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Saturday, December 28, 2019

The Effects Of Family Therapy On The Treatment And...

The use of family therapy in the treatment and management of adolescent anorexia nervosa has been established since the 1970s, when Minuchin began a trial of family therapy as an intervention within a population of adolescent anorexia nervosa patients. (14) While these patients other treatments were inconsistent, with some inpatient and some undergoing individual therapy, the commonality between them was a focus on family therapy. While this was not a clinical trial, 86% of patients showed positive outcomes at follow-up, a cause for optimism and catalyst for further examination (15). A team of clinical researchers at London s Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry, led by family therapists Christopher Dare and Ivan Eisler, was†¦show more content†¦(6; 17) Phase 2 is begun when the patient has begun eating in more normal quantities, and is gaining weight at a consistent rate; the patient at this stage has been fighting anorexia and is beginning to win. Also characterising this stage is a feeling of relief and accomplishment among the family; the patient has been helped to pull herself out of immediate physical danger and take charge of the disorder rather than the disorder taking charge of her. During this stage, the responsibility for eating is gradually returned to the patient as appropriate to her age and development, re-affording her control and autonomy. (6; 17) The therapy at this stage focuses on challenging her distorted ideas on food and weight. (18) Phase 3 begins when the adolescent is maintaining a healthy weight and is eating consistently and autonomously, without engaging in self-starvation. During this phase, the focus moves from the adolescent s eating habits to the establishing of her identity as a young person, her gr owing independence as appropriate to her age and stage of development, and the shifting of the balance of the family away from focusing on the eating disorder. (6; 17) TheShow MoreRelatedCauses Of Anorexia Nervosa1344 Words   |  6 Pageslifetime presence of vomiting to be negative prognostic factors, and impulsivity (only in the beginning phases of anorexia nervosa recovery) to be a surprisingly positive prognostic factor. However, other studies examining the prognostic factors for treatment success have found mixed results, which suggests no factor has been found to definitively predict outcome (Guarda, 2008). Despite this, a (2009) longitudinal study by Wentz and colleages’ including only individuals with teenage onset of anorexiaRead MoreFunctional Family Therapy ( Fft )1192 Words   |  5 PagesFunctional Family Therapy. Functional family therapy (FFT; Alexander Parsons, 1982) is based on the premise that the behaviours of each family member serve a certain function within the family system. In the context of conduct disorders and antisocial behaviours, FFT views these behaviours as serving a necessary function for the child in the family system, which is then the reason why the child continues to engage in those deviant behaviours (Baker, 2012). For example, the antisocial behaviourRead MoreEssay on Drug Addiction Treatment1360 Words   |  6 PagesAddiction Drug Treatment Word count – date – 17/8/2010 Description: Addiction drug treatment is a treatment for the person who is having chronic or periodic dependence on the drug by repeated consumption of it. Keywords: drug addiction treatment, addiction drug treatment, addiction treatment drug rehab, drug addiction treatment program, drug addiction treatment centers, drug addiction treatment programs, drugRead MoreAnger Management : Single Subject Design1351 Words   |  6 PagesAnger Management: Single Subject Design The client is a 14-year-old Hispanic female in a residential substance abuse treatment rehabilitation center. The client participated in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy anger management group. The client was admitted to the residential program in July of 2016 for her cannabis use. She was referred by Drug Court due to her failure to comply with the program rules. The client has a past of domestic violence and defiant behavior towards her mother and not abidingRead MoreProblems Associated With Comorbidities And Its Effects On The Individual s Current Level Of Development1392 Words   |  6 PagesClosely associated with comorbidities, is the concept of addressing any vulnerabilities or hurdles that consumers might face, not only in undertaking treatment, but in their day to day life. These hurdles include such things as impairments in vision, hearing or coordination.11 Another core concept that is pertinent to consider in management of these young people is to recognise that they are in an incredibly dynamic phase of development. Each individual will be referred at a different emotionalRead MoreTrauma- Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: an Effective Treatment Modality for Children and Adolescents Who Have Experienced Traumatic Incidents1687 Words   |  7 PagesTrauma- Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: An Effective treatment modality for children and Adolescents who have experienced traumatic incidents * What is TF-CBT and What is it Best Suited for: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) was developed by psychologists J.A. Cohen and, Mannarino, Knudset and Sharon. TF-CBT has been developed for those who have experienced psychological trauma, often on a great scale of magnitude. It is important to define trauma; â€Å"There areRead MoreIntervention Methods. Methods Proposed To Achieve The Program’S1175 Words   |  5 Pagespatients in the in-patient facility. A well-rounded approach is used connecting the person and the environment in order to provide a safe standard of care for the patients. The philosophy of the Chronic pain program is to promote the wellness of adolescents and young adults with chronic pain by teaching strategies to manage pain and encourage functional activity. Principles of Practice The most notable principle of practice of the programs at CSH is dignity and self worth of every person. ChildrenRead MoreSubstance Abuse967 Words   |  4 Pagesthe long-term abuse of alcohol and other drugs causing physiological distortion of brain chemistry as well as the social isolation. Another factor is the acute intoxicating effects of the drugs may make suicide more likely to occur. Suicide is also very common in adolescent alcohol abusers, with 1 in 4 suicides in adolescents being related to alcohol abuse.