Chemistry Lab Preparation Of A Dye - 830 Words

CH 220C – Organic Chemistry Lab Experiment 14: Preparation of a Dye: Azo Violet Rodan Devega Introduction The purpose of this laboratory experiment was to synthesize azo violet, and conduct a product analysis in the form of a dyeing test and indicator test. Synthesizing azo class dyes typically involves two steps, diazotization and diazonium coupling. Diazotization is the conversion of a p-nitroaniline’s amino substituent to a nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond, resulting in the formation of an aryl diazonium salt. It is facilitated with sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid. Diazonium coupling, an electrophilic aromatic substitution, is the coupling of the aryl diazonium salt and resorcinol to form azo violet. It is facilitated with sodium acetate. Product analysis was conducted on azo violet in an effort to examine its response to the pH of different solutions (indicator test) and confirm its identity (dyeing test). Data and Results Qualitative observations concerning the synthesis of azo violet can be found on page 52 of carbon-copy notebook. Discussion A phosphodiesterase (PDE) is any enzyme that has the ability to break down phosphodiester bonds. Enzyme regulation may occur via metal-dye complexes within biological cells. Azo class dyes are molecules characterized by nitrogen-nitrogen double bonds that allow for conjugation within the molecule. Additionally, these dyes portray the essence of color as it reflects back light of different colors that is not absorbed. AShow MoreRelatedMy Career In Energy Technology1302 Words   |  6 PagesBackground My career in energy technology began in 2012, when I started my master’s coursework and research in electrochemistry at the University of Louisville’s Department of Chemistry. Since then, I have developed an extensive skillset, focusing mainly on the development and usage of semiconductor materials such as titanium oxide (TiO2), tin-oxide (SnO2), birnessite-manganese oxide (b-MnO2), and neodymium oxide (Nd2O3). I have extensively studied the photophysics and photochemistry of energeticRead MoreMy Career In Energy Technology And Surface Chemistry1386 Words   |  6 PagesBackground My career in energy technology and surface chemistry began in 2012, when I started my master’s coursework and research in electrochemistry at the University of Louisville’s Department of Chemistry. Since then I have developed an extensive skillset, focusing mainly on the development and usage of semiconductor materials such as titanium oxide (TiO2), tin-oxide (SnO2), birnessite-manganese oxide (b-MnO2), and neodymium oxide (Nd2O3). I have extensively studied the photophysics and photochemistryRead MorePreparation of P-Nitroaniline1671 Words   |  7 Pages 1 mol = 1.839 g Experimental yield of p-Nitroaniline: Amount of p-Nitroaniline by mass obtained in lab: 1.74g % yield: Actual yield x 100% = 1.74 g x 100% = 94.62% Theoretical yield 1.839 g % difference from theoretical = |1.74 g Ââ€" 1.839 g| x 100% = 5.38% 1.839 g Discussion The final yield for the preparation of p-Nitroaniline experiment was 1.74g, giving a percentage yield of 94.62%. The theoretical yield obtained throughRead Morestudy of adulterants in food stuff1901 Words   |  8 PagesPROJECT OF CHEMISTRY STUDY OF ADULTERANTS IN FOOD-STUFFS Index Certificate 3 Acknowledgement 4 Food adulteration 5 Infections due to adulteration 7 Experiment-1 9 Experiment-2 10 Experiment-3 11 Bibliography 13 Certificate of Authenticity This is to certify that a student of  class 12th has successfully completed the research project on the topic â€Å"Study of adulterants in food-stuffs† under the  guidance of This project is absolutely genuine and does not indulge in plagiarism ofRead MorePreparation of Acetanilide1398 Words   |  6 PagesLearning Activity 1 Preparation of Acetanilide Abstract Recrystallization is a common method of purifying organic substances through the difference in solubility at different temperature. In this experiment, acetanilide was produced by acetylation of aniline with acetic anhydride. The crude acetanilide was dissolved in a solvent in a heating water bath. The solution was cooled slowly in an ice bath as crystals form out. As the compound crystallizes from the solution, molecules of other compoundsRead MoreSynthesis Of Triphenylamine Based Dye And Fabrication Of Dssc Device3205 Words   |  13 PagesReport for B.Tech Project Synthesis of triphenylamine based dye and fabrication of DSSC device A Project Report Submitted to the Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati As a part of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Technology by Arvindh Sekar Roll No. : 11012206 Statement I hereby declare that the work embodies in this project report titled Synthesis of triphenylamine based dye and fabrication of DSSC device by Arvindh Sekar represents an originalRead MoreNitration of Cobalt(Iii) Acetylacetonate4150 Words   |  17 PagesRossi/Kuwata Chemistry 222 Spring 2011 Experiment 2: Spectrophotometric Determination of Iron in Vitamin Tablets (Adapted from Daniel C. Harris’ Quantitative Chemical Analysis and R. C. Atkins, Journal of Chemical Education 1975, 52, 550.) Experimental work to be done on February 24 + one hour scheduled on your own Notebook due on March 4 (by 4:00 pm ⇒ 20% late penalty each 24 hour period thereafter) INTRODUCTION In this experiment, you will dissolve the iron in a vitamin supplement tablet,Read MoreEssay about Basic Chemistry for Investigating Living Systems7868 Words   |  32 PagesLABORATORY 3: LABORATORY 3: Basic Chemistry for Investigating Living Systems Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to explain how colorimetry can be used to qualitatively detect cellular chemical components; to chemically differentiate between proteins, sugars, starches, and lipids; to identify the roles of molecular components in living systems; to comprehend the value of using a systematic approach to research; and to describe why hypotheses, controls, standards, and quality controlRead MoreFood Additives: Pros, Cons, and Some Ideas for the Future2801 Words   |  12 Pagescontemporary day and age we refer not only to simple changes applied to the food with commonly found natural substances as in the pre-industrial era, but to more complexly engineered changes developed from the designs of food scientists in far-off labs. On the whole, there is a very significant amount of processing done to our food between the points at which it is taken from nature as an ingredient, to the point that it reaches our mouths at the table. There are literally thousands of vari ous additivesRead MoreA Form Of Geometric Art Invented By The Famous Dutch Artist2670 Words   |  11 Pages238). By the year 1925, the students at the Bauhaus were privileged enough to study under these original elementary artists and architects. Walter Gropius, a German-American artist, started referring to the architectural study at the school as a preparation for the life at modern industry. They believed the machine to be their contemporary instrument of design. Craft training helped the students to get an overall experience of their future life in their respective field and also prepared them to be

