Platos Allegory of the Cave - Its Importance in Todays...

Platos Allegory of the Cave - Its Importance in Todays World Our society so values education that sociologists have recognized the problem of over-education (Hadjicostandi). Many people are spending years pursuing degrees which they simply do not need for the jobs they perform. It is therefore prudent for students to question whether pursuing a liberal education is really as important as our society believes. What is the point of a college education? Does it have any purpose beyond its material benefits. Are these benefits worth their cost? These are important questions that need answering. In the end, we may see that there is far more to this debate than simple accounting. Perhaps what makes education worth pursuing is that it†¦show more content†¦Their captivity would distort their view of reality. Plato further asks what would happen if some of these prisoners were suddenly released and led from the cave. They would become wise to the ways of the world and with time would be able to contemplate [the sun] as he is (251). They would realize that everything they had formerly loved was either a lie or insignificant, and they would realize just how little they knew during their imprisonment. In the allegory, the sun represents truth, we are the prisoners, and the prison of the cave is all that we can perceive (Plato, 252). Plato says that so long as we are enthralled by what we can see and taste and touch, we will never be able to even consider abstract ideas like justice and love. If, however, we shake the bonds which our senses have placed upon us, we can arrive at a higher stage of enlightenment than we could have imagined possible during our imprisonment (Platos Allegory of the Cave). We should, at this point, pause to define some terms. Plato talks much about enlightenment, but what is this? It can be defined as the state in which an individual comprehends the truth about a particular subject. Whether or not one agrees with Plato that human beings possess the knowledge of all truth prior to birth, one must agree that by the time children reach the age at whichShow MoreRelatedThe Golden Age Of Greek Philosophy947 Words   |  4 PagesHumanism what does it mean in today’s society? Its simply a system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems. The Golden Age of Greek philosophy is the antecedents of humanism. It is nothing like todays humanism but has the same characteristics. Society’s in the Greek world had become increasinglyRead MoreThe Impor tance Of Education In Education1841 Words   |  8 Pagesidea that with education comes freedom. But at times, the universal American K-12 education doesn’t grant these forms of freedom for its Black and Brown students. This is primarily due to the fact that minority students are not being taught the importance of education in the pursuit of intellectual, economic, and professional freedom. Black students, especially in low-income communities, are still struggling to develop the skills necessary to succeed in society. The education system needs to better

Leadership And Leadership Of Public Administration

Leadership in public administration is the art of inspiring others to do the right thing, at the right time, for the benefit of the whole. The very word â€Å"leader† implies there is someone present with potential to follow and a direction to move. The four articles referenced tie closely to our course text through examination of several leadership theories, then turning primary focus to qualities inherent to successful leadership. This paper will focus on transformational leadership theory. We will highlight the elements necessary for public agency leader to move their organization forward on its mission toward excellent service while maximizing positive motivation for their employees. Along the way, we’ll conclude many of the elements are already in our toolbox, we just may need to employ them in a different context to ensure successful leadership. First, we’ll define transformational leadership in public organizations as the art of engaging and motivating subordinates, to change the internal culture from a self-interested individual goals approach to a framework of public service oriented values (Paarlberg, 2010, pp. 711). Although often used interchangeably, it is imperative to note leadership and management are not true similes. Management universally includes delegated, formal power by position- thus requiring submission of someone lower in organizational hierarchy. Whereas leadership can incorporate formal aspects or power; its success remains far more dependentShow MoreRelatedPersonal Philosophy Of Public Administration And Public Leadership1568 Words   |  7 PagesI. Personal Philosophy of Public Administration and Public Leadership In order to effectively lead and manage in the public sector, an individual must have an understanding of the public sector, in comparison to the private sector. The public sector is very complex. Unlike the private sector, whose motive is to make a profit in order to ensure its success, the public sector does not have such criteria. Instead, the public sector relies on a variety of success criteria (Stevenson, 2013). This isRead MoreThe Impact Of Leadership Style And Organizational Environment On Public Administration Essay1400 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effect of Leadership Style and Organizational Environment on Public Administration This paper analyzes the evolution of the field of public administration based on nine theorists’ perspectives on leadership style and organizational structure. It has three parts. The first part compares the nine theorists’ ideas using an organizational framework with special attention to the type of leadership and the environment of the organization. The second part discusses a comprehensive definition of theRead MoreIn General, The External Or Internal Controls Are Critical840 Words   |  4 PagesIn general, the external or internal controls are critical issues in public administration. The goal of public administration s to provide high quality of services to the public. External responsibility refers to the rules that affect the activities for the agency. Certainly, internal control is critical in public administration. Usually, internal control purpose is to develop activities that benefit the community; in fact, managers concern with individual’s self-gr ow and life improvement. Administrators’Read MoreLeadership Between Public Health And Local Levels1009 Words   |  5 PagesLeadership in public health splits into three main levels: federal, state and local. The federal level being the highest, has the governing power over the state and local levels. Leadership on the federal level comprises of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Spearheaded by the federal government, public health policies decision making, programs and projects funding flows down to the states and local levels. The variations that exist among the three levels of public health leadership are characterizedRead MoreLeadership Behavior From An Administrator Essay1379 Words   |  6 Pageswords, public administration means looking after the citizens or managing their affairs. Public administration is a system that guides a citizen to achieve their goals in a proper way which increases public value, without decreasing an individual’s value. The wor ks related to public administration need proper leadership behavior from an administrator. Public sectors maintain an upward form of hierarchy, so the command authority is needed from the leader to ensure efficiency of the public organizationRead MoreSpiratuality in Public Administration1402 Words   |  6 PagesSpirituality and Public Administration ShaTara T. Ambler Columbia Southern University Public Administration Ethics 22 January 2016 Abstract When in the workplace there are a few things that people try not to discuss and religion or spirituality is one of those. It is often a touchy subject because of differing beliefs and opinions. Does spirituality help or hinder productivity in the workplace? Will someone that is spiritual be a better leader than someone who is not? I will exploreRead MoreLeadership Style and Crisis Management1175 Words   |  5 PagesA., P.‘t Hart., A. McConell and T. Preston. (2010). Leadership style, crisis response and blame management: The case of hurricane Katrina. The Journal of Public Administration, 88(3), 706-725 In this paper I have summarized the article and offer comments on where additional research would assist in further understanding of the issue. The authors of this article used retrospective review which uses existing data and researches. Leadership style and crisis management have always been the mainRead MoreComparing Leadership Styles: Eisenhower and Kennedy908 Words   |  4 Pagesthat presidential leadership would necessarily have to transform yet again to meet a new era; nowhere could two different styles of leadership to meet the age be seen than in the Cold War administrations of Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. Both men would exhibit a unique style of leadership suited to the personality of each, and each style could be considered to characterize the administration of each president, but nevertheless, both men would also use very similar leadership styles when necessaryRead MoreThe Basic Concept Of Leadership Based On Trait Approach Theory Essay1217 Words   |  5 PagesThis paper discusses on the basic concept of leadership based on trait approach theory. The establishment of relationship between leader and subordinate that focus on real changes and outcomes that reflects through shared purposes is basically leadership. In many aspects, the importance of vital without it families, communities as well as organizations would go down apart. To reach center point of goal, the leader should teach his follower to achieve better fruitful result. For this reason, the leaderRead MoreLeadership Styles Paper1158 Words   |  5 PagesLeadership Style Paper Michael Tafoya David Campbell University of Phoenix Two leadership