[19] In the USA approximately 30 per cent of suicides are related to alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is also associated with increased risks ofRead MoreParent Management Training : A Behavioral Treatment For Children And Adolescents With Aggressive, Antisocial And Defiant Behaviors1371 Words   |  6 PagesParent Management Training (PMT) is an evidence-based intervention instilled to parents of children and adolescents with aggressive, antisocial and defiant behaviors. Parents are taught social learning techniques with the purpose of changing the behavior of their children. Parents learn effective parent-child relationship management strategies and parenting skills through exercises and role play with the therapist. These methods include observing and recording behavior, positive reinforcement, tokenRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Chronic Illness1388 Words   |  6 Pagesincreased in recent years due to medical advances and adolescents are now more than ever able to lead a productive life even in spite of serious illness† (p. 3). Managing multiple chronic illness requires not on ly commitment from the affected adolescents, but also monitoring of their parents. Patient and family-centered care model should be applied. Weyandt et al. (2014) stated that â€Å"pharmacotherapy is the primary treatment option for children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD, including college students†

Thursday, December 19, 2019

India Closed Economy - 3117 Words

CHAPTER 1 INDIA’S TRANSITION FROM A CLOSED TO AN OPEN ECONOMY A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. 1.1 These are the words of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, in his speech marking the Independence of India on 14 August 1947. These words still hold true today as India moves onto the global scene and is making its presence felt as an emerging economic power. History Since Independence 1.2 When India achieved its independence in 1947, it was the beginning - not the end - of a period of nation-building .1 India was determined to definitively break away from the†¦show more content†¦This may have been due largely to industrialisation policies and the green revolution .8 The fundamental premise was that: ... growth should be accompanied by social justice and this should be achieved in a way that made India self-sufficient... . [Eventually] imports were severely controlled and were subject in many cases to quantitative restrictions, and in all cases to very high tariffs, which, at their peak, had reached a maximum level of 350%.9 1.9 Between 1951 and 1993, India’s share of world trade plunged from 2.4 to 0.5 percent owing to Nehru s reliance on central planning as an economic policy.10 This highly regulated, over-bureaucratised system severely inhibited competition, innovation, efficiency and economic growth. Trade policies were designed to protect lo cal industries from external competition through high subsidies and tariffs. 1.10 As well as decreasing levels of trade participation with countries other than the USSR, India had become increasingly reliant on the USSR for technological and capital inputs. Moreover, according to DFAT: 5 6 7 8 9 10 ANZ Banking Group Submission, p. S 798. ibid. DFAT Submission, p. S 721. ibid. IOC Submission, p. S 224. India s Economy at the Midnight Hour: Australia s India Strategy, report of the East Asia Analytical Unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Commonwealth of Australia, 1994, p. 10. 4 ... investment in social infrastructure (particularlyShow MoreRelatedEssay about Exposing the Corruption in India1218 Words   |  5 Pagestalked about subject. However, in India there is a problem with corruption, which has run out of control. People subject to poverty in India and considered poor by other nations’ standards are taken for what little cash they have or property they own by someone of a higher authority. What’s worse is those very people also begin doing the same. Corruption is an opportunity to many, and to some their only way to get ahead. This problem is so far reaching in India that one has to question how thingsRead MoreIndian Economic Environment4462 Words   |  18 Pagespolitical-legal. Economic Environment- The available purchasing power in an economy depends on current income, prices, saving, debt, and credit availability. Marketers must pay careful attention to trends affecting purchasing power, because they can have a strong impact on business, especially for companies whose products are geared to high income and price-sensitive consumers. India’s economy has been showing vibrancy of growth from 1991 ever since the government initiated programsRead MorePrimary Sector of Economy17717 Words   |  71 PagesPrimary sector of the economy The primary sector of the economy is the sector of an economy making direct use of natural resources. This includes agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining, and