Essay on I Am Sam - 1694 Words

I Am Sam is the compelling story of Sam Dawson (Sean Penn), a mentally-challenged father raising his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) with the help of an extraordinary group of friends. As Lucy turns seven and begins to intellectually surpass her father, their close bond is threatened when their situation comes under the scrutiny of a social worker who wants Lucy placed in foster care. Faced with a seemingly unwinnable case, Sam vows to fight the legal system and forms an unlikely alliance with Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer), a high-powered, self-absorbed attorney who initially takes his case pro bona as a challenge from her colleagues. On the surface the two couldnt be further apart, but in reality they are subtly similar. Sams†¦show more content†¦I Am Sam (rated PG-13 by the M.P.A.A. for language) will be released in Los Angeles and New York on December 28th, 2001 and wide on January 25th, 2002. about the story I Am Sam is a powerful, emotional film about love, parenthood and the bonds of family. Im fascinated by what makes a family and how people create that in untraditional ways, says director and co-screenwriter Jessie Nelson. I think all parents at times feel confused and overwhelmed. It is a common bond between every parent on the planet, whether youre disabled or not. Parents who are disabled provide a unique metaphor for how were all trying to get through an incredibly challenging world and how we all ultimately need some type of support system. Raising a child is never easy, but like everybody, Sam Dawson (Academy Award nominee Sean Penn) has learned to adapt. Sam and his daughter Lucy (Dakota Fanning) have gotten through the basics, though not always in the conventional way, with the help of Sams tightly-knit group of friends. Though Lucys life has never been what anyone would ever call normal, it has always been animated with humor and full of love. Lucy and her dad go to IHOP on Wednesday, video night on Thursday, karaoke night on Friday, says Dakota Fanning, the 7-year old newcomer who plays Lucy Diamond. They just have the best time together. But when LucyShow MoreRelatedI Am Sam Movie Review894 Words   |  4 PagesI am Sam I am Sam is a 2001 American drama film written and directed by Jessie Nelson, starring Sean Penn as Sam who has an intellectual disability that had sole care for his daughter Lucy Diamond played by Dakota Fanning. The two of them encounter problems with the Department of Child and Family Services as they believe the presence of Sam’s intellectual disability negates his ability to parent. A lawyer Rita Harrison played by Michelle Pfeiffer plays an important role in this film as sheRead MoreI Am Sam s Mental Retardation999 Words   |  4 PagesI am Sam was quite possibly one of the best movies I have ever seen in my life. I was personally very moved by the entire story. I learned a lot about how these kinds of cases usually pan out for those that are mentally disabled. I had not ever thought of a story like this, but now that I was opened to these kinds of issues in the lives of people with mental disabilities, I am glad that I watched this movie and gain some insight. Sam faced several psychological issues in this story. Out of all theRead More I am Sam Movie Review Essay examples431 Words   |  2 PagesI am Sam Movie Review 1. Movie Title   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I Am Sam 2. Year of Production   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2001 (Theatrical) ? 2002 (Home Video) 3. Feature Length   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  134 Minutes 4. Director   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jessie Nelson 5. Producers and Studio   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Director/Producer Jessie Nelson, Executive Producer David Scott Rubin Producers Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz, Richard Solomon.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  New Line Home Entertainment 6. Major Character Cast   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sam Dawson played by Sean Penn   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rita Harrison played by MichelleRead MoreI am Sam Disability1394 Words   |  6 Pages I chose the movie I am Sam to challenge my own opinion on how people with disabilities should be treated under certain circumstances. I am Sam is a movie about a mentally challenged man, named Sam, striving to raise his daughter, Lucy, alone. Diagnosed with Autism, Sam’s intellectual capacity cannot exceed the age of 7. As we watch Lucy grow up under Sam’s roof, we are able to see the love they have for each other. When Lucy reaches the age of 8, social workers see this as an issue, so they placeRead MoreI Am Sam Essay1490 Words   |  6 PagesI Am Sam December 16th, 2010 In the movie I Am Sam, I will be discussing two elements of communication, facial expressions and the social exchange theory of relationships. I will be describing two different scenes of the movie to show how facial expressions are an important element of communication as well as two other scenes to show how the social exchange theory of relationships works in this movie. During the final custody hearing to determine if Sam, who has the mentality level of a sevenRead MoreI Am Sam Analysis1508 Words   |  7 PagesIn the film ‘I Am Sam Directed by Jessie Nelson as the main storyline of this film that show in that anything is possible to fulfill to get where you want to be no matter what kind of Disability a person has. The Director shown a huge importance in the filmed of a real life situation to the viewers. In which a man named Sam Dawson a loving, caring mentally challenged father that takes care of his daughter Lucy. The movie shows a more real-life situation that was when Lucy turns 7 she passes herRead MoreAnalysis Of I Am Sam848 Words   |  4 PagesThe movie, I Am Sam is about a single father who has a developmental disability and who has an IQ of a seven-year-old who wants and tries to take care of his baby daughter. He had his daughter, Lucy with a homeless woman and she left Sam just after she had her. There are some complications an d then he loses her through court because people convince him he could not give her the love she deserved. The article online and the movie were the same. In many people’s opinion, books are better than the moviesRead MoreFinding The Underlying Conflict Sam1113 Words   |  5 PagesThe director may have used this portion of the movie to establish the underlying conflict Sam is being questioned about. The court system consistently states that Lucy will surpass his IQ by her next birthday. The judge claims that due to his â€Å"low intelligence,† Sam will not be able to take care of Lucy as well as someone with a higher mental age. Although this is the court’s assumption, does this make Sam any less capable of raising Lucy? Mindsets such as Henry Goddard, author of the Kallikak FamilyRead More Mental Retardation Essay510 Words   |  3 Pagescan receive an education and lead a productive role in society. I Am Sam is about a mentally retarded man named Sam (Sean Penn). In the beginning of the movie Sam is left to care for his child alone. The childs mother leaves them both and never returns. Sam raises Lucy with the help of a neighbor and friends. When Lucy reaches the age of seven she begins to realize her fathers disability, something I she never noticed before. This realization begins causing problemsRead MoreMy Movie Reflection1314 Words   |  6 Pagesmovie changed my outlook on everything. Sam is a man who has a mental disability and he got a woman pregnant. The woman took off when she gave birth and left Sam with the baby. Sam tried very hard to raise his daughter Lucy, but due to the fact that he had a mentality of a 7 year old, he had a hard time. He got help from her God Mom, Annie, who was also Lucy’s piano teacher later on. Sam’s friends, who had disabilities as well, helped him with Lucy. Sam worked at Starbucks and it showed examples

How Leeds Was Like Durning the Victorian Times Free Essays

Life in Leeds was ghastly; many sources tell me this from pictures, to rhymes, reports and drawings Leeds was a well polluted and unhygienic place, Leeds also did not have any proper sewage system causing diseases to spread killing innocent civilians. First pictures of Leeds Steel works which was taken in 1864 show me that factories created poisonous gases that normal everyday public inhaled. My first source also shows that from a distant view the air itself was murky and unclear. We will write a custom essay sample on How Leeds Was Like Durning the Victorian Times or any similar topic only for you Order Now Source 1: As I mentioned before there are many sketches by anonymous artists who express their art from what they can see around their environment. This gives me more evidence that Leeds was very dirty and polluted. Source 2: Rhymes and songs were created by the people (most probably the children) who inhabited Leeds at the time one of the most famous rhymes were: â€Å"The Aire below is doubly dyed and damned; The air above with lurid smoke is crammed ; The one flows streaming foul as Charon’s Styx, Its poisonous vapour in the other mix†. What it is really translating is the water below (the river AIre) is coloured in an unnatural state and it is supposedly damned, the air above is crammed with toxic smoke, its poisonous vapours reaching us. Therefore it was commonly known that the Leeds was contaminated and filled with pollution. In 1842 Edwin Chadwick, a politician who was trying to make improvements and reforms to the conditions of towns and cities conducted an investigation into ‘Sanitary conditions of the labouring population. Edwin used local investigators to provide evidence of urban public health conditions. A doctor, Robert Baker, provided information about the hygiene and how it was affecting Leeds. â€Å"Of the 586 streets of Leeds, 68 only are paved by the town, ie, by the local authorities; the remainder are either paved by the owners or are partly paved, or are totally unpaved, with the surfaces broken in every direction, and ashes and filth of every description accumulated upon many of them†¦ of the 68 streets†¦ 9 are not sewered at all, and ten only partly so; nay it is only within the three or four years past that a sewer has been completed† . This statement tells me that there were 586 streets in Leeds and only 68 were filled with pavements. Filth and Ash filled every direction; in those 68 pampered streets 19 of them did not have a sewage system at all! Only 10 streets had them; however the sewage system has only been completed 3 or 4 years ago. This source is reliable becaus e as a local doctor Robert Baker had experienced the severe horrific cholera outbreak of 1832. By 1838 as a town councillor, had contributed to a statistical survey of the town and went on to become a factory inspector by 1858. Cholera and other diseases broke out because of the poor sewer system when civilians had to ‘relieve themselves’ half of their waste was absorbed by the ground and was then entered the stream which people drank from! While the other half just flowed through the streets waiting to infect civilians with putrid bacteria and filth . Public people also used to wash and bath in the river AIre causing its natural water colour to die out and for it to be swarmed with dirt and bacteria. For my conclusion I still stand by my decision that Leeds during the Victorian times was a filthy, disgusting place. Its water was not safe to drink and was revolting, although the simple workmen who build hundreds of factories hoping that it would not hurt the ozone lair still poisoned the air that the poor Victorian people breathed and lived in. How to cite How Leeds Was Like Durning the Victorian Times, Papers

None Provided5 Essay Paper Example For Students

None Provided5 Essay Paper On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), approved the Declaration of Independence. Its purpose was to set forth the principles upon which the Congress had acted two days earlier when it voted in favor of Richard Henry Lees motion to declare the freedom and independence of the 13 American colonies from England. The Declaration was designed to influence public opinion and gain support both among the new states and abroad especially in France, from which the new United States sought military assistance. Although Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston comprised the committee charged with drafting the Declaration, the task fell to Jefferson, regarded as the strongest and most eloquent writer. The document is mainly his work, although the committee and Congress as a whole made a total of 86 changes to Jeffersons draft. As a scholar well-versed in the ideas and ideals of the French and English Enlightenments, Jefferson found his greatest inspiration in the language and arguments of English philosopher John Locke, who had justified Englands Glorious Revolution of 1688 on the basis of mans natural rights. Lockes theory held that government was a contract between the governed and those governing, who derived their power solely from the consent of the governed and whose purpose it was to protect every mans inherent right to property, life and liberty. Jeffersons theory of natural law differed in that it substituted the inalienable right of the pursuit of happiness for property, emphasizing that happiness is the product of civic virtue and public duty. The concept of the pursuit of happiness originated in the Common Sense School of Scottish philosophy, of which Lord Kames was the best-known proponent. Jefferson emphasized the contractual justification for independence, arguing that when the tyrannical government of King George III of England repeatedly violated natural law, the colonists had not only the right but the duty to revolt. The assembled Continental Congress deleted a few passages of the draft, and amended others, but outright rejected only two sections: 1) a derogatory reference to the English people; 2) a passionate denunciation of the slave trade. The latter section was left out, as Jefferson reported, to accede to the wishes of South Carolina and Georgia, who wanted to continue the importation of slaves. The rest of the draft was accepted on July 4, and 56 members of Congress began their formal signing of the document on August 2, 1776. Bibliography:

Account for the failure of both the Power Sharing Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly essays

Account for the failure of both the Power Sharing Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly essays Account for the failure of both the Power Sharing Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly To account for such a failure in the power-sharing executive it is necessary for one to look at the structure and the organisation of the Assemblies as well as assessing its aims and directives as well as to examine the time scale to which this has taken place. My intention is to examine from the mid-seventies to the present day and all the questions that these many and various initiatives have raised. The power-sharing executive was the first and last examples of home rule since the collapse of During this last period the establishment of Stormont lasted from 1973 to 1974. The aim of the British Government was to return the province to an eventual devolution. The issue of direct rule was to be only a temporary measure whilst the relevant sides talked it out at the negotiating table looking for a form of political settlement. Essentially the main elements that both parties were looking for was to guarantee that the province remained a part of the United Kingdom as long as the majority deem that wish . Proportional Representation was held in order to elect the new seventy-eight Northern Irish Assembly. The two most contentious issue of all the issues of were the issue of institutionalised power sharing and that of the establishment of the Council of Ireland, which had, a direct input into the system of governance as well as a probable oversight into linking the whole system into the Irish political system, therefore adding an Irish dimension to the proceedings in order to placate republican feelings and sentiment. The executive failed on a series of levels due to the various claimed inconsistency by both sides. But one must really accredit claim to the Unionists for mobilising the populace with the help of the paramilitaries in organising strikes and protest mar...

