Health causes of stress Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health causes of stress - Annotated Bibliography Example udying in detail different kinds of healthy stressors from various perspectives, and in supporting our hypothesis that healthy stressors are in a way useful for human body. The authors, researchers at the Biological Psychiatry Branch, Bethesda, used data to study the effects of healthy stressors by analyzing the happy and sad responses by 11 healthy women when they were made to recall happy and sad occurrences in their lives. The participants were scanned by using PET and H2(15)O. Although the number of participants was limited, the results they found correlated with their hypothesis that healthy causes of stress produced significant changes in their brain regions which defined their emotional state. These changes included great reductions in cortical rCBF, right prefrontal and bilateral temporal-parietal regions. This research will be helpful in demonstrating how healthy stressors affect the brain activity and what regions of brain undergo changes during the course of remembering and undergoing positive causes of stress. The author of this article has very successfully provided some very good information regarding stress management with special focus on positive stressors. He has listed some examples of healthy causes of stress like marriage, job interview, starting college, childbirth, and buying a large ticket item. The author has raised an important point that it is our perception of stress that makes a stressor a good or a bad one. Changing our perception can convert a bad stressor into a positive one. The author gives the example of losing a job which might seem as a disaster but it may be perceived as a healthy stressor when one thinks about other opportunities. The article is well organized, easy to understand, and considerable detail has been given describing each positive stressor, which will be quite helpful in conducting our research. In this periodical, the author has emphasized upon the importance of healthy stressors and states that a little

Human behavior- ch 10 reflection Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human behavior- ch 10 reflection - Assignment Example 299). Somehow, this particular thought or idea made me think of some possible reasons why human behavior is more of a social function rather than a psychological process. Through the use of effective communication skills, Mead explained that the active participation of each person within a social structure is merely an instrument to know more about the personal experiences and conduct of each individual (p. 301). In line with this, Mead’s theory on social psychology is heavily based on ‘social behaviorism’. It simply means that the ‘inner experiences’ of each individual significantly affects their behavior or action (p. 301). Often times, cultural practices or patterns can be observed within a given social structure. For this reason, I strongly agree and support the theory of Mead such that the way each person would interact with other human beings can affect not only their unique personal experiences in life but also how they manage to develop a set of attitude and behavior. It is not every day that all people can get a positive feeling or experience when they communicate with other people. For this reason, not everybody can develop a strong positive relationship with other people. This is true because people who have gone through harsh or negative experiences in life can unconsciously develop negative feelings such as hatred or anger. Eventually, feelings of hatred or anger can indirectly affect the way a person would behave with other people. deeply rooted in social process and structure (p. 299). As a result of day-to-day experiences in life, each person is able to feel and act in response to their personal experiences with other people. Aside from molding how a person would behave in public, the quality of social interaction an individual will have with another person or a group of people can also shape how they will perceive or view themselves as a person (p. 301). In my day-to-day living, I am exposed to a large group of

A Case Study of Change: Obesity

A Case Study of Change: Obesity Obesity in primary care has become an increasingly common problem. Like any other medical condition overweight and obese patients should have access to appropriate treatment and care using a delicate, understanding and non-judgemental approach. Weight loss in primary care is of interest for the purposes of improving a persons quality of life. During the study the author will explore the prevalence of obesity using the geographical trust region with a population of 158,000 (Office of National Statistics (ONS) 2007) in comparison with the town centre based practice where the author works as a trainee nurse practitioner. The practice has a mixed socioeconomic, predominately (95.53%) White British population of 15, 186 (Annual Public Health Report 2008). Local authority with in which the author works has been ranked as 49th most deprived out of the 354 local authorities in England in 2007 in the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007 (IMD 2007). Although obesity is increasing at the same rat e in all social classes, the prevalence of obesity is higher in lower socio-economic groups, particularly in women (Henderson and Gregory 2002). The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) developed guidelines on identifying and treating obesity in 2006 following on from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN 1996), this in turn along with Primary care service Framework 2007 has lead to Health Care Professionals looking at ways to gain the background knowledge, provide and implement a service to deliver integrated obesity management enabling patients to change their eating and activity habits and motivate obese individuals to lose weight, maintain weight lose and increase fitness in accordance with the White paper (2004). It is also thought that additional training in behavioural counselling maybe vital when assessing a patients readiness to accept change (Drummond 2000). Individuals who are not emotionally ready to tackle the issue of lifestyle changes are more likely to fail. Dealing with obesity in the practice setting can be achieved by setting up specific lifestyle clinics dedicated to offering support and advice to patients who wish to lose weight or maintain a healthier lifestyle looking specifically at behaviour change. This clinic can run alongside or in conjunction with existing chronic disease and routine Health check clinics with self referral or healthcare professional referal. By helping the patient look at how unhealthy behaviours can be an element of their lifestyle and daily choices (see table 1) it is possible to suggest ways in which to change in a mutually agreed plan of care. Awareness and knowledge of what change is required and why, are fundamental first steps in enabling change to occur. Motivation is an essential part of nearly everything we do. Regular reviews can provide motivation and change behaviour through incentives and penalties. Personal factors, such as individuals self motivation, drive and desire to improve their appearance and health are also important. Target and objectives can influence how much people want to change but their priorities and commitments may also obstruct their ability to change. Change to clinical practice can only be successful if the reasons for introducing the change are clear, compatible with current practice and ideas and the process is planned carefully in advance (Davis1999). Change theories share common factors. To ascertain behavioural change, according to these theories, patients need the desire to make a change, have the ability to make the change, believe that they will have a better quality of life if they make the change, believe that the change is right for them, and discover how and when to make changes. Obesity management needs an integrated approach involving a multi-disciplinary team of Healthcare Professionals. General Practice is an ideal starting point to influence and initiate management strategies. Healthcare professionals need better training and access to management programmes that include dietary advice, physical activity and behavioural change if they are to initiate the policy effectively. For the programme to succeed the patient needs to be the central component. Obesity does not lend itself to the classical medical model where the condition is diagnosed, treatment prescribed and then the professional responsible for the outcome. It is ultimately the patient who is in control over their decision to proceed and succeed. Weight lose/maintenance is not easy for obese/overweight patients, many of whom have already tried and failed in controlling their weight. It is the role of the primary care team to support and encourage weight management and lifestyle change. In an attem pt to achieve these changes in behaviour management are vital. Eating and physical activity are human behaviours which can be modified even though they are predisposed by a complicated set of factors. If in practice the overweight/obese patient was identified and advised of the fact, they simply wouldnt care. Consultation with the patient and establishing if they recognise they have a weight problem using a sensitive and respectful manner is the first essential step to change. It is then possible to produce a plan of action involving providing information and eliciting the patients views about their weight as well as details about their weight history and any previous attempts at weight loss. The early stages of consultation are about building a rapport with the patient through active listening. Communications skills are essential to implement a behavioural approach effectively (NICE 2007). Professionals should also have the ability to express consideration, build self-belief and provide clear, structured and relevant information. Raising the issue of lifestyle changes can be extremely difficult to talk about as the patient may feel uncomfortable and they may feel responsible. This could have a negative effect on the patient-professional relationship (Drummond 2000). As a professional it can be maintained that we have a duty of care to discuss the importance of a behavioural approach in managing obesity and its practical application in helping overweight patients achieve and maintain behavioural changes. Pearson 2003 suggests that ‘linking weight to a current health concern is often an appropriate way to introduce weight management issues. Advice should be individualised to condition and patient. By providing the patient with the appropriate information to help them make informed decisions about their health behaviour is part of the professional role. By individualising programmes to assist/support patients in changing their lifestyle for good can give them the incentive to lose some weight or prevent further weight gain. There is always the risk at this point that the patient will abandon the change process altogether. Behaviour change theory examines the difference between models of behaviour and theories of change (Darnton 2008). Models of behaviour identify us with specific behaviours, by pointing out the underlying factors which influence them. By contrast, theories of change illustrate behaviour change over time. The theories are complementary to each other; understanding both is essential in order to improve successful advances in behaviour change. Numerous models can be incorporated together to assist in understanding the reasons for our behaviour and how they interrelate but also help us work out the relationships between the reasons to allow us to envisage the behavioural outcomes. Tim Jackson writes ‘models reveal factors where policy can work (Jackson 2005). Models essentially recommend a feature menu for policy makers to choose from making no one model the perfect model but giving the policy maker choice and flexibility to use several different models. Social-psychologist Kurt Lewins Change Theory (1951) involves group work to change habitual behaviours, using an unfreezing, restructure, refreezing guide in which habitual behaviours (attitudes, values and behaviours) are studied by the group and reorganised, before being reintegrated back into everyday routines (Coghlan and Brannick, 2003; Coghlan and Claus, 2005; Lewin, 1951). Lewins work on change has provided the basis for many later advances in change theories (Lewin 1951). Lewins change theory will be the basic model for the proposed change in practice. Lewins early research entailed changing the patterns of diet in America and is therefore particularly relevant to issues, such as obesity, that we face today. Lewin concluded ‘that we are likely to modify our own behaviour when we participate in problem analysis and solution and more likely to carry out decisions we helped to make (Lewin 1951). Unfreezing is a reflective process that involves unlearning without removing own uniqueness and difficult relearning and restructuring of thoughts, awareness, beliefs and way of thinking. In the planning process of change this critical starting point for change can be overlooked. Three pre-conditions simultaneously need to be satisfied for current patterns of behaviour to unfreeze. Firstly ‘disconfirming information which involves disproving a theory. Secondly Lewin (1951) suggested creating ‘guilt or survival anxiety, getting patients to accept behaviour is incorrect but this destructs self-esteem and identity. The third pre-condition was that disconfirming information could also create what he termed ‘learning anxiety. This creates a sense of weakness, a feeling that change cant be initiated due to being unable to learn quickly enough to enable a move into a new situation and adapting inadequately often looks more acceptable than risking failure in the learning pr ocess. Overcoming learning anxiety is probably the hardest and most critical element in unfreezing. Unfreezing is the most significant and complicated part of any change process, and also the most difficult to achieve as self-esteem and identity securely control people. Yet achieving this is not the end but a gateway to the next level Lewins (1951) next stage, ‘restructuring, also had three elements beginning with reorganising thinking. He called this ‘cognitive redefinition and it is at the heart of much of todays ‘systemic thinking (Senge 1990). Albert Einstein quoted ‘the significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them. It is therefore essential to meet and communicate with others to look at the same problem in different ways. Lewin (1951) then suggested ‘managed learning. ‘Imitation or identification is the simplest way of learning in this situation. Learning by copying those we respect and trust. This process is very evident today in standard setting and peer-based learning. Lewin (1951) suggested learning in this way to be shallow and superficial; seen as an easy alternative in a difficult situation as it is a case of doing what has been advised without really understanding the implications of why it is being done. Kurt Lewin (1951) therefore favoured a different means of learning that he called ‘scanning. This meant seeking alternative sources of information including reading, travel and conversation with people from different backgrounds in order to obtain an accurate understanding of your own situation and adapt accordingly. The problem he saw with peer approaches was that if nobody had research a subject in detail data was incomplete. And if the new behaviour isnt correct for the behaviour and understanding of the learner then it becomes ‘disconfirming. The final element of Lewins model (1951) is ‘refreezing: making things stick. What he found was that working with ‘gatekeepers, collectively, through ‘scanning rather than ‘identification creates change that sticks and becomes eventually refrozen into the new norm. Lewin offers a basis for change within an ever changing environment. Health Belief Model Janz and Becker 1984 was influenced by Kurt Lewins theories (1951) which state that perceptions of reality, rather than objective reality, influence behaviour. For an obese patient to perceive the effects their weight has on their lifestyle they need to be able to admit they have a weight problem. The stages of change model Prochaska and Diclemente 1984 describes change as a process, broken down into a series of stages through which individuals progress, dependent on the degree of interest in the desired outcome of the individual. The concept of change is that the patient considers the consequences of actions for changing behaviour, what their desired outcome is and which results in a contract to make change. Changing habits happens gradually and often people will need to go through stages of the cycle many times before they achieve lasting change. Gottlieb 2004 suggested that the stages of change model conceived that everyone is on a journey of change, beginning with limited knowledge and progressing through numerous stages to achieve change. ‘Societal models are also important to those developing policies and change as often it is necessary to work on the background factors limiting behavioural options directly. Enabling change is not just about changing a persons perception of these material factors (e.g. cost). The Main Determinants of Health model (Dahlgren and Whitehead 1991) needs to be incorporated into obesity management and is a good ‘Societal model. The model shows the individuals behaviour as one element, beneath four other ‘tiers of influencing factors including social and economic factors, cultural factors, environmental factors and also the services that are available locally. Since Lewins field theory (1951), theoretical approaches to change have recommended developing theory through practice. Piloting and evaluation, followed by figuring learning back in, are the final stages in a process of intervention development which can be characterised as learning through doing. Guidance on policy development needs to be clear; however, it must also be flexible to different frameworks. Evaluation of any policy is undoubtedly important. Obesity as we have seen is measured in many different ways. Evaluations should measure change in the intended behaviour among the consultation group, as well as the effect on the key influencing factors. Process evaluation concentrates on how a program is put into practice rather than the outcome. It asks how services are delivered, differences between the intended population and the population served, how programmes are accessed and managed. It aims to provide an explanation of how or why proposed outcomes of the project were (or were not) met. Information from process evaluations can be used to decide future action, looking at whether a program should be abandon and a new plan of action devised , revise the current program (or components of it) to improve delivery, or how best to deliver it. This type of evaluation may also provide understanding about a programmes cultural, socio-political, legal and economic contexts that affect i mplementation Impact evaluation measures overall achievements; it is interested with the direct result of a program when it is finished. It should include a way of measuring unintended effects of a program, as well as the individuals targeted by the programme. Outcome Evaluation measures program goals and is concerned with longer term benefits of the program among the targeted population, and by how much. Monitoring of outcome is useful and necessary to determine whether outcomes were achieved within a specified timescale (Health Promotion, 2002), whereas evaluation attributes the changes observed to the intervention tested The models and theories used to underpin the intervention may then be reassessed in the framework of the target behaviour, and understanding of the behaviour itself assist in progression to the closing phase of the cycle in which learning from the evaluation is fed back into the policy process. As part of the evaluation process, the appropriateness of the behavioural models used in the intervention should be assessed. Evaluation findings should update the development of the intervention itself and future interventions in similar policy areas. Audit is a technique that can be used to monitor then maintain or improve the quality of care and services provided. It is the method used ‘to assess, evaluate and improve the care of patients in a systematic way, to enhance their health and quality of life (Irvine 1991) Structural audits are undertaken in relation to what resources there are available, suitability and access to the clinics, access to continued support either 1:1, self-help, buddying up with others, web based support or group and also the staff available to run the clinic looking at skill mix. Process audits focus on what was done to a patient, where clinical protocols and guidelines followed and did they work in practice. The audit may look at how an individual or the team operate, looking at waiting times from referral, patient recall for review, management plans, record keeping, communication between the patient and staff. Outcome audits relate to the impact of the team or services provided on the patient. This could be achieved through patient satisfaction questionnaires provided at the start of the intervention, part way through and on reaching target. Has there been an impact on their lifestyle and if so was this a positive experience or has it had a negative effect on their lives. Clinical audit gives valuable insight into how effective a service is being provided by systematically collecting and analysing data on current practice. This allows the lifestyle team to become involved in assessing the effectiveness of their interventions. Clinical audit can help identify areas of behaviour and management which meet required standards, identify area which could be improved, promote changes in problem areas, improve quality of patient care, develop Healthcare Professional skills, give direction for the most effective use of resources and evaluating how successfully changes have been implemented. Audit is also an important part of clinical governance, there to encourage the continual monitoring and improvement of healthcare services. When designing an audit many factors need to be considered (see table 2) A fixed date of 6 months would be agreed from the start for the collection of data and interpretation of the results initially but then audit would continue as long as needed to provide information to continue improving the service. Cost effectiveness also needs to be evaluated. Cost-effective analysis compares the cost-benefit ratio for one intervention against an alternative intervention. Benefits maybe expressed as patient-orientated health outcomes such as quality of life. The economic impact of lifestyle change maybe assessed in terms of direct costs, indirect costs and intangible costs. Direct costs arise from the use of health care resources and if the direct cost of providing treatment is lower than the direct cost of illness, the treatment is cost-saving for the health care system. Indirect costs look at the cost of illness to the economy. The broader costs to society and the economy from weight problems already cost the wider economy in the region of  £16 billion, and is set to rise to  £50 billion per year by 2050 if left unchecked (Department of Health 2009). Intangible costs are monetary values attached to the physical or psychological effects of illness, such as joint and back pain, breathlessness, varicose veins and gallbladder problems. Obesity is estimated to cost the National Health Service approximately  £4.2 billion (Department of Health 2009). Simple activities like getting around can be problematic for an obese individual (Drummond 2000). Quality of life for an obese person is thought to be less than optimal and this can lead to psychological problems. Intangible costs of illness maybe compared with the intangible costs of treatment, such as surgery.