extraction of oil and gas. This is contrasted with the secondary sector, producing manufactures and other processed goods, and the tertiary sector, producing services. The primary sector is usually most important in less developed countries, and typically less important in industrial countries. The manufacturingRead MoreUnderstanding The Financial Market And Globalization1529 Words   |  7 PagesFinancial Market and Globalization in India Prepared By Dionne Benard FIN4604005_2014f_81778 International Finance Fall 2014 Understanding the Financial Market and Globalization in India Abstract The research paper is a brief study that explains the different factors that play a key role in growth international financial market in India. We also took a brief look at what the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) and their role in the growth of India’s economy. The study does not talk aboutRead MoreTrade Patterns Of China And India1355 Words   |  6 PagesThis essay is an analysis and comparison of the trade patterns of China and India since 2000 and studies the effect of the regulating economic and national policies on the trade performance. Being old neighbors India and China have shared a lot in common like the culture, sciences and also a few economic linkages. They also have the largest populations in the world: India with 1311 million and China with 1376 million in 2015(Esa.un.org, 2016). Since 2000 trade between the two countries has mushroomedRead MoreComparing The Economic Growth Of India And China Since The Millennium Essay885 Words   |  4 PagesCompare the economic growth of India and China since the Millennium. India and China, the two dragons constantly fighting with each other, both historically and economically. Although China appears to indulge in the media’s thoughts, perhaps India has been slowly but surely closing the gap or even taking the edge. China has converted itself from a closed, centrally planned system to a more market-centred one that has a major global role. To illustrate this, it became the world’s largest exporterRead MoreFree Trade Improves The Quality Of Life For A Nation And Its Citizens1448 Words   |  6 Pagessectors that create stable jobs and usually higher incomes, thus improving livelihoods. For example, manufacturing workers in open economies received pay rates 3 to 9 times greater than those in closed economies, depending on the region. In Chile, a worker in a sector open to trade and investment gains an average â‚ ¬1,100 more per year than a worker in a relatively closed sector. Encourages innovation Trade encourages innovation by facilitating exchange of know-how technology and investment in researchRead MoreIndian Economy After Independence : India1310 Words   |  6 PagesIndia is rich in natural resources and labor which has helped India progress after attaining independence from British rule in 1947. The purpose of this research paper is to trace the Indian economy after independence. India is the largest democracy in the world with a stable democratic government. Recently, India has elected a new prime minister, Narendra Modi who took office in the year 2014. (India Today). The new government in India is credited with reviving the economy and strengthening India’sRead MoreIndia And China s Economic Growth1085 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract India and China, two populous countries (nearly one-third of the world’s population) in the world, have innumerable similarities in many aspects. Both of them sit on the Asian continent and achieve rapid economic growth in the past three decades. As current success stories of globalization, this rapid growth also influences the economic structure of the world which leads more concentration on the analysis of these two countries. Two Not Similar economies Different economies may have commonRead MoreWhatà ­s an Emerging Market Economy? Essay876 Words   |  4 Pagesmarket economy is one that has a low to middle per capita income which is in the process of moving from a closed economy to an open market economy. They currently represent approximately 20% of global economies. Although China is considered to be one of the largest economies of the world it is still classified as an emerging market due to its developments and reforms and low capita income per head. In general, emerging markets are deemed to be fast-growing economies into which developed economies look

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Palliative Care Perspectives

Question: Discuss about the Palliative Care Perspectives. Answer: Introduction: Palliative care is a special type of treatment that is provided to patients undergoing through serious conditions in their health. They mainly help in providing relief to such patients from severe pain and stress. This mainly helps to provide a quality of life care for not only the patient but also for different family members. They are mainly provided by a special group of doctors, nurses and carers who work in association with that of the patients own doctor. It helps patients suffering from cancer, congestive heart failure, kidney diseases, Alzheimers, Parkinsons and many others (Sprung et al., 2014). Palliative treatment is mainly helpful in treating pain, depression, shortness of breath, loss of apptit, constipation, difficulty in sleeping and many other symptoms, which often hampers proper life maintenance when being diagnosed by severe diseases and disorders. Researchers have suggested such palliative care to be extremely important for providing relief to the suffering of the patient who are nearing their death stage. This also supports such patients and their families by the comprehensive assessment as well as by the treatment of not only physical but also