Thanksgiving Thoughts About Expressing Gratitude

Thanksgiving Thoughts About Expressing Gratitude One of the most famous Aesops tales of gratitude is the Lion and Androcles. Androcles, a slave who was wandering in a forest, chanced upon an injured lion, which had a huge thorn stuck inside its paw. Androcles helped the lion by removing the thorn and gave the lion a new lease of life. Later, Androcles was captured, and thrown in a dungeon with a hungry lion. The lion rushed towards its victim, but it soon realized that Androcles was the same man who saved its life in the forest. The lion did not attack the slave. Instead, it licked his face like a pet dog and showered the slave with love. Thats a simple story of gratitude that we tell our kids to remind them about the importance of gratitude. Dietrich BonhoefferIn ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.Gerald GoodIf you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily. But how many of us truly remember to express gratitude? In the daily humdrum of life, you forget to thank the neighbor who keeps a watch on your kids when you need to be away at work. You forget to thank the teacher, who stays back after school to help you with your school projects. You fail to express gratitude to your parents, who have immensely contributed all through your life. And who remembers to thank the librarian, the banker, the plumber, or the garbage pickup truck driver? Gratitude should not be merely customary politeness. It should reflect a deep humility and love that we feel towards one another. Saying, thank you is just the beginning of expressing gratitude. To make gratitude go a long way, you should give back in any way possible. Just like the lion in the story. George CanningWhen our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?William C. SkeathThis is the finest measure of thanksgiving: a thankfulness that springs from love.W. T. PurkiserNot what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. Being thankful has many benefits. A thankful heart has no place for arrogance, resentment, jealousy, or anger. You will often find that people who express genuine gratitude have a pleasant and amiable personality. When you express gratitude, you make friends. When gratitude is accompanied by a generous word of praise or two, relationships thrive. Also, a grateful person can hope to gain more favors in the future from his generous friends. Basil CarpenterThank God every day when you get up that you have something to do that day which must be done whether you like it or not. Being forced to work and forced to do your best will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and content, and a hundred virtues which the idle will never know.Noel SmithGratitude is not a spiritual or moral dessert which we may take or push away according to the whims of the moment, and in either case without material consequences. Gratitude is the very bread and meat of spiritual and moral health, individually and collectively. What was the seed of disintegration that corrupted the heart of the ancient world beyond the point of divine remedy...? What was it but ingratitude? The story of gratitude in Aesops fable about the lion and the slave is a moral lesson where kindness and generosity triumphs. Even today, when the world is plagued by natural calamities people rise above these challenges with kindness. Teach your kids the importance of gratitude with these Thanksgiving thoughts. Sow the seed of gratitude in their heart early in life, so that they can grow up to be humble and appreciative human beings. Charles Haddon SpurgeonYou say, If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied. You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.Henry ClayCourtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.

Utilitarian Conservation or Preservation Movement Essay

Utilitarian Conservation or Preservation Movement - Essay Example Key among such scholars is Rachel Carson who in her book Silent Spring explores the possible ways of safeguarding the future of biodiversity in the country. Key among her fundamental suggestions is utilitarian conservation, which she explains has the potential of saving the country’s biodiversity future as the discussion below portrays. In the book, Carson argues the human activities continue to threaten the future of wild animals. She studies the detrimental effects that pesticides have on birds thereby arguing that the continued use of such powerful biocides threatens the future of birds in the world. Birds are among the most varied animals in the world. Their large number and diversity in species makes documenting them difficult. Despite such, the continued use of pesticides on farms as humans continue to invent new ways of protecting their crops in the fields is among the leading threats globally to the future of numerous species of birds. A fundamental argument she makes in the book is that the pests continue to mutate thereby becoming resistant to the pesticides. This will therefore create a unique scenario where the pesticides kill all the birds while such diseases as malaria continue to persist thereby causing deaths to humans. She therefore suggests other appropriate ways of coexisting between humans and w ild animals in a manner that limits the conflicts arising from such relationships. Wildlife is important aspects of the ecosystem. Wildlife enhances the stability of the ecosystem and the elimination of any species of wildlife will have diverse effects on the environment. Among the factors that enhance the conflict just as stated earlier is overpopulation. This compels humans to rehabilitated areas previously occupied by the wild animals. Among the immediate ramifications of such is the restructuring of the environment, which causes numerous

Joan Robertson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Joan Robertson - Essay Example This paper will look at some of her contributions, and how they impact the lives of modern economists presently. One of the main contributions by Joan Robinson in economics was made in monetary economics. In this contribution, it is believed that Robinson showed a deep understanding of the complexities that face the financial world. In her works in monetary economics, she provided the world, and especially developing worlds, with a comprehensive and original analysis on the links that envelop the macroeconomy and the financial system (Thomas 34). Economists and people studying the economy are able to learn a lot about money, finance, and the credit system that is present in every economy. The structure of interest rates is described in most of her works which allow even the most average of person(s) to comprehend the nature of the financial system, hence; become better at dealing with money and the financial sector. In another area, she is attributed with starting a battle against neoclassical economics. In this war, it is believed that Robinson led people to understand microeconomics and the functioning of the capital theories that existed. The reason why she decided to start this was because of the manner in which the much younger economists in the region could alter their models to suit the political desires and moods present in the different regions. In this contribution into the field of economics, Robinson led people into understanding the Keynes school of thought by trying to bring out the aspect of employment during the Great Depression in the 1930s (Aslanbeigui and Oakes 46). She immersed herself in the works of Keynes, bringing to life Keynes’s General Theory despite having had success in her previously done works. Lastly, it would be worthwhile to mention that Robinson’s love for economics led to the origin of countless books that discuss the nature and standing of the

EC3--Movie, book, TV show, or song Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

EC3--Movie, book, TV show, or song - Essay Example Hunt Stevenson, the plants now former foreman, travels all the way to Tokyo in an attempt to convince the corporation to restart operations on the Hadleyville Plant. Owing to the desperate nature of the laborers, the corporation agrees to reopen the plant, but institutes changes that drastically affect the workers. The new contracts that the workers are issued clearly contradict the law. This movie is relevant to the topic, contract law, by virtue of highlighting the various issues that are associated with contract law. In the movie, the corporation’s management decided to change elements of their contracts with their workers, making the working conditions literally unbearable. The workers are denied the right to a union, receive lower pay rates than before, each have to learn all the jobs within the factory and are supposed to meet quality standards that are virtually impossible. The management later on decides to loosen up on the standards and harsh regulations that govern the workers on a day-to-day

Crisis of Low Morale in Nursing Staff

Crisis of Low Morale in Nursing Staff Introduction of Firm This case study describes Los Rayos a medical center that is in a nurse crisis not only for their high turn over rate but for their low morale among its nursing staff. Although the hospital works diligently to provide quality care to its patients it is failing in many areas due to understaffed and overworked nursing staff. Mandated to keep up government regulations, the hospital understands the importance of not compromising quality even though it has had to minimize quantity in staff. The hospital requires nurses to come up with strategies to be implemented to help improve not only working conditions and quality control but patient care and ideas to help increase personal job performance. Over the last eight years the hospital has enforced some of the changes suggested but it finds itself still with the issue of nurses who feel that they are overextending themselves. Nursing staff is still in the position of trying to keep up with the demand of continuous educational conditioning an d development while performing on the job tasks in addition to extra curricular activities. Overview of Firm Competitive Advantage In order to have a firm competitive advantage an organization has to possess something unique that its competition does not have. What makes one different from another? This question is what separates groups and classes and makes one stand out among the rest. At Los Rayos they have qualified staff just not enough of it. Partnering with another major medical facility was a good business move as it can serve the purpose of showing Los Rayos ways it can improve on its functions within the facility. A normal turnover rate for hospitals is at 14% while Los Rayos is at 21%. Changes in an industry can affect bases and balance among it (Porter, 1985). Job satisfaction will make the difference on the advantage another medical facility will gain when nurses are looking upon where they would like to settle for a career. Some nurses will take a salary cut or drive further in order to work within a medical facility that offers them more than an opportunity to use their credentials. As the medical environment is forever changing one thing that may give a hospital a firm competitive advantage would be their values. Having an expectation of learning within the organization lets nursing staff know that they will be encouraged and required to continue to advance in their field and stay current on all resources and advancements in medicine. Having a competitive advantage means that you make it more difficult for competition and shake up the level playing field. According to Michael Porter (1985), if an organization can achieve and maintain differentiation they will be an above average performer in their industry and exceed competition. In order to be successful in this strategy Los Rayos will have to identify attributes and qualities among their nursing staff that are different from their rivals who are the organizations who benefit from their high turnover rate. They need to identify the factors that contribute the turnovers and come up solutions to keep nursing staff from leavi ng and also keep staff happy on the job. Problem statement The problem with Los Rayos medical facility is management does not resourcefully use staff, which leads to a high number in turnovers. The facility is understaffed and overworked and they promoted housekeepers to health techs and provided no skill training leaving nurses to double work as they would need to perform the patient care tasks that the health techs: were promoted to do. The hospital also dropped moral amongst staff as they took away appreciation events such as the employee picnic and Christmas party that gives staff something to look forward to every year. It is highly noted that when employees feel they are appreciated on the job it reflects in their job performance. The hospital reduced its nursing staff to double patients per nurse and increased shifts from 8 hour to 12 hour. This tedious and exhausting work schedule not only creates a hostile work environment as staff are reluctant to go the extra mile or over achieve for patients and colleagues. The hospital requires a lot from its nursing staff and where a raise or an on the job leisure activity would have compensated for the tedious job detail, management has taken those tokens away. Alternative Solutions/Opportunities a.) Create a rewards system to retain staff -there should be a work environment where staff have materials and training to properly perform tasks and should be awarded for productive performance. Evaluations should be done quarterly on staff to review job performance and adhere to what can be done better but also praise what has been done successfully. During this process not only is staff being rewarded for their accomplishments but also they acquire new knowledge and education that helps expand their skill and personal development. i) Build moral in the workplace ii) Cause discord among staff b.) Regular Shifts- Staff has become overwhelmed by the hours they spend on the job. If they had shorter shifts they would have time to reprogram and detox and come back refreshed eliminating turnover and burnouts i.) Gives staff a chance to unwind from a days work and not have to report right back for duty ii) Staff may call out or take more time off with shorter shifts Decision and Support In order to create a work environment that constantly develops nurses skills so that they can efficiently perform job tasks management needs to create a rewards system to help retain staff. Management has to recognize the nurses core commitment is to provide quality care to their patients and they need to help reduce job related stress by ensuring that supporting staff such as health techs are properly trained and skilled in work related duties. Nurses need to feel important, valued, and appreciated by their organization, as they love their job and they just want working conditions to improve. Action Plan Moving to implement the rewards system and shorter shifts for staff should take place immediately to ensure that staff understands management understands their concerns and have worked to rectify their issues. To implement successful changes, management must play an active role in the entire change process. It is the managers responsibility to understand how to address and put the change into action along with properly overseeing resistance from the staff. It is the managers responsibility to understand how to address and put the change into action along with properly overseeing resistance from the staff. Identifying potential risks, anticipating risks, estimating impact of risks, and managing risks successfully are all accomplishments and work towards building moral and retention. Scundra (2016) explained the importance of leaders understanding how to deal with different people and personalities hence the importance of the quarterly evaluations so management can provide feedback to each nurse and staff member personally. Once nursing staff feels compensated for their diligent work they will be eager to preform on the job and happy to work at Los Rayos now and in the future. REFERENCES Drucker,P. (2009). Management Cases.New York, NY. Harper Collins Publisher Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive Advantage . Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance , 1-30. Retrieved January 22, 2017. Sacndura, T. A. (2016). Essentials of Organizational Behavior. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Neuroplasticity and Justice Essay -- Neuroplasticity and the Law