Airport Planning and Organization Essay -- Logistics

Single File? According to the Federal Aviation Administration (2007), â€Å"The master planning process will vary with the size, complexity, and role of the study airport and may include a variety of supporting studies. However, all master planning studies will fall within one of two basic types: Airport Master Plans or Airport Layout Plan (ALP) Updates† (Federal Aviation Administration, 2007, p.1). This description of the master planning process is further explained by the FAA in saying, â€Å"Airport planning is a systematic process used to establish guidelines for the efficient development of airports that is consistent with local, state and national goals. A key objective of airport planning is to assure the effective use of airport resources in order to satisfy aviation demand in a financially feasible manner. Airport planning may be as broad based as the national system plan or more centrally focused as an airport master plan for a specific airport† (Federal Aviation Administ ration, 2010, p. 500-1). This explanation of how airport planning is organized may allow the reader to become more familiar with how decisions are made in regards to airport planning and organization. The basis of any airport plan or layout is set up for one primary function; to move people out as fast if not faster than they have moved in. There are a variety of ways that have been tested, failed, retested, improved, and finally established or dissolved in order to help promote this concept of moving people as easily and sufficiently as possible. Two examples that have two very different approaches to the methods of passenger flow within the airports would be to look at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Washington Dulles International Airp... ...nal Airport | the Official Website of ATL Airport. Retrieved January 22, 2012, from http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Airport/ATL/ATL_FactSheet.aspx Federal Aviation Administration. (2007, May 1). Advisory circular. FAA.gov. Retrieved January 22, 2012, from http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/advisory_circular/150-5070-6B/150_5070_6b_chg1.pdf Federal Aviation Administration. (2010, October 1). Airport Planning. FAA.gov. Retrieved January 22, 2012, from http://www.faa.gov/airports/central/aip/sponsor_guide/media/0500.pdf Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. (2012). Air Traffic Statistics. Dulles International Airport. Retrieved January 22, 2012, from http://www.mwaa.com/dulles/653.htm Wayne County Airport Authority. (2004). Aviation Statistics. MetroAirport.com. Retrieved January 22, 2012, from http://www.metroairport.com/about/AviationStatistics.asp