psychosocial and spiritual symptoms, which are experienced by the patients. When a person approaches towards death, his symptoms need palliation that is more aggressive. At that particular time, palliative care will not only intensify the comfort measure but also support the dying patients family (Hui et al., 2014). The essay will therefore mainly focus on the care requirement that are needed for delivering service to end of life care for patients in acute care setting and their families and will highlight the major issues that are faced by nurses while providing such care. The thesis question will mainly focus on how gathering the knowledge about the correct care requirements can affect the end of life care for people in acute care setting. It will also focus on what are the main issues that nurses face which if known may help in providing better care to such patients. Palliative care usually accompanies the care that is provided to the patient due to his ailments. The main requirement for providing palliative care for a patient at end of life is proper recognition of the pain and the troubling symptom of the patient by the appointed nurses. They will only be able to plan their intervention for the patient once they are aware of the emotional, spiritual as well as the practical needs of the patient. Once all the important choices of the patient are properly analyzed, the palliative care provided by the nurses will be more fruitful (Gardiner et al., 2014). It is extremely important for the palliative care nurse to identify and thereby carry out the goals of the intervention set up after the analysis. This mainly would involve symptom relief, spiritual comfort, counseling and enhancement of quality life. The nurses need to relieve the symptoms and distress that is affecting the patient at the same time helping them to understand their diseases and di agnosis in a better way. They will help the patient to clarify their treatment goals other options, which are available to them. Besides the nurses, also need to act as an emotional strength to the patient helping them to understand and at the same time support their ability to cope with the patients illness (Quill Abernathy, 2013). The nurses also need to assist the patient in making medical decisions and coordinate with doctors to discuss interventions and the results for providing best care. It is extremely important for the nurses to avoid making the patient feel that he is nearing his death. Rather she must try her best to make him see the better aspects of the life for which he can live for. Terminal care is required for not only cancer but also for respiratory failure, AIDS, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis and many others (Gillian et al., 2015). Therefore, nurses must practice proper communication technique to achieve such goals. Besides, coordination with the multidisciplinary team along with that of the patients family members is also necessary. She should try to control the symptoms of the patient for which she might need to be less professional and continue her care even for out of hours. Caring in the dying phase along with providing carer support is also extremely significant. Besides fulfilling the physical requirements, she also needs to provide emotional and spiritual support to the dying patient (Rowe, Fulmer Fried, 2013). Death will definitely co me to all of us and all knows it. However, when it becomes imminent, emotions changes and becomes strong. Patients often tend to know how much time they have in hand, or even may want to be honest with them. Under such circumstances, it is important for the nurse to analyze the patients critically; condition and answer accordingly being honest but at the same time, determining how much should be said to satisfy him without harming his emotional stability. Nurses while treating patients who are nearing their death face a large number of challenges. One of the major issues is handling intense conditions and important intensified discussions with the patients suffering from severe illness (Beckstrand et al., 2015). Researchers have suggested that nurses and many clinicians often complain about not receiving proper training and education during their courses, which helped them to handle such intense conditions. Studies suggest that only 6% of all conversations carried on end of life issues with patients and family members were mentored by higher authorities in comparison to the 90% cases of invasive procedure training like central venous line placement, arterial puncture and thoracocentesis being mentored by higher authorities (Carter, Levetown Friebert, 2013). Hence handling such situations effectively often becomes a major concern for them. Another issue faced by them is the application of concept of spirituality with their procedures. After being trained in the procedure for large number of years in science and its advancement in healthcare, it becomes difficult for them to handle conversations of spirituality and emotional strengths in order to handle the patients and his carers effectively. Moreover, it may also result in development of anxiety in the nurse about discussions on death and disease, which is further fueled by interactions with the dying patient (Peters et al., 2013). It may also affect him in other ways like making him remember some similar personal losses that result in developing stronger personal bonds with the patient harming her practice. A large number of ethical dilemmas were found when researchers conducted surveys. It stated that inadequate communication among stakeholders, provision of non beneficial care, different forms of issues with symptom management, autonomy of patient threatened or usurped, use of opioids, challenges faced in decision making