social studies, and the arts are limited only by the educators imagination, creativity, and Music, when involved in the classroom, can have great effects on the early stages of learning for the very young up through elementary age school children. Music can also have significant effects on older people in a learning environment. Music does not have the same effect on older people as it does on younger people, however. It is easily understood that for young children, getting them to do fun musical things like learning to play an instrument is somewhat easy compared to getting an adult to do the same thing. Children will do it because it is something new and exciting whereas adults need to be otivated to do something because they wont do something simply because they have too. For adults it is a matter of choice, but when they choose to involve music into their everyday lives, the effects can be just as dramatic. One important aspect that music can have on learning for people of all ages is attitude. The Medias Effect on Underage Alcohol Abuse EssayIn the study, 36 college students listened to one of three listening condition for ten minutes and then took the Stanford-Binet intelligence test designed for abstract reasoning (Rauscher, Shaw and Ky 611). The experiment was repeated for each of the three listening conditions and included listening to a Mozart piano sonata, a relaxation tape, and They found that the equivalent IQ scores were equal between listening to the relaxation ape and complete silence, but after listening to the Mozart piece, IQ scores were an average of eight to nine points higher than the others (611). The scientists explain, however, that enhancing effect doesnt last for more than ten to fifteen minutes after listening to the sample (611). They were able to develop some theories out of the results of this study, but much more testing is required for any solid conclusions to be made. They think that music which is without complexity or is highly repetitive will not enhance abstract reasoning, but rather interfere with it (611). Their findings are put under crutiny and criticism by Kristin Leutwyler, who tries to set the record straight about misinterpretations in the media regarding the findings of Rauscher, Shaw and Ky. She asserts that the popular press have suggested that anyone can increase his or her IQ by listening to Mozart. This supposed quick fix is false (28). She explains that the IQ scores were based solely on spatial ability and not other factors that IQ takes into account Leutwyler explains that Rauschers work is ased on the premise that listening to music and performing a spatial task prime the same neural firing patterns. But thats just guess. (28) Despite the skepticism of Leutwyler in the findings of the three scientists and the fact that more testing needs to be done to take into account different variables, the initial findings cannot be ignored. There is some correlation between listening to music and spatial reasoning and through it, there is some connection with IQ. A large study was done many years ago to test intelligence across a wide range of fields and subjects (Schoen 94). On the study, 205 college students were given the Minnesota College Ability Test, all of the Seashore tests for musical talent, and were rated on a scale or musical training (94). After the testing was complete, they separated out the top 25 and the bottom 25 to determine if there was a difference in musicality among them, but found none (94). Next, they excluded the 25 students with the greatest and least amount of musical training and found two interesting groups (94). Of the two groups left, the top groups average student had taken music theory, private piano lessons for two years, voice and cello for four years while he/she had played in orchestras for four years, sung in choir for six years, had three musicians in the family, could read music and supply issing parts, and attended concerts regularly (94). The lower groups average student had never had any private lessons, didnt play an instrument, had no musicians in his/her family, and never attended operas or concerts (95). Music wont turn anyone into a genius, but it can have some substantial effects on bringing people above average at least. One thing that music does that cannot be ignored is it stimulates the brain- sometimes positively and sometimes negatively, but it effects the brain nonetheless. Some positive effects on the brain can be seen from the study conducted by Rauscher, Shaw and Ky where they found a temporary increase in spatial reasoning after listening to a bit of Mozart. These findings are somewhat inconclusive, but cannot be ignored altogether. It shows how there is much more studying that needs to be done in the future on this subject. Music has been known to have a very direct effect on peoples moods. By just listening to music, peoples moods are easily altered. Several studies were conducted to test peoples mood changes after listening to certain kinds of music (Schoen 89-99). One large study of 20,000 people showed music changes mood and the changes in mood ere very uniform (89). A large number of people listened to classical music by various composers from various musical periods and were asked how the music made them feel. Another study showed that the effects of mood varied from person to person depending on their musicality. Non-musical people enjoy music rarely and when they do, the enjoyment is slight, while semi-musical people enjoy music quite often and when they do, it is enjoyable to them, while musical people enjoy music rarely, due to discriminating tastes, but when they do, it is with the greatest intensity (90). These studies also showed hat certain types of moods/emotions are characteristic with music while certain emotions are not such as anger, fear, jealousy, and envy (91). Certain emotions are more characteristic with vocal music because of the words such as: love, longing, reverence, devotion (91). Another study was done on 205 people testing the effects of major and minor modes. Minor mode gave the feelings of melancholy, mournful, gloomy, depressing while major mode most often gave the feelings of happy, sprightly, cheerful, joyous, and bright (99). Music is an important and extremely useful tool in the way we learn and to deny its ower is a waste of a truly wonderful resource. In recent years there have been concerns about some types of music such as street Rap having very negative effects on peoples minds and moods. This type of music imprints an extremely violent image into peoples minds and there has been growing concern about it and tying it in with violent crimes. In cases like this, it only shows how much more we need to study music to fully understand its full impact on the human mind. In these days where cutbacks are always eminent in peoples local schools, people need to fight to keep the music and art intact. Music and he arts are what make life worth living and without them, people lose hold of their culture and diversity. The ideal way to learn in the future would be to fully incorporate music into the curriculum of every school. If every school supported and encouraged their students to freely pursue music with the culture of music in their everyday lives, people would become much more efficient in their learning and would become much better students on the whole. Music is a power too great for man to comprehend at this point but through further study man can learn how to better harness its power and use it to

Monday, December 2, 2019

Mountain Man Brewing Company

The Mountain Man Beer Company case is a decision case. Chris wants to introduce another brand to the family company hence he consults experts, on viable procedures and decisions he should carry. He wants to make sure that the company succeeds in the market. Therefore, he makes decision carefully to avoid making fatal errors that can see the company sink.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Mountain Man Brewing Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Decision Analysis Position Statement Chris wants to introduce another brand of beer in their family company. The new beer brand is to be called Mountain Man light. According to the market trends, customers’ preferences are changing resulting to decrease in sales of lager for all alcoholic brewers. This is not only affecting the Mountain Man bear company, but it affects all brewers in the economy. Therefore, Chris’s introduction of a light beer which is preferable to many consumers would increase sales for the company. This is because instead of continuously losing out on the market of their core brand, another brand can play along with the core brand. Mountain man Lager was the leading brand in West Virginia. So the decision, to be made by Chris should ensure that the company’s goodwill and market share are not affected. Some people were too loyal to the brand. In fact, their Lager was nicknamed the West Virginia beer. Therefore, Chris had to be extremely sharp in the way he was to introduce the new brand and retain the market share of the original lager. Decision options Some of the decision options were to implement the decision whereby Chris will go ahead and launch the brand. This means that Chris had to accept taking all risks associated with that decision. The decision may be in favor of the company or against their expectations. Therefore, when deciding to proceed with plans the management must be ready to accept th e outcome. Another option is to abandon the decision and strategize on other decisions in the company. Chris may decide to avert those risks hence retaining the core brand of the company regardless of changes in consumer preferences. This may be a smart decision since the company does not have much to lose by abandoning the proposal. Definition of Decision Criteria Several factors need to be considered to make a wise decision. For example, one has to consider the cost of implementing the decision; in this case, Chris must calculate all expenses to be incurred in launching the Mountain Man light. If launching the new product will involve a lot of expenses hence cutting on profitability of the company, the decision has to be abandoned.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Cost can be measured by consulting with marketing agencies. They should be able to show all costs expected to be incurred in creating market awareness of the new brand. Therefore, if costs exceed the expected returns, the project should not continue. On the other hand if the returns exceed costs incurred then the company should push on with the project. Another factor to be considered is product acceptability in the market. A market research should be carried out to find out how consumers react to the new brand to be introduced. One should try to find out how their consumers feel about the introduction of a new product alongside the existing brand. Some consumers may feel that there is no need of introducing another brand. Others who might have changed their preferences may feel that the company needs to introduce another brand. For example, people loyal to Mountain man Lager may feel that the company should launch the Light. This is because they trust the company due to their experience with their products. They feel that if the company introduces a Light, then it would be on to their favor. Such things should guide the company marketers on which decision is fit for the company. Quality should be considered when making marketing decisions. The company should evaluate its capacity to find out whether they will be able to produce an additional brand without affecting the quality of the core brand. For some companies, they have the capacity to handle only one brand and an additional can alter the production of their core brand and the resultant may not be suitable for the company. Companies have closed down after draining all their finances trying to launch new products in the market. The new product then faces difficulties in venturing into the market; production of the core product becomes impossible hence leading to closure of companies. Competitors should not be assumed when making such decisions. One need to know how strong is their competitors. If they have acquired the entire territory with quality brands, then one has to know how to lay down strategies for v enturing into the market. It is wrong for a company to launch a new product without finding out what their competitors have in the market.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Mountain Man Brewing Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is obvious that competing with companies with higher quality brands than one’s becomes quite hectic. This is because consumers will go for the best quality in the market. Therefore, competitor power must be put into consideration before making any decision to ensure that the market is conducive for the new product. Proof of Recommendation I would recommend that the company launches the new brand. Since consumer preferences are changing and Light beer is gaining popularity, it can be a reasonable decision for Mountain man Beer Company. The Lager brand has many consumers and due to its quality people have stuck in it for long. This means that the company is respected and valued by these consumers, and any brand by the company can easily be accepted. So the criteria on the acceptability of the product in the market support my recommendation. If consumers have faith in the company, they will shift their preference from one product to the other product of the same company. This means that the Mountain Man Light will receive much acceptance from consumers initially using Mountain Man Lager. This can give the company a market advantage over other brewers. Critique of Options The option of abandoning the project was rejected. This is because the company has all it needs to launch the new brand successfully. There was no fear in implementing the decision because the company’s other brand is preferred by consumers. Therefore, chances are high that consumers reacting to changes in preference will shift from Mountain Man Lager to the Light. Major Disadvantage of Recommendation The major disadvantage of going ahead with the decision is that a lot of fu nds will be used to create awareness. Awareness is inevitable in this case because consumers need to be notified that there is another brand from the company. Action Plan Since the consumption of lager is reducing as a result of changes in customer preferences, the company has to introduce the Light brand. This is because light is gaining popularity as Lager loses out. Goals The decision is supposed to help the organization retain its profitability as changes in consumer preference are causing a reduction in sales. This is because consumption of Lager is reducing in the economy. Therefore, the company should introduce the Light brand since it is the one consumer prefers. This means that the consumption of Light will increase as that of lager decrease hence securing the company’s market share.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Action Steps The company should launch the new product and make sure it is distributed to the market. Then the company should come up with marketing strategies to ensure that awareness of the new brand is created in the market. The company should make sure that the new brand does not interfere with the quality of their core product. Then they should struggle to keep consumers satisfied as they promise them. When all these things are achieved, the company can be assured of their market share. Major Risks and Responses Major risks that could hinder the plan include inadequate financing. The company needs to budget for the new brand because it can drain money set for maintaining the core brand. As a result, the company may end up in financial crisis hence failing to achieve its goals of producing quality beer for its customers. Therefore, the company should plan properly for the new brand expenses. This will result to a situation whereby each brand has its account to ensure that the co re brand is not affected in any manner by the new brand. This case study on Mountain Man Brewing Company was written and submitted by user Hazel Galloway to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Competition in an Oligopolistic Market