Pompei and Herculaneum Religious Archaeology

Being one of the most fascinating and cataclysmic events in Ancient Rome, The violent eruption of Mount Vesuvius ultimately destroyed a set of unique and culturally significant societies from Rome. With Pompeii and Herculaneum’s unique culture came their widely influenced and varied religion. Religion of which had no one following, one god or one origin. Both societies housed many cults and religions, many of which were adopted by citizens after foreign influences, significantly from the Hellenic civilizations. Pompeii was evidently a wealthy aristocratic city, as demonstrated by the abundance of valuables located along the remains of dead Pompeians. Golden coins, jewelry and lavish houses adorned with frescoes were extracted from Pompeii at the time of finding, as the volcanic debris preserved much of the city. This is not to say that Pompeii also housed many middle and lower class citizens, slaves being an integral part of the city-town. Much of these influences manifested itself in the form of temples, epigraphy and burial practices and are examples of how much and how many forms of religious impact were seen throughout the city. Seeing how these religions surfaced in Pompeii and Herculaneum can help uncover how these distinct cults and practices impacted the societies. Being one of the most prominent and distinct examples of influence in religion in both societies, the temple of Isis housed a large and devout cult all around the Roman Empire, but very much so in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Being of Egyptian origin, the god Isis was a significant part of both cities, the temple in subject adorned with mosaics of Roman and Egyptian gods, with the god Hermes carved onto the purgatorium. This demonstrates to us that the Cult of Isis did not in a way, interfere with the practices or other religions, but rather integrated into. Isis herself was represented in large of lower classmen, commoners as well as slaves and women. As such, having a large slave and tradesman population, meant that Isis was a popular cult and goddess towards the people. The courtyard itself contained a multitude of chambers and buildings, one of which led to a cistern that held water from the rive Nile. This shows us not only of their devotion to Isis, but it is also evidence of ritual and cult practice. As the Temple was kept intact so well, much of the architecture and detail in regards to the walls and columns tells that the city had strong Egyptian influence, as well as showing us how important Isis and Egyptian religious worship was to them. Such importance in that an Egyptian Temple was built in a Roman city, further enhancing the notion that Egypt had large impact onto Pompeii and Herculaneum. Plutarch stated that the Egyptians were indeed of a very pious nature, but they were not the only cult to call Pompeii its home. The cult of Dionysus, another large following in Pompeii and Herculaneum, was to honor the titular god, Dionysus. Being the god of Wine and festivities, the higher class individuals may have seen the cult as a representation of themselves, demonstrating how it catered to the aristocrats’ own lifestyle, similar to how Isis represented the poor and working class individuals. Dionysus was of Greek mythology, showing us the influence of the Greeks, but it very much resembled Bacchus, the Roman god of similar representation. Dionysus was somewhat worshipped in the Villa of the Mysteries, in which Romans would accommodate its interior. The Villa was a meeting place and a home to many patrons in Pompeii, lined with ornate and detailed frescoes, largely intact. The frescoes depict a multitude of activities and practices, such as rites of passage, leisurely activities such as dancing and instrument playing, as well as featuring Dionysus himself. This was likely some of the many practices that the cult delved in during the villa. It is also interesting to note that the exterior of the villa was closed off and although a large part of the city, it is situated in the northwest of the city, away from the general populace and larger landmarks. In addition to that, much of the rituals and events took place at night and in secrecy, specifically the rites of passage. One could assume that although the worship of either Bacchus or Dionysus was prevalent, the practices and activities that were partaken, especially at night were something to be discrete about. Such a source is useful to us as the Villa’s Dionysus worship is backed by the fact that the Villa and its practices and rituals were placed so far away from other prominent buildings and individuals. Other figures were also incorporated into housing and residences as well, one of them being the Lares. Lares were guardian figures in Roman Mythology and were widely impacted throughout Pompeii and Herculaneum. Many of our references to the Lares are shown in the form of mosaics and statues, particularly around Roman residence. Lares were seen to be protectors, which explains their use around the city. One such residence, the Villa of the Vettii, houses a particular mosaic of two Lares, assumed to be sacrificing another individual, with a snake under them, representing prosperity. Not only this, but Lare statues were placed all around the house and for many other everyday occasions, such as funerals, banquets and births. Cicerobelieved that â€Å"The mose sacred and hallowed place on earth is the home of each and every citizen†, the citizens of Pompeii rightly believing so. One could deduce that the citizens believed that the Lares were directly related to the city’s well-being and that they demanded sacrifices in order to achieve it. In addition to this, the fact that these deities were so widespread and common throughout both Herculaneum and Pompeii, in addition to much of the rest of Rome, shows its usefulness in identifying that the Lares were seen as a very significant and integral part of everyday life. Another significant religious practice in both societies was the use of tombs and burials. The ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum are scattered with the tombs and burial sites of dead citizens, mostly of aristocratic descent around the gates and leading to the city. The graves collectively formed the Necropolis and are scattered with statues and inscriptions of different gods and followings. This shows us how diverse the religious demographic was in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Many tombs also contained valuables along with their owner’s remains. Things such as jewelry and weapons were found during excavation, detailing that these individuals had possibly believed in an afterlife with the items that they were buried with. It is also interesting to note that Hellenic and Gallic civilizations adopted this practice earlier on, possibly concluding that there could have been Northern and definite Greek influence in Pompeii. It is also a point to make that these tombs were built around the gates of Pompeii and Herculaneum, a place of high traffic. Citizens could then be speculated that they may have treated the idea of death much more positively and more conventionally than how the modern world handles it, the latter in question usually designating graveyards near places of little significance or at least, certainly not of high traffic. The Necropolis in question of its usefulness is very much a key part in understanding the belief of death, its practices in burial and the afterlife as it was and still is, the resting place of thousands of people, all of them, believing that the Necropolis was a distinguished, significant place of burial and where they wished to be encapsulated, many of them bearing and displaying their Religious affinity in either the form of epigraphy or an idol or shrine near their tomb.

Action Research

The idea for my action research study came from observing a heated conversation in the teacher’s lounge. Several teachers complained about the new principal while others silently and cautiously agreed. More and more often the displeasure of her tactics with the teachers and other staff members was becoming more prominent and crystallized as the topic for a possible research. (See More on this page) I was not so sure, however, whether the new principal (let us call her Mrs. A.) was aware of her affect on people. Te topic entailed the small-scale active research format involving opinions and debates of willing participants. I knew I had to be careful not to create a situation of more of a social nature versus investigative and productive framework. I decided to call my action plan â€Å"An investigation into perceptions and opinions of successful practices in school management styles,† thus centering and going away from Mrs. A. becoming a target of negative attention. This was professional issue, and I knew that I needed some development in my knowledge within the subject, hence the need to be objective and to keep an open mind to extend the boundaries of my understanding in both directions. This was an opportunity to help both the school staff and the school administrator. The active part of the research came from the approach to actively involve all concerned (including Mrs. A.) and secure their cooperation by agreeing to answer a questionnaire (one in the beginning of the process and another at the end to raise the internal validity index) and the attitude survey. In addition, and before the questionnaire was distributed, I invited all participants to participate in an open but formal debate with the specific structure and time limits. To elicit honest perspectives and avoid the threat of bias (I was a teacher in that school), I recruited an independent industrial/organizational psychology student from the local university to conduct and supervise the debate. I knew that I needed to remove myself from any perception of power or control over the resulting data to guarantee the validity to the process. Thus, the psychology student with the help of his professor also performed all statistical analysis. Moreover, I felt that the questions on the questionnaire I designed initially were too biased toward my own opinions. I therefore, asked the same psychology student to redesign the questions for me. Once the questionnaire was ready, I took some extra time to personally meet with all participants and explain the purpose of the research. I was very careful not to give an impression that I had any private agenda in such matter. Designing the study as the technically oriented research I welcomed any duplication to increase reliability. Understanding my purpose in designing this action research plan, every participant was very cooperative. After the questionnaires were administered and collected, I realized that an independent observer might perceive a possibility to gender bias in judging responses of the questions: both the psychology student and myself were males while the rest of participants were females. Conducting this research as active helped me to develop two relevant professional purposes: the data resulting from interviews and from the questionnaire are context related as well as the subject to external and mutual influences. The second purpose is personal growth with the ability to generate new perspectives for all participants and non-participants alike. Sardo-Brown (1995) rose an interesting point about the practical benefits for practicing teachers conducting own research within their classrooms. This practice has the potential to influence the teacher’s work and to elevate the motivation and the desire to affect his or her students. The practitioner usually would begin with some questions defining the problem that is being present within the classroom life. Such problem is more relevant to the teacher who teaches that class than to the administrator(s). The solution of this problem relies on identifying the exact cause and finding a methodology to compensate for the negative affect. The teacher who becomes an active researcher has greater sense of responsibility and motivation since the resolved problem will improve visibly the quality of work being performed. Action research, then, is the tool carried out by the practitioner him or herself to address a practical problem and to influence practice affording greater responsibility. There is a sense of empowerment that becomes a source of increasing the teachers’ role in school-wide leadership and decision-making. To demonstrate the effectives of active research mode-type practices Sardo-Brown (1995) described the research processes of six classroom teachers; two of which taught at elementary level, two at the middle level, and two at the high school level. More recent account was presented my Merrill (2204) who directly posited a question, â€Å"When was the last time you sat back and contemplated how effective your teaching is?† Most certainly, this type of inquiry can be asked in any field of human endeavor, but the teaching is the most prominent since the quality of which is influenced by so many variables. This author had a particular interest in sustained technology education and hence was his interest in action research. To his credit, Merrill quoted a very descriptive dfinition of action research from the works of Stephen Corey (1953): A continual disciplined inquiry conducted to inform and improve our practice as educators. Action research asks educators to study their practice and its context, explore the research base for ideas, compare what they find to their current practice, participate in training to support needed changes, and study the effects on themselves, their students, and colleagues (Calhoun, 2002, p.18). This definition in its fullness describes the method and purposes behind such process. It names the research as an â€Å"inquiry† implying on the generally set and the most primal purpose behind any research. Then it directs our attention as its reflect-ability. Indeed, we need to study our own practice and its context, â€Å"explore the research base for ideas and compare (what was found) with (our) current practice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But the main prerogative is to improve what we are doing even if its subjectively successful (Merrill, 2004). That main purpose was also supported by Zuber-Skerritt (1996) who provided the plan and concrete pathway to form new directions in action research. They were instrumental in that by first providing the readers in exact description and identification of different types of action research. They supported the practical definition of Calhoun by stating, â€Å"Action research is research into practice, by practitioners, for practitioners†¦Ã ¢â‚¬  Despite to such a practical view, this author’s book provided a good research foundation on how to do the action research and what exactly it is. Works Cited Armstrong, Felicity, and Michele Moore, eds. Action Research for Inclusive Education: Changing Places, Changing Practice, Changing Minds. New York: RoutledgeFalmer, 2004. Questia. 28 Apr. 2007 . Dadds, Marion. Passionate Enquiry and School Development: A Story about Teacher Action Research. London: Falmer Press, 1995. Questia. 28 Apr. 2007 . Merrill, Chris. â€Å"Action Research and Technology Education.† The Technology Teacher 63.8 (2004): 6+. Questia. 28 Apr. 2007 . Sardo-Brown, Deborah. â€Å"The Action Research Endeavors of Six Classroom Teachers and Their Perceptions of Action Research.† Education 116.2 (1995): 196+. Questia. 28 Apr. 2007 . Zuber-Skerritt, Ortrun, ed. New Directions in Action Research. London: Falmer Press, 1996. Questia. 28 Apr. 2007 .   