Justice is often thought of in nebulous terms. As such, it is often viewed through a philosophical lens. Indeed, justice has been examined by prominent philosophers such as John Rawls and Friedrich Hayek. Often regarded as a â€Å"soft science,† the idea of justice finds itself the subject of a theoretical framework rather than of scientific study. Despite this theoretical view, much of the theory surrounding justice seeks to determine the causes for a given type of behavior. These theories discuss which penological methods work to correct these behaviors. However, the theory that one can modify his or her brain in order to create new behaviors exists within the scientific biological/psychological realm. By contrast, there are those who believe that the brain is stagnant for most of the human lifespan. This paper will argue two points. First, emotional connotations associated with justice are synonymous with neurology and cognitive functioning, thus solidifying the need for an examination of justice within a biological context. Second, although justice has practical applications as a philosophical construct, it should be examined through the biological lens of neuroplasticity and the human propensity for change. Although justice is often examined philosophically, the theories behind the collective understanding of justice are largely psychological. For example, when examining introductory criminal justice literature, one may discover that behaviorism is discussed. Behaviorism hinges on operant conditioning. Operant conditioning suggests behavior is more likely to occur when it is reinforced with reward and less likely to occur when it is punished (Fuller, 2010, p. 90). This reasoning is consistent with common ret... ...rrents. (2nd ed., Vol. 1, p. 90-91). New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc. Jackman, T. (2012, February 27). Family still seeks justice in "friendly fire" death. The Washington Post, p. A1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/docview/923517276 Volkow, N. D. United States Department of Health and Human Services, (2008). Neuroscience blueprint promotes efficiency, synergy. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2008/06/neuroscience-blueprint-promotes-efficiency-synergy Welke, J. R. (1978). Incarceration: A national policy issue. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 1(5), 5-6. doi: 10.1177/104398627800100105 Wenzel, M., Okimoto, T. G., Feather, N. T., & Platow, M. J. (2008). Retributive and restorative justice. Law and Human Behavior, 32(5), 375-389. Retrieved from http//www.jstor.org/stable/25144639

Small and Medium Scale Mining

PROJECT TOPICÂ   :Â  SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA (A Case Study of Cassava Processing Industry) PROJECT PROPOSAL BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY Interest in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their contribution in the development process continue to be in the forefront of policy debates in developing countries.The advantages claimed for SMEs are various, including: the encouragement of entrepreneurship; the greater likelihood that SMEs will utilise labour intensive technologies and thus have an immediate impact on employment generation; they can usually be established rapidly and put into operation to produce quick returns. SME development can encourage the process of both inter- and intra-regional decentralisation; and, they may well become a countervailing force against the economic power of larger enterprises.More generally the development of SMEs is seen as accelerating the achievement of wider economic and socio-economic objec tives, including poverty alleviation. Staley and Morse (1965) identify a ‘developmental approach’ to SME promotion which has as its objective the creation of ‘economically viable enterprises which can stand on their own feet without perpetual subsidy and can make a positive contribution to the growth of real income and therefore to better living levels’.This approach emphasises the importance of efficiency in new SMEs. Small producers must be encouraged to adopt new methods, move into new lines of production and in the long-run, wherever feasible, they should be encouraged to become medium- or even large-scale producers. The presidential Initiative on Cassava Production and Export has increased the awareness amongst Nigerians of the industrial crop, popularly referred to as the ‘new black gold’.Started in July 2004, the initiative seeks to generate $5 billion in export revenue. Fortunately, Nigeria, according to the Food and Agricultural Organi sation, FAO, in its 2004 report, is currently the largest producer of cassava in the world at 34 million tons yearly, but with a poor yield of an average of 10 tons per hectare over an estimated cultivated land size of three million hectares.Nigeria is closely followed by Brazil and Thailand, which have a capacity to produce 24 million tons and 20 million tons and a yield of 13. 6 tons per hectare and 19. 4 tons per hectare respectively. Unfortunately, experts at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan, Oyo State, believe that up to half of the harvested cassava is wasted by production and post-harvest inefficiencies while the rest is consumed as food.Brazil and Thailand, which rarely consume the cassava products directly, have fully developed the cassava industry for the export market. | | Nigeria should not focus on the exportation of cassava but develop the enormous local and regional markets for cassava that exist in the country, West African sub-regio n and Africa as a whole rather than start exporting the industrial raw material to Europe. Nigerians should be encouraged to add value and process them for industrial application.The main thrust of this research work shall focus on the development of small and medium scale enterprises in the cassava processing industry justifying the need for agro-processing industries that convert cassava fresh tubers into primary cassava-based commodities that are tradable in domestic and international markets. STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM The Small Scale Industry is acknowledged to have huge potential for employment generation and wealth creation in any economy. Yet in Nigeria, the sector has stagnated and remains relatively small in terms of its contribution to GDP or to gainful employment.Activity mix in the sector is also quite limited – dominated by import dependent processes and factors. Although there is no reliable data, imprecise indicators show that capacity utilization in th e sector has improved perceptibly in the period since 1999, but the sector is still faced with a number of constraints with lack of credit availability as the principal constraint. Credit is the largest element of risk in the books of most banks and failures in the management of credit risk have led to the weakening individual banks and in some cases the banking system as a whole, have contributed, to many episodes of financial instability.OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main purpose of this study is to identify and consequently analyze the most effective and efficient way through which small scale enterprises could be financed and promoted, thereby taking into consideration various conditions such as economic, political, social, psychological e. t. c under which small-scale enterprises are encouraged to operate with particular reference to the cassava processing industry in Nigeria. In so doing, the researcher intends giving an in-depth information and analysis on the various strategie s through which small-scale enterprises can be developed and encouraged.In view of the above, the researcher intends to find out the following: (i) The role played by government towards promotion and development of small-scale enterprises in Nigeria. (ii) To identify the economic potential of small-scale enterprises in the cassava processing industry. (iii) To identify the constraints confronting the development of small-scale enterprises in the cassava processing industry in Nigeria. (iv) To examine the financial support given to SMEs in Nigeria. RESEARCH QUESTIONS The study would examine the following questions: 1.What role does the government play in the promotion and development of small-scale enterprises in the cassava processing industry in Nigeria? 2. What impact do small and medium scale enterprises make to Nigeria’s economic growth? 3. What are the constraints confronting the development of small-scale enterprises in the cassava processing industry in Nigeria? 4. Wha t is the trend of the financial support given to SMEs in Nigeria? RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND SOURCES OF DATA The two main research methods to be used are survey research and content analysis.Survey research method is used to study variables and their relationship as related to human observation and opinions about their experience as it concerns the subject matter of study. Interview schedules shall be applied to some operators while the questionnaire schedule shall be applied to some small-scale entrepreneurs. The data, which would be collected from the questionnaire, will be analysed using the simple percentage method and chi-square, goodness of fit. This will make the analysis of the data more concise and simple. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF STUDY This research covers the area of promoting small and medium scale enterprises n the cassava processing industry, paying attention to the role of the government and other external factors that can affect positively the development of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. The research intends to study the essential problems encountered by small and medium scale operators in the cassava processing industry and suggest ways by which they can be adequately and efficiently financed and promoted. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY Small and medium scale enterprises in Africa rely largely on own savings, not only to grow but also to innovate.Firms often need real services support and formal finance assistance, failing which under-investment in long term capabilities (training and R & D) may result, (Oyelaran, 2003). Besides finance, there are critical elements (including: knowledge, skills and experience of staff; capacity and quality of internal facilities; information and knowledge of market; intellectual and managerial leadership; external infrastructure and the incentive system at the micro and macro levels) that are lacking within technology support institutions themselves.These undermine the effectiveness of their support to SMEs. This study is significant because it would help to evaluate the operations of a vital segment of the industrial sector – small and medium scale industries, which have been identified as having very high potential in promoting economic growth and development. The evaluation shall be done with special focus on the small and medium operators in the cassava processing industry in Nigeria thereby adding to the existing literature on the subject matter.OUTLINE OF CHAPTERS In Chapter one, which is the introductory part; the background of the study, the statement of the research problem, the objectives of the study and the methodology to be adopted shall be discussed. Chapter two will deal with the literature review. The methodology analysis and theoretical framework shall be examined in chapter three.Data presentation, analysis and interpretation will be covered in chapter four while the concluding part of the research work will be chapter five where in a nutshell the summa ry, the conclusion and the recommendations would be discussed. REFERENCES Staley E. and Morse R. (1965) Modern Small-Scale Industry for Developing Countries. London: McGraw-Hill Publishing. Oyelaran O. (2003) Financing and Development of Small-sale industries in Nigeria. Central Bank of Nigeria Economic and Financial Review. 24(4), December.