Competition in an Oligopolistic Market Oligopoly is a market system that is intermediate between monopoly and perfect competition. It is a type of market that is dominated by only a number of firms. These firms control the prices of the commodities they sell and the industry they dominate is characterized by significant barriers to entry.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in an Oligopolistic Market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Oligopolistic markets are also characterized by similarities of the products they sell and thus the firms practicing oligopoly are normally interdependent in terms of policy formulation and competition strategies. The competition strategies are normally meant to make the minor differences in their products attractive to their customers so that the particular firm may have a competitive edge. Examples of oligopoly markets here in the United States are the automobile and the steel industry (Friedman 11 14). Since oligop oly is characterized by a few numbers of firms in the industry, each individual firm must predict the response of rival firms before it formulates output or pricing strategies. This leads to the aforementioned interdependence and thus the firms are forced to engage in what is termed as non-price competition. This kind of competition involves differentiation of virtually similar products by using means that are not price-based for fear of price wars. Therefore, companies achieve their competitive advantage by investing in promotions, improvement of the quality of their goods and services, offering of special services like delivery, provision of their goods/services at locations that are convenient for the consumers etc (Hannaford 1). Firms in oligopoly markets also practice price discrimination to maximize on their profits or win a larger proportion of the customer base. As mentioned earlier, the firms in oligopoly engage in the manufacture and/or sale of goods that are not easy to m anufacture. The goods may be difficult to manufacture due to large capital requirement like in the automobile industry, unavailability of raw materials like in the steel industry, etc. The above stated reasons act as barriers to entry together with a number of other factors. Since the products are normally of high value, the industry is characterized with a high elasticity of demand. It is this elasticity of demand that makes price discrimination possible in these markets. For instance, different people pay different amounts of money for the same car depending on the amount they are willing to pay for the car and their skills in bargaining. The above described price discrimination is one of three possible price discrimination strategies. It is known as first degree price discrimination. The other price discrimination strategies used by oligopoly markets are second and third degree price discrimination.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Second degree price discrimination involves charging of higher prices for larger quantities of goods while third degree price discrimination is the most common and it depends on the firm’s understanding of its market. The latter takes many different forms and it is the one commonly used for achievement of competitive advantage by oligopolies (Pietersz 1). Some of the possible forms it may take include the ranking of customers into groups depending on their income and selling goods to different groups at different prices. The competitive strategies used by oligopoly markets have a lot of effects on the industry. For instance, price discrimination leads to the reduction of consumer surplus and thus it negatively affects the welfare of the consumer. On the other hand, the extraction of consumer surplus makes the firms make supernormal profits which are in the interests of the firms. Such price discrimination is, therefore, advantageous to the firms since the primary concern of any business enterprise is profit maximization. Some firms may also set prices below cost for some customers in a bid to have a competitive edge in terms of market share. This kind of price discrimination will be advantageous to the consumers and disadvantageous to the suppliers. Similarly, non-price competition has a lot of influence on consumer behavior in an oligopoly market. Consumers tend to prefer goods that have been promoted and those that are convenient in terms of delivery or those goods, whose minor details, like color, match the preferences of the consumers. Non-corporative strategic behavior also has numerous effects on the industry. It mostly results to unhealthy competition between the involved firms and tends o be advantageous to the consumers (Friedman 19). As evidenced in the discussion above, oligopolistic firms have a major challenge in laying down competitive strategies and policies. This is b ecause price competition in this industry is disastrous and can, possibly, drive all the firms out of business. The firms also sell virtually identical products and this magnifies the difficulty that they face in achieving a competitive edge. As mentioned earlier, the firms settle for competition strategies like non-price competition, non-corporative strategic behavior etc. This is normally due to the interdependence of the firms. These competition strategies have the aforementioned injurious and beneficial effects on the consumers and the suppliers. It is therefore of, essence, that oligopolistic firms set policies and competitive strategies that are beneficial to both the firms and their consumers. Friedman, James. Oligopoly Theory. New York. Barnes Noble.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in an Oligopolistic Market specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hannaford, Steve. â€Å"Oligopoly Watch.† 2007- May 10, 2010. Web. Pietersz, Graeme. â€Å"Oligopoly.† 2006- May 10, 2010, https://moneyterms.co.uk/oligopoly/

Saturday, November 23, 2019

All About the Major French Verb Faire

All About the Major French Verb Faire The irregular verb faire  (to do or to make)  is one of the 10 most frequently used verbs in the French language alongside à ªtre,  avoir, dire, aller, voir, savoir, pouvoir, falloir, and vouloir. Faire is also used to form  the causative construction and in numerous idiomatic expressions. 'To Do' or 'To Make' Faire means to do and to make in most senses that these verbs are used in English. Je fais la lessive:  Im doing the laundry.Je fais mes devoirs: Im doing my homework.Je fais du bricolage: I do odd jobs/DIY projects.Je fais un gà ¢teau: Im making a cake.Je fais des projets: Im making plans.Je fais des progrà ¨s: Im making progress. Exceptions When the intent is to communicate to make, the French tend to be more specific, and, instead of faire, they would use, for example, fabriquer, construire, obliger, forcer, donner,  or a whole list of alternate verbs. In the following instances, idiomatic usage calls for  the verbs rendre and prendre, not faire: When to make is followed by an adjective, it is translated by rendre: Ça me rend heureux: That makes me happy. To make a decision is expressed with  prendre une dà ©cision: Jai pris une dà ©cision: I made a decision. Causative Construction The  causative  construction  faire  plus an infinitive describes when someone or something has something done, makes someone do something, or causes something to happen. Je fais laver la voiture: Im having the car washed.Il ma fait laver la voiture: He made me wash the car.Le froid fait geler leau: Cold makes water freeze. Expressions With 'Faire' Faire is used in a number of idiomatic expressions, including many related to weather, sports, math, and everyday life. Il fait du soleil: Its sunnyIl fait froid:  Its cold out.il fait beau/il  fait beau temps:  Its nice weather./Its nice out./The weather is fine/nice.Je fais du ski: I ski.Je fais du golf: I golf.Deux et deux font quatre: Two plus two equals (makes) four.Je fais de lautostop:  Im hitchhiking.Il fait sa tà ªte:  He acts impulsively.Ça fait parti de notre projet:  Thats part of our plan.faire 5 kilomà ¨tres:  to go 5 kilometersfaire trois heures: to be on the road for three hoursfaire acte de prà ©sence:  to put in an appearancefaire attention :  to pay attention to, watch out forfaire bon accueil:  to welcomefaire de la peine quelquun:  to hurt someone (emotionally or morally)faire de la photographie:  to do photography as a hobbyfaire des chà ¢teaux en Espagne:  to build castles in the airfaire des cours:  to give classes, lecturesfaire des à ©conomies:  to save up/to save money/to economizefaire de son mieux:  to do ones bestfaire du lard  (familiar): to sit around doing nothingfaire du sport:  to play sports faire du thà ©Ãƒ ¢tre:  to be an actor/to do some actingfaire du violon, piano:  to study violin, pianofaire dune pierre deux coups:  to kill two birds with one stonefaire face :  to oppose/to face up tofaire fi:  to scornfaire jour, nuit:  to be daytime, nighttimefaire la bà ªte:  to act like a foolfaire la bise, le bisou:  to kiss hellofaire la connaissance de:  to meet (for the first time)faire le mà ©nage:  to do housework Conjugations You will find  all tenses  of  faire  conjugated elsewhere; for now, here is the present tense to illustrate just how irregular this essential French verb is. Present tense je faistu faisil faitnous faisonsvous faitesils font