Pay It Forward free essay sample

The movie, â€Å"Pay it Forward,† is an inspiring tale about a young boy, Trevor McKinney, who accepts a challenge given to him by a teacher at school and sets out to change the world. He comes across many obstacles along the way, but with perseverance and bravery, he ultimately succeeds in creating a movement that becomes the first step in helping make the world better. Trevor’s world-changing idea is to do favors for three people, and in return, ask them to do favors for three other people each. This is the idea of â€Å"paying it forward. † When Trevor first introduces this plan, many people dismiss it because of its great naivety and simplicity. In today’s time, mankind has fallen so deep into sin that often times we forget how easy it is to serve others and do good deeds. Trevor’s idea is not a failure, but instead, people fail to see the greatness in it because it sounds so easy; one would only imagine that it would take much more than people doing a few favors to suddenly improve the world. As we talked I could see her stress levels rise; I made her aware of various government and state resources that I was certain she would qualify for. The mother began to tell me that she has applied for those resources but has never heard anything back from the agency; I gave her my number and told her to give me a call and I would do my best to advocate for her. I then bought her groceries and told her not to worry about it. Part of my job at Partners in Housing is to help advocate for individuals who need specific resources but are not certain how to go about applying for them; the woman called the next day and I began the process of advocating for her. When I checked up on her, I found out she had received food assistance, job assistance and housing assistance. Altruism, Social Responsibility and Codependency When performing an act of kindness, one must be careful in which how he or she performs the act and how often he or she gives aid to an individual. Some individuals can become or already are codependent and heavily rely on others to provide for them in one manner or another (emotional, financial, food or habitual). I have had a five year experience with an individual who was completely codependent; this individual was a friend of mine and her codependency cost us our friendship. No matter how often I helped her or in what ways I helped her, it seemed as if it was never enough and that she would â€Å"dig† herself deeper into trouble. Eventually, I had to distance myself from her, and told her she needed to learn how to problem solve for herself; she became angry with me and our friendship ended. Codependent individuals have difficulty problem solving for themselves, being alone, or being self sufficient in general; this is due to many factors which include mental instability, not developing the appropriate skills to become self sufficient, and the consistency of others always providing for them. Whether an act of kindness is altruistic has been a topic of debate for years and more so now. Random acts of kindness have the potential to reward the individual giving as well as the individual receiving; so long as the act of kindness does not become obligatory or overwhelming, it can enrich the lives of the individuals involved. Research has found that â€Å"†¦acts of kindness-especially spontaneous†¦can boost happiness in the person doing the good deed. Granted, not all acts of random kindness are altruistic; however, this does not necessarily mean they are selfish either. Random acts of kindness may be performed by individuals with altruistic intentions who are also satisfying (whether they know it or not) a deeper psychological need; for example, I helped the woman in the grocery store not only because I was deeply concerned for the welfare of her and her family, but because I know what it is like to be in that particular situation with no help or access to resources. On the other hand, an individual can perform a random act of kindness that is seemingly altruistic, but is only doing so to benefit from the act; the price of the act is generally more than the individual receiving can afford. The individual performing the act may want money, or sexual favors; however, this is a worst case scenario. I cannot completely say that every act of random kindness performed is altruistic (the act usually benefits both parties in some manner or another); however, I can say that most acts of random kindness I have seen performed have altruistic intensions (the individual may not realize he or she is satisfying a psychological need). So long as the act of kindness is not damaging and is performed to help another individual; then it may not be of importance if the individual believes it to be altruistic. I believe individuals should have a social responsibility to work together and help one another to help make cohabitation possible; unfortunately, there are few individuals who perform acts of kindness due to the â€Å"dog eat dog† society we live in. Everyone is always on the go and with today’s economic downfall, individuals are more concerned with their own families and selves to stop and help others. Conclusion A random act of kindness does not need to be one of bravado or show; it does not need to involve monetary means or gain. A random act of kindness can be simple; helping someone carry groceries, asking if an individual who looks in distress is okay or simply asking an individual how his or her day is going (especially in our society where people are quick to â€Å"flip the bird,† but not to say hello). Altruism should definitely be a guideline when performing a random act of kindness; but the act does not need to be completely altruistic. If making an individual happy for a moment or a day brightens your day, then the act has a positive impact on both parties involved; however, if the act has no basis of altruism, then it can have a negative impact on one or both parties. Remember that acts of random kindness must not be obligatory or overwhelming; this can make the individual not want to help anymore. It is best when the act is rewarding and satisfying to both parties involved.

Film Summary Crash Essay Example For Students

Film Summary Crash Essay In the crime-drama film, Crash, several stories of social injustice are portrayed negatively across the city Los Angeles, California. The film discusses the issue of racism towards both individuals and oppressed groups. These character stories: a racist white police officer, a black detective, his brother and a gang member; a rich white business man and his wife, a Persian family that owns a convenience store; a black TV producer and wife; a Hispanic locksmith and daughter all suffer from discrimination based on their race and ethnicity. Crash captures the realism of these situations happening on a day-to-day basis and the struggle for people to decide what is right and wrong for themselves. The conflict throughout the film is brought in by the characters mind set on certain stereotypes for certain races. John Ryan (Matt Dillon), the white LVPD police officer calls the local clinic to find he is speaking to a black women when she answers the phone as Shaniqua Johnson. In seconds John replies, oh big fu*king surprise that is ? making an assumption based on a stereotype of her name and hangs up. When John visits the clinic in person and is greeted by Shaniqua, he is refused the help he needs and continues to insult her. This, however is a case where the victim has more power over the victimizer, which is uncommon. The other case happens more frequently in the movie. The Persian immigrant family has a broken lock and door on their store so they call the Hispanic locksmith for repairs. The locksmith switches the lock and tells the owner the door has to be changed in order for it to lock to work, creating an argument between the two. The next day the store is broken into and the Persian owner is left blaming the locksmith that he broken in, based on his race, not the facts. Over and over unfair stereotypes are engraved on groups negatively that only result in conflict. Crash also demonstrates that if stereotypes are created it may be more reason for some people to follow them. Just before two black gang members steal a couples SUV, they look to each other as the wife clings on to her husband while they walk by Look around you, you couldnt find a whiter, a safer, better lit part of this city right now, but yet this white woman sees two black guys that look like UCLA students strolling down the sidewalk and the reaction is blind fear. ? From the ladys perspective, it is obvious she is scared of the two men, but later in the movie she mentions she did not intentionally mean to be racist. Does this make stereotypes a part of the way we behave and live life? There is no instance where racism portrays a positive outcome. Whether it is towards someone, or against you, the effects are all prejudice. Paul includes an example where the Hispanic locksmiths family being almost broken apart because of the convenience store owners discrimination. The owner assumed the locksmith was the one to break into his store and threatened to kill him family soon after. Or when one of the black gang members hitched a ride with a white man. The black man wanted to show him something in his pocket and before he even had the chance the white man pulled a gun and shot him. This ultimately shows that he assumed the worst in this man when all he wanted to share with him was a keychain he saw as good luck charm that resulted with his life was taken. Finally Crash includes how racial discrimination can be ended. When Jean (Sandra Bullock) the rich wife falls down the stairs, unable to get up, she calls her best friend to come over. Her supposed best friend ? though chooses to get a massage instead of come help. Jean instead called her Mexican maid, Maria whom she treats unfairly all the time. Maria then takes care of her bringing Jean to an epiphany that her only true friend is Maria. .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 , .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .postImageUrl , .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 , .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93:hover , .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93:visited , .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93:active { border:0!important; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93:active , .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93 .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udfca7d9b415ab0a03e8e626c9f215f93:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Animated television series EssayIn conclusion, the film Crash provides a strong message of the situations racial discrimination portrays in society daily. The stereotypes people have enforced, are now a part of life, whether its intentional or not. What makes the movies message more powerful and persuasive than others is that Haggis leads the audience to choose what they truthfully believe is the right versus wrong rather than just tell you what is. Altogether, Crash demonstrates the realism of social injustice throughout our societies by racial and ethnicity discrimination.

Resistance to Organizational Change

Organic Pesticide Use essays

Organic Pesticide Use essays Many means are used by organic farmers to control pests and raise soil fertility without the harmful effects of pesticides. The most popular and well-used include crop rotation, timed plantings, natural sprays, controlled pH of soil and composting. When an organic farmer uses crop rotation, particular pests die when their food source is removed, along with changes in the pH of the soil. Raising the pH of the soil reduces the amount of weeds by increasing the rate of growth-reducing nutrients. This, together with soil fertility, may be favorably affected by using composts. For example: hay, manure, lime, fish guts, wood ash and sea weed are all commonly used to increase the fertility of the soil and, therefore, better the excellence of the crop. Disease is also a common factor in organic farming and may be repressed by soil solarization. Its a simple, safe, cost-efficient and effective way to take care of crop-damaging bacteria by using the sun to create high enough temperatures to eliminate the disease without becoming harmful to the plants. Fungi may also be exterminated by spraying with organic sprays, for instance, chive tea, milk mix and sea weed spray. Insects and pests are another matter entirely. There is no way to deal with pests except through the use of crop rotation and by means of natural organic sprays such as: petroleum oil, soap spray, garlic spray and lime sulphur which suffocate the insects. Various numbers of the above are also used on weeds, though tilling the soil and burning off fields are also utilized. When this is done, the field stubble is raked up and the fields are burned, killing off all the weeds. This is extremely effective though it may be restricted in dryer parts of the country or during t he summer. Some of the insect organic sprays may not be as effective as normal pesticides, but the end result is much better. When pesticides are used, they paralyze the insects by destroying their ner ...