bootlegger essays

bootlegger essays Bootleggers in the 1920s were very powerful people who illegally distributed or produced liquor and many other high priced goods. The name Bootlegger, was adopted by Midwest travelers in the 1880s because they would hide their liquor in their boots when trading with Indians. In the early 1900s, bootleggers successfully defeated many early attempts by the government to regulate the liquor business by taxation. In 1920, congress passed the 18th amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol, also known as the prohibition era. Bootlegging became a profitable source of income, and as a result, bootleggers gained enormous power and wealth during this era. In Bigger cities like Chicago, tremendous industries were created around illegal liquor and beer sales creating organized crime. The demand for alcohol gave bootleggers, many of whom were gangsters, much wealth and power. The public turned to these gangsters who eagerly supplied them with alcohol. Many bootleggers would bribe high political figures, securing there illegal business. More gangsters emerged in the money making business as the industry became more and more profitable. People started buying alcohol from the black market and in pubs known as "Speakeasies". people were willing to pay big money for this, and the bootlegging business became more complex. Bootleggers organized themselves into alliances and cartels that could control their activities. Corruption spread like a virus into the public and law and order began to break down creating murders to rise. The bootlegging business was so big at the time, many rival gangs were competing with each other for money. As the prohibition era went on, fewer and fewer people were controlling the money made by bootlegging. Al Capone, Bugs Moran, and the Obanions, made most of the bootlegging money They were above the law it seemed and powerful figures and had influence over la ...

Animal Symbolism in Aesops Fables essays

Animal Symbolism in Aesop's Fables essays Since the dawn of time, man and animal have been intertwined. We have defended ourselves against lions and wolves, we have hunted birds and fish for food and we have domesticated oxen and horses to plow our fields. All civilizations have been in some way connected to the animal world. It is a theme that runs the course of humanity. This common thread allows authors to reach audiences in ways that would be simply impossible with human protagonists. Animals are universal symbols, common to all of mankind. In her book, Talking Animals, Jan Ziolkowski asserts that Taken as a group, animals represent a language common to all people. All cultures incorporate animals into their history and folklore. Obviously, each of these cultures regards different animals with different connotations and associations. But animals have earned their universal status not because they are so much the same the world over but because people are so much the same; for most animals in fiction are not portrayed rea listically but instead are anthropomorphized. Regardless of their species, they are given human characteristics, motivations and behavior. (Ziolkowski, 1993). In Animal Lore in English Literature, P. Ansell Robin says that, This interpretation of the animal world gave rise to a distinct form of literature which originated in the oral tradition of many primitive peoples. (Robin, 1932) Today, animal literature is most closely associated with the beast fable or, as it is more commonly known: the fable. A beast fable is an account of a fictional event involving animal characters that is followed by an explicit moral exposition. (Ziolkowski, 1993) Nowadays, fables are viewed merely as childhood curiosities. They are thought of as simple childrens stories and nothing more. Throughout history however, the fable has served many purposes. Perhaps the most important of all these roles has been the use of fabl...

International Organizations and Ecological Security Essay

International Organizations and Ecological Security - Essay Example The mandates of the international organizations are determined by the member states (Michael and Finnemore 699). Nevertheless, differences in power control and resources among the member states are always evident, and some countries, for various reasons, are more successful in placing and pushing for their own interests and policy preferences on the policy agendas of international organizations than others are. After their establishment, many international organizations lose focus on the primary goals and mandates they were meant to address and exercise their authority independently in a manner unplanned and unimagined by member states at inception, which results in proclivity for dysfunctional, sometimes pathological, actions and conduct. International organizations act as a mechanism for the implementation and accomplishment of the collective aims and policies desired by the members, they often organize the arenas or forums within which interrelationships among member countries are discussed and pursued, and occasionally, they act as independent actors in the international arena (Michael and Finnemore 701). Today, international organizations have progressively evolved to be entrusted with roles that were conventionally performed by sovereign states. International organizations are sometimes faced with bureaucracy and other problems associated with social institutionalism that gives them authority and autonomy from the countries that established them, and channels that authority and autonomy in specific directions. Bureaucracies in international organizations are ubiquitous. Bureaucratic rules guide the actions of actors both within and outside the international organizations. Within the organization, they are the criterions that let the international organizations respond more effectively and efficiently to the needs and demands of a situation or circumstance. However, bureaucracies frequently establish rules and rubrics that set the behavior, actions and con duct of others, for instance countries in conflict, countries hosting refugees or indebted states. These rules usually contour how bureaucrats view the global affairs and how they perceive the problems and challenges facing them; they define, classify and organize the world (Michael and Finnemore 710). Bureaucrats employ their rules to aid in creating or constituting the social world and inclined to make their intervention in the world affairs easy and pliable. For instance, they delineate common international tasks such as development, establish and outline new groups of actors such as immigrants and refugees, develop novel interests for actors such as upholding human rights, and spread principles of political organization globally, such as markets and democracy (Michael and Finnemore 711). Nevertheless, these rules and powers that characterize bureaucracies and make international organizations powerful can similarly make them unresponsive to the requirements of the global environm ents, due to obsession with their bureaucratic rules neglecting their primary missions, and eventually resulting in dysfunctional, self-defeating behavior. This is also because their authority and powers are autonomous of the policies and interests of nations that establish them. International organizations can be theorized using two broad approaches: the economistic and sociological ones. The economistic approach is founded on concerns about instrumental rationality and efficiency

Implication of Dicey's Definition on the Rule of Law Essay

Implication of Dicey's Definition on the Rule of Law - Essay Example Implication of Dicey’s definition on the ‘rule of law’; The implication of Dicey definition can be explained in three-fold: to prevent state from harassing citizens by means passing dubious laws, to exude the notion that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law and finally to protect the rights of the common citizen by limiting action of the state2. The role of prerogative powers was to offer flexible remedies where common law failed. This is due the rigidity of the common law3. In today’s world the control of exercise of the prerogative powers is normally exercised by way of judicial review4. Since there is no codification of the prerogative powers, the judicial officers through the judicial review process have become the final arbiters in determining what actually forms the prerogative powers. It is also concerned with checking the extent to which such powers are used (Pollard D et. Al 2007 p 42). In the enjoyment of prerogative powers it is important tha t these powers are actually defined and given a scope that is quite free from discretionary interpretation as this brings about a lot of inconsistency in interpretation of the law (Brayzer R, 1999 p 339). The English courts have given a wide interpretation of prerogative. In a decision in the case R v Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex parte Northumbria Police Authority5 prerogative powers was taken to mean doing whatever was necessary in order to avert what is considered threat to peace. The Dicey construction or rule of law makes every citizen have equal rights in the eyes of the law (Dicey A.V 1959 p 424). Upholding this, Lord Denning in the English case of Gourriet v. HM Attorney General6 stated that â€Å"Be you ever so high, the law is above you. The Attorney General has no prerogative to dispense with or suspend the law of England." This is always the prima facie stand in terms of being equal in the eyes of the law (Pollard D et. Al 2007 p 42). This has raised se veral debates. When we say equality before the law should mean that no one has special treatment yet at the same time the prerogative powers are enjoyed only by the Crown7. The scope and general prerogative powers It is quite difficult to actually and narrowly determine the province of prerogative powers8. Prerogative powers exist by the dint of common law. No new prerogatives can be established (Pollard D et. Al. 2007 p 82) . However, prerogatives can be abolished through enactment of statutes. Prerogative has to be exercised in accordance with the statute. This was shown in R v. Secretary of State for Fire Department ex parte Fire Brigade Union9. This case showed that there was no prerogative to deviate from what the statute clearly stated. Here the secretary of state was precluded from implementing another statutory in lieu of the one that the statute had provided for. The prerogative powers exists in the form of the Crowns powers to appoint the Prime Minister, the power of Royal mercy among others. Historical origin and developments In the history the prerogative were vested on the King or the Crown. The King then delegated the judicial powers to the judicial officers who then who exercised the prerogative on the behalf of the Crown. The constitutional Convention is the rules that are used for determining the mode in Crown exercises its discretionary powers. These discretionary pow