Thursday, November 21, 2019

What are the implications of Hesketts Service Profit Chain for the Essay

What are the implications of Hesketts Service Profit Chain for the practice of service management - Essay Example According to him employees represent the front end of the company, in the sea of market forces, the customer. Higher satisfaction levels in these groups drives profits in the value chain. In fact higher the satisfaction, the better the performance and more profitable an organisation becomes. We will critically examine the ideas of Heskett. et. al with reference to remarks made on it, by on it by modern theorists, practitioners, researchers and business leaders of service industry. In order to develop conclusive arguments on the theory of Hesket et. al. we need to begin by stating definitions of terms like Value Chain, Profit, Customer, Investor, and Services. Value Chain: ICH Resource Architecture Center defines it as â€Å"a set of support activities to deliver valued added outputs to customers; an interrelated set of generic activities of inbound logistics, outbound logistics with intermittent functions of operations and sales (Porter); ACDI/VOCA sums all activities that bring a product from conception to end stage in the value chain. Employee: The British Employment Law defines employee as â€Å""an individual who has entered into or works under a contract of employment. (emplaw.co.uk)†. The employment can be of short duration and long duration and its rules, regulations vary from country to country. Investor: Investor is an individual who puts in money into an enterprise and seek profit thereof. In the current parlance, the word stakeholder is being used for investors. But sometimes the stakeholder is also used to mean the employees, the consumers and the community in which a company operates. Services: Answers.com defines a service that sells assistance and expertise rather than a tangible product. However service may also has a wider connotation for tangible items called product servicing. For theoretical purposes we will service in the tangible and intangible context. Critical

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Promoting Public Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Promoting Public Health - Essay Example tion from unwanted diseases and improve their well-being; (3) develop quality and risk management within certain culture or environment that is vulnerable to diseases; (4) work collaboratively with other health care workers or health care professionals; (5) develop health programs to reduce inequalities; (6) develop, formulate and implement health policy and strategy; (7) work with and help the communities; (8) develop strategic leadership in terms of health care; (9) conduct research and development in health associates; and (10) perform self management and be able to manage people and resources. In fact, health care has been one of the most controversial issues in any country and dear to many because it involves human life. Indeed healthcare database has been made available for technology assessment and health policy research (Roos, Roos, Fisher & Bubolz, 1990). In the insurance field, healthcare databases help the insurance company to identify patients, the type of service rendered by the physicians, the date when the service was rendered, and who was the physician who gave the service. For the physician, the databases help him to identify patient’s characteristics, give out proper diagnoses and treatment. According to Roos, Roos, Fisher & Bubloz (1990), database has the characteristics of system wide coverage of entire population, it has unique identifying number because it records the history of services the patient receives, and easy to enroll new patient and it has comprehensive information about the patient. The benefits of having morbidity and mortality data, as mentioned by Roos, Roos, fisher & Bubloz (1990) are: (1) it serves as a monitoring mechanism for effective treatments. For example, the mortality data in the hospital helps the hospital administrative management to compare the number of patient, patient’s length of stay, changes, treatment, and or service analysis, quality of services, patient’s cases or type of treatment needed,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Evolution of thoughts in Scientific Management Essay Example for Free

Evolution of thoughts in Scientific Management Essay At the first stage where groups of people were insignificant, management in all spheres was carried out by one person the leader of this group. Further, in process of group growth and complication of functions carried out by them, the necessity of labour division and group differentiation has appeared. But it couldnt happen at once, it required centuries. The Egyptian pyramids build in 3000 2000 B.C. are a good example not only ancient Egyptians culture, but also their administrative art. Construction of huge pyramids demanded, first of all, precise planning. While the practice of management can be traced back to 3000 B.C., it was not given serious attention until 1800 when large organisations emerged. Industrial revolution has given a push to development of theoretical researches and management practices. However, till an epoch of capitalism function of management was carried out by the owner himself and a small group of the persons approached to him. The role of the specially trained managers developed during an epoch of monocapitalism. Having been faced with a competition, changeable environment, managers developed knowledge system of how it is better to use resources. During all history of management development we distinguish two approaches: classical and modern. Classical approach allows to allocate four patterns of management thought: 1898 Scientific management 1916 Administrative management 1920 Bureaucracy 1927 Human relations SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT Occurrence of scientific management takes place at the beginning of 20th century and is connected to F.W.Taylors name, Henri L.Gantt, Frank and Lilian Gilbreth. Scientific management focuses on worker and machine relationship. Organisational productivity can be increased by increasing the efficiency of production process. In 1911, Frederick Taylor, known as the Father of scientific management, published Principles of Scientific Management in which he proposed to design  work methods to increase productivity. One of his famous experiments was performed at Bethlehem Steel Company in Pittsburgh. He examined the time and movements, developed a better method for performing that job and trained the worker. In addition, Taylor offered a piece rate that increased as workers produced more. Taylors studies were followed by Gibreths, a husband and a wife, who also helped to find more efficient ways for workers to produce output. Frank Gilbreth made his contribution in the field of brick lying by changing an 18 step process into 5 step that led to increased productivity by about 200 percent. The Gibreths believed that were was one best way to perform an operation. However this one best way could be replaced when a better way was introduced. Other representative of Scientific Management was Henri Gantt. He developed a Gantt chart, which is used for scheduling multiple task over a time period. He developed a pay system with a guaranteed minimum wage and bonus systems for people on fixed wages and brought in a significant contribution to the leadership theory development. ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT Unlike Scientific Management which focused its attention on productivity, Administrative Management have engaged in development of management in the organisation as a whole and was concerned about administrative part of the organisation. The ancestor of this school was Henri Fayol. He worked as a mining engineer and came to realise that managing an enterprise required a lots of skills apart from technical ones. Henri Fayol was the first to identify the four management functions: Planning Organising Leading Controlling He also developed guidelines for managers to follow. These guidelines form fourteen principles for effective management. Other contributor to Administrative Management was Mary Parker Follet. She pointed out that all managers want flexibility, and she also distinguished between the motivation of individuals and groups. BUREAUCRACY Max Weber, known as a father of Modern Sociology, concentrated on how to structure an organisation for success. Weber outlined key elements of an ideal form of structure, which he believed would develop efficiency and called it bureaucracy. The bureaucratic structure had a number of important advantages for large organisations. The division of labour increased efficiently due to the continued repetition of the task. Hierarchy allowed developing a chain of command. Format selection meant that employees were hired on knowledge and experience and no other criteria would be used. Career orientation ensured that career professionals would give the organisation a degree of continuity in operations. Rules and procedures controlled employee performance. The impersonality of the organisation ensured that rules were applied across the board without personality or other influence getting in the way. HUMAN RELATIONS During the 1920s, an emphasis on the human side of the workplace began to influence management thinking. They started to realise that people are social and self-actualising. People at work are seemed to seek satisfying social relationships, respond to group pressures, and search for personal fulfilment. The human relations movement began with the Hawthorne Studies that were conducted at the Western Electric Company in Cicero 1924 -1933. The intention of these studies was to determine the effect of working conditions on productivity. The illumination experiments tried to determine whether better lighting would lead to increased productivity. Both the control group and the experimental group of female employees produced more whether the lights were turned up or down. It was discovered that this increased productivity was a result of the attention received by the group. In the relay assembly group experiments, six female employees worked in a special, separate area. They were given breaks and had the freedom to talk and were continuously observed by a researcher who served as the supervisor. Once again researches failed to find any direct relationship between changes in physical working conditions and output. Productivity increased regardless of the changes made. Two factors were set up as having special importance. One was the group atmosphere; the workers shared pleasant social relations with one another and wanted to do a good job. The other was more participative supervision. The workers were made to feel important, were given a lot of information, and were frequently asked for their opinions. It was not the case in their regular jobs. The final Hawthorne Study was conducted in the bank wiring room and centred on the role of the work group. A surprise finding here was that people would restrict their output in order to avoid the displeasure of the group. It was recognised that group can have strong negative, as well as positive influences on individual productivity. Two writers who helped advance the human relation movement were Abraham Maslow and Douglas McGregor. In 1943, Maslow advanced a theory suggesting that people are motivated by a hierarchy of needs. Which are physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualisation needs. People try to satisfy the five needs in sequence. They progress step by step from the lowest up to the highest. Meanwhile Douglas McGregor represents Theory X and Theory Y. According to McGregor, managers holding Theory X believe that those who work for them generally dislike work, lack ambitions, are irresponsible and prefer to be led rather than to lead. While in the Theory Y managers believe that people willing to work are capable of self-control, are willing to accept responsibility, are imaginative and creative. CONCLUSIONS Scientific Management Analysis of the past allows a better understanding of the present to predict the future Scientific Management improved peoples productivity at work by reducing number of motions choosing one best way to perform the task. However, Scientific Management was not without its critics. Taylor assumed that people were motivated only by money and ignored social and psychological factors. Also, Scientific Management techniques often resulted in lay-offs and it led to job losses. Relationship between the organisation and environment wasnt taken to attention. Despite these criticisms, we use some of scientific techniques nowadays. For instance, on factory that produces mobile phones, the whole production mechanism is broken down to small tasks. The workers are guided by carefully calculated standards. They know how many details they should approximately produce per hour. Each movement is chosen carefully in order to reduce excess motions. I have been working in a hotel industry for three years. The scientific management techniques have been used in my department as well. To make checking in and out more efficient everyone had his or her own best way of performing the task. Administrative Management. Nowadays Faylols five main functions gained widespread recognition. Lets take a hotel, for instance. Managers have to make plans for the future, organise short-term plans, co-ordinate recourses and finances, and control plans get their goals. In the Royal Bayswater Hotel, where I worked, managers aim was to get a Service Excellence Award. They planed to increase service by: training the staff; paying more attention to internal customers because happy staff is happy customers and by trying to exceed customers expectations. During all this process managers were controlling if everything was following the plans. And as a result to everybodys effort the hotel has been awarded with Best Excellence Service Award Bureaucracy While the term Bureaucracy has a negative meaning some of its elements are still relevant. In the earlier mentioned hotel, for example, staff is selected and promoted on ability to perform the task. Workers are career orientated. In order to obtain the organisational objectives procedures are measured and performed according to the organisational rules and standards. Standards and rules applied without personal influence. Human Relations Until the late 20th human relationship hasnt been taken to serious consideration. It has only been  after Hawthorne Experiments, the improvement of relations between all levels has been accepted as a very important element in the development and improvement of any organisation . This is still have a great importance  nowadays. The job of the manager in the workplace is to get things done through employees. To do this the manager should be able to encourage, teach, control, motivate and lead people. But that easier said than done. At my place of work there were different people with different needs. While some of them were satisfied with physiological and safety needs, the others there seeking for recognition from others, self-control and actualisation. So managers couldnt expect a good performance at work if an individuals needs havent been satisfied. We also had two types of managers. 1 Those who followed Theory X assumption 2 Those who followed Theory Y assumption As for me it was more difficult to work who doesnt give you much freedom for your thoughts, and things that supervision is a necessity. On the other hand, it was a pleasure to work with someone who allows more flexibility, and thinks that control and punishment are not the only ways to make people work. As a result they got more commitment to the organisation. LIST OF REFERENCES 1 ManagementStephen P. Robbinsons, Mary Coulter, 7 edition 2 Management John R. Schermerhorn, JR. 8 edition 3 Management John R. Schermerhorn, JR. 7 edition 4Management Ricky W. Griffin 7 edition 5 Modern Management Siobhan D. Tiernan, Michael J. Morley, Edel Foley www.sfsu.edu/~erich/slides2/-5k www.ee.uwa.edu.au/~ccroft/em333/leca02.html-12k www.evolutionevent.co.uk/-2k