Free Essays on The Odyssey

â€Å"THE ODYSSEY† AS A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF MT. OLYMPUS The overall objective of this research paper is to identify and discuss â€Å"The Odyssey,† by Homer during his journey of Odysseus following the Fall of Troy. It was during this sojourn that Odysseus encounters various characters, and gods as previously indicated, which represent the essential source for this study including the primary source. It is true that the story is set within the context of the Trojan War, but it has been argued by scholars for a long time as to the factuality’s of the events in this story. Overall, it is a tale of adventure and homecoming after a long absence. It has even been debated whether or not the story took place during Greek times or pre-Greek times. Nevertheless, the story is alive with characters and adventures. I believe that more than anything, Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† is an exercise in the meaning of story telling through song and other aspects in â€Å"The Odyssey,† including lying and the lore, as I shall explain. Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey,† is basically the story of the wanderings of Odysseus, but it is not in the form of a continuous narrative that this story is told. Clearly, â€Å"The Odyssey† incorporates materials that are older than the poem itself, and foremost among them in all likelihood was the tale of Odysseus’ wanderings immediately falling the Fall of Troy which is narrated by Odysseus at the banquet given in his honor by the Phaeaceans. This narration may well have constituted a separate poem or lie which was worked into a longer narrative by a later poet whom we know as Homer and his primary concern was not with the adventures of Odysseus but with his relationship with his wife and son. This later poet undoubtedly had to deal with the character of Odysseus as it was then current in folk lore - ... Free Essays on The Odyssey Free Essays on The Odyssey The Odyssey Odysseus, is an epic hero in "The Odyssey by Homer" which is an epic story that has been a significant piece of literature since it was first composed and will remain so for ages to come . One of the reasons it has so is because of the hero, Odysseus . Odysseus is one of the first Greek mythic heroes' renowned for his brain as well as his muscle . He is a man with an intelligent mind , he is also a man with outstanding bravery . We also shouldn't forget that he is a topnotch athlete which only adds to this seemingly insuperable character . It is no wonder why many people refer to Odysseus as a powerful mythic hero . Odysseus often hesitates before acting , since he uses his reason and gift to evaluate things . This patience is one of his most important additional attributes . This has saved him and his men many of times , and it can be seen in various instances throughout his travels such as when he disguised himself as a beggar when he finally reached Ithaca , waiting for the right moment to reveal himself. As great as he was , Odysseus still had some weaknesses that prolonged his voyage back to Ithaca . His most important weakness that he possess is that of his pride . Pride is good to have , but in Odysseus' case he had to much of it . This is clearly evident in the episode on the Cyclops' island . " Cyclops , if anyone asks you who it was that put out your eye , say it was the brave warrior Odysseus." ( P. 84 ) When Odysseus and his men are clearly safe away from ... Free Essays on The Odyssey â€Å"Tactical Trickery† Tactic, n. â€Å"An expedient for achieving a goal; a maneuver.† (American Heritage College Dictionary, co.2000) Tactics are important strategies that a person can devise and employ in order to earn what they strive for. In warfare as well as other â€Å"sticky situations†, tactics often prove to be a salvation. In his epic the Odyssey, Homer studies the use of tactics through three specific characters: Odysseus, Athena, and Penelope. Athena, the mythological Greek goddess of warfare, was known for her strategic planning. Aware of this, Homer highlights this fact through her actions in the Odyssey. In preparation for Odysseus’ visit to the Phaiakians, Athena disguises herself as a crier of the king, letting the people know that Odysseus, famous war hero, was coming. (289) Pouring â€Å"her grace out upon him,† Athena impresses the Phaiakians with Odysseus’ splendor. (290) She uses these tactics to ensure that the suspicious Phaiakian people will help Odysseus and his men. Later, Athena discloses her role to Odysseus. â€Å"†¦I who made the Phaiakians befriend you†¦I planned it so.† (368) Homer uses Athena’s tactics such as this to prove that the gods were on Odysseus’ side. Later, Athena also dresses Odysseus as a young man: â€Å"As for my change of skin, that is a charm Athena†¦uses as she will.† (405) This tactic is used to impress Telema chus of his heroic father. Again portraying Athena as a great tactician, Homer reminds the reader of her help during the Trojan war, when she helped Odysseus be providing him with the idea of the Trojan horse. (370) Though Athena provided the idea for the Trojan horse, Odysseus, known as the â€Å"Great Tactician† (395) actually carried out the plans for it. Working with Athena or alone, Odysseus often proved to be an excellent tactician. He also managed to save himself and some of his men from the cannibalistic Cyclops through a carefully ... Free Essays on The Odyssey â€Å"THE ODYSSEY† AS A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF MT. OLYMPUS The overall objective of this research paper is to identify and discuss â€Å"The Odyssey,† by Homer during his journey of Odysseus following the Fall of Troy. It was during this sojourn that Odysseus encounters various characters, and gods as previously indicated, which represent the essential source for this study including the primary source. It is true that the story is set within the context of the Trojan War, but it has been argued by scholars for a long time as to the factuality’s of the events in this story. Overall, it is a tale of adventure and homecoming after a long absence. It has even been debated whether or not the story took place during Greek times or pre-Greek times. Nevertheless, the story is alive with characters and adventures. I believe that more than anything, Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey† is an exercise in the meaning of story telling through song and other aspects in â€Å"The Odyssey,† including lying and the lore, as I shall explain. Homer’s â€Å"The Odyssey,† is basically the story of the wanderings of Odysseus, but it is not in the form of a continuous narrative that this story is told. Clearly, â€Å"The Odyssey† incorporates materials that are older than the poem itself, and foremost among them in all likelihood was the tale of Odysseus’ wanderings immediately falling the Fall of Troy which is narrated by Odysseus at the banquet given in his honor by the Phaeaceans. This narration may well have constituted a separate poem or lie which was worked into a longer narrative by a later poet whom we know as Homer and his primary concern was not with the adventures of Odysseus but with his relationship with his wife and son. This later poet undoubtedly had to deal with the character of Odysseus as it was then current in folk lore - ... Free Essays on The Odyssey Homer’s The Odyssey has many different themes. Among them is Telemachos’ own journey from a child to a young man. In the book, Homer shows Telemachos’ change from a child who, lacking his father’s guidance, is not ready to rule a country to an adult who is prepared to take the crown passed down by his father. To better understand Telemachos, some general background of his life much be given. Odysseus, Telemachos’ father and the main character in The Odyssey, left for the Trojan War when his son was only an infant. The hero is gone for 20 years, and Telemachos is raised without a father. Also, while Odysseus was away undergoing the many trials that are described in The Odyssey, 108 suitors have descended upon his palace at Ithaca. Their aim is to convince Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, that her husband is dead and she must remarry. They also have wild parties every night, eat the livestock and food in the palace, and leave Odysseus’ home in disarray every night. Telemachos does not have the strength or the status to get rid of the powerful suitors. He feels that he cannot help his mother, who has promised that she will remarry once she is done weaving a burial shroud for her father-in-law. Penelope is smart, however, and she unravels her weaving every night so she is not yet forced to remarry. At this point, Athena, disguised as Mentor, wisely advises Telemachos to go in search of his father. The young man agrees, and he bravely calls the first assembly since Odysseus’ departure twenty years ago. Telemachos gives a compelling speech on why the suitors should leave his house, but it is evident that he still has a lot of maturing to do. At the end of his speech, â€Å"in hot anger [Telemachos] threw his staff to the ground, his eyes grown bright with tears.† (Book 2, line 86) When Telemachos loses control of his emotions, it is clear that he is still in many ways a child. Finally, Telemachos requests a ... Free Essays on The Odyssey An Honorable Hero? By: Ryan Volk Calvin Coolidge once said, â€Å"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.† In Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, Odysseus is a character that gives nothing, and takes everything, and yet he is still viewed as an honorable man in many people’s eyes. However, Odysseus becomes a hero by telling tales of his past voyages and the miserable endings that they possess. For instance, as Odysseus is telling the Phaiakians about his treacherous voyage to the Laestrygonian land, he makes himself appear to be heroic in his actions, because he attempted to get his men out safely However, all of Odysseus’ actions are really performed in order to benefit Odysseus’ own well-being, not the well being of his crew. The tale that he tells to the Phaiakians is primarily told in order to make them perceive Odysseus as an honorable hero and also so they will aid him in his journey home. As Odysseus begins his tale, he explains to the Phaiakians, â€Å"Six whole days we rowed, six nights, nonstop† (Homer, 233: 88). By starting his melancholy tale with this statement, Odysseus is trying to prove to the Phaiakians that he has determination and bravery. Odysseus then continues his tale by saying, â€Å"I alone anchored my black ship outside† (Homer 233: 104), and â€Å"I tied her fast to the Cliffside† (Homer 233: 106), in order to gain honorable mention from the Phaiakians. It now appears that Odysseus not only possesses determination and bravery, but strength as well. At this point, the Phaiakians are on Odysseus’ side; after all, he is an honorable man. Then Odysseus continues his story and it is evident that the sole purpose of his â€Å"bravery† is to benefit him. Odysseus is not a hero who wants to save or help others; he is only in it for himself. A hero is any person, especially a man, admired for courage, nobility, and ... Free Essays on The Odyssey In The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Robert Fagles, several themes are made evident, conceived by the nature of the time period, and customs of the Greek people. These molded and shaped the actual flow of events and outcomes of the poem. Beliefs of this characteristic were represented by the sheer reverence towards the gods and the humanities the Greek society exhibited, and are both deeply rooted within the story. In the intricate and well-developed plot of The Odyssey, Homer harmonized several subjects. One of these, was the quest of Telemachos, (titled "Telemachy") in correlation with the journey of his father. In this, he is developed from a childish, passive, and untested boy, to a young man preparing to stand by his fathers side. This is directly connected to the voyage of Odysseus, in that they both lead to the same finale, and are both stepping stones towards wisdom, manhood, and scholarship. Through these voyages certain parallels are drawn concerning Odysseus and Telemachos: the physical journeys, the mental preparations they have produced, and what their emotional status has resulted in. These all partake a immense role in the way the story is set up, stemming from the purpose of each character's journey, their personal challenges, and the difficulties that surround them. The story commences when Odysseus, a valiant hero of the Trojan war, journeys back home. Together with his courageous comrades, and a several vessels, he set sail for his homeland Ithaca. Fated to wander for a full ten years, Odysseus's ships were immediately blown to Thrace by a powerful storm. The expedition had begun. Upon this misfortune, he and his men started a raid on the land of the Cicones. However, this only provided them with temporary success. The Cicones had struck back and defeated a vast majority of Odysseus's crew. This was their first of many disastrous experiences to come. Storms then blew his ships to Libya and the la...