Thucydides, the peloponnesian war, the Melian Dialogue ( Book 5, Essay

Thucydides, the peloponnesian war, the Melian Dialogue ( Book 5, chapter 17) - Essay Example The Melians was a colony of many islands, but Athens wouldn’t submit to them. They remained neutral and didn’t s tussle with the people. Athenians used violence to evict the Melians from their territory and this made the Melians change their attitude and became hostile. In the Melian dialogue, Athenians demanded the Melians to give up on their city and compensate them for the destruction caused in the city. In response, the Melians claimed that they would remain neutral and not become enemies so instead they offered friendship. The Athenians argued that they would look weak and the people would undermine their strength, if they accepted the Melians to be neutral and independent (Crawley 2). The Melians countered that it would be a shame and an act of cowardice if they surrendered without a fight. Thucydides stated that, if such an action is taken to keep your empire and your people will not be free and will subdued to slavery, then the people who are free will be considered cowards and weak if they fail to face everything. The Athenians responded and stated that the debate wasn’t about honor, but of self-preservation. The Melians stated that the Athenians were strong and they could easily win. In response, the Athenians stated that the strong were hopeful and the weak Melians were hopeless and outnumbered. The Melians responded that they had great help from their gods, but Thucydides stated that trust in god would give prosperity for those who stood for the right and not wrong. The Athenians response to the Melians was that gods and man value strength over integrity and the strong can make it but the weak suffer (Crawley 3-4). The Melians argued that the Spartans would come and aid them in their defense. The Athenians responded to this by stating that the Spartans had little to their advantage and more to lose by aiding the Melians. The Athenians concluded that there was nothing wrong in getting a strong enemy, but this statement didn’t change

Explain the Sequence and Rate of Each Aspect of Development Essay Example for Free

Explain the Sequence and Rate of Each Aspect of Development Essay Holistic development: The first month Physical development The gross motor skills that the baby of 0-1 month old will develop is that the baby lies supine (on his or her back) and the fine motor skills will be the baby turns his or her head towards the light and stares at bright or shiny objects. Communication and language development Babies need to respond to sounds, especially familiar voices. And babies need to share language experiences and cooperate with others from birth onwards. From the start babies need other people. Intellectual development Babies explore through their senses and through their own activity and movement. Touch From the beginning babies feel pain. Sound Even a new born baby will turn to a sound. The baby might become still and listen to a low sound, or quicken his or her movements when he or she hears a high sound. Taste The baby likes sweet tastes, e. g. breast milk. Smell The baby turns to the smell of the breast. Sight The baby can focus on objects 20cm away. Emotional and social development A baby’s first smile in definite response to carer is usually around 3-6 weeks. Also the baby often imitates certain facial expressions. This is showing that the baby is starting to develop being able to respond to different things. Holistic development: from one to four months Physical development Some of the gross motor skills that the babies develop from four to eight weeks are: the baby can now turn from side to back, and can also lift its head briefly from the prone position. Some of the fine motor skills that the babies develop from four to eight weeks are; the baby turns its head towards the light and stares at bright or shiny objects. Some of the gross motor skills the baby develops form eight to twelve weeks are; when lying supine, the baby’s head is in a central position and it can also lift its head and chest off a bed in prone position, supported on forearms. Some of the fine motor skills the baby develops from eight to twelve weeks are; the baby moves his or her head to follow adult movements and the baby watches his or her hands and plays with his or her fingers. Communication and language development From four to eight weeks the baby recognises the carer and familiar objects, makes non-crying noises such as cooing and gargling and then moves on to often sucking or licking its lips when he or she hears the sound of food in preparation. From eight to twelve weeks the baby is still distressed by sudden loud noises and often sucks or licks its lips when he or she hears the sound of food in preparation. Intellectual development The baby recognises differing speech sounds and by three months the baby can even imitate low or high pitched sounds. Emotional and social development The baby will smile in response to an adult and the baby enjoys sucking. Then the baby shows enjoyment at caring routines such as bath time. Holistic development from four to six months Physical development Some of the gross motor skills; the baby is beginning to use a palmar grasp and can transfer objects from hand to hand. It is very interested in all activity and everything is taken to the mouth. Some of the fine motor skills; the baby now has good head control and is beginning to sit with support. It can roll over from back to side and is beginning to reach for objects. And when supine the baby plays with his or her own feet. Communication and language development The baby becomes more aware of others so he or she communicates more and more. As the baby listens, he or she imitates sounds he or she can her and reacts to the tone of someone’s voice. For example, the baby might become upset by an angry tone, or cheered by a happy tone. Intellectual development By four months the baby reaches for objects, which suggest they recognise and judge the distance in relation to the size of the object. The baby prefers complicated things to look at from five to six months and enjoys bright colours. The baby also knows that he or she has one mother. The baby is disturbed if he or she is shown several images of his or her mother at the same time. The baby realises that people are permanent before they realise that objects are. Emotional and social development The baby shows trust and security and has recognisable sleep patterns. Holistic development from six to nine months Some of the gross motor skills; the baby can roll from front to back. He or she may attempt to crawl but will often end up sliding backwards. Also the baby may grasp their feet and place them in his or her mouth. Some of the fine motor skills; the baby is very alert to people and objects. The baby is beginning to use a pincer grasp with thumb and finger, and can transfer toys from one hand to the other and looks for fallen objects. Communication and language development Babble becomes tuneful, like the lilt of the language the baby can hear. They become to understand words like ‘up’ and ‘down’, raising their arms to be lifted up and using appropriate gestures. The baby may also be able to repeat sounds. Intellectual development The baby understands signs, e. g. the bib means that food is coming. From eight to nine months the baby shows that he or she knows objects exist when they have gone out of sight, even under test conditions. This is called the concept of object constancy, or the object permanence test (Piaget). The baby is also fascinated by the way objects move. Emotional and social development The baby can manage to feed him- or herself using his or her fingers. They are now more wary of strangers, sometimes showing stranger fear. For example if a stranger comes close to the baby and it moves away towards another person, this shows that the baby is fearful of strangers and gains security from the person it moves to. Also the baby might show distress when his or her mother leaves. For example if the mother leaves the room and the baby starts crying, then this shows that the baby feels insecure when the mother is out of sight. Holistic development from nine to twelve months Physical development Gross motor skills; the baby will now be mobile- may be crawling, bear-walking, bottom shuffling or even walking. The baby can sit up on his or her own and lean forward to pick things up. Also the baby may crawl upstairs and onto low items of furniture and may even bounce in rhythm to music. Fine motor skills; the baby’s pincer grasp is now well developed and he or she can pick things up and pull them towards him or her. The baby can poke with one finger and will point to desired objects. They can also clasp hands and imitate adults’ actions. Communication and language development The baby can follow simple instructions e. g. kiss teddy. Word approximations appear e. g. ‘hee haw’ to indicate a donkey, or more typically ‘mumma’, ‘dadda’ and ‘bye-bye’ in English speaking contexts. Also the tuneful babble develops into ‘jargon’ and the baby makes his or her voice go up and down just as people do when they talk to each other. Intellectual development The baby is beginning to develop images. Memory develops and the baby and remember the past. The baby can anticipate the future. This give it some understanding of routine daily sequences, e. g. after a feed, changing, and a sleep with teddy. Also the baby imitates actions, sounds, gestures and moods after an event is finished, e. g. imitate a temper tantrum he or she saw a friend have the previous day, wave bye-bye remembering Grandma has gone to the shops. Emotional and social development The baby enjoys songs and action rhymes, still likes to be near to a familiar adult but will also play alone for long periods of time. Spiritual aspects of a baby’s development Even a tiny baby experiences a sense of self, and values people who are loved by them. Spiritually is about the developing sense of relationship with self, relating to others ethically, morally and humanly and a relationship with the universe. The baby can drink from a cup with help, and shows definite likes and dislikes at mealtimes and bedtimes. Also the baby will start to cooperate when being dressed and likes to look at him- or herself in a mirror (plastic safety mirror). Holistic development from one to two years Physical development Gross motor skills (15 months); the baby probably walks alone now, with feet wide apart and arms raised to maintain balance. He or she is likely to fall over and often sit down suddenly. The baby can also probably manage stairs and steps, but will need supervision. Gross motor skills (18 months); the child walks confidently and is able to stop without falling. The child can also kneel, squat, climb and carry things around with him or her. Fine motor skills (15months); the baby can build with a few bricks and arrange toys on the floor, can hold a crayon in palmar grasp and turns several pages of a book at once, and can also point to a desired object. Fine motor skills (18 months); the child can thread large beads, build a tower of several cubes and uses a pincer grasp to pick up small objects. Communication and language development The child begins to talk with words or sign language, and by 18 months, the child enjoys trying to sing as well as to listen to songs and rhymes. Action songs (e. g. ‘pat-a-cake’) are much loved. Intellectual development The child understands the names of objects and can follow simple instructions, the child also learns about other things through trial and error. Emotional and social development The child begins to have a longer memory and develops a sense of identity (I am me). Also the child expresses his or her needs in words and gestures and enjoys being able to walk, and is eager to try to get dressed – ‘Me do it! ’ Holistic development from two to three years Physical development Gross motor skills; the child is very mobile, can run safely and can climb up onto furniture. The child can walk up and downstairs, usually two feet to a step. The child then moves on to being able to jump from a low step, walk backwards and sideways and can stand and walk on his or her tiptoes and stand on one foot. In my workplace all of the children this age are able to do all of these things. But the girls are all more developed than the boys. For example, with have a boy that is three years of age, and a girl that’s the same. The girl is able to write her name, speak fluently, help other children who aren’t as well developed as her and she even tells me when someone is doing something wrong. Whereas the boy can hardly speak yet, and when he does no one can understand what he’s saying. Michael Gurian, a noted educator and author, has shown through research that â€Å"hard-wiring and socialized gender differences affect how boys and girls learn. † Simply put, male and female brains are equal but different. â€Å"Boys use the right hemisphere more, and girls the left,† (Gurian, M. 2007) Fine motor skills; the child can draw circles, lines and dots using preferred hand. The child can pick up tiny objects using a fine pincer grasp. The child then moves on to being able to build tall towers of bricks or blocks and can control a pencil using thumb and first two fingers (a dynamic tripod grasp).