and also dilemma in discontinuing lif e prolonging therapies were the mostly noted (Dilworth et al., 2016). Though death is an inseparable part of life, death is feared as an illness. Therefore the goal of a nurse in providing a palliative care is to improve the situation where pain and different symptoms of the dying patient are managed providing him both physical and mental support resulting in painless and peaceful situations towards end of life. Therefore, it is very necessary for the nurses to help patients and their family members to determine proper medical and emotional care and in providing correct alignment of the patient care goals with that of the healthcare teams. Establishment of need for medical proxy, resuscitation status and advance directives are the main fundamental foundations of the palliative care at end of life. In order to provide the best quality care to dying individuals, nurses also need to overcome a number of educational, ethical and emotional gaps and challenges to make their practices more prominent so that they can provide the best quality life that a human being deserves before he passes away. References: Beckstrand, R. L., Rohwer, J., Luthy, K. E., Macintosh, J. L., Rasmussen, R. J. (2015). Rural emergency nurses end-of-life care obstacle experiences: stories from the last frontier.Journal of Emergency Nursing. Carter, B. S., Levetown, M., Friebert, S. E. (Eds.). (2013).Palliative care for infants, children, and adolescents: a practical handbook. JHU Press. Dillworth, J., Dickson, V. V., Mueller, A., Shuluk, J., Yoon, H. W., Capezuti, E. (2016). Nurses' perspectives: hospitalized older patients and end?of?life decision?making.Nursing in critical care,21(2), e1-e11. Gardiner, C., Brereton, L., Frey, R., Wilkinson-Meyers, L., Gott, M. (2014). Exploring the financial impact of caring for family members receiving palliative and end-of-life care: a systematic review of the literature.Palliative medicine,28(5), 375-390. Gillan, P. C., van der Riet, P. J., Jeong, S. (2014). End of life care education, past and present: A review of the literature.Nurse Education Today,34(3), 331-342. Hui, D., Kim, S. H., Roquemore, J., Dev, R., Chisholm, G., Bruera, E. (2014). Impact of timing and setting of palliative care referral on quality of end?of?life care in cancer patients.Cancer,120(11), 1743-1749. Peters, L., Cant, R., Payne, S., OConnor, M., McDermott, F., Hood, K., ... Shimoinaba, K. (2013). How death anxiety impacts nurses caring for patients at the end of life: a review of literature.The open nursing journal,7(1). Quill, T. E., Abernethy, A. P. (2013). Generalist plus specialist palliative carecreating a more sustainable model.New England Journal of Medicine,368(13), 1173-1175. Rowe, J. W., Fulmer, T., Fried, L. (2016). Preparing for better health and health care for an aging population.Jama,316(16), 1643-1644. Sprung, C. L., Truog, R. D., Curtis, J. R., Joynt, G. M., Baras, M., Michalsen, A., ... Bulpa, P. (2014). Seeking worldwide professional consensus on the principles of end-of-life care for the critically ill. The Consensus for Worldwide End-of-Life Practice for Patients in Intensive Care Units (WELPICUS) study.American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine,190(8), 855-866.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Blow

Blow-Up: Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni Essay For the assignment I have chosen to analyze the ending sequence of Michelangelo Antonionis 1966 film, Blow-Up. The sequence begins with photographer, Thomas, return to the park during the day to photograph the dead body and ends with the End ? title as Thomas fades away. After attempting to make sense of the photographs he took at the park, Thomas discovers that he has, in reality, photographed a murder. He visits the park late at night preceding the final scenes and finds the body yet upon his return to photograph the body during the day it is no longer there. The scene begins with a shot of Thomas climbing the stairs in the park that lead towards where he originally photographed the couple and the murder. Anticipation is built up by following Thomass approach towards the bush then cutting to a shot where we are placed in front of Thomas on the other side of the bush as he looks around and realizes that there is no longer a mans body there. We will write a custom essay on Blow-Up: Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now It is interesting to notice that before he noticed the body missing as he walked through the park he first adjusts his camera, then holds it by his side in with his hand wrapped around its body and his finger on the trigger; almost like it is an extension of himself. Yet after realizing the body is missing he bends down and begins analyzing the place he saw the body and the hand holding the camera goes limp suggesting that the cameras purpose is no longer relevant. Instead we begin to follow his gaze as he suddenly looks up at overhanging branches on a tree as they rustle. In the following shots we follow Thomas as he walks around tentatively, making a stops and circling around. We are also aligned with his gaze as he looks at different things in the park and now he is holding the camera by its strap; further disconnecting him from the body of the camera. Now we have seen that he is not leaving the park the way he came and walks past the bush. Now we are introduced to the second part of the sequence when the clip suddenly cuts to the same group of yelling, trouble making mimes as they drive around the park catastrophically. The sounds and images of rustling trees from the first part are juxtaposed with the waving and yelling of the mimes as well as the sound of the engine of the truck as it whizzes by. Then, we are placed