Consider whether the Consumer Protection Act Essays

Consider whether the Consumer Protection Act Essays Consider whether the Consumer Protection Act Essay Consider whether the Consumer Protection Act Essay See whether the Consumer Protection Act 1987 has made a important difference to patients who suffer hurts as a consequence of faulty medical merchandises. This essay will briefly see the place of patients who suffered hurts as a consequence of faulty medical merchandises prior to 1988. The piece will so see the effectivity of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and supply an analysis of the relevant instances to day of the month. Before the Consumer Protection Act 1987 was enacted, patients who were injured as a consequence of faulty medical merchandises had really limited options in footings of recovery. Where a consumer had himself bought the merchandise so he may hold been able to action in contract. This would usually be through the operation of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which implies footings that the goods must be of satisfactory quality [ 1 ] and that the goods must be moderately fit for the intent for which they are sold [ 2 ] . However, contractual redresss are of limited relevancy to consumers who suffer drug-related hurts [ 3 ] as it is unusual for a contract to be straight between the consumer and the medicine’s maker. Furthermore, where a drug is prescribed under an NHS prescription, there is no contract with either the druggist or the physician who wrote the prescription. InPfizer Corporation v Minister of Health[ 4 ] it was held that payment of the charge for prescription drugs does non amount to a sale for contractual intents. This is because there is no existent freedom to contract, the druggist is duty edge to supply the drugs if presented with a prescription and the payment of the charge, and besides because the charge does non amount to the true monetary value of the drug. The lone other possible cause of action for those injured by faulty medical merchandises before the Consumer Protection Act 1987 came into force was that of a claim in carelessness. This was ( and still is ) available where the consumer could turn out that she was owed a responsibility of attention, and that the manufacturer’s breach of that responsibility caused her hurt [ 5 ] . There are loosely three different types of defect which might be identified in a merchandise: fabrication defects ; design defects ; and, failure to give equal warnings [ 6 ] . Where the defect is a fabrication defect, it will be comparatively straight-forward to turn out that there has been a breach of responsibility as failure to guarantee that medical specialties leave the manufacturer’s premises in a province tantrum for human consumption will by and large bespeak carelessness. However, where the defect is one in design the job is more complex. As no drug can of all time be without effects, side effects can be inauspicious and unanticipated. The claimant would hold to p-rove foreseeability of hurt and that providing the merchandise was unreasonable. It will probably be really hard for the claimant to derive entree to the needed information for cogent evidence and research tests can non be expected to detect every possible side consequence in every possible consumer. A care lessness claim in these fortunes is hence debatable. Similarly, where it is alleged that a warning was faulty, a consumer will be contending against the fact that once more, no drug is wholly safe for everybody and a maker will hold acted moderately if he took sensible stairss to alarm consumers to the hazard of some side consequence. Furthermore, the claimant must besides turn out causing. This is hard because she must turn out that she would non hold taken the drug in inquiry if she had been warned of the peculiar side consequence. As hazards of side effects are by and large low, the job here is obvious. In the 1970s there was a motion in Europe towards integrating a rigorous liability government for hurts cause by faulty merchandises, in portion caused by response to high profile drug jobs such as those associated with the Thalidomide catastrophe [ 7 ] . In 1976 a bill of exchange Directive was presented by the European Commission to the Council Ministers, and in 1977 the European Convention on Products Liability in respect to Personal Injury and Death ( Strasbourg Convention ) [ 8 ] was signed. However, subsequent old ages saw a diminution in involvement for generalised reform. In the UK, the Pearson Commission did non urge no-fault compensation and instances such as Opren and blood taint were regarded as one-off catastrophes [ 9 ] After via media in footings of inclusion of a ‘development hazards defence’ , a 2nd version of the Directive was accepted. It was implemented in the UK by the Consumer Protection Act 1987. This Act was designed to do it easier for patients to action the manufacturer of a drug they believe injured them [ 10 ] . The balance of this essay will see to what extent the Consumer Protection Act has succeeded in this purpose. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 a claimant seeking compensation from the maker need merely turn out ( 1 ) that the merchandise was faulty and ( 2 ) that the defect in the merchandise caused the hurt. It is said that rigorous liability is fairer to claimants because it establishes that duty for an hurt caused by a faulty merchandise is borne by the individual making the hazard and profiting financially from the merchandise [ 11 ] . Furthermore, the maker is in the best place to exert control over the safety and quality of the merchandise and can see against hazards. The Act imposes rigorous liability on makers and, where a provider can non or will non supply inside informations of the maker, on providers besides, for faulty merchandises which cause physical hurt, or belongings harm greater than five 100 euros, though pure economic loss is non covered. Any claim under the Act, in order to be successful, must be brought within three old ages of the find of the harm or hurt, and there is a maximal clip bound of 10 old ages from when the merchandise was first put into circulation [ 12 ] . This clip bound makes it easier for makers to see against liability, but it will necessarily go forth some people uncompensated as some inauspicious reactions can take many old ages to attest themselves. As the Act applies merely to drugs put into circulation after it came into force on 1 March 1988, it could be expected that there would be comparatively few instances brought under the statute law in the first old ages, yet Lord Griffiths [ 13 ] thought that once it was no longer necessary to turn out carelessness, there would be a â€Å"significant increase† in merchandise liability judicial proceeding. Stapleton has attempted to explicate the possible grounds for the Act’s limited impact and concludes: â€Å"In my position, the most convincing account for this no-significant-impact phenomenon is merely that the new jurisprudence barely advances the place of the consumer at all†¦ Save in a few peripheral contexts, no greater liability is imposed by the Directive than already exists under the other two chief causes of action available to victims of faulty products.† [ 14 ] In order to analyze the effectivity of the Consumer Protection Act it is necessary to find what the Act applies to. Medicines and medical devices are ‘products’ for the intents of the Act, but until reasonably late, it was ill-defined whether human organic structure tissues or fluids would be covered [ 15 ] . InA 5 National Blood Authority[ 16 ] it was accepted that blood is a merchandise under the Act. It hence seems likely that gametes will be capable to the Act’s commissariats, although the position of variety meats is as yet ill-defined [ 17 ] . Possibly one of the countries from which jobs stem in the Consumer Protection Act, is the significance of ‘defective’ . Section 3 ( 1 ) of the Act provides that: â€Å"†¦ there is a defect in a product†¦ if the safety of the merchandise is non such as individuals by and large are entitled to expect.† Observers have criticised this as merely repeating the inquiry: how safe are individuals entitled to anticipate a merchandise to be? [ 18 ] Thereby organizing a round statement [ 19 ] . Section 3 ( 2 ) of the Act goes on to direct the justice to take history all relevant fortunes, including, though non entirely [ 20 ] : â€Å" ( a ) the mode in which, and the intents for which, the merchandise has been marketed, its get-up, the usage of any grade in relation to the merchandise and any instructions for, or warnings with regard to, the making of anything with or in relation to the merchandise ; ( B ) what might moderately be expected to be done with or in relation to the merchandise ; and ( degree Celsius ) the clip when the merchandise was supplied by its manufacturer to another.† The Act does non separate between fabrication, design or failure to warn defects. The definition applies easy to fabricating defects, where the merchandise is less safe than it should hold been because of a faulty production procedure, but in the instance of medicative merchandises, fabrication defects are highly rare [ 21 ] . It is more usual for claimants to aver that the design was faulty, or that they were inadequately warned about a peculiar hazard, and in both of these state of affairss, working out what degree of safety people are entitled to anticipate becomes debatable. It may be argued that consumers may neer anticipate to be injured by a particu7lar merchandise, so that any merchandise which causes in jury is faulty [ 22 ] . However, the trial is an nonsubjective one and, where medical specialties are powerful plenty to change physiological map it may be expected that they will on occasion do inauspicious reactions. Ferguson has suggested another ground why the consumer outlook trial is awkward in its application to pharmaceutical merchandises: â€Å"While one can accept that consumers may develop certain outlooks as to the safety of most consumer goods, pharmaceutical drugs and devices are in a different place since they have to go through rigorous demands, laid down by authorities organic structures, before they can be marketed. It is arguable that a consumer should non anticipate a merchandise which has satisfied the criterions imposed by such organic structures to be any safer than in fact it is† [ 23 ] In other words, if the CSM decided that the medical specialty is sufficiently safe, it would so look odd for a tribunal to make up ones mind that consumers are entitled to anticipate it to be safer. It has been suggested that before the judgement inA 5 National Blood, the tribunals appeared to bespeak that what consumers were entitled to anticipate depended upon the rationality of the defendant’s behavior, and that this in bend â€Å"looks really like an appraisal of whether the suspect was negligent† [ 24 ] . InWorsley V Tambrands Ltd[ 25 ] the claimant suffered toxic daze syndrome which she alleged was caused by a tampon manufactured by the suspect. The claimant had read the cusp included with the box of tampons but her hubby had so thrown it off before she became sick, and as a consequence the claimant did non instantly acknowledge the symptoms and she became unwell. Once she had recovered she alleged that the maker of the tampons had negligently failed to warn her of the hazards of toxic daze syndrome and that the merchandise was faulty under the Consumer Protection Act due to the unequal warnings. The Court rejected the entry that the warnings were unequal and found that the maker had taken the stairss a consumer was entitled to anticipate by ( 1 ) seting a clearly legible warning on the exterior of the box which directed the user to the information cusp and ( 2 ) supplying a clear and unambiguous warning about symptoms and necessary action on the cusp. Similarly, inRichardsonV LRC Products Ltd[ 26 ] the claimant became pregnant when the rubber her hubby used fractured during intercourse. The claimant alleged that the rubber was faulty because it failed. There was conflicting adept grounds in the instance as to when oxidation of the rubber cloth had occurred, with the claimant contending that it was during industry and the suspect reasoning that it was after the break had occurred, whilst being stored in a bathroom closet. The Court decided that although users did non anticipate rubbers to neglect, individuals by and large could non anticipate any method of contraceptive method to be 100 per cent effectual. It was held that the rubbers in inquiry were manufactured to a more demanding criterion than the relevant British Standard. Yet once more, this appears to be taking into history the reasonableess of the defendant’s behavior when proving the merchandise. As Jackson concludes [ 27 ] : â€Å"But if the degree of safety peopl e are entitled to anticipate can non be measured without mention to therationalityof the defendant’s behavior, ‘strict liability’ may be identical from negligence† . Furthermore, inFoster V Biosil[ 28 ] the claimant had undergone chest implants after a bilateral mastectomy. She brought proceedings under the Consumer Protection Act avering that the implants were faulty as the left implant had ruptured. The suspect alleged that the rupture was caused by the sawbones ‘nicking’ it on nidation but the justice rejected this. It was held that the claimant was obliged to turn out the fact of the defect and besides the cause of it, thereby turn outing that the maker had non taken sensible attention. However, this line of instances was interrupted byA 5 National Blood Authority[ 29 ] mentioned supra. This instance has been described as â€Å"by far the most of import instance yet to construe the Consumer Protection Act 1987† [ 30 ] It concerned claims by patients infected with hepatitis C from blood and blood merchandises through blood transfusions after 1 March 1988. The suspects conceded that blood fell within the definition of merchandises for the Consumer Protection Act 1987. It was decided by the tribunal that the commissariats of the Act must be interpreted in visible radiation of the European Product Liability Directive, and that where there were any evident incompatibilities, the Directive should be preferred [ 31 ] . It was the Court’s sentiment that, in finding whether the contaminated blood was faulty, the inquiry was what the legitimate outlooks of the populace were in relation to the merchandise. Peoples expected blood to be clean, and whether the relevant defect was evitable or non was non the issue. The suspects argued that the populace could merely anticipate that they would hold done what was possible to test the blood and avoid the taint, but this was non followed. The Court adopted a differentiation between standard merchandises, which are as the manufacturer intended them to be, and non-standard merchandises which differ. Where a non-standard merchandise is in issue, the populace at big should non be taken as knowing that the merchandise is inescapably insecure. InA 5 National Blood Authoritythe suspects besides attempted to raise the ‘development risks’ defense mechanism contained in subdivision 4 ( 1 ) ( vitamin E ) of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which provides â€Å"†¦ the province of scientific and proficient cognition was non such that a manufacturer of merchandise of the same description as the merchandise in inquiry might be expected to hold discovered the defect† . The Court went back to the Directive and held that as the hazard was known it did non count that testing processs had non at the clip been developed. This determination hence sum to doing the defense mechanism one of the defect being unascertainable. Equally far as standard merchandises are concerned, the opinion inA 5 National Blood Authorityhas non had an impact, and the old line of instances continues. InPiper V JRI ( Manufacturing ) Ltd[ 32 ] a hip replacing which fractured after 18 months was accepted as faulty. The maker argued that the hip must hold been damaged on nidation, and hence that the defect did non be at the clip it was put into circulation. The adept grounds was extremely conflicting and the Court did non prefer either side. However, the Court decided that the defect would had to be missed by a figure of persons if it were present at the clip it was put into circulation. So, although the instance did non turn straight on the diction of the Act it â€Å"adds to a losing tally for claimants in instances in which the debut of no-fault liability has failed to capture the enthusiasm of the bench† [ 33 ] . It has been argued that a risk/benefit attack may run more efficaciously in instances refering medical merchandises than the consumer outlook trial presently in operation [ 34 ] . Goldberg [ 35 ] provinces that â€Å"there is an built-in logic in turn toing the jobs of faulty medicative merchandises by weighing the hazards against the awaited benefits and against the ‘costs’ of non utilizing the product†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . Furthermore, before the judgement inA 5 National Blood AuthorityGrubb and Pearl [ 36 ] wrote that the public-service corporation of blood, coupled with the absence of any less unsafe option, were likely to take a tribunal to reason that blood is non faulty and that hence rigorous liability would non be applied. In decision, the Consumer Protection Act 1987 has non resulted in the significantly higher degrees of judicial proceeding expected. This may in portion be because the significance of defect has been ill-defined and possible claimants have been put off by the instances decided. However, since the determination inA 5 National Blood Authoritynon-standard merchandises, at least, are genuinely considered on a rigorous liability consumer outlook footing. This is despite old concerns that the Consumer Protection Act was being interpreted as offering no more to claimants than an ordinary carelessness claim. Yet, it is possibly non the instance that claimants are non being served by the Consumer Protection Act as it is unknown how many instances are now settling because of it that antecedently would hold gone to test, conveying all the emphasis to claimants that that entails. Bibliography M Brazier A ; E CaveMedicine, Patients and the Law( 4ThursdayEdn, Penguin, London 2007 ) E Deards A ; C Twigg-Flesner, ‘The Consumer Protection Act 1987: cogent evidence at last that it is protecting consumers’ ( 2001 ) 10 ( 2 )NottinghamLaw Journal1 WCH Ervine, ‘Satisfactory Quality: What does it Mean? ’ ( 2004 )Journal of Business Law684. P Ferguson,Drug Injuries and the Pursuit of Compensation( Sweet A ; Maxwell, London 1996 ) R Goldberg, ‘Paying for Bad Blood: Rigorous Product Liability after the Hepatitis C Litigation’ ( 2002 ) 10Medical Law Reappraisal165 Lord Griffiths, P De Val A ; RJ Dormer, ‘Developments in English Product Liability Law: A Comparison with the American System’ ( 1988 ) 62Tulane Law Review353 A Grubb A ; D Pearl,Blood Testing, AIDS and DNA Profiling( Jordan and Sons, Bristol 1990 ) J HerringMedical Law and Ethical motives( 2neodymiumEdn, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2008 ) E Jackson,Medical Law: Text, Cases, and Materials( Oxford University Press, Oxford 2006 ) M Mildred, ‘Pitfalls in merchandise liability’ ( 2007 )Journal of Personal Injury Law, 141 P Shears ‘The EU Product Liability Directive – twenty old ages on’ ( 2007 )Journal of Business Law884 J StapletonMerchandise Liability( Butterworths, London 1994 ) J Stapleton, ‘Products Liability in the United Kingdom: The Myths of Reform’ ( 1999 ) 34TexasInternational Law Journal45 H Teff A ; C MunroThalidomide: The Legal Aftermath( Farnborough, Saxon House 1976 C Twigg-Flesner, ‘The Relationship Between Satisfactory Quality and Fitness for Purpose’ ( 2004 ) 63CambridgeLaw Journal22 Table of Cases A 5 National Blood Authority[ 2001 ] 3 All ER 289 Donoghue V Stevenson[ 1932 ] AC 562 Foster V Biosil( 2000 ) 59 MBLR 178 Pfizer Corporation v Minister of Health[ 1965 ] 2 WLR 387 Piper V JRI ( Manufacturing ) Ltd[ 2006 ] EWCA Civ 1344 Richardson V LRC Products Ltd[ 2000 ] PIQR P164 Worsely 5 Tambrands Ltd[ 2000 ] PIQR P95 1