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Aldous Huxley Essay -- essays research papers

Aldous Huxley Aldous Leonard Huxley: English novelist, essayist, critic, and poet. On July 26, 1894, Aldous was born of Leonard and Julia Huxley in England. The infamous Huxley family possessed both scientific and literary fame throughout Europe. As a teenage, Aldous developed a bizarre eye disease which left him blind for over two years. This traumatic event changed Aldous's career as a medical doctor to a writer instead. "†¦I should infallibly have killed myself in the much more strenuous profession of medicine." But he was used to work, even in the literary world. During the 1920's, he lived in Italy and France, and then immigrated to the United States in 1937. Huxley's own experiences made him stand apart from the class into which he was born. Growing up, he was seen as different, showing an alertness, and intelligence, a superiority. He was a respected and loved individual. He felt that heredity made each individual unique, and the uniqueness of the individual was essential to freedom. His feelings and emotions are displayed in his work, Brave New World. Like his family, and the Alphas of Brave New World, Huxley felt a moral obligation to fight the idea that happiness could be achieved through class. When Huxley was 14 years old, he experienced a traumatic loss in his life; his mother died. One can see his loss and his sense of the transience of human happiness in Brave New World. As mentioned before,...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Irony in “The Story of an Hour” Essay

There are many types of irony such as basic irony which is the use of word to convey a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning. Situational irony which is the moment a characters actions have the opposite of their intended effect. Finally there is dramatic irony which occurs when there is a contrast between the readers knowledge and the knowledge of the characters in the work. However situational irony is what mostly transpires in Kate Chopin short story â€Å"The Story of an Hour† Situational irony is used in â€Å"The Story of an Hour† through Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death. When she first heard the news of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard, â€Å"wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment† (Chopin, 1). Everyone in the house thought that she was upset and went upstairs to be alone in her room because this is a common reaction after having just lost a loved one. Although once Mrs. Mallard is alone in her room, Chopin wants the reader to witness that she is not saddened by the loss of her husband but relieved, â€Å"When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: â€Å"free, free, free!†Ã¢â‚¬  (Chopin, 1) Although Mrs. Mallard is â€Å"free† from her marriage that does not mean that she did not love her husband, as she looks through the open window from which she gazes represents freedom and opportunities. Instead of being dark and full of grief to symbolize how one would expect her to feel, she sees patches of blue sky, fluffy clouds and treetops. She also hears singing of birds and smells a rainstorm coming. Chopin signifies this as new beginning for Mrs. Mallard. Everything that she experiences through her time of â€Å"mourning† suggests joy and a new life that awaits her. She is expected to mourn her husband’s death, but she is thinking about her new life â€Å"There would be no  one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for her self† (Chopin, 2) this is to be understood that she has sacrificed her life for her husband, although there is no evidence that her husband has done her living â€Å"for her†. The language Chopin uses throughout her story foreshadows the ironic happiness that she feels with being free. Chopin further more tries to explain that she is not only feeling happiness through her husband’s death when she writes, â€Å"She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead.†(Chopin, 1) It is not clear on why Louise Mallard feels this way about her husband’s death because there is no evidence on any physical or emotional abuse, repression or neglect from her husband â€Å"it might have been external, in society or in her marriage or whether it was internal, a recognition that it takes strength to control one’s feelings or whims.† (Berkove, 153). Through Louise’s recognition that she is free from her husband there is situational and dramatic irony as well. While she was alone in her room she realized that she would no longer be bound to her husband but rather free to do whatever she should choose, † â€Å"Free! Body and soul free!† she kept whispering.† (Chopin, 2) She continues to whisper this to herself because although she is alone in her room she acknowledges that she should not be having such thoughts and does not want anyone to know how she really feels about her husband’s death. No one else knew this, they all believed that she was sorrowful and wanted to be alone to grieve. Josephine, a woman in the house, even though Mrs. Mallard was making herself sick, but in reality Louise was absorbing the days ahead of her. Her overwhelming joy all comes to an abrupt stop when she descends from her room to only find out that her husband is not dead. She is so shocked to see her husband that she has a heart attack and as doctors described it as, â€Å"joy that kills,† which is perceived as the dramatic irony part of the short story. Everyone believes she died in that way so the reader can actually realize that she was in fact not joyful to see her husband instead in disarray and upset that she only had a glimpse of real freedom and would rather be dead than to go back and live the life she had. â€Å"Louise dies in the world of her family where she has always sacrificed for others† (Ewell, 160.) Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† is one of the many books that says â€Å"so much in so few words† (Berkove, 152). The irony in her story is almost never ending. Louise Mallards life after discovering about her husbands death is the true meaning of â€Å"the story of an hour† because she had a quick look of how her life was going to be. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. â€Å"The Story of an Hour.† Katechopin.org Kate Chopin International Society, April 19, 1894. Web. 1 Nov. 2014. 2. Berkove, Lawrence I. American Literary Realism, Vol. 32, No. 2 : Fatal Self-Assertion in Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour.† Jstor.org. 2000. Web. 1 Nov. 2014 3. Ewell, Barbara C. â€Å"Chopin and the Dream of Female Selfhood: Kate chopin Reconsidered† Jstor.org. 2000. Web. 1 Nov. 2014

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Are Literature Circle Effective