Assumptions, research design and data collection strategies

Assumptions, research design and data collection strategies Chapter 1 Introduction The purpose of this assignment is to offer a critical analysis of the underpinning assumptions and research design and data collection strategies and the practice of academic research. Two research papers are chosen for the purpose of this analysis. The first paper is a quantitative study and the second paper is a qualitative study. They are as follows:- Shafer, W. E., Fukukawa, K. and Lee, G. M. (2007) Values and the perceived importance of ethics and social responsibility: The U.S. versus China, Journal of Business Ethics, 70 (3), pp. 265-284. Tsoi, J. (2007) Stakeholders perceptions and future scenarios to improve corporate social responsibility in Hong Kong and Mainland China, Journal of Business Ethics, pp. 1-14. The main reason for selecting these two papers is that they both report upon the area of corporate social responsibility, which is the focus of my PhD. Within the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR), there has been considerable research discussing the relationship between values and perception with the attitude/behaviour of businesses towards CSR. These values are considered quantifiable and thus have been measured quantitatively using scales developed by authors such as Forsyth (1980), Singhapakdi et al.(1996), and Vitell and Patwardhan (2008). Interviews have been used to bring forward the values that are deemed important by stakeholders, and were explored qualitatively by Fukukawa and Teramoto (2009), Siltaoja (2006), and Là ¤hdesmà ¤ki and Siltaoja (2009). The two papers selected both looked at cross-cultural values and perceptions, however, they utilise different methods of investigation. This difference could provide a good basis for comparison, in terms of philosophical assumptions, research design, and the method of data collection. The analyses will begin for each paper with an introduction of the research aims, followed by the epistemological and ontological position, the research design, followed by analysis of its research methodology, the alternative research design and lastly, conclusions from this discussion will be provided. Chapter 2 Review of Quantitative Research paper 2.1 Research Objectives This study by Shafer, Fukukawa and Lee (2007) examined the values and the perceived importance of ethics and social responsibility on managers from China and the U.S. The authors used scales instruments to obtain quantitative data in order to make inferences on whether the managers nationality and personal values have effect on their ethical perception. The American and Chinese managers are assumed to differ in their personal values and subsequently this should be reflected from their responses to the â€Å"Perceived Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility† (PRESOR) scale. The authors provided the relevant background information and built up the reasoning for their hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that managers from China would believe less strongly than American managers in the importance of ethically and socially responsible conduct to achieve organisational success. The second hypothesis was that both American and Chinese managers personal values are believed to have significant impact on the responses to the scale. These hypotheses seem to correlate strongly with the research objectives which are to determine that there is variation in response due to cultural differences. 2.2 Epistemological and Ontological Assumptions It is likely that the authors based their research on moral philosophy which â€Å"refers in particular to the principles of rules that people use to decide what is right or wrong† (Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell, 2005:19). This paper seems to indicate that the principles of rules of managers of different cultures are likely to differ and thus ethical decision-making would vary. The authors provided examples of other empirical research to support this notion. The assumption that personal values can influence ethical decisions shows that the research is likely to infer an ontological assumption of realist, whereby reality is seen to have an existence independent of the activities of the human observer (Blaikie, 2007:13). As the research strives to compare values and perceptions, these elements are thought to be measurable and quantifiable; seemingly leaning towards the empiricism position in which the key idea is that knowledge comes from observing the world (Blaikie, 2007:19). The authors employed deductive research whereby the â€Å"hypotheses formed are tested to determine if the statements can be supported† (Sekaran, 2003:31), which is a typical research approach of empiricists. Taking possibly the stance of positivists, these values are assumed measureable, and are thus thought to form the social reality that these values affect the perception of corporate social responsibility amongst the managers from these two countries. 2.3 Research Design The intention is to establish the differences in personal values, by using large quantities of data, which would be representative of the overall population of American and Chinese managers. This suggests that there are two assumptions, that values are measureable and that it is possible to generalise the population from the sample. In order to generalise, a considerably large amount of data is required, thus a survey research instrument was employed. The PRESOR scale developed by Singhapakdi et al. (1995) was used. The reasons that the PRESOR scale was chosen over the cultural dimensions formed by Hofstede (2001) were argued; examples of the latter in other research were shown to be inconsistent and inconclusive in its directional impact, thus making theoretical predictions difficult. The use of PRESOR scale in other research was exemplified and seemed to have established the reliability of its measurement. The PRESOR scale was explained further in the introduction of the paper. Thirteen out of sixteen original items were selected and the authors justified this by stating that only these thirteen items had significant factor loadings in the Singhapakdi, Scott and Franke (1999:25) study. These items were grouped into two categories; the Stockholder and the Stakeholder views. The Stakeholder View reflects the importance of ethics and social responsibility to organisational survival and success, whilst the Stockholder view indicates that organisational success depends on more than just profitability and obligations to the stockholders (Axinn et al., 2004:104) In the methodology section, the Schwartz value instrument and a demographic questionnaire were mentioned as being used together with the PRESOR scale. There was little mention of the reasons the Schwartz scale was used and how it was applied. It was only later in the appendix that the items considered in the Schwartz scale was provided in details. A clearer explanation could have improved the clarity of the paper. The research design employed the use of two research instruments (PRESOR scale and Schwartz value instrument) as means for data collection. The sample of practising managers from the two different countries was given the same survey to complete, thus the responses could be compared on that basis. The results from the analyses were then compared against the hypotheses formed, affirming or not affirming the hypotheses. This process is typical of the deductive approach (Blaikie, 2007:70). 2.4 Data Collection The sample consisted of 311 practising managers, enrolled part time in selective MBA programmes in the U.S. and China. The participation was voluntary and the scales were completed as an in-class exercise. The authors acknowledged potential problems from this sample selection. The first is that, although the MBA programmes in these two countries appear to be comparable, the sample may have confounded the effects of national differences and MBA programme differences. Secondly, the sample was not randomly selected as the authors had asked their students to complete the scales in-class. The authors did not provide further justification for these two problems and thus this is believed to have weakened the external validity of this investigation (Bryman and Bell, 2007:204). Aside from this comment from the authors, there was very little mention of the validity of the measurement which makes it difficult to make further discussion on this. The basis of their selectivity and the criteria in which these programmes were said to be comparable, were also not provided in details. The details of its comparability may have helped clarify and strengthen the validity of the selection criteria, as well as making the paper more understandable. Considering the objectives of the research, in which the authors seem to be looking at making generalisations on the affect of personal values, there is a need to collect large quantities of data. The survey method seems to be appropriate as surveys are easy to distribute to large number of people and costs can be kept to a minimum (Bryman and Bell, 2007:195). This relates to external validity, which is â€Å"about generalisability of results beyond the focal study† (Easterby-Smith et al., 2008:87). In this paper, external validity was not discussed; however, it is likely that the results are meant to be applicable for the context of China and the U.S. only. The authors stated the limitation of which the participants can not be assumed as representative of the broader populations of managers in these two countries, due to the fact that the MBA programmes were selective in nature. The research took consideration of the possibility that the age and experience differences of their sample might affect the results, and thus these factors were examined for significance. The scale was translated to Mandarin Chinese and later back-translated with resolution of discrepancies, to take account of the language difference. These examples seem to reflect on the effort of the authors in ensuring that the results are not significantly affected by other variables. In order to test the dimensionality of the PRESOR scale, a principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation and Kaiser normalisation was applied. This is typical of a quantitative study where factor analysis is usually applied as part of the research design. In terms of research replication, this research had provided considerable amount of information which would possibly allow other researchers to perform similar research. The items from the two views (Stockholder and Stakeholder) of the PRESOR scale were provided in details. In addition, the authors also mentioned the calculation method used, such as the use of mean values and the Univariate Analysis of Covariance models (ANCOVA). The only exception would probably be the PRESOR scale itself, whereby the questions that were asked and the choice answers were not explicitly given, which might mean that future researchers might find it difficult to replicate the research and might even have to approach the authors or Singhapakdi who developed the scale. 2.5 Alternative Method The authors mentioned that more in-depth examination using qualitative design of investigation such as interviews would perhaps be more revealing. It is agreed that qualitative measure would allow insights into the importance of ethics to managers, and the various ethical issues that managers prioritise. The researchers are more likely to obtain a richer data of the decision-making process of managers, at the same time; they would be able to achieve the research objectives. The researchers can make use of semi-structured type interview which will allow better control of what questions need to be asked, and to ensure that the objectives of the interview are achieved as well (Bryman and Bell, 2007:474), if time and costs are constraints. There are also other alternatives methods to obtain qualitative data that would have fit this research, such as the use of focus groups. Focus group interviews allow researchers to observe the behaviour of the American and Chinese managers as they interact with each other. It would be possible to see the differences in reaction to ethical issues much more clearly, when these managers are given, for example, the same ethical dilemma, and they are required to rationalise the problem and come up with solutions. This method might be more useful than questionnaire surveys, particularly in that the values of the American and Chinese managers could be brought out through the way they respond and react to ethical problems, the problem-rationalisation process, and the degree of attention paid on a particular problem. Similar to the interview method, this would be considerably more costly to conduct, and it might even be more costly than doing interviews, however, the researchers would gain no t only in achieving the research objectives but they would also attain a better understanding of the effects of personal values in ethical decision-making. However, if the goal was only to establish that perception of CSR differs between diverse cultures, the research design would have fit the purpose. This is because the data collection strategy used (questionnaire survey), allowed the authors to obtain considerably response for generalisation. A questionnaire survey would also have been more cost-efficient and less time consuming, especially for cross-cultural studies. Chapter 3 Review of Qualitative Research paper 3.1 Research Objectives In this second paper, this qualitative study aims to make apparent the perceptions and views of the future scenarios from stakeholders within the garment industry in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The underlying intention was to seek consensus and common ground, on a local and regional level to help companies develop an appropriate CSR strategy, to improve the state of corporate social responsibility and in the long run, to achieve sustainability in the region. The main objective was stated as â€Å"by engaging with major stakeholders, to identify the local and regional supply chain stakeholders perceptions and expectations† (Tsoi, 2007:1). Typical of a qualitative study, generalisation is often not the objective of the study (Bryman and Bell, 2007:410). This is apparent from this study as the author had mentioned that the sample may not be sufficient for generalisation for the entire garment industry, however, it is â€Å"relevant to garment businesses involved in export-orientated activities† (Tsoi, 2007:1). Tsoi (2007) used an inductive approach to identify the perceptions of stakeholders by conducting interviews. 