Discover Study Habits That Support Your Learning Style

Discover Study Habits That Support Your Learning Style All students learn through a combination of seeing, hearing, and experiencing. However, for most students, one learning style stands out. Research has shown that students who study in a way that supports their learning style can perform better on tests and  improve their grades. For example, visual learners sometimes struggle during essay exams because they cant recall test material that was presented orally during class. However, if the visual learner uses a visual aid when studying, like a colorful outline of test materials, he or she may retain more information. Read on to discover the characteristics of and ideal learning strategies for each learning style. Visual Learner Characteristics Visual learners are those who learn through seeing. Visual learners typically share the following characteristics: Good at spelling, but forgets first namesFind quiet study time beneficialEnjoy colors and fashionDream in colorUnderstand visual elements and chartsAble to learn sign language easily Learning Suggestions for Visual Learners Draw a map of events in history or draw scientific process.Make outlines of reading assignments.Copy whats on the board.Diagram sentences.Use flashcards.Take notes and make lists.Watch videos.Mark up your notes with highlighters, underlines, and color coding. Test Types for Visual Learners Best test type: Diagram activities, map reading, essay tests, demonstrating a process.Worst test type: Listening tests Auditory Learner Characteristics Auditory learners are those who learn best through hearing. They typically share the following characteristics: Like to read out loudUnafraid to speak up in classGood at giving explanations and oral reportsRemember namesNotice sound effects in moviesEnjoy musicAble to follow spoken directionsStruggle to stay quiet for long periods of timeFocused in study groups Learning Suggestions for Auditory Learners Use word association to remember factsRecord lecturesWatch videosRepeat facts with eyes closedParticipate in group discussionsUse audio for language practiceRead your notes out loud after writing them Test Types for Auditory Learners Best test type: Oral exams and writing responses to lectures.Worst test type: Reading passages and writing answers in a timed test. Kinesthetic Learner Characteristics Kinesthetic learners are those who learn through hands-on experience. Kinesthetic learners typically share the following characteristics: Good at sportsCant sit still for longMay have sloppy handwriting.Learn well through lab and modeling activitiesStudy with loud musicEnjoy adventure books and moviesFidgety during lectures Learning Suggestions for Kinesthetic Learners Study in short blocksTake lab-based classesAct out your study notesTake field trips to reinforce knowledgeStudy in groupsUse flashcards and memory games Test Types for Auditory Learners Best test type: Short definitions, fill-in-the-blank questions, and multiple choice.Worst test type: Essay tests and any overly long tests.