Literature circles are mostly used during a classroom to expand the view of the book and really see the details in each others opinion, but are they effective? Multiple students find literature circles helpful in understanding the book and they all have their own job when it comes to coming together and discussing what they read. In a certain way literature circles are helpful when it comes to comprehending the book everyone in your group is reading. You also get to bond more with the other people in your group, increase your discussion skills and vocabulary as well. Everyone in the group has their own opinion so when a question is asked about a certain paragraph or page, you can all discuss why you answered what you did. â€Å"Literature circles are effective for team building abilities, discussion skills, and reading comprehension†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Matt) Even though staying on task is one of the tricky parts of literature circles, they truly are helpful. Literature circles are a great way for students to read and enjoy a book, especially high school students because most teenagers now a days do not read as much as they should. It’s a wonderful tool as well, so they can learn to work effectively together. When your in your group you can have a discussion director, summarizer, vocabulary reporter, and a passage master. Discussion directors create questions about the passage they read and take notes during the discussion. Summarizers are the ones that summarize the passage. Vocabulary reporters look for significant words in the passage that caught their eyes and discuses them with the group. Passage master find passages in the reading that everyone should notice, remember, or think about. Everyone in a literature circle has a job so they can all work together and compare thoughts. This is an important tool when comprehending a book. Everyone has a way to contribute, and work together. Literature circles are very helpful when it comes to your reading, vocabulary, and discussion skills. You get to hear others opinion about the reading so you can understand how they felt. So sincerely literature circles are very effective.

Friday, November 8, 2019

How To Boost Your Results With Original Research As A Marketing Tactic With Andy Crestodina From Orbit Media Studios [ACM 015] - CoSchedule Blog

How To Boost Your Results With Original Research As A Marketing Tactic With Andy Crestodina From Orbit Media Studios [ACM 015] Blog You know that you can find information on just about anything you want on the Internet. But are you always finding all of the information that you need on a particular topic? When it comes to content marketing, you need to know exactly how often you should publish, exactly who is reading your posts, and exactly what you need to do to boost your readership (and, hopefully, your income). The key to finding these types of information is doing original research. Today’s guest, Andy Crestodina, is the co-founder and strategic director at Orbit Media Studios. He has done some great original research on publishing frequency, and he’ll be talking about that. He’ll also give us some tips on conducting our own original research. Stay tuned for some excellent hints that you can start using now to make your content marketing even better. Powered by PodcastMotor Actionable Content Marketing powered by By 00:00/00:00 1x 100 > Download file Subscribe on iTunes Leave Review Share

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Biography of Eduardo Quisumbing, Filipino Botanist

Biography of Eduardo Quisumbing, Filipino Botanist Eduardo Quisumbing (November 24, 1895–August 23, 1986) was a Filipino botanist and a noted expert in the medicinal plants of the Philippines. He was an author of more than 129 scientific articles, many on orchids. Quisumbing served as the director of the National Museum of the Philippines, where he oversaw the rebuilding of the herbarium, which was completely destroyed during World War II. The plant Saccolabium quisumbingii is named for him. Fast Facts: Eduardo Quisumbing Known For: Quisumbing was a Filipino botanist and a noted expert in the medicinal plants of the Philippines. The plant Saccolabium quisumbingii is named for him.Born:  November 24, 1895 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, PhilippinesParents: Honorato de los R. Quisumbing, Ciriaca F. Arguelles-QuisumbingDied: August 23, 1986 in Quezon City, PhilippinesEducation: University of the Philippines Los Baà ±os (BSA, 1918), University of the Philippines Los Baà ±os (MS, 1921), University of Chicago (Ph.D., 1923)Published Works: Teratology of Philippine Orchids, The identity of Anota Violacea and Rhynchostylis Retus, New or Noteworthy Philippine Orchids,  Philippine Piperaceae, Medicinal plants in the PhilippinesAwards and Honors: Distinguished Service Star for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Systematic Botany, Diploma of Merit on Orchidology, Fellow Gold Medal from the Malaysian Orchid Society, PhilAAS Most Outstanding Award, National Scientist of the PhilippinesSpouse: Basilisa Lim-Quisumb ingChildren: Honorato Lim Quisumbing, Lourdes L. Quisumbing-Roxas, Eduardo L. Quisumbing, Jr. Early Years and Education Quisumbing was born on November 24, 1895, in Santa Cruz, Laguna, Philippines. His parents were Honorato de los R. Quisumbing and Ciriaca F. Arguelles-Quisumbing. Quisumbing earned his BSA in biology from the University of the Philippines Los Baà ±os in 1918 and his Master of Science in botany at the same university in 1921. He also earned a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago (in Plant Taxonomy, Systematics and Morphology) in 1923. Career From 1920 to 1926, Quisumbing was attached to the College of Agriculture at the University of the Philippines and from 1926 to 1928 at the University of California. He was appointed systematic botanist in 1928. Beginning in February 1934, he served as acting chief of the Natural Museum Division of the Bureau of Science in Manila. He was later named director of the National Museum, a position he held until retiring in 1961. Quisumbing was the author of numerous taxonomic and morphological papers, many of which deal with orchids, such as Medicinal plants in the Philippines. Some of his other published works include â€Å"Teratology of Philippine Orchids,† â€Å"The identity of Anota Violacea and Rhynchostylis Retus,† â€Å"New or Noteworthy Philippine Orchids,†Ã‚  and â€Å"Philippine Piperaceae.† He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Star (1954) for outstanding contribution to the field of systematic botany, Diploma of Merit on Orchidology and Fellow Gold Medal from the Malaysian Orchid Society (1966), the Gold Medal from American Orchid Society, and the 1975 PhilAAS Most Outstanding Award. Death and Legacy Quisumbing died on August 23, 1986, in Quezon City, Philippines. He may be the most famous botanist from the Philippines, particularly with regard to his study on orchids. His publications and papers are still sold on sites such as Amazon. And his writings on orchids of the Philippines are still available at college libraries throughout the U.S. The orchid named after Quisumbing, Saccolabium quisumbingii- also known as Tuberolabium quisumbingii- is a beautiful plant that is widely available in the United States. Like other orchids in the genus Tuberolabium kotoense, this orchid produces small but plentiful bright purplish/pink-and-white flowers and grows in the mountains of the Phillippines. Quisumbings legacy also lives on in the other beautiful orchids and flowers of the Philippines that he spent his life cultivating, protecting, and describing for the world to learn about and enjoy. Sources â€Å"Eduardo A. Quisumbing, Sr.†Ã‚  geni_family_tree, 24 May 2018.Revolvy, LLC. â€Å"‘Eduardo Quisumbing’ on Revolvy.com.†Ã‚  Trivia Quizzes.â€Å"Tuberolabium (Saccolabium) Quisumbingii - 2017.†Ã‚  Orchids Forum.â€Å"Tuberolabium.†Ã‚  The American Orchid Society, 20 Mar. 2016.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Argument on Mackie's analysis on existence of God Essay

Argument on Mackie's analysis on existence of God - Essay Example On the other hand, theists continue to defend the stance that God exists and can, in fact, coexist with evil. Mackie challenged theist notions by seeking to demonstrate the invalidity and lack of persuasiveness inherent in regard to the presence of God. The basis of Mackie’s argument is the provision of atheist criticisms towards theistic assertions regarding the issue of evil in the world (Geisler 65). However, throughout his argument, Mackie fails to unequivocally prove why the coexistence of God and evil is a contradiction of the presence of an omnipotent and all good God. Mackie’s depiction of God is that of a form of immortal monster that chooses to sit idly despite being aware of the terrible experiences of people in the world as a consequence of his inaction. As a result, Mackie attempts to prove this inconsistency by delving into his understanding of the disposition of an omnipotent being (Geisler 114). It is because of this that this paper will critically asses s Mackie’s arguments using a theistic point of view, thereby showing that Mackie’s argument is incompatible with God’s overall purpose and his vision for the world. Although God frowns upon evil, he reveres free will, thus does not permit unnecessary suffering. The argument presented in this paper will defend a position that reconciles the presence of God with the presence of wickedness, thus highlighting the existence of God. ... In fact, evil presupposes God’s existence since God provides a benchmark on which actions can be considered evil or good. Without the presence of God then evil would be nonexistent, hence it would be impossible to measure actions as either good or evil. This means that all actions, whether right or wrong can be deemed morally neutral since they are performed by individuals who are also morally neutral. Therefore, by allowing evil, in the short run, God could be attaining the eventual objective of destroying evil in the long term (Aquinas 626). In Mackie’s opinion, God’s first priority should be to deter evil even if it means infringing on people’s free will. Therefore, Mackie appears to presume that God’s actions are negligent since he does not stop evil. However, such an assumption is likely to imply that God is obligated to do something, but fails to do it. Being an almighty being, God is not compelled to do anything; for instance, stop evil since if he was, then this would imply that God is constrained by the desires of another higher being. Ironically, God’s omnipotence is evidenced by his capacity not to destroy evil in order to fulfill some form of obligation. As an omnipotent and benevolent being, God must have morally sufficient reasons for allowing the extent of evil in the world (Geisler 37). Despite the amount and types of evil present in the world, a balance also exists such that more good than evil characterizes the world. This makes humans look forward to the future and deem life as worth living. Argument against the existence of God While the argument against the existence of God encompasses a myriad of presumptions, perhaps the