Small bussines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Small bussines - Essay Example As can be seen from Appendix A, the business will have losses for the first two years but beginning in the third year profitability will become positive and the following years thereafter. However this paper will report only the first three years. The higher expenses than revenues in the first two years are understandable as the business is just starting. Sales revenues will expand over time with higher sales volume into new locations as the branded products of the business become known. The decreasing expenses starting after two years would come as the business take less expensive locations. This would result to increasing gross monthly margin overtime as can be seen in Appendix B. Increasing sales is observable for the next three year period and such behavior should indicate growth of the business for the next three years. The greater the revenues the higher would be the changes for better profitability after deducting the expense (Bernstein, 1993; Droms, 1990). The profitability of the business is obvious the third year and as reflected in the positive net profit margin of 16.7% after having negative rates for the past two years because of the losses. See Appendix C. Profitability essentially means higher revenues than expenses which would mean that the business would naturally incur cost or expenses in running the business but the same should generate higher revenues in exchange of the expenses to indicate profitability of the business. The profit generated by the business is not enough to assure that business will prosper. The business must be able to pay its maturing obligations on time like the salaries of employees, payment for goods and services to supplies, regular bills for electricity, telephone and other utilities. In other words, it must have sufficient working capital or excess of current assets over its current liabilities at one point in time which can be measure also by liquidity ratios

In the decade of 1970, women's fashion trend reveals there had a Essay

In the decade of 1970, women's fashion trend reveals there had a strong intertwined relationship with political events and socia - Essay Example Fashion and design changed from being an elite group associated culture, but developed to incorporate the different age groups and genders for nations’ population. The designers had to put an extra effort in their artistic and designed works, so that they could come up with appealing styles and produce more for the vast population within their nations, and across their boundaries where the demand existed. It was a spontaneous thing to do for the growing markets in America, Europe and British among others. Some designers could not keep up with the current trend of the time, others had to lose some of their authenticity and adjust to the new changes, while for other designers, it gave them an opportunity for entering the industry and popularizing their new ideas works. Fashion boosted women careers and confidence in their new changing roles in official positions and politics, gave feminists more vigor, played a key role in opposition towards the governments and their operations, influenced by music (hippies, punk and rock) and social cultures. Fashion and Women in Politics The period after the 1960s saw women venture in politics and official positions in the government. ... Power clothes for women that expressed their new absorption and ability to perform in different careers that had been attached to masculininity became the new fashion, and career guide embraced by most working women at the time and later in the 80s (Hill 123). The power suit was the great design of the period that was tailored into different looks to distinguish it from the men’s suit style and looks. The variations of the power suits either with the men like pants or the ladies skirts as well as the make in different colors made the outfit even more diverse, and acceptable for women in high demand markets. The professional look was promoted by the influencing fashion that saw women dress in designer blazers and pants, official jackets and skits sets among other lines of power suits as designed by Karl Lagerfield (â€Å"Fashion† thepeoplehistory.com). It demonstrated equality in work places and power opinion for the working women in their careers. While seeking their ri ghts, liberation, and being free from male supremacy in their societies, the women's movements in the 1970s gave an opportunity for women to dress in fashionable pants designed for women, as way of sending a political and social message to change the oppressive social structure and enhance equality. According to Coen, the 1970s second wave of feminism greatly contributed to power suit acceptance as female wear, with the suits exaggerating women’s shoulders, skirts and trousers worn with relaxed jackets indicated how women intended to climb the ladder of success and how their presences was a force to be reckoned (mancunion.com). The famous designs of Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) can demonstrate more with his influential work in

How does the HR literature inform the recruitment process Essay

How does the HR literature inform the recruitment process - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that Human Resource knowledge and literature contributes significantly to the recruitment process in organizations. Recruitment process involves activities conducted by the HR department to attract and screen new employees in the organization in order to introduce new talents in the organization who can fill various positions that the organization requires.   In the recent times integrated and advanced knowledge on HRM focuses more on the skills of different employees, job requirements, selection process, performance management, education, and development as well as training/learning culture and reward and pay system. These activities are critical in human resource programs and thus informing the recruitment process. The researcher has worked with the HR department previously and he has gained experience on there requirements of organizations on new recruits. The recruitment process should keep in line with the shift in technology and req uirements within the workplaces. Recruitment process involves various activities that are critical in human resources management in such areas as training, development, job requirements, applicant qualifications, decision-making, interviews and positions required. Recruitment is an important process where successful measures include thorough research on job requirements and conditions in the market, interviews and such tests like psychometric tests on the candidates where the potentiality of the candidate is determined.