Employment Law uk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Employment Law uk - Essay Example Besides, the fact that Bruce is a friend motivated Cathy to dismiss Abe without carrying out a fair investigation based on the assumption that Bruce has worked for the company for a long time hence he cannot be the guilty one. Therefore, Cathy has a burden to prove the allegation made against Abe. Distrust of a possible misconduct on crime is an instance where the employer has the burden to provide indisputable evidence that an employee is guilty even if the conduct violates the disciplinary code. In John Lewis v Coyne4, the manner in which the store handled the disciplinary issues was placed under scrutiny by the EAT over the concerns of Coyne using the corporation telephone. It is after investigation has been conducted that Abe has been found not guilty while Bruce was the actual culprit. Therefore, Abe has a right to reinstatement, re-engagement or even compensation5. Compensation to Abe comprises of a basic award because this was a mistaken identity, which led to unfair dismissal Cathy might be ordered to pay Abe up to  £76,700. Moreover, if Abe decides to add allegation of a breach of contract, Cathy might be ordered to pay an extra  £25,000, which takes the probable compensation way up to  £101,700. In addition, since Cathy dismissed Abe unfairly it is possible for Abe to file a claim for loss in earnings and damage to image (defamation). In Addis v, Gramophone Co Ltd6 Mr Addis was unfairly and harshly discharged from his position as the manager of the defendant in Calcutta. During trial, he was given damages that exceeded the actual figure of his salary for the period he was given a notice as stipulated by law. The case in general was considered as having been ruled that the employee had no ability to be compensated for damages in connection to the manner in which the unfair discharge of duties occurred, for ruined image and feelings or for loss he may experience from the truth that by having been dismissed, it makes it hard for him to get

Comprehensive Designer Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comprehensive Designer - Article Example A comprehensive designer, according to my belief has to be a designer by profession. This is necessary since involvement in various designing tasks needs to be principally based on the fundamentals of the profession such as stability and safety. In addition to having the credentials in the designing field, they should be able to handle or propose solutions to any design problem. In addition to solving the problem via scientific means, the proposed solutions should be economically viable, which means that solutions should be arrived at with regard to the available skill, material, space and durability. Although the designer may not be specialized to a given field, he or she should have some knowledge that can be passed to the nonprofessionals or students of the career. The comprehensive designer should thus be capable of applying scientific, mathematical, physical, economic, social and practical experience towards solving a problem in the discipline, regardless of the time span the solution is expected to serve (Faste, 2001). It is the designer’s responsibility to link the conceptual and physical worlds, and comprehensiveness is brought about by ensuring the resultant idea is wholesome and in accord with the criterion

Employment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 3

Employment Law - Essay Example By enacting the ERA, the government deemed employers should be able to negotiate provisions with workers that allow them to meet the needs of their customers. Businesses need to be able to adjust to changes.   The ERA structure is intended to aid employers by allowing different types of employment relationships that suit the needs of employers.   Enacting this flexibility should enable businesses to become more competitive in national and international markets.   At the same time, according to the Department of Trade, the Act should translate to a variety of working arrangements enabling more people to participate in work suitable to their individual circumstances2.By virtue of the ERA, employees have several rights not enjoyed by atypical workers.   These include the ability to take leave for a wide variety of personal reasons, guaranteed wage payments, the right to protection of wages in the event of an employer’s insolvency, to seek representation, and to receive a written statement of dismissal among many others benefits.   Temporary workers may be regarded as employees under certain conditions and thus qualified for provisions contained within the ERA.   Employers fill long term assignments through employment agencies.   When a worker employs through an agency for one company for more than a year, the question has arisen whether the worker is considered an employee and if so, who is the employer, the agency or the company (end-user)? These workers, under contract with a hiring agency, may be considered independent contractors.

WK5-Critque Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

WK5-Critque - Essay Example Most of these articrafts were collected and donated by the curator and founder, Dr. David Pilgrim. The Jim Crow museum also owns a website link that serves as a valuable educational resource for research scholars at national as well as international levels. The website is very simple in layout and design. With a bold title description at the top, the format of the articles presents a clear and readable font size with a number of pictorial illustrations. There is no link, advertisement or content pasted on both sides of the article to avoid reader’s distraction. However, one has to move back to the main menu page for navigating to another article or resource. The information is well structured with bullets, numbering and headings for clarity. One of the most notable merits of the presented information is the acknowledgement of the sources in-text as well as at the end of the articles. The sources used are mostly from the scholarly journals and accredited books supporting the au thenticity of the information. Apart from several merits, the update information is not mentioned anywhere for the website or individual resources. The sources for the incorporated images are also not mentioned that makes it difficult for research scholars to track unbiased opinion. However, undoubtedly, the website is serving as a good learning and teaching resource.

Marketing is a market dynamic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing is a market dynamic - Essay Example Keeping an eye on the individual objectives, today the entire philosophy of business has changed. What is followed is not the selling concept but the marketing concept. Once a product is marketed properly, sales automatically happen. Hence all efforts are to market the product. Marketing requires understanding the consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions. The marketing concept seeks on focusing what the consumer wants, even if it means coming out with new products. The study of Consumer Behaviour is defined by Schiffman & Kanuk (Liesel Schwerdtfeger) as the study of how individuals make decisions to spend their available resources (time, money, effort) on consumption related items (what they buy, why they buy, when they buy, where they buy, how often they buy and use a product or service). Study of consumer behaviour has become the rule of the day. This is a very important aspect of marketing and all decisions depend upon this study. A study of consumer psychology helps firms to understand how consumers react. It gives an idea of how the consumer thinks, feels, reasons and selects between different alternatives available in the market, how the consumer is influenced by the society, culture and the media. Different products have a different level of significance for different consumers and hence the motivation for each differs. Knowledge of these helps the firm to understand the needs, wants of the consumer, and adapt marketing strategy accordingly.

How the existence of cheat codes could hurt Johnsons argument about Case Study

How the existence of cheat codes could hurt Johnsons argument about video games - Case Study Example Some of these regions are in dire need of security and other resources that are basic for human existence like food, shelter and clothing. The UN is has presence in most parts of the world with different organizations, within it, having key roles to play in promoting people’s wellbeing and improving security. Though the initial charter does not state that the UN should participate in peace keeping, the organization has been influential in keeping peace, for example, in Eastern Europe and Africa. As such, the UN participates in prevention of recurring wars and any spread of warfare to other areas. Therefore, the United States should take the UN as an asset that enhances development and sustainably. The UN has been influential in promoting peace, sustainability and development in many regions which are vital in the economic and political development of the US and the whole world. The most notable peace keeping missions in which the UN was heavily involved are centered in the Mid dle East. There has been a recurrent eruption of war in the Middle East, which has affected the world’s economy. Many countries in the world are affected by these war eruptions, which is a disadvantage to the development of many economic regions. The Middle East is known to have massive oil deposits. It is explicitly reflected that the management of world’s oil deposits is vital to the world economy. As such, any detrimental effects in these nations will affect the world oil prices and thus increase the cost of production the world over. When there instability in this region the first effect is always reduced oil production followed by increased oil prices. The countries in the Middle East are likely to record unfavorable balance of trade as their exports reduce during war or instability. This is an issue that directly affects the US as it is the single-most largest consumer of oil and related products. Were it not for the UN, the Middle East case would have been much worse than it is today. Similarly, diminished trade between the US and the Middle East countries has a direct impact on the economy of the US. If the wars in the Middle East are to continue for the next decade, the economy of the US will be worst affected. Therefore, the indulgence of the UN should be considered an asset as it strengthens the peaceful coexistence in the region. If these indulgences started after the WWI, there would be peace in this region. The activities of the UN should be enhanced to make the organization have increased positive influence worldwide. In addition to this, the UN has been influential in helping Cyprus. This nation has been adversely affected and the UN has stepped in to solve the situation. 6. Evaluation of the United Nations in the Middle East In the recent times, Syria has experienced unrest which led to the displacement of over 350, 000 refugees. As per the year 2012, Iraq recorded the highest number of refugees coming from the country, others ge tting into the country and many others displaced internally. According to statistics, the number of refugees from Iraq was recorded at 1.4 million while internally displaced persons were recorded at 1.3 million. This is a large number of people that need protection and other humanitarian assistance. The UN has since established its mission in the area to help these persons. According to the UN strategy in 2013, the organization is hosting 148, 000 refugees which are particularly from Syria. The r4ecent financial report states that the UN has used a total of 453,386, 000 USD. The UN has been effective in maintaining peace in the Middle East from its ongoing peace missions. The Middle East is

Marketing is a market dynamic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing is a market dynamic - Essay Example Keeping an eye on the individual objectives, today the entire philosophy of business has changed. What is followed is not the selling concept but the marketing concept. Once a product is marketed properly, sales automatically happen. Hence all efforts are to market the product. Marketing requires understanding the consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions. The marketing concept seeks on focusing what the consumer wants, even if it means coming out with new products. The study of Consumer Behaviour is defined by Schiffman & Kanuk (Liesel Schwerdtfeger) as the study of how individuals make decisions to spend their available resources (time, money, effort) on consumption related items (what they buy, why they buy, when they buy, where they buy, how often they buy and use a product or service). Study of consumer behaviour has become the rule of the day. This is a very important aspect of marketing and all decisions depend upon this study. A study of consumer psychology helps firms to understand how consumers react. It gives an idea of how the consumer thinks, feels, reasons and selects between different alternatives available in the market, how the consumer is influenced by the society, culture and the media. Different products have a different level of significance for different consumers and hence the motivation for each differs. Knowledge of these helps the firm to understand the needs, wants of the consumer, and adapt marketing strategy accordingly.