Friday, November 1, 2019

A New Computer System for Staples (part 4) Essay

A New Computer System for Staples (part 4) - Essay Example Primarily, it is needed for a widening of market operations to cover the world in scanning for opportunity and threat. The decision to enter markets outside the home country depends on a company's resources, its managerial mind-set, and the nature of opportunity and threat (Keegan, Green, 2003). Marketing in diverse countries allows Staples to reach wider target audience and take market share from an established competitor. Using the market research Staples can develop new products for existing markets or develop new products for new markets. The advantage of product originality will allow Staples to create a strong international brand image. Brand loyalty will also be important factor in increasing the costs for customers of switching the products of new competitors. Using an international market development strategy, Staples will capture a larger share of a market for current products through market saturation and market penetration. Taking into consideration rapidly changing environment and customers expectations it is not enough to operate only on a national market. Global marketing will help Staples substantially increase the level of sales (Evans, et al 2004). To get the message different types of media will be used in accordance with particulate audience. Media selection will involve choice between alternatives. Therefore, for maximum penetration it may help to select primary (first choice) media that interlock or cross support each other. If deeper penetration into the same target market, for example, is required, then vertical advertising in the media that reach the same target market will be sought. For example, advertising on commercial television may be linked with advertising in the magazine that provides the programme schedules for viewers, or local radio advertising in an area may be accompanied by direct mail or press advertising. Direct marketing refers to the marketing operations where company sale is made directly to the purchaser without any conventional distributors being involved. Direct marketing involve a number of different methods which can be used in order to reach, communicate, interest and encourage consumers to buy. The methods are: direct response advertisements direct mail and mail drops personal (direct) selling Catalogue selling (McDonald, Christopher, 2003). Mail drops on the other hand are where the delivery of promotional literature to potential customers is undertaken by agents. It may involve posting through letter boxes, handing promotion literature out in the streets, or even placing literature under the windscreen wipers of cars. It can help a company reach a widely dispersed target market, present its message in a very personalized way addressing letters directly to potential buyers (Stone, 2001). Advertisements will also be placed in the Press, on TV and radio and consumers will be encouraged to order directly by telephoning or writing to the supplier of the goods or by filling in a coupon which may be incorporated in a Press advertisement. 'Off-the-page' purchasing of this nature relies on impulse, and there is a need to present an attractive proposition. The advertisement used must be informative enough to enable Staples existing customers to make a decision to purchase. Alternatively the advert may invite the potential customer to write in or phone for a catalogue or leaflet listing the full range of services. The

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

World religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

World religion - Essay Example This yoga holds very importance in both the religions. Tantrism is associated with the religious scriptures known as the Goddess Shakti. She is the sacred feminine in Hindu religion, whom people worship. Hindu considers it as anit-vedic in character. In Hinduism traditionally it contains four parts; Metaphysical knowledge of religion known as Jnana, meditative practices knows as yoga, ritual practices and religious and ethical practices of conduct named as Charya. Today in Hinduism this yoga traditionally exists in Saurya, Shiva, Shakta, Ganapatya and Vaishnava. Tantrism came into being in Buddhism around the 3rd century till 12th .In Buddhism, Tantric is also known as Vajrayana. It is different in Buddhism because of its rituals. Rather than the meditation their goal is to achieve the Godhead, with Upaya/skills.Vajrayanais difficult and complicated than the Hinduism because of its rules and complications in language, to read.It is performed in Buddhism for the followers to experienc e the true Buddha nature, before they tend to achieve the enlightenment(Dolls of India - The Role of Tantra in Hinduism and Buddhism) In the psychological study of religion, considering postmodernity, Erickson has given very much importance to the religion in every stage of life. He has done the biographies on Gandhi and Martin Luther, which have proved his thoughts in the matter of religion. Erick stated that for human personality development, religion plays an important role because it is only primary way where virtues are promoted with each stage of life, on the basis of culture. Erick’s theory couldn’t attain much benefit from systematic empirical study but it left the influential effect on the human minds(Schachter). Whereas considering the postmodernity Jones states that today the world is moving within the new sets of modernity. The thoughts of people are changing as a strong reflection of modern themes, specially the youth ministry. Jones says that youth ministry should

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Impact Of Television On Sexual Behaviour Of Youths Media Essay