Human Memory How reliable is Eyewitness Testimony

Human Memory How reliable is Eyewitness Testimony This essays attempts to reach a conclusion regarding eyewitness testimonies and the extent of its reliability. This was done by identifying factors in three different processes stages. The acquisition stage is the period where the witness experiences the event. The retention stage is the period between the time the event ends and the time the witness are asked for a recount or questioned about the event. The retrieval stage is the period where the witness is providing information from their recall. During the acquisition stage, research regarding exposure time, estimation of factors concerning the event (for example, time), violence of the event, weapon focus and witness stress was analysed. During the retention stage, research regarding post-event information, introduction of conflicting information and introduction of misleading information was analysed. During the retrieval stage, research regarding method of questioning, leading questions and a case study of an actual event was analysed. Experiments and case studies regarding these factors were then evaluated to weigh the impact that it had on eyewitness testimony. In conclusion, it was found that experiments regarding eyewitness testimony hold little evidence to support its reliability but there are also some findings that dispute this. Thus, it was concluded that it is reliable only to a small extent though it can be highly accurate under certain conditions. Applications of this conclusion includes jurors being more aware of the factors regarding eyewitness testimony and taking into account when deciding on a verdict especially if the main evidence is based solely on eyewitness recounts. Eyewitness testimony is usually a verbal account given by an individual who has experienced an event, typically of a crime. Eyewitness testimony relies heavily on the capability of the individuals to accurately recount the event. In a trial, the jury is most often persuaded due to the statement(s) of the witnesses. Also, in cases where little material evidence can be collected, eyewitnesses are the focus for reaching a verdict. It has been argued that because testimonies are largely based on fallible memory which can be influenced by a variety of factors, it should not be depended upon. The contention of this essay is to identify and evaluate the extent of accuracy of this claim by identifying and evaluating factors that affect memory and by reviewing experiments and case studies to reach a conclusion on this matter. Memory and thus eye-witness reliability has become an issue of importance due to the high percentage of errors in identifying and prosecuting accused individuals. Thus, the reliability of eyewitness testimonies and impact on trials should be reviewed. Memory is defined as a kind of repository in which facts (information) may be retained over some period of time (Loftus, 1979). According to the Atkinson and Shiffrin model of memory storage (1971), memory is made up of three different types of information stores, each with different duration, capacity and function. The first is Sensory Memory. This type of store lasts for the spilt second when individuals collect information from their sensory systems and preserves information in its original sensory form. The sense organs are limited in their ability to store information about the world in an unprocessed way for more than a second. Thus, information is filtered through or selected by attention for further memory processing into the next type of memory store. This process of experiencing and filtering information is called acquisition. The next memory store is Short-term memory allows individuals to retain information long enough to be used and lasts approximately between 15 to 30 s econds. Miller (1956, cited in Weiten, 2005) proposed that Short-term Memory had a capacity of about 7 chunks of information. If certain actions are carried out, the information will be transferred to the last type of memory store, Long-term Memory. Long-term Memory provides retention of information which can last between minutes to a lifetime and has a limitless capacity. The process of information deposited in the short-term and long-term memory store is called retention. Information is constantly being transferred between these stores. When witnesses are asked to give recount of what they witnessed, information is taken from the long-term memory store and this process is called retrieval. Events during these three processes may affect the quality of the eyewitness testimony. During the acquisition process information may not have been perceived in the first place, information may be forgotten or interfered during the retention process or information may be inaccessible during questioning or during the retrieval process. Analysis of Factors that may affect Eye-witness Testimony during the Acquisition Process During the acquisition process, there are a number of factors that can affect an eyewitness report of an event such as exposure time or stress. This can be divided into event factors and witness factors. This section of the essay will evaluate the effect of these factors on the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Exposure time to the event or object of focus is an event factor. Laughery et al (1971, cited in Loftus, 1979) tested subjects on their recall based on the exposure time to a picture, showed one at a time of different positions of a human face. Two Caucasian male target faces were used, one with fair-colored hair and complexion with glasses and another with a darker-colored hair and complexion without glasses. The independent variable is the time the subjects viewed the pictures, which ranged from ten seconds to thirty-two seconds. The subjects were them asked, approximately eight minutes after exposure to identify the target within a series of 150 slides of human faces. The dependant variable is the accuracy of the subjects recall. Fifty-eight percentof the subjects who viewed the pictures for thirty-two seconds correctly identified the target but only forty-seven percent of the subjects who viewed the pictures for ten seconds correctly identified the target. This suggests that the more time a witness has to view the target, the more accurate their recall will be. This research is significant as it is very scientific and precisely tested a specific variable that affects memory and recall. Although this is so, it was also conducted in an artificial environment and thus, has low ecological validity. The research may also contain cultural and gender bias as it only tested for Caucasian males as the target. Thus, its application to targets of different cultures or gender is questionable. Estimating factors such as time, speed or distance is often asked of eyewitnesses. This involves perceiving the event and accurately inferring information from it. Marshalls (1966, cited in Loftus, 1979) experiment tested subjects estimation of time. Four hundred and ninety-one subjects watched a forty-two second film and a week after they had given their written and oral reports of the event, they were questioned as to the duration of the event. On average, subjects gave an estimate of about ninety seconds. The results show that witnesses can inaccurately estimate certain factors of an event. Although the results are significant, the study was conducted in a controlled environment which gives it little ecological validity. To further assess the accuracy of this study, an additional study that can be considered is Buckhout et al. (1975, cited in Loftus, 1979)s study on the effects if eyewitness testimony in a real situation by staging an attack where a student attacked a professor in front of 141 witnesses. The attack lasted for thirty-four seconds but when interviewed later on, the average estimate of the duration of the event was eighty-one seconds, almost twice the actual time. This study supports Marshalls study which shows that there is a tendency for witnesses to overestimate the duration in an event. This is significant in most cases, especially for cases of self-defense where the time between the attack and the retaliation is very significant in the categorization of the action. Another event factor is the violence of the event. A research done by Clifford and Scott (1978, cited in Loftus, 1979) investigated the ability of eyewitnesses to perceive violent and non-violent events. Forty-eight subjects with equal number of men and women watched either one of two tapes. In the non-violent version, the characters were involved in a verbal exchange and weak restraining movements. In the violent version, one of the characters physically assaults another character. In an effort to be even, the start and end of the tapes were manipulated to be identical. It was found that regardless of gender, the level of recall is significantly lower for those who viewed the more violent tape. It is inferred that this is due to the greater amount of stress that is produced in response to the violent event. This shows that eyewitness testimony of a violent event should be considered with the possibility of a higher rate of inaccuracy. Though the results are significant due to the hi gh reliability of the scientific method used, it also lacks ecological validity as it was conducted in an artificial environment where witnesses do not actually experience the event. An event factor that is linked to the witness factor, stress, is weapon focus. Easterbrook (1959) found that under high stress, individuals tend to concentrate more on a few features of their environment and less attention to other features. Weapon focus is where a crime victim is faced with an assailant who is brandishing a weapon. This rises the stress level of the crime victim and thus, they will only concentrate on a few features, mainly the weapon and will have trouble recollecting other factors such as the assailants features. Loftus et al (1987) tested this with an experiment where thirty-six students were showed a series of slides which showed one of two scenarios at a fast food restaurant. Half the subjects saw a customer pointing a gun at the cashier while the other half, the control group saw a customer handing the cashier a check. A part of the experiment tested the memory of the students based on a series of seven questions on the customer. It was found that the level of accuracy of the weapon group was fifty-six percent while the level of accuracy for the control group was sixty-seven percent. As the results show that the accuracy level of the weapon group is lower than the control group, this is highly significant in showing that eye-witnesses acquisition process might be seriously hampered by the presence of a weapon. The results of the experiment are highly valid as it was conducted in a controlled environment which allowed a direct cause and effect outcome. While this is so, the participants did not experience the event and thus their response may be different to an actual witness which means that the experiment lacks ecological validity. During an event, stress is a witness factor that should be taken into account. This refers to the level of stress or fear that a witness experiences which may influence their perception during the acquisition process of the event. A simulated case study done by Berkun (1962, cited in Loftus, 1979) placed army recruits in a stressful situation. They were isolated with the exception of a telephone link. Then, they were told that they were in danger to induce anxiety and were required to repair a broken radio by following a series of complicated instructions. It was found that the high level of anxiety impaired performance of the subjects. As this case study was conducted during a period of different ethical standards than today, there are ethical implications to be considered. Nevertheless, the results of this case study significantly support the Yerkes-Dodson law (1908, cited in Green) which states that emotional arousal facilitates learning and performance up to a point after which t here is a decrement. This can be applied to eyewitnesses who experience stress. Their senses may be stimulated but after a point, their acquisition process will be negatively affected. Although this is so, this case study has only looked at male soldiers, thus when applied to the general population, it lacks ecological validity. Analysis of Factors that may affect Eye-witness Testimony during the Retention Process Eye-witnesses are being tested on their retention of information from their Long-term Memory. Because retained information and thus, memory is being transferred between memory stores, it is possible that it can be influenced, enhanced or even distorted during or in between transfers. This section of the essay will focus on the numerous researches that have been carried out to investigate the accuracy of this or the extent of the influence that may occur. After an event occurs, sometimes witnesses discuss what they saw with each other and the information that is exchanged can result in an enhancement of memory in the form of modification or addition. An experiment was conducted by Loftus (1975) on one hundred and fifty participants. They were showed a film of a car crash where a car failed to stop at a stop sign and turned right to enter traffic, causing a five-car collision. After the film which lasted for less than a minute, participants were asked a series of