3.2 Epistemological and Ontological Assumptions Although the author did not indicate the philosophical assumptions behind this study, the author implied that by identifying the stakeholders perception, â€Å"the findings would help in building consensus, strengthening the implementation, and establishing future CSR framework†. This suggests that the author has an ontological position of constructionism, which asserts that social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors, implying that there exists social interaction and that there is a constant state of revision of the social phenomena (Bryman and Bell, 2007:23). In this case study, the social reality of what is happening in the garment industry, in terms of its corporate social responsibility, is a social reality that was formed by the stakeholders. It suggests that the social phenomena (condition of CSR) can undergo changes, and that it is dependent on the activities of the social actors. The views of the social actors are thought to be indicative of the important issues in corporate social responsibility, within the garment industry. This form of research is consistent with the research paradigm of the interpretivist position, as the basis of the research is that the study of the phenomena requires an understanding of the social world that social actors have constructed and which they reproduced through their continuing activities (Blaikie, 2007:124). In this instance, the stakeholders are the social actors who will continually interpret and reinterpreting their social world which can be the garment industry. The social phenomenon that the author is investigating is the current state and the future of the corporate social responsibility in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The future conception of CSR in these two places is related to phenomenology, whereby, it concerns with the question of how individuals make sense of the world around them (Bryman and Bell, 2007:18). In this case, it can be viewed as the way stakeholders make sense of the state of corporate responsibility in the region. 3.3 Research Design The author relied on a qualitative method, specifically, the face-to-face semi-structured interview, which indicates the leanings of the author in â€Å"conducting a naturalistic inquiry in real-world rather than experimental or manipulated settings† (Ritchie and Lewis, 2003:4). For qualitative studies, semi-structured and unstructured interviews are commonly used as they provide rich, detailed answers and taps into the interviewees point of view (Bryman and Bell, 2007:474). As the focal source of data was the stakeholders themselves in this study, this seems to infer that the research design is based on the interpretivist view that the â€Å"social phenomena can only be understood and be investigated from the inside† (Blaikie, 2007:125). The author identified major stakeholders possibly with stakeholder theory, stating the assumption â€Å"that multinationals see stakeholder consultation and management as an important communication tool in identifying and interpreting the needs of salient stakeholders† and as such would enable â€Å"the development of a common language for CSR and subsequently the development of proactive CSR strategies†. This correlates with the stakeholder approach of Wheeler et al. (2003:19) who stated that â€Å"value creation at the highest level requires an ability to build value-based networks where all stakeholders see merit in their association with and support for a business†. In this instance, it is likely that the stakeholders were deemed to be important in the future direction of CSR in the region, and this was the reason that stakeholders were chosen as source of data. The author mentioned that these interviews conducted in 2004 and 2005 may no longer be relevant, since there were major developments in 2008. This might have made the interviews slightly outdated however; there should not be many changes to the overall aims of the stakeholders and thus the outcomes of this research would remain valid. However, as an alternative, the author could have applied longitudinal design which â€Å"represents a distinct form of research design than is typically used to map change in business and management research† (Bryman and Bell, 2007:60). The longitudinal design would not only serve the purpose of this study, but it would also allow insights into the factors that cause change to the perception. With this sample, it is possible to use cohort study, whereby â€Å"the cohort is made up of people who share a certain characteristics† (Bryman and Bell, 2007:61), since the stakeholders have a stake in the garment industry. However, longitudinal re search may require a lot more preparation, could be time-consuming and thus it could be more costly. 3.4 Data Collection With regards to the methodology, the interview questions that were used for this research was not provided. As this was a semi-structured interview, it would have been useful if the author had provided general information on how the questions were formed, and the structure of the interview questions as this would provide an indication of the depth of the interviews, and hence the validity of the research design. For the sample, 25 representatives from academia, the business organisations, the non-government organisations, trade association, and government officials were identified. The response rate was 84%, in which 21 out of a total of 25 representatives of these organisations agreed to be interviewed. It was mentioned that the reason for such a high response rate, was that the author had contacted the interviewees on a one-to-one basis. Furthermore, the interviewees were also guaranteed anonymity. The sample, thus, appears to be extensive and is representative of the various stakeholders that are vital in the garment industry. 3.5 Alternative Method The intention was that the â€Å"findings would help in building consensus, strengthening the implementation and establishing the future CSR framework† (Tsoi, 2007:1). The author might have meant that having collected all the different views from these stakeholders, the author would be able to determine the consensus of how CSR should be developed and how CSR should be like in the future. However, it is doubtful that a consensus could have been obtained using this method of analysis. The interviewees, although were representative of the garment industry, each one a vital stakeholder, there was no real interaction between these stakeholders, and thus, the consensus that is meant is only based on the researchers understanding from the interviewees responses. Stakeholders are thought to be able to reach a better compromise through discourse, with different sides arguing for the validity of their point as well as ensuring that the interests of the group or association that they re present are taken account of (Bryman and Bell, 2007:511). While it is understandable, that there is a strong possibility that it could be costly to get all the interviewees to sit together through a discourse, nevertheless there are alternatives which might be more useful for the purpose of this investigation, given that the objective is to reach a consensus amongst the stakeholders. With this reasoning, the research design could improve by firstly conveying the findings of the interviews to all of the stakeholders interviewed, and follow up with another interview to see if there were changes to their views. Alternatively, the author could use the method of focus group interviews. With this method, Merton et al. (1956) (in Bryman and Bell, 2007:511) stated that the â€Å"accent is upon interaction within the group and the joint construction of meaning†. Focus group interviews could provide a platform for the interviewees to interact and to establish a joint construction of what it means to strengthen CSR and also determine what future scenarios should and could be like. With regards to selecting a suitable size for the focus group, it is recommended by Bryman and Bell (2007:517) that the typical group size should be six to ten members, whilst Sekaran (2003:220) recommends a size of eight to twelve members. The reason that the focus group interview method was recommended was that the interviewees would be encouraged to express their opinions argumentatively, which would then allow the researcher to gauge the degree of importance of certain issues and how much flexibility the interv iewees might have to reach a compromise with others. There are of course possible pitfalls using the focus group method, in that some interviewees might be dominant over others, and thus the opinions of those less dominant might not be heard, but these effects can be reduced to a minimum level by having a good moderator (in Bryman and Bell, 2007:511). The one-to-one interview method could still be more advantageous compared with the focus group interview, as the time and monetary costs of conducting a one-to-one interview would probably be considerably less and thus be more manageable especially if there was only one researcher, as was with this case study. In this case study, it seemed that a quantitative design would actually be difficult to apply, and it would also be inappropriate for an investigation on the perception of CSR as a business concern. Taking the example of using a questionnaire survey with closed-ended questions, it is very likely that the respondents would answer that they are very concerned about CSR, as that might be perceived as the correct response, thus creating social desirability bias to the results. Furthermore, with a questionnaire survey, the researcher would not be able to pin-point all the various future scenarios for CSR in Hong Kong and Mainland China, even if it was possible, the list of future scenarios might be too long to be practically manageable. Another issue would be that in making assumptions of the future scenarios that are deemed significant to the stakeholders, it would be problematic as the researcher might risk missing out relevant information. Therefore, it would be difficult, from these r easons, that a quantitative design would not be suitable for such a case study. Chapter 4 Conclusions In summary, the two papers reflect significant differences in their research approach. This was seen through the objectives of the research, the underlying assumptions of the research philosophy and the conceptualisation of research design and the data collection. There is certainly much to learn from these two research papers, both had given valuable information on the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as offer guidance on the selection of research method and how to go about utilising these methods. The research designs, as shown in these papers, are dependent of the research objectives and the designs are also influenced by the epistemological and ontological assumptions made. Even though the philosophical positions of the researchers were not made explicit, however, the likely positions can be assumed. These papers have also shown that the advantages and the disadvantages of the different methods of investigation, and they need to be considered to e nsure that the best method is chosen for the purpose of the research. In these two papers, the method of investigation is distinct, one was a qualitative study and the other was a quantitative study, however, this does not necessarily mean that a mixed method of investigation can not be used. In fact, (Bryman and Bell, 2007:646) suggested that triangulation can be applied, in which â€Å"the results of an investigation employing a method associated with one research strategy are cross-checked against the results of using a method associated with the other research strategy†.