Impact Of Television On Sexual Behaviour Of Youths Media Essay INTRODUCTION Television, radio, films, newspapers, magazines, books, and other media are increasingly persuasive and influential in peoples lives around the world. New technologies such as the Internet, cell-phones and chat rooms, have changed the nature of the media experience in significant ways through the information they provide to users. The information obtained from mass media maybe constructive or detrimental and it is for that reason there is need to assess the impact it has on teenagers sexual behaviour by mainly focusing on televised programmes. Background of the Thesis Televised programmes do qualify as one of the convenient sexual educators in our culture but laden with contradictions. TVs accessibility and popular appeal make it an excellent instructor, offering a convenient way to learn about sex without embarrassment which usually arises between parents and their children when discussing sex related issues. While TVs sexual messages are not always explicit, they are abundant, and often provide information youth do not get elsewhere. Through its dialogue, characterisations, storylines, and themes, television presents adolescents with numerous verbal and visual examples of how dating, intimacy, relationships, and sex are handled. On the other hand, concern is often expressed that the messages TV sends about sexuality are limited, sometimes stereotypical, and potentially harmful. The concern is that the prevalence of sexual content on TV inadvertently overemphasizes the role of sex in male-female relationships. Of equal concern is the impression t hat television provides a one-dimensional picture of sexual relationships and sexual encounters are always spontaneous, romantic, and risk free. Thus, because of the prevalent yet limited nature of TVs sexual content, researchers and educators have become interested in/whether viewing of these portrayals is associated with distorted expectations, irresponsible sexual decision-making, and permissive sexual attitudes. Although the research in this area has been sparse in Kenya, research findings do associate amount of TV viewing with viewers sexual attitudes, expectations, and behaviour. First, greater TV exposure has been linked to viewers attitudes about sex and sexual relationships. Both heavy regular consumption of and experimental exposure to sexually-oriented genres, such as soap operas and music videos, have been related to expressing more liberal sexual attitudes, to being more accepting of sexual improprieties, and to more negative attitudes toward remaining a virgin. Together, these findings but not limited to, provide tentative evidence of a link between watching sexually-oriented programming and viewers own sexual attitudes, expectations, and behaviour. The effects of television consumption on teenagers behaviour regarding to sex are of increasing interest to educators, policy makers, program planners and the society as whole. The concern is that the extent to which frequent consumption of media with high levels of sexual content and low levels of portrayal of responsible sexual conduct is a pivotal influence on young peoples subsequent sexual behaviour, including the responsible use of protection from pregnancy and disease. Research done in United States has demonstrated that young people are heavy consumers of sexually- oriented media including TV, both broadcast and cable channels, videos, movies, magazines, and, more recently, the internet. The researcher acknowledges that the above mentioned relationship cannot be generalised across cultures especially Kenya and United States, however televised programmes do carry sexual content across board. Content analyses have also demonstrated that broadcast television contains a high, growing and increasingly explicit dose of sexual messages, and that a proportion of such messages display or model either restraint or contraceptive use. However, scientific evidence has not yet established a causal relationship between exposure to sexual content in the media and teenagers attitudes concerning sexuality and their own sexual behaviours. Therefore a detailed research that addresses the nature and magnitude of the role of television in teenagers decisions regarding sexual intercourse and protection from disease and unintended pregnancy might create data which could guide future policy making and programming, both in the government and in the media industries. Statement of the Problem The role of television as a sexual educator in our culture is perceived to be inappropriate. On the one hand, televisions accessibility and popular appeal as an excellent instructor, does offer a convenient way to learn about sex and sexual behaviours without embarrassment. While televisions sexual messages are not necessarily visually explicit (which can be either non-verbal or verbal cues), they often provide information that teenagers may not receive elsewhere. One dimension of involvement to be considered is viewing motivation, or viewers expected uses of television. People use and select media (television) to gratify specific needs, and that specific uses lead to differences in behaviour and outcomes. According to this construct, people exhibit varying levels of activity when using the media, differing in their selectivity, attention to, and involvement with the content viewed. However, while the expectation is that the effect of television content will therefore depend on ones level of active involvement. It is argued that facilitative activity, which includes selectivity, attention, and involvement, is more likely to enhance television effects on sexual behaviour, whereas inhibitory activity, which includes avoidance, distraction, and scepticism, should deter teenagers involvement in sexual activities. Focusing on the two dimensions of facilitative activity and inhibitory activity, the researcher seeks to determine to what extent televi sion viewing impact on teenagers sexual behaviour. Thesis Objectives In order to achieve the purpose of the study which is to determine the impact of television on the sexual behaviour of the youth by exploring aspects of television use that are associated with teens sexual behaviours and expectations, hence the research has based its objectives on: To investigate whether television content affects the sexual beliefs and behaviour of the youth To investigate what sexual content the youth pay attention to and how they interpret what the see and hear. To investigate whether television as a form of media can be used to promote responsible sexual behaviour Thesis Questions What sexual content do teenagers pay attention to, and how do they interpret what they see and hear? Do sexual media content affect teenagers sexual beliefs and behaviour? Can the mass media be used to promote responsible sexual behaviour among teenagers? Hypotheses The study will test the following hypotheses; Sexual behaviour among the youth is influenced by what they see on television. Television is appropriate channel to educate the youth on responsible sexual behaviours. Television has become a peer to the youth. Limitation of the Thesis For comparison reasons, the research is limited to researches done on the similar topic on argument impact of television on the sexual behaviour of youths. The study sample of teenagers between the age of 15 to 17 living in Starehe constituency may not give a fully representation of the each and every youth in the country. Its important to note that there no readily available research or documented information regarding to television viewing among teenagers in Kenya which would have added value to this research. The study is limited in collection of primary data specifically in interviews and questionnaires. The question of whether the respondents will accept appointments, attend, answer and return the questionnaires in good time is delimitation to the research. It is important to mention that not all respondents will be able to reply to the questionnaires adequately due to reasons beyond the researchers control, while some may have clerical errors. Concerted efforts will be ensured for better response and retrieval of important information from relevant sources. Motivation This study is important for Kenyan society, in understanding the impact of television on the sexual behaviours of youths. Furthermore, the information attained in this study could also help in understanding sexual decisions that are made by youths. As the country and the world as a whole are working towards combating the HIV and AIDS epidemic, it is imperative to try and understand the different aspects (peers, parents, television, as well as the media as a whole) that contribute to such decisions, particularly since statistics have highlighted that they are more vulnerable to being infected and are at the risk of experiencing teenage pregnancy. Thesis Structure The thesis will be segmented in chapters; the first chapter will concentrate on the sociological analysis of the topic whereby the study will look at the problem, its root-cause and what has been done by other researchers on teenagers sexual attitudes and behaviour regarding to what they watch on televised media. In this particular chapter the study will look at various communication and psychological development theories which tend to explain teenage sexuality. The subsequent chapter or segmentation of this study will document the research methodology in collecting primary data, sampling of respondents, data collection and analysis. The study uses descriptive survey research design whereby the researcher will describe a scenario to a respondent who will then give in-depth response on the same. The research population is drawn from teenagers of age 15-17 years old whereby stratified sampling will be applied to select the respondents. The final chapter deals with elaboration of the communication strategies available such as injection theory and agenda setting theory followed by the justification of the communication theories through the research findings and details on the implementation of the proposed thesis. It will end with general conclusion based on the findings expressed from data analysis and discussed literature in view of thesis objectives. CHAPTER ONE Introduction This chapter deals with literature concerning previous studies relating directly and indirectly to the influence of television on adolescent girls sexual attitudes and behaviour. Furthermore, this chapter furnishes a detailed description of how different researchers view the underlying assumption of this study together with a consideration of the different methodologies employed to conduct the various studies which have resulted in similar conclusions. This chapter further describes how television has influenced other aspects of adolescent life and behaviour. Although the study solely focuses on the impact of television, the study also describes mass media in order to broaden the perspective regarding media influence among adolescents. In addition, the researcher indicates how television influences other behaviours other than sexual. The reason of including other manifesting behaviours is to illustrate that if television is able to influence teenagers in this manner, it may also influence their sexual attitudes and behaviour. Teenagers and Sexuality Teenagers undergo adolescence which is viewed as a time of adjustment and is often characterised by turmoil resulting from issues regarding identity and sexual identity and orientation. A key period of sexual exploration and development occurs during adolescence. During this time, individuals begin to consider which sexual behaviours are enjoyable, moral, and appropriate for their age group. Many adolescents become sexually active during this period. Sexuality is a developmental milestone among teenagers with which each generation struggles. Sexuality encompasses behavioural components with boundaries of sexual activity moving in an increasingly permissive direction. Perceptions appear to be constant through the ages while only the circumstances change. An emphasis on individual freedom and rights-driven culture in societies may be influential in this apparent permissiveness. A number of factors which include media and the internet, urbanization, electronic communication, peer influences and the breakdown of traditional parental and community structures also play a part. Therefore, we look at these factors in more detail. Factors Influencing Sexual Behaviour There are many factors that contribute to and influence sexual behaviours among adolescents. Family structure, age, gender, parenting styles, and type of parental communication have all been pointed out as factors that influence teenagers behaviour. However, family structure has been of particular interest to most researchers as more adolescents are being exposed to family disruption and are moving away from traditional lifestyles. The positive or negative impact of these changes on adolescents may also influence their sexual behaviour. Teenage sexual attitudes and behaviours are also influenced by: Biological and psychological factors within an individual this refers to age, level of maturity and gender Close relationships in family and peer groups refers to the people with whom a teenager enjoys near, close or intimate relationships. Socio-cultural contexts such as race, religion, school and the media refers to the kind of environment from which a teenager come from, their belief systems, the kind of education, as well as the kind of media (television, print media, internet, radio), to which they have been exposed. Consequently this research aims at determining television as an influencing factor on the sexual behaviour of teenagers in Starehe constituency. One potential but largely unexplored factor that may contribute to sexual behaviours among adolescents is exposure to sexual content in the mass media. The average youth spends one third of each day exposed to media, and the majority of that exposure occurs outside of parental oversight. Although mass media have been shown to have an influence on a broad range of behaviours and attitudes including violence, eating disorders, tobacco and alcohol use, surprisingly few studies have examined the effects of mass media on adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviours. Theoretical Perspectives: Attitudes and Behaviours The potential for mass media to influence behaviour has been supported through a number of different psychosocial theories, hypotheses, and models. Although there is considerable variation in theoretical mechanisms by which media might affect adolescents sexual attitudes and behaviours, most posit that sexually related message content and behaviour act over time as stimuli to change consumer psychological, physiologic, and behavioural function. The study thus analyses two theories namely Social-Learning Theory and Cultivation theory to relate the sexual behaviours among teenagers. Social-Learning Theory Banduras social-learning theory provides ample evidence that even when children and adults have not actually performed a behaviour, they can learn by imitation. Bandura identifies three main processes involved in learning: direct experience, indirect or vicarious experience from observing others (modelling), and the storing and processing of complex information through cognitive operations. This theory suggests that behaviours are learned and that they are influenced by social context: Television is seen as an increasingly influential agent of socialization that produces its effects through childrens propensity to learn by imitation. The premise of Social learning theory is that it focuses on viewers personal connections