ten questions. Half of the participants were asked about the stop sign in the first question while the other half were asked about the right turn. All other questions were the same. The independent variable here is the first question and the dependant variable is the last question which asked participants if they remembered seeing a stop sign. Loftus found that there was a higher percentage of participants who recalled seeing a stop sign if the first question related to a stop sign than the control group, fifty-three percent and thirty-five percent respectively. This shows that by mentioning an object, there is a higher chance of it being recalled. The results are highly significant as it was calculated using precise results with a specific variable tested. It can be argued that the experiment lacks ecological validity as it was conducted in an artificial environment but this allowed a specific variable to be tested which would have been impossible with a case study. As demonstrated by this experiment, eye-witnesses memory may be influenced by post-event information that they receive and thus, the more information that the witness is exposed to after the event, the higher the chance that their memory might be compromised. A modification to the previous variable is the question as to what happens when a witness learns new information which is different from what they experienced. Loftus (1975) conducted an experiment where forty participants were shown a three-minute video which involved a group of eight demonstrators noisily interrupting a lecture. The participants then had to answer a series of twenty questions. All the questions for the participants were identical except for one. Half of the participants were asked, Was the leader of the twelve demonstrators who entered the classroom a male? and the other half were asked, Was the leader of the four demonstrators who entered the classroom a male? All questions had to be answered with a yes or no. A week later, participants had to answer another set of questions. The critical question was How many demonstrators did you see enter the classroom? It was found that participants who previously answered the question with the word twelve reported an average of 8.9 demonstrators while the other half reported an average of 6.4 demonstrators. It can be argued that this experiment lacks ecological validity as it was conducted in an artificial environment and that participants only viewed the event and did not actually witness it. The results may not be fully applicable to the general population. Although this is so, the controlled environment showed a direct cause and effect of a specific variable. The results of this experiment can be applied to eye-witness testimony where witnesses may be mislead in their testimony as their memory might be compromised by the introduction of conflicting information. Similar to the experiment above is an experiment conducted by Loftus and Zanni (1975, cited in Hill, 1998) which was a modification of the original Loftus and Palmer research. The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of adding post event information on memory. Participants were shown a film of a car accident after which they had to answer a series of questions. Half of the participants were required to answer, Did you see the broken headlight which implied that there was a broken headlight while the other half were asked, Did you see a broken headlight which only required participants to recall if it was there. It was found that half of the participants, who were asked using the word the, incorrectly reported seeing a broken headlight. As most of the other variables were controlled in the experiment, and only a specific variable was changed, the results signify that memory can be modified by post event information. It can be argued that the participants did not experie nce the incident and thus the experiment lacks ecological validity when applied to actual witnesses but as a specific variable was examined, it can be concluded that the cause and effect was to a large extent connected. This experiment shows that eyewitnesses may be influenced by post event information which may negatively affect their account. McCloskey and Zaragaza (1985) also conducted experiments concerning the effect of misleading post event information on participants. After watching a series of slides depicting an event, participants received a narrative of the event. Participants in the mislead condition will receive a narration with receive the narrative with misleading information about a detail of the event, a hammer was referred to as a screwdriver instead while the control group werent provided details of the specific event. Participants then had to answer a series of questions about the event. The critical question concerning the tool had the original item as an option (hammer) and a new item (wrench). It was found that accuracy for the control group was seventy-five percent and seventy-two percent for the mislead condition group. The fact that there was little difference between the two groups points to the idea that misleading post event information does not distort memory of an event. This experiment suppor ts the validity of eyewitness testimony and due to the controlled setting; the results are highly valid though it lacks ecological validity. Analysis of Factors that may affect Eye-witness Testimony during the Retrieval Process Most evidence from eyewitnesses are a result of their accounts of the event. This involves the retrieval process of information from their long term memory store. This section of the essay aims to analyse and evaluate research conducted in relation to the techniques of retrieving information from eyewitnesses such as question wording or method of questioning. This is to evaluate the extent of influence of such techniques on the reliability of eyewitness accounts and in relation, memory. The method of questioning during the retrieval process plays an important role in the accuracy of eye-witness testimony as investigated by Lipton (1977, cited in Wells, 1978). Lipton conducted an experiment where participants watched a film of a murder in a courtroom setting. He found that unstructured testimony which allowed free recall resulted in ninety-one percent accuracy. This is a significant value as compared to other types of questioning such as open ended questions with eighty-three percent accuracy, leading questions with seventy-two percent accuracy and multiple choice questions with fifty-six percent accuracy. These results show that the type of questioning that the witness is subjected to affects the accuracy of their recount. When applied to trial testimonies, jurors should take into account the type of questioning to predict or get an idea of the level of accuracy of the testimony. Though conclusive to a certain extent, the experiment lacks ecological validity as the participants did not actually experience the event, merely perceive it but as it is a controlled environment, the reliability of the cause and effect factors is high. Loftus and Palmer (1974 cited in Hill, 1998) carried out an experiment to investigate the effect of leading questions on the accuracy of participants in recalling a car crash. Fourty-five participants were separated into seven groups and each group watched a video of traffic accidents. The videos lasted from five to thirty seconds. After watching the video, participants had to give an account of what they had just seen. The independent variable is the question About how fast were the cars going when they hit each other?. The word hit is replaced with the words smashed, contacted, bumped and collided for different groups. The participants answer as to the estimate of the cars speed is the dependant variable. Loftus and Palmer found that the mean estimate of speed for more aggressive words such as smashed is higher than less aggressive words such as contacted. The results are highly significant, p Contending the results of this experiment is Yuille and Cutshalls (1986) case study of a real life event. 13 participants were interviewed using Loftus and Palmers (1974 cited in Hill, 1998) technique in their recall four to five months after witnessing an attempted robbery in daylight where one individual was killed and another, seriously wounded. It was found that there was a very high level of similarity between the accounts given by the witnesses, the accounts did not alter in response to leading questions and that the witnesses were able to recall the event in detail. Additionally, accounts of those who were more distressed had a higher accuracy level. These results are different to Loftus and Palmer (1974 cited in Hill, 1998). The eye witnesses did not alter their accounts greatly in response to leading questions. As this is a case study, it holds high ecological validity unlike laboratory experiments. Although this may be true, Yuille and Cutshalls case study was of an event t hat was relatively traumatic event and was viewed in ideal conditions. Most incidents do not mirror this setting. Also, it was an investigation of only one case study. Hence, the application of these findings is debatable when applied to general eye witness testimonies. Conclusion This essay evaluated the extent of accuracy of the claim that eyewitness testimony should not be depended upon. This was done by focusing on the different factors that can affect human memory, and in relation, eyewitness testimony as it is fundamentally based on memory. Experiments and case studies related to factors in three different memory stages were identified and evaluated. Research concerning the acquisition process such as exposure time, estimation of factors concerning the event, for example, time, violence of the event, weapon focus and witness stress level during the event was analysed. Results point to a correlation of high levels of inaccuracy when more traumatic factors are included in the event. This is also reflected in research concerning the retention process and the retrieval process although there is some evidence that supports the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Overall analysis criticised the low ecological validity of controlled experiments but also supported the high level of validity that comes with it as it essentially provides a cause and effect relationship between specific variables tested. Case studies were found to be very specific with regards to certain factors, which leads to a debate about their general application. Since experiments are only replications of real-life events, it cant be fully taken as the actual process . This may have some influence on the results obtained as it can be argued that the participants are not really experiencing the event, thus essential factors like, atmosphere, or even interest in the event may be compromised. In this manner, results of case studies hold a higher level of reliability. As indicated by the numerous researches on different factors during the process of collecting, processing and retrieving information from memory, eye witness testimony is reliable only to a small extent. Under such fallibility, it can be questioned if eyewitness testimony should be relied on at all. Though eyewitness testimony has been proved accurate in a number of researches, the amount of investigations concluding on the fact that it is highly imperfect far outweighs it. Though a large number of researches do not support the reliability of eyewitness testimony, there is also evidence to support it like Yuille and Cutshalls (1986) case study. This suggests that although eyewitness testimony can be unreliable, under certain conditions, it is highly accurate. Implications for application of the analysis in this essay could include jurors being more wary of eyewitness testimony and the conditions relating to it when deciding upon a verdict. Further research could include more case studies to increase the ecological validity of the theories produced by experiments analysed in this essay. References Atkinson, R. C. Shriffin, R. M. (1971), The Control Processes of Short-term Memory, Stanford, California, Stanford University Easterbrook J. A. (1959), The Effect of Emotion on Cue Utilisation and the Organisation of Behaviour, Psychological Review, Vol 66(3), 183-201 Green, C. D, (n.d.) Classics in the History of Psychology Yerkes and Dodson (1908), Toronto, Ontario, York University, Retrieved from psychclassics.yorka.ca: http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Yerkes/Law/ Hill, G. (1998), Oxford Revision Guides, AS A Level Psychology, New York, Oxford University Press Loftus, E. F; Loftus, G. R; Messo, J. (1987), Some facts about Weapon Focus, Law and Human Behaviour, Vol 11(1), 55-62 Loftus, E. F. (1975), Leading Questions and the Eyewitness Repost, Cognitive Psychology, Vol 7, 550-572, University of Washington Loftus E. F. (1979), Eyewitness Testimony, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England, USA, Harvard University Press Yullie J. C. Cutshall J. L. (1986), A case study of eyewitness memory of a crime, Journal of Applied Psychology, Volume 71(2), May 1986, 291-301 Weiten, W. (2005), Psychology: Themes and Variations, The United States of America, Thomson Learning Inc. Wells, G. L. (1978), Applied Eyewitness-Testimony Research: System Variables and Estimator Variables, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Volume 36, No. 12, 1547-1557, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