Energy Drink Essay Example for Free

Energy Drink Essay Since the mid-2000s, demands in the global beverage industry shift from carbonated soft drink to alternative beverages. Because of this market grows rapidly and gives high profit margins, it make changes in beverage manufacturing and encourage new entrant to focus solely on alternative beverages. Alternative beverages segment is comprised of energy drinks, sports drink, and flavored or enhanced water. Each segment has different consumer types and different distribution channel. In developed countries, such as USA, this carbonated soft drink market has reached a mature stage but energy drink and ready-to-drink tea is still inclined. However, beverage industry is steady growth in developing countries. Alternative beverages competed on the basis of differentiation from traditional drinks such as carbonated soft drinks or fruit juices. All energy drink brands attempted to develop brand loyalty based on taste, the energy-boosting properties of their ingredients, and image. The strongest competitive force is buyer because buyer costs to switch brands are low. Consumers will be more prices sensitive and will switch to other product or even other segment. The weakness competitive force is rivalry because of many sellers in this market and diversity in commodities. The high profit margins will make alternative beverage market attract entrants that are more new, also supported by rising demand for the alternative beverage. Energy drinks pricing is 400% higher than carbonated soft drinks. In addition, to create an alternative beverage business needs medium-high capital investment. The market of global beverage industry is projected to grow from $1. 58 trillion in 2009 and forecasted to grow to nearly $1. 78 trillion in 2014 as beverage producers entered new geographic markets, developed new types of beverages, and continued to create demand for popular drinks. It is expect to result from steady growth in the purchasing power of consumers in developing countries. In addition, alternative beverages tended to carry high price points, which made them attractive to both new entrants and established beverage companies. Sport drinks and vitamin-enhanced beverages tended to carry retail prices that were 50 to 75% higher than similar-size carbonated soft drinks and bottled water, while energy drink pricing by volume might be as much as 400% higher than carbonated soft drinks. While the alternative beverage segment of the industry offered opportunities for bottlers, the poor economy had decreased demand for higher-priced beverages, with sales of sports drinks declining by 12. 3%. The Alternative beverages consumer profile varied substantially across the three types of beverages. Then energy drink consumer was a teenage boy, sports drink consumer were purchased by those who engaged in sports, fitness or other strenuous activities. Vitamin-enhanced beverages could substitute for sports drinks but were frequently purchased by adult consumers in increasing their intakes of vitamins. The best position strategic group map is reasonable price and reasonable quality. The worst position is the low price and quality. Now people think about health more than in the past, and they still worry about economic crisis. The alternative beverage chose set strategic group map with answer key we are alternative. We found that key factors, which determine the success of alternative beverage producers,have many factors. First, is Productinnovation, Product Innovation can be done by customizing product ingredient, flavor, packaging, or the benefit that product offer to consumer. Second, Focus in one segment can be the best strategy like Red Bull. Their focus in energy drink segment make them became the market leader in energy drink. Third, there are many type of channel distributor, like supermarkets, natural foods store, wholesale clubs, convenience store, and restaurant. The company’schoose is depends on the company resource. Example PepsiCo and Coca Cola were dominating convenience store and special event channel. However, for company with limited resource use third parties channel distribution will has lowest cost in transportation and labor. Fourth, use the right supplier can reduce production cost. The last one is Brand image, the right promotions that really connect with the product image will make the brand and product can penetrate the market.

How culture has influenced accounting

How culture has influenced accounting Many studies have demonstrated that culture diversity had influenced accounting practice within national and international borders. Accounting can therefore be said to have been influenced by its environment, which includes the culture of the country in which it is being operated (Nobes Parker, 2008) Mueller et al. (1994), cited in Alexander.et al, also stipulate that each accounting system is a product of its specific culture and environment, and that different patterns of accounting are associated with a range of cultural factors such as societal values, religion, political systems and historical values. It is however no thought that those countries with same or similar cultural values or background are practicing accounting similarly. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the extent to which these cultural values influence the practice of accounting and how the understanding of the role of culture in accounting can help us understand international accounting standards. The work of Hofstedes cultural value differences and Grays accounting values will be the major focal point of this paper. The relationship that exists between cultural values, accounting values and financial reporting will be examined as well. DIFFERENCES IN CULTURAL VALUES Culture is a way of life of a group of people, which includes the behaviours, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next. The position that the ideas, meanings, beliefs and values people learn as members of society determine human nature. To support this definition, Hofstede, one of the greatest researchers of culture differences, defined culture as the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes members of one human group from another,( cited in Nobes parker 2008. p 25) For the purpose of comparability, this paper will base its analysis on Hofstedes work on cultural value difference and grays work on accounting values to see their impact on accounting practice and reporting. (Hofstede, 1984 p. 83, 84) defined and summarized four Cultural dimensions as, individualism and Collectivism, Large versus small power distance, Strong versus weak uncertainty avoidance, masculinity versus femininity. He also stipulates that there exist specific relationship in these cultural dimensions. Individualism versus collectivism is how in a society one group will prefer a much closed family system while the other group prefer belonging to an expanded family system. This cultural dimension looks at how society handles interdependence among individuals. The second cultural dimension, large versus small power distance seeks to divide a society between those few powerful groups of people who prefer power to be distributed unequally through institutions and organizations and those who feel that power should be distributed equally. This dimension addressed how a society handles inequalities amongst a people when they occur. The third cultural dimension by Hofstede, is the strong versus weak uncertainty avoidance which is, the extent to which members of a society feel uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity .This feelings leads them to believing in promising certainty and to maintain institutions protecting conformity. He explained that a society with strong uncertainty avoidance maintained rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant of deviant people and ideas. The weak uncertainty maintain a more relaxed atmosphere in which practice counts more than principles and deviance is more tolerated. Masculinity and femininity, which is the last but not the least of the four cultural dimensions, describes masculinity as the preference, in a Society for achievements, heroism, assertiveness, and material success. Femininity on the other hand was said to represent a society where preference for relationships, modesty, caring for the weak and the quality of life is high. ACCOUNTING VALUES AND CULTURAL VALUES It is based on these Hofstedes classification of cultural dimensional differences that Gray (1988) also proposed a connection between those cultural dimensions and accounting values by specifically identifying four accounting values which includes; professionalism(implies self-regulation by the accounting profession itself) versus statutory (implies control by the government), uniformity (adherence to consistency and detailed regulations) versus flexibility (implies able to amend or adjust to suite a situation), conservatism (implies the tendency to under state profit and assets) versus optimism and secrecy (implies a preference for confidentiality) versus transparency ( implies disclosure of true state of affairs). The first two relates to authority and enforcement of accounting practice at a country level while the second two relates to the measurement and disclosure of accounting information at a country level as (cited in Nobes and Parker, 2008). Grays accounting values and Hofstedes cultural difference can be group into two categories. This paper will like to refer to these two groups as the collectivism category and the individualism category. The individualism category is made up of Professionalism, flexibility, transparency, optimism, individualism, small power distance, weak uncertainty avoidance and femininity. This category has the characteristic of self-reliance or self-interest and therefore in a society where individualism, small power distance, weak uncertainty and femininity dominate, accounting practice and financial reporting is likely to be professional, flexible, transparent and optimistic. Secondly the individuals quest for information to make decision on investments to satisfy his/her personal needs will prefer detailed report of a financial statement. This paper will like to associate this category to that of a capitalist society where the accounting regulations are not part of the common law but rather are in the hands of professional organisations of the private sector as stipulated in Alexander et al. (2009 p. 28). For instance in the UK, accounting laws and regulations are control by professional bodies such as the ACCA, CA, CIMA, and IASB. It can again be said that countries that practice the common law are also likely to practice accounting the same way. They are considered to be capitalism countries since they raises funds from the capital. They include, United Kingdom, Ireland Canada, Australia and the United States of America The second category of Hofstede cultural value difference and that of grays accounting values The collectivism category is made up of collectivism, large power distance, strong uncertainty avoidance masculinity and grays accounting values of statutory control, uniformity, conservatism and secrecy. This category has the characteristics of being control from a common source or being centrally planned. Countries or societies found to be dominant with these cultural and accounting values are more likely to practice accounting in the same way. The practice of accounting in this society or country is control by statutory institutions with detailed rules and regulations. The practice of accounting and reporting in these societies or countries will be geared towards the dictates of those in powers or in control. No detailed accounting is required and secrecy and conservatism dominates in the financial reporting (Kosmala-Maclullich, 2003). Here again this paper will associate this category of a society or a country to that of a socialist country where accounting laws and regulations are enshrine in the coded laws of the country. Governments in these countries use financial reports for their own purpose. The Democratic Republic of Germany adopted the Soviet Unions socialist ideologies after the Second World War. This adaptation included a methodological guidance in designing accounting information systems (Berry, 1982: 1890). Bailey (1990) also stipulates that the Marxism Theoreticians view the western-style accounting as an instrument for the exploitation of workers by the capitalists, accounting and financial reporting was therefore geared towards the dictates of those in authority. Young and David (1999) argued that Accounting activities at the enterprise level were focused exclusively on the preparation of reports required by the planning bureaucracy, and during this period, accounting was only seen as a primary source of information for the provision of financial statistics for the use in the preparation of budget; it was therefore a list of quantities instead of values. Accounting was more or less reduced to a clerical job; there was no professionalism in the practice. Judgemen t of reports (true and fair) was not entertained; standardisation was non-existence and so was the concept of profit, in short accounting standards and procedures were not in existence. Accounting in China Another country worth looking at is china which has a long history of cultural value which is characterise with collectivism, high in power distance, strong uncertainty avoidance and femininity. The Chinese will not mind sacrificing himself for the good collectivism or country (Yao F. 2007). The practice of accounting and reporting is control by the state under the auspices of the ministry of finance and the aim of this control is to gear the practice towards the general benefit of the planned economy. The user of accounting information is mainly the government, because most enterprises in china are owed by the state. The few individual who try to do some investments do not know much about accounting and finance. (Yao F. 2007). Although the state had accounting standards for Business Enterprises, they were just mere basic rules which were issued in conjunction with basic standards, as argued by Lin et al. (2001). There where however restrictions on some important accounting principles such as making provision for bad debts and obsolete inventories, recognition of impairments of assets, disclosure of financial information and many more. Secrecy and conservatism was dominant in financial reporting. Professionalism, transparency and flexibility were non-existence. Accountin g profession was reduced to a very low status. The dynamics of cultural values brought about a change in financial reporting by these countries with strong cultural values. As a result of the world becoming a small village and the growing of Multinational companies across the world, there is the need for comparability of financial Reports since its purpose is to help investors make informed and sound decisions. Based on the fact that the world is becoming a small place and countries need each other for their survival, most of the socialists countries like the East Germany, Portugal, Poland, Italy, and France have all adopted the capitalism system of financial reporting. The Chinese government, also have realise the need for adopting the international financial reporting standard (IFRS) which is being champion by the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB), but yet it only talked about the convergence of the accounting standard and not a totally acceptance. (Yao F. 2001) Conclusion It is quite obvious that cultural values have influenced the practice and reporting of accounting and countries with similar cultural values practicing accounting similarly. With the world becoming a global village and the fast cultural changes across the world, the need for harmonization and convergence of accounting standards was given a serious consideration by centrally planned countries, but a country like China, although have made efforts to embrace international financial reporting system, is still holding on to some of its cultural accounting practices. This is an indication that so far as cultural values remain different, accounting practice will be affected and the only way out is the harmonization and convergence of accounting standards.