with the portrayals via identification and perceived relevance to the self. The dimensions here emphasize on television characters as models of behaviour. The hypothesis proposes that specific critical portrayals may exert a stronger force on impression-formation and image-building than might the sheer frequency of television characters and behaviours viewed. This notion emphasizes the power of individual performances to affect viewers, most likely portrayals that speak to the viewer in some way. Banduras theory predicts that teenagers will imitate or model what they see on television when those television personalities are rewarded or are not punished for their behaviour, and are perceived as attractive, powerful, and similar. Indeed, evidence suggests that perceiving TV figures as sexual role models is associated with more permissive sexual attitudes, more extensive sexual experience, and great er dissatisfaction with ones sexual status and sexual experiences. Thus, it is expected here that the contributions of TVs sexual content will be stronger among teenagers who more closely identify or connect with the portrayals of television personalities. In light of the aforesaid, the most common examples of social learning situations are television commercials, movies and music videos. Sexual content displayed in these programmes may suggest that certain sexual behaviour renders teenage boys and girls more attractive and admirable. The theory further indicates that human sexual behaviour is governed mainly by social conditioning, rather than endocrinal stimulation. Sexual modelling presented on television teaches affectionate techniques, reduces sexual inhibition, alters sexual attitudes, and shapes sexual behaviours by conveying norms: for instance, which behaviours are socially acceptable and which are not. Cultivation Theory Cultivation theory posits that heavy exposure to mass media creates and cultivates attitudes more consistent with a media-directed version of reality than with reality itself. Up to this point, the dominant theoretical model supporting this research has been the cultivation theory. The cultivation theory (Gerbner, Gross, Signorielli, 1994), proposes that televisions consistent images and portrayals construct a specific portrait of reality, and as viewers watch more and more television, they gradually come to cultivate or adopt attitudes and expectations about the world that coincide with this portrait. Although this model has typically been employed to explain the impact of TV violence, it has been applied successfully to the cultivation of attitudes about gender roles, politics and marriage. Accordingly, if content analyses indicate that sex on TV is glamorous, prevalent, recreational, and relatively risk free, the cultivation model predicts that frequent teenage television viewers will be more inclined than sporadic viewers to hold and accept this perspective of sexuality. Media portrayals and messages might affect the behaviour of teenagers over time by enabling them to acquire new attitudes and behaviours or by changing the likelihood that they will perform new or previously learned responses. However, while the results reported thus far are provocative and informative, and do support the premises of this model, they offer a limited analysis of televisions role in the sexual socialization process. It is argued here that viewing amounts should be seen as only one avenue through which TV exposure might affect teenagers. Indeed, the processes by which television viewing shapes viewers attitudes and expectations are varied and complex, with several factors contributing at the same time. Therefore, to better examine contributions of television exposure, other dimensions of viewing need to be considered. In particular, a key element missing has been the role of viewer involvement. The study believes that teenagers perceptions of the portrayals and their connections with the material are likely to be critical factors in the socialization process. Drawing on the premises of several theoretical perspectives, I have outlined four aspects of viewer involvement which I believe may play an important role. It is my argument that teenagers who feel more connected with the material and who are more involved in the viewing experience will be most affected by it. To contextualize the Cultivation theory, the study discusses viewing motivation, active viewing and perceived depiction. Viewing Motivation One dimension of cultivation theory involvement to be considered is viewing motivation, or teenagers expected uses of television. Gratifications concepts contend that people use and select media to gratify specific needs, and that specific uses lead to differences in viewing behaviour and outcomes. While some viewing is believed to be more ritualized, in which a television is used to fill time, escape, or provide company, other television use is more instrumental, in which viewing is purposeful and goal-directed, perhaps driven by information-or arousal-seeking. In relation to the study, we focus on instrumental motives, more specifically on viewing TV to learn about the sex. The expectation is that the effects of TVs sexual content will be stronger among teenagers who are intentionally using TV to learn about sexual behaviour. Active Viewing A second dimension of Cultivation theory focuses on the level of active viewing. According to this construct, teenagers exhibit varying levels of activity when using the television, differing in their selectivity, attention to, and involvement with the content viewed. However, while the expectation is that the effect of TV content will therefore depend on ones level of active involvement, the direction of this effect is unclear. The suggestions are that active teenage viewers are more affected by televisions messages; others indicate that passive teenager viewers are most vulnerable. In reconciling this debate, a current perspective suggests that different ways of being active contribute to different outcomes. It is argued that facilitative activity, which includes selectivity, attention, and involvement, is more likely to enhance television effects, whereas inhibitory activity, which includes avoidance, distraction, and scepticism, should deter them. Focusing here on facilitative ac tivity only, the expectations are that the socializing effects of TVs sexual content will be stronger among teenage viewers who tend to engage in more facilitative activity. Perceived Depiction A third dimension of involvement considers the perceived realism of the portrayals. Although most television programs are fictional, there are many aspects of the portrayals (such as the clothing, physical settings, dialogue, and situations) that closely resemble those in real life. Consequently, most notions predict that televisions impact will increase the more realistic its content is perceived to be. Evidence supports this premise, with cultivation effects appearing to work stronger for those who view the portrayals as realistic. Thus, it is expected that the socializing effect of televisions sexual content will be stronger among teenage viewers who perceive its portrayals as more realistic. Influence of Television on Teens Television has proven to exert a large influence on peoples attitudes and behaviour. It has been found to reflect and possibly shape the attitudes, values, and behaviours of young people. According to them, this medium has become so influential that it serves as a teacher, often providing a common source of information to young people. The role of media in teenagers lives has raised concerns in many respects, such as violence, sexuality and body dissatisfaction. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the effects of media on various behaviours, including violence and aggression, social stereotyping, and pro-social behaviours, the systematic process of examining sexual content on television and its impact on adolescent sexual behaviours is in its infancy. Studies have demonstrated clearly that sexual content is pervasive in TV programming, movies, music videos, and magazines; however, much less is known about sexual content on the radio (including remarks by presenters) and the sexual content of video and computer games. It is surprising that only a few studies have assessed the sexual content of the television, and none have specifically examined this content in relation to teenager exposure. This is particularly troublesome given that what little evidence there is indicates that the television programmes may contain the most sexually explicit content. Studies on the effects of television on teenagers sexual behaviour have found that prime-time programmes and music videos, focusing on sex outside marriage, promote more justifiable attitudes about premarital sex. Two cross-sectional surveys have linked frequent exposure to sexual television content and transition to sexual intercourse. However, because time order was not clear in these studies, Ward and Friedman further state that it is credible to conclude that teenagers who were having sexual intercourse were also those most interested in sexual content in the media, rather than that exposure to sexual media was accelerating the initiation of their sexual activity. The single longitudinal study on this topic found that adolescents (12-17 years old) who watched television shows with more sexual content were more likely than those who viewed fewer shows with sexual content to have engaged in more advanced sexual behaviour, as well as sexual intercourse, up to one year later. Larson is of the opinion that the exposure to portrayals of sex may affect adolescents in developing beliefs about cultural norms as well. He states that television may create the illusion that sex is more central to daily life than it truly is and may promote sexual initiation as a result, a process known as media cultivation. Exposure to the social models provided by television may also alter beliefs about the likely outcome of engaging in sexual activity. Social learning theory predicts that teens who see characters having casual sex without experiencing negative consequences will be more likely to adopt the behaviours portrayed. Although televised sexual portrayals can theoretically inhibit sexual activity when they include depictions of sexual risks (such as the possibility of contracting an STI or becoming pregnant), abstinence, or the need for sexual safety, this type of depiction occurs in only negligibly of shows with sexual content. As a result, sexual content on television is far more likely to influence sexual behaviour among teenagers than discourage it. Teenage Sexual Behaviour in Kenya It has been documented that modernisation increases opportunities for sexual encounters and provides new models for sexual behaviour. The results suggest that modernisation favour transgression of the more restrictive traditions that existed decades. The scenario in Kenya regarding to teenage sexuality, little has been done to study the trends on the issue. Some of the close related studies done have mainly focused on sex education and reproductive health among adolescents. Problems related to sexuality and related behaviours seem to play a central role in the lives of many teenagers. In many parts of Kenya sexual debut begins early and in the absence of information and services. They state 7 out of 10 young people in Kenya have had sex before the age of 19. This high level of sexual activity is associated with risks such as HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, unsafe abortion, economic hardship and school dropout. Currently 5 in 10 girls in Kenya have begun childbearing before age 20 years. In most communities in Kenya, adolescents are faced with many of the same problems and violations of rights that may lead to sexual abuse. In their report, they have identified some reasons to explain this situation; the break down in traditional family systems in both urban and rural areas, influence of the mass media and modernisation as well as the lack of access to information and services are just some of the factors. In some cases they have pointed out that there is poor packaging of information for teens consumption hence having a negative impact on their sexual behaviours. In compounding this, it illustrates that not only do teenagers lack the right information and skills they need to make sound, healthy choices, but they are at particularly high risk of serious, long-term consequences of poor decision-making about sexual activity regarding to STIs, sexual abuse and early parenting. Narrowing it down to area of study, Kenya boosts over five national television stations and cable television. These stations broadcast various programmes featuring music videos, films, educative programmes, soap operas, all these shows run under various themes which may or may not have sexual connotations. Due to limited dedication to sex education among teens, the outcome is that these teens will rely on their own judgement or peer advice to make decisions regarding to sex. Thesis Critique Based on this review, the study identified many gaps in our knowledge of the sexual content of various television especially Kenya, the amount of exposure to it by adolescents, and the impact of this exposure. Moreover, there is a noticeable scarcity of well-conducted, scientifically rigorous studies that examine the impact of sexual content in the television media on sexual behaviours among adolescents, and there are no studies that have longitudinally examined the cumulative effects of sexual content in different types of media. It is critical that longitudinal research be conducted, and within the multilevel context of child development: that is to say, different groups of adolescents (defined by age, geographic location, tribe, domestic situation, and other variables) have different media diets, and identical diets may have differing effects depending on a number of factors. Based on this review, future studies should survey parents to assess the effectiveness of parental involvement, communication, supervision, and monitoring of media sexual content in the media in influencing the sexual attitudes and behaviours of teenagers. Also there is a need to evaluate adolescent and parent media-literacy education to determine best-practice interventions and their impact on youth viewing choices, interpretation of content, and sexual attitudes and behaviours: Intervention studies are needed to examine whether current media-literacy education has an impact on adolescent sexual attitudes, decision-making, and behaviours and how such programs may be improved to best protect teens. Throughout the study, there no are tangible researches in relation to teen sexual behaviours done which has taken into account early initiation of sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, other sexual behaviours such as oral sex, dating violence among teenagers. Conclusively, this study categorically urges that there is need to address potential mediating variables such as puberty, peer factors, society and family factors (e.g., parental supervision and monitoring of media use); only in such ways can we determine the effects of television on adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviours. Conclusion This chapter has focused on discussing the theoretical framework that underlines this study. A review of social learning theory and cultivation theory with the main emphasis placed on cultivation theory. The importance of observing modelling behaviour, attitudes and viewing motivations of teenagers is addressed, as is the fundamental assumption of social learning theory and cultivation theory. The modelling process, factors influencing observa