The Marquis De Sades Attitude Towards Women Essay -- essays research p

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Effects of Automobiles Essay

Automobiles have become a big part of today? s society. Whether it be a car or van, the modern American citizen probably can? t go a day without using one. These machines are the main escorts for our daily travels from work to home. Most Americans depend on their vehicles to run well so that they can maintain their everyday treks of commuting back and forth. These automobiles have been the cause of an abundance of jobs throughout the United States. A great number of our citizens are employed by automobile production plants, car repair industries, and other automobile related positions. To think that cars could have been non-existent makes us wonder where thousands of our citizens would find work. We know that a big part of the United States industrial and trading world relies on the automobile and its components. Another view of our life without automobiles deals with our visual perspective. Car and truck advertisements consume a great deal of air time for television commercials. We see these luxurious machines and little by little we are tempted and pressured into investing into one of them. Numerous amounts of our modern movies also involve automobiles. For example, ? Speed? and ? Batman? both deal with automobiles of some sort. Whether it be the common city bus or the exquisite vehicle entitled the ? Batmobile? , these both influence our ideas of the automobile world. On the reverse side, though, automobiles have also been the cause of much of the world? s pollution. The carbon-monoxide released by a car? s exhaust pipe spews into our environment making our air dirty and the earth a bit closer to extinction. With all these pollutants in our air, it often makes it hard to breath and difficult to see. Many times we find a layer of dirt and grime on the back bumper of our cars and realize that about thirty times this much is tossed into the air each day by one individual vehicle. Any automobile which runs on diesel fuel releases a thick cloud of black smoke into the environment constantly. This disgusting smog stains buildings, covers trees, and hovers above many of our major city in large masses. Automobiles also contain some fluids that can be deadly to us and our wildlife. We often hear of gasoline spills by tanker trucks or by ships, both of which are meant to supply our automobiles with fuel. The gasoline encompasses huge areas of our oceans and suffocates our animals with blankets of black slime. Our own greed for bigger and better things causes many of our nation? s animals to die each year. Accidents are another default of today? s modern automobiles. Cars and trucks are the cause of the deaths of thousands of Americans annually. Almost everyday, numerous accidents can be witnessed by a single individual. Resulting from these broken parts and twisted sections of steel, are dead bodies and broken families. The yearning for speed and the desire for competition has ended the lives of many automobile owners. Young drivers often compete against each other in races and other dangerous games. Many times, these foolish schemes end in fatality. Another leading cause of death in automobiles results from alcohol abuse. This terrible mixture of drinking and driving commonly ends in death of the driver and of other innocent civilians. The automobile has been the victim of trillions of fender benders and more serious accidents. This has caused concern in the mind of society, and with it has come precautions. The cars and trucks of today have been formatted with all types of life saving gadgets to make traveling easier and less risky. These high tech automobiles of today have revolutionized our world. We have gone from a crank engine to an eight cylinder, one hundred sixty horsepower engine. We have progressed from speeds of twenty five miles an hour to speeds well over one hundred miles an hour. Roads have expanded, bridges have been widened, and new breeds of automobiles have been introduced along the way. This constant change of what appears to have a good outcome also brings along some negative aspects. These downfalls include those discussed above and many others. With every great step towards technological breakthroughs in the automobile world, new problems and hindrances arrive which are sure to lead to more fatal outcomes. Though cars have changed our lifestyle for the better, the extra impact of negative effects has hurt our society as a whole.

An Employment Law Compliance Plan for Landslide Limousines

An Employment Law Compliance Plan for Landslide Limousines Mr. Bradley Stonefield must observe all employment laws in Austin, TX for the new limousine service. Throughout processes that would involve the 25 employees, Mr. Stonefield must ensure compliance with the law for the success of the business. Failure to comply with these laws could result into long legal tussles with employees and their representatives and cause financial ruin to the company.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on An Employment Law Compliance Plan for Landslide Limousines specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This memo focuses on relevant employment laws as well as how they are legally used. In addition, the memo explores consequences of failure to comply with the employment laws. These laws are different, but an employer must observe all of them, including others not covered in this memo. The memo focuses on four employment laws that Landslide Limousines must observe. These employment laws include Texas Pa yday; Texas Minimum Wage Act; the Texas Child Labor Law; and Employment Discrimination. The Employment Laws for Austin, TX and Consequences of Noncompliance Texas Payday Texas Labor Code has a provision for the Texas Payday Law. The law accounts for all private business organizations, irrespective of their sizes. Any person that engages in service provision for payment is regarded as an employee, apart from relatives and independent contractors. There are specific payments that fall under the Texas Payday Law. The company will account for all compensations irrespective of how they are calculated; commissions and bonuses based on the agreement; and specific fringe benefits due based on a written agreement or the company’s policy. Noncompliance with the Texas Payday Law has severe consequences to an employer. The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) investigates and determines if an employer did not obey the law and acted in a bad faith. The TWC reviews administrative penalty again st the employer equivalent to the wages claimed or $1,000, whichever is less. At the same time, any employee who files a complaint in a bad faith may also bear similar penalties. Overall, it is against the law for an employer to fail to pay wages after receiving notification from TWC and to hire or continue to employ a person with the intent of not paying due wages.Advertising Looking for coursework on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Texas Minimum Wage Act The TWC offers information to both the employer and employee on the Texas Minimum Wage Act, and their respective duties, rights and remedies under the Act. The Act requires an employer to have a minimum wage for non-exempt employees, provide written statements of employees’ earnings, recognize the TWC as an agency responsible for providing information on Texas minimum wage provisions, offering civil remedies and exempting certain employers from th e Act. Currently, Texas has adopted the Federal Minimum Wage of the year â€Å"2009, which was $7.25 per hour†. The Act does not bar employees from bargaining for higher wages. Employers could include tips, meals and lodging costs to the minimum wage, but only under specific restrictions. An employer may not compensate workers who reside on the business premise for on-call time together with the normal working hours. In some instances, an employer may continue to pay sub-minimum wages to employees who have certain medical conditions, particularly mental illness. Any employer who pays lower than the legal minimum wage may face legal action from employees. An employee can file a complaint within two years from the due date to claim the unpaid wages and any amount incurred as damages. In addition, the employer must bear legal costs. The Texas Child Labor Law The law considers employees under the age of 18 years. The Texas Child Labor Law protects children from harmful employment . In addition, it does not allow any child under the age of 14 years to be employed, except under certain situations.Advertising We will write a custom coursework sample on An Employment Law Compliance Plan for Landslide Limousines specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The TWC also controls all issues related to child employment with the aim of protecting the rights to education, health, safety and well-being. The TWC has a right to inspect the working condition for children, and employers who hinder investigation could face criminal charges. Businesses must observe the state law, â€Å"except entities subjected to the Federal law of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)†. Driving Under the Texas State Law, children may be employed to operate a motor vehicle for a commercial purpose under specific conditions. The child may work under direct supervision of their parents or legal guardian in their business. The child must have a valid driver’s license. Children may work in businesses where they do not require a commercial license to conduct the job. Finally, a child cannot operate a vehicle with more 15,000 pounds of total weight and has over two axles. In addition, Texas State Law requires children between the age of 14 and 15 years old not to work for more than 8 hours in a day, 48 hours in a week and cannot report to work before 5 a.m. Still, children cannot work after 10 p.m during school days and past midnight on other days. Any violation of the â€Å"Texas Child Labor Law is a Class B misdemeanor†. Nevertheless, if a person employs a child who does not meet the minimum age requirement for â€Å"a type of employment, but did so in good faith relying on an apparently valid certificate of age, then that may be a defense against prosecution†. Therefore, noncompliance with the Texas Child Labor Law is a criminal offense with criminal penalties. In addition, the TWC may evaluate all administr ative penalties against the employer of up to $10,000 per violation. Employment Discrimination A former, current, or prospective employee can complain against an employer in the State of Texas under the Texas Labor Code. The TWC reviews many cases related to employee discrimination on the following areas:Advertising Looking for coursework on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Not hired due to a disability Gender Nationality of origin Race or ethnic Harassment based on age differences Denial of benefits due to pregnancy Retaliation against employees because of filing a complaint For example, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits discrimination based on employee age, particularly employees who are over 40 years of age. Employers must not discriminate because of age when hiring, promoting, discharging, compensating, or on other terms of the employment policy (Ray, Sharpe, Strassfeld, 2011). Employers who fail to comply with this Act may be fined up to $500 or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding a year or face charges on both counts. The TWC shall review all discrimination complaint and works with its Civil Rights Division (a neutral investigator) to ascertain if any discrimination took place under the Texas Labor Code. The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for solving any employment discrimina tion in the State of Texas. It is against the Texas Labor Code for any employer to retaliate against employee because of filing a discrimination complaint, supporting a complaint, opposing discrimination or engaging in a proceeding. Therefore, an employer cannot dismiss, demote or harass any employees on such grounds. Texas Labor Code on employee discrimination affects employers with more than 15 employees. Recommendations on how Landslide Limousines can be compliant The Texas Workforce Commission is responsible for ensuring that all employers in Austin, TX adhere to the Texas Labor Code. These laws were enacted to protect both the employer and employees from any forms of abuse and exploitation. Failure to comply with the Texas Labor Code has legal penalties and financial implications for the company. Mr. Bradley Stonefield, therefore, should consider the following recommendations when handling employee issues for Landslide Limousines. Both the employer and employees should underst and the Texas Labor Code to allow them to observe their rights and obligations Landslide Limousines should not employ any child because of difficulties in meeting requirements associated with child labor in Texas The company must not discriminate any potential employees based on their age, nationality, race, gender and disabilities among others In case of any employment discrimination against Landslide Limousines, the company should not retaliate against employees, potential employees or former employees The employer and the employee must understand the role of Texas Workforce Commission, Civil Rights Division, and the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Employees and the employer must not act in bad faith against each other References Gould IV, W. (2013). A Primer on American Labor Law (5th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Ray, D., Sharpe, C., Strassfeld, R. (2011). Understanding Labor Law (3r ed.). New York: LexisNexis. Texas Workforce Commission. (2014). Employment Law: Discrimination, Wages Child Labor. Web.

Team Work Part 1 & 2 Essays - Criminology, Social Psychology

Team Work Part 1 & 2 Essays - Criminology, Social Psychology Team Work Part 1  CCJ1020-12_Week 4  05/19/2015 Prof. Scott Addlesberger Part I: The Offender There are many differences between a chronic violent offender and a nonviolent offender. A chronic violent offender is an individual who frequently or persistently violates the law. As defined by Marvin Wolfgang, Robert Figlio, and Thorsten Sellin, their definition of a chronic violent offender is delinquents arrested five or more times before the age of eighteen who commit a disproportionate amount of criminal offenses (Siegel & Worrall, 2013). A nonviolent offender is a person causing a crime that does not cause damage, or hurts people. For example crimes like low level drug users, prostitution, shoplifters, burglary, and drug trafficking. Also there are many differences between types of crime committed and the type of offense they commit. These differences include age, race, gender, geographical, and socioeconomic status. There are many differences, but others believe that some nonviolent offenders pleaded out on nonviolent charges but previously did a violent crime at the time wh en they were arrested or in previous arrests. Nonviolent offenders today are taking up most populations in the U.S prisons. Violent offenders are more likely to experience mental health issues, been exposed to violence or been victimized in the community and more likely to exhibit violence when incarcerated. It is important to remember that an individual in the community with mental health issues is not necessarily a violent individual. Violence may be a result of victimization and social exclusion. In the chronic violent crimes, offenders have a pathological tendency to commit and to repeat violent crimes, while in non-violent crimes, offenders don't use physical or emotional violence against victims. Nonviolent offenders are typically those convicted of property crimes. In the U.S. property crimes are often considered more serious than people. Some people do think that just because they are called nonviolent offenders doesnt mean that they should be. For example, It is not hard to imagine that the guy busted for drug trafficking was maybe carrying an illegal concealed weapon at the same time he was collared for slinging rock cocaine and maybe there is strong evidence that he used that gun to throw a few rounds at a rival. Facing an assault with a deadly weapon charge, our drug trafficker is advised by his public defender to cop a plea to selling rock cocaine. And there you have it, he is now a nonviolent offender. In 2004, the Bureau of Justice Statistics studied that 95% of inmates arrested were arrested prior. 33% of nonviolent offenders had history of violent crimes. 8% used a weapon during a nonviolent crime, and 70% of all nonviolent offenders are arrested within three years (Durose, M., & Mumola, C. (2004, October 1). As I said earlier, there are many different variables of each type of offender such as race, age, gender, geographical differences, and gender. But is this really a justifiable way to predict who would become an offender by these variables alone? This is what I would consider a 50/50 percent answer because although it is not morally right to look at a person and say that they will become a criminal but at the same time the way a person carries their self or dress can be a dead giveaway to law enforcement that they are engaged in some kind of criminal activity or at the least will do so. Growing up as a child most of us were told never to judge a book by its cover, but how many times can you honestly say that you never did? If you were like me your answer would be more than usual. Because of the media and what it portrays it seems as though there are more African Americans that are committing crimes and being incarcerated than any other race. Minority group members are involved in a d isproportionate share of criminal activity. According to Siegal and Worrall, African Americans make up about 12 percent of the general population, yet they account for about 38 percent of arrests for Part I violent crimes and for 29 percent of property crime arrests. Part II: The Victim: An individuals risk of criminal victimization depends on their exposure or proximity to offender populations, and exposure, in turn, depends on individuals

E Market Business Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

E Market Business Plan - Research Paper Example In the world today, people are advancing in technology to such levels that they can be able to exchange goods and services without necessarily having physical contacts. The information technology has advanced so that information can be passed from one individual to another within a very short time and easily. This has helped people to develop ways to negotiate means to buy and purchase products from people who stay in distant places without necessarily visiting the people who possess such commodities. The payment systems are implemented in such ways that money is transferred from one individual to another through an internet enabled systems and connectivity that link the buyer to the seller (Turban, King and Lang 418). Through the different systems, commodities are delivered to the customers who buy them as per plans that are considered appropriate to the two parties involved in this business (Funk 27). In another way, marketing and promotion services are conducted through the intern et and they characterize display of information that is important about specific commodities is availed in websites. Through the online services, a variety of businesses have been established in the world, ranging from banks, store and warehouses as well as supermarkets which sell food products and allow payments to be done in advance and through electronic transfers. In most instances, credit cards have been used to make payments for good ordered and they enable a buyer to purchase products that are worth very high amount of money without limitation (Turban, King and Lang 384). ... The business idea was established in order to address the issue of art business by making the products available to as many people as possible, both in terms of quantity and quality. GANC will have its offices in the city of New York in the United States of America, (USA) but it will serve people in different parts of the world who have access to the internet. GANC will deal with products like music in CDs and DVDs, painting, sculptures and photographs, which are highly required by very many people within the world (Funk 57). Mission To be the best alternative artwork center to all the people in the world distinguishing ourselves in terms of diversity of products, high quality and providing accessible products to all customers and assurance of timely delivery Keys to success Highly accessible website to display our products High technological system of making orders, payment of orders and communicating to the customers Effective advertising programs which will ensure that all the peo ple are able to access the products An exciting image of the GANC store to display the products that are purchasable by customers An effective shipment programs for products bought by customers from far countries Market Description In the world today, pieces of art have been considered one of the important parts of life to very many people in different social classes and of different economic status. In the field of music, there is production of different varieties according to language, styles of singing and the contents and the intended purposes. For instance, many people are engaged in production of gospel or secular, reggae or soft music as well as the diversity in different world languages and cultural diversities.

Chronic Eczema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chronic Eczema - Essay Example For instance, the methods of treating Chronic Eczema may change, hence rendering the previous routines useless. For example, a new method of diagnosing Chronic Eczema may be discovered, and hence taking of picture of the affected part by the patient and sending it to the Dermatologist becomes less useful. The technologies available to different patients are varied. The knowledge to make proper use of the technologies available to the patient are also not guaranteed. For instance, relying on the photos taken by the patient may not give a clear picture of the intensity of the infection, especially if the focus of the photos is not good. For this reason, relying on the patient’s technologies may impair the process of offering equitable health services. For equitability in health service delivery, practices such as diagnosis should be uniform across the patients. The virtual support hinders the patient from accessing quality services, which would be offered in the event of the patient visiting the GP and hospitals. It is likely that if the patient gets virtual support, he/ she doesn’t enjoy some of the services, which are difficult to implement in the online support

Italy' economy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Italy' economy - Research Paper Example The economic crisis of 2007-2011 had a negative impact to Italy’s economy. During this crisis, the economic growth went down by 6.74%. This left Italy in a huge budget deficit. Italian debt rating was quite poor by 2011 attributed to the government’s inability to make effective decisions on national issues. However, this changed over that period when the government adopted austerity measures that led to a budget deficit of only 1.5% in 2011. According to the International Monetary Fund, measured by nominal gross domestic product, Italy’s economy is the seventh largest in the world and fourth largest in Europe preceded by Germany, France and United Kingdom (OECD 127). This is despite its late industrialization and the current economic growth being almost stagnant. Most economic growth has been contributed by industrialization, which developed rapidly in the 1950’s. There is also practice of agriculture, which contributes about 2% of its growth domestic product, and tourism is the most important industry (Rodgers & Simon 134). Industries in Italy are diversified ranging and mostly based on the North in Milan, Turin and Genoa. Over half of the labor force is employed in the manufacturing industry that deals with chemicals, food, clothing, footwear, motor vehicles and ceramics among others OECD 34). The rest are employed in agriculture that deals in livestock like goats, cattle sheep and pigs together with plants like soybean, grapes, potatoes and sugar beets. Most of these industries were state owned but recently, the trend is changing to privatization. Most scholars and analysts suggest that Italy’s economy should have been above other countries like China or even Japan. Since this is not the case, political instabilities and the problems discussed above in the history of the economy as discussed are some of