behind Thomas as he descends stairs and sees the mimes. Though we begin following Thomas as he strolls around the park, the camera is aligned with the movement of the mimes as they drive back around the park and stop their truck next to Thomas, jump out and two of the mimes enter the tennis court while the others line up along the outside of the fence to watch. We are placed inside of the court with the ?tennis players and they begin their match of tennis with an invisible ball and rackets. The mimes, who were once screaming and moving uncontrollably, now play and watch the game in silence. Interestingly, the camera follows the game as if the ball was real and we can faintly hear the sound of a racket hitting a tennis ball. Thomas, whos attention has evidently been drawn by this odd spectacle, now stands at the corner of the tennis court watching with a slightly amused look. Yet what stands out to me is that Thomas, a photographer who has expressed his ambition to capture events and people in the real world, does not so much as look at his camera. He is still holding it by the strap and it hangs uselessly by his side while we see his eyes following the nonexistent ball. I would say that the third part of the scene begins when the woman monk runs to Thomas corner of the tennis court to retrieve the ?ball which she missed and she and Thomas acknowledge each other; she makes a funny sort of shrug and he gives her a nod. .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 , .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .postImageUrl , .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 , .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087:hover , .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087:visited , .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087:active { border:0!important; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 { 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; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087:active , .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .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; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087 .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u20b6276c15ccb17a16b200c070bd5087:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The film X-Men-the Movie EssayThe moment between the two confirms that he is somewhat involved in this game. After this moment the camera flies around, following the ?ball very convincingly; perhaps inviting the viewer to spectate this game as well. After a few more hits we are placed behind Thomas as the ?ball is hit too hard and flies over the fence. Thomas head actually turns as his gaze follows the ?balls trajectory over the fence and the camera follows it as it invisibly rolls further away. Because the woman mime knows that Thomas has become involved with the game, she points to him and then to the ?ball, prodding him to go get it. Instead of making up another fake ball, the one that they were using again gains meaning as it appears to be their only fake ball. Thomas seems to hesitate for a moment before jogging to it, dropping his camera, grabbing the ball and throwing it back. After he throws it back we never return to see the game but instead watch his eyes shift back and forth as it continues before him. Suddenly, his eyes lower and pause as he appears to be thinking and we cut to a long shot from above of Thomas standing alone in the field whereupon he walks back to his camera, picks it up, turns back to the game and stops, eventually fading away and disappearing from the grass entirely. The end of the sequence is interesting as we see Thomas completely disconnected from his camera when he puts it down to throw the invisible ball. For him the camera is a method of both communication and knowledge. He has, throughout the film, been searching for the ?truth behind the murder in the park by blowing up his photographic images until they are almost unrecognizable representations of reality. He attempts to access reality by distorting it entirely; trying to control his images so they will reveal meaning. He moves through the world by both controlling (photo shoots with models) and displacing himself from it (hiding to photograph the couples). Upon seeing that the body is missing, he realizes that he cannot attain the truth about the murder he witnessed because there is no longer any physical evidence for him to photograph. Thomas gives himself up to the world, he loosens his grip on his camera while he wanders aimlessly until he sees the game; and instead of displacing himself from it by taking photographs, he allows himself to become a part of it. The simple action of throwing the invisible ball back is extremely significant because Thomas has evidently confronted the idea of reality without physicality and chooses to participate in the invisible fun. Perhaps he realizes after acknowledging that the body is missing that he can never gain access to the truth through photography independently because it is a medium of representation and the photograph, like the body, is a physical destructible medium. As a photographer, Thomas has lived in the realm of the visible, if it is not visible to him it cannot be real. Upon realizing the body is gone Thomas begins to look around and notice things, he invests himself in a fake game of Tennis, a game in which it actually does not matter what is visible and/or non-existent. Mimes themselves are figures that work with what cannot be seen and upon interacting with them Thomas seems to understand that reality lies between the visible and non-visible. Thomas disappearance at the end of the film is then perhaps Antonionis way of making ourselves as viewers aware of the fictional