Ignou solved assignment 2014 Essay Example for Free

Ignou solved assignment 2014 Essay Describe the evolutionary process of organization design and different perspectives of organization design and their relevance. Q. Explain the meaning and purpose of Job design and briefly discuss the impact technology has on Job design. Q. Discuss the purpose of organizational analysis and briefly describe the tools which could be used for organizational analysis and their effectiveness. Q. Identify different kinds of change which take place in organization and strategies which are used for change and their effectiveness. Discuss how resistance to change can be handled before implementing it. Give examples. Q. Discuss the process of institution building and the role of chief executive in institution building with an example. 1. Organization design-A process for improving the probability that an organization will be successful. More specifically, Organization Design is a formal, guided process for integrating the people, information and technology of an organization. It is used to match the form of the organization as closely as possible to the purpose(s) the organization seeks to achieve. Through the design process, organizations act to improve the probability that the collective efforts of members will be successful. Typically, design is approached as an internal change under the guidance of an external facilitator. Managers and members work together to define the needs of the organization then create systems to meet those needs most effectively. The facilitator assures that a systematic process is followed and encourages creative thinking. Hierarchical Systems Western organizations have been heavily influenced by the command and control structure of ancient military organizations, and by the turn of the century introduction of Scientific Management. Most organizations today are designed as a bureaucracy in which authority and responsibility are arranged in a hierarchy. Within the hierarchy rules, policies, and procedures are uniformly and impersonally applied to exert control over member behaviors. Activity is organized within sub-units (bureaus, or departments) in which people perform specialized functions such as manufacturing, sales, or accounting. People who perform similar tasks are clustered together. The same basic organizational form is assumed to be appropriate for any organization, be it a government, school, business, church, or fraternity. It is familiar, predictable, and rational. It is what comes immediately to mind when we discover that we really have to get organized! As familiar and rational as the functional hierarchy may be, there are distinct disadvantages to blindly applying the same form of organization to all purposeful groups. To understand the problem, begin by observing that different groups wish to achieve different outcomes. Second, observe that different groups have different members, and that each group possesses a different culture. These differences in desired outcomes, and in people, should alert us to the danger of assuming there is any single best way of organizing. To be complete, however, also observe that different groups will likely choose different methods through which they will achieve their purpose. Service groups will choose different methods than manufacturing groups, and both will choose different methods than groups whose purpose is primarily social. One structure cannot possibly fit all. , the form of organization must be matched to the purpose it seeks to achieve. The Design Process Organization design begins with the creation of a strategy — a set of decision guidelines by which members will choose appropriate actions. The strategy is derived from clear, concise statements of purpose, and vision, and from the organization’s basic philosophy. Strategy unifies the intent of the organization and focuses members toward actions designed to accomplish desired outcomes. The strategy encourages actions that support the purpose and discourages those that do not. Creating a strategy is planning, not organizing. To organize we must connect people with each other in meaningful and purposeful ways. Further, we must connect people with the information and technology necessary for them to be successful. Organization structure defines the formal relationships among people and specifies both their roles and their responsibilities. Administrative systems govern the organization through guidelines, procedures and policies. Information and technology define the process(es) through which members achieve outcomes. Each element must support each of the others and together they must support the organization’s purpose. Exercising Choice Organizations are an invention of man. They are contrived social systems through which groups seek to exert influence or achieve a stated purpose. People choose to organize when they recognize that by acting alone they are limited in their ability to achieve. We sense that by acting in concert we may overcome our individual limitations. When we organize we seek to direct, or pattern, the activities of a group of people toward a common outcome. How this pattern is designed and implemented greatly influences effectiveness. Patterns of activity that are complementary and interdependent are more likely to result in the achievement of intended outcomes. In contrast, activity patterns that are unrelated and independent are more likely to produce unpredictable, and often unintended results. The process of organization design matches people, information, and technology to the purpose, vision, and strategy of the organization. Structure is designed to enhance communication and information flow among people. Systems are designed to encourage individual responsibility and decision making. Technology is used to enhance human capabilities to accomplish meaningful work. The end product is an integrated system of people and resources, tailored to the specific direction of the organization. 2. Job design refers to the way that a set of tasks, or an entire job, is organized. Job design helps to determine: †¢ What tasks are done? †¢ How the tasks are done, †¢ how many tasks are done, and †¢ in what order the tasks are done. It takes into account all factors which affect the work, and organizes the content and tasks so that the whole job is less likely to be a risk to the employee. Job design involves administrative areas such as: †¢ job rotation, †¢ job enlargement, †¢ task/machine pacing, †¢ work breaks, and †¢ Working hours. A well designed job will encourage a variety of good body positions, have reasonable strength requirements, require a reasonable amount of mental activity, and help foster feelings of achievement and self-esteem. 3. Organizational analysis may be done for different purposes. These include: 1) Enhancing the general understanding of the functioning of Organizations (i. e. educational or research purposes. ) (The direct beneficiary is the researcher or the analyst rather than the Organization). Such a study may aim at enhancing the understanding of human behaviour through a study of it in organisation, or to enhance the understanding of the society as reflected in organisational life. 2) Planning for growth and diversification An analysis or a diagostic study may be necessary for planning growth, diversification, expansion etc. Organisational analysis may reveal the strengths that could be used for growth and diversification, weak spots that need to be removed in the new plans, the precautions to be taken, structural dimensions to be kept in mind etc. Several insights may be provided on structure, people, systems, styles, technology etc. that have implications for growth. 3) Improving Organisational Effectiveness or Planning General Improvements Organisational Analysis may be used also for improving the general efficiency of an organisation. On the basis of a diagnosis made out of the analysis action steps could be initiated in terms of toning up administration, introducing new management systems and processes, reduction of wasteful expenditure, introduction of time savers, change of personnel policies to enhance employee motivation, restructuring of some parts, training, elimination of unwanted structures and teasers, improvements in general health of the organisation etc. 4) Organisational Problem Solving Whenever some subsystems departments, units etc.fall sick or start creating problems a diagnosis may be undertaken with a view to identify the source of the problem and take corrective action. A sick unit, a bottleneck, a communication block, a poor performing department, frequently occurring conflict between two departments, repeated failures of a management system or an organisational process, a frequent violation of an organisational norm, fall in discipline, reduction in output absenteeism, increase in conflicts e tc. can all lead to the need for an organisational diagnosis of a part of the organisatioin or the entire organisation. tools of organisational analysis Observation represents the careful and planned method of recording certain phenomena, objects, events in conjunction with a given situation. Constantinescu, etc. (2008) considers it necessary, within the organisation, to focus on observing the interaction between employees, in order to find answers to questions such as: What is the working pace of the employees slow, methodical, alert, spontaneous? What rituals do you notice in the enterprise? What are the values disseminated? Do the meetings generally provide revealing information? Who participates in these meetings? Who speaks? Whom do these people speak to? To what extent is sincerity situated in these meetings? How much time is devoted to different topics? The topics which often recur and which are discussed in depth frequently represent indications of the organisational culture values. Observations are used for gathering data on the symbols which are analyzed by the qualitative analysis methods. Observations include mostly behavioural material, but also semantic symbols. Observations of behavioural symbols include monitoring and recording the organizational rituals, such as, for example, the celebration of company day as a ritual of integration. There will also be careful attention focused on the state and architecture of the buildings, decor, billboards, staff dress code, behaviour and habits, working environment, the way in which everyone fulfils their role, employee behaviour in conflict situations. The analysis of these aspects allows knowing the reality, the working environment, both the organisation’s physical components and the emotional, psychological elements, harder to decipher at first glance. The opinion interview technique always involves oral information, having the advantage of flexibility, of the ability to get specific answers to each question. Along with the use of the questionnaire, it is one of the techniques most often used in qualitative research. The interview is, however, a complex technique that requires certain abilities and skills from the researcher, especially social, communication and self-reflection skills. The interview is used in the study of organisational culture to collect qualitative data about the cognitive elements of the culture, such as assumptions, values, norms and attitudes. Interviews may also serve to identify symbols, certain expressions, stories, anecdotes specific to the organisation. â€Å"To successfully use the interview in organisational culture research, it is important to determine the persons that will be interviewed, when, where and how the interview will be conducted, the set of questions that will be used and the method of recording it† (Janicijevic, 2011 , p 85). Interviews help us perceive the consistency between what the interviewees say and the facts recorded from other sources. † These perceptions are generally useful for:  · defining an updated vision of the history, the important events and its impact on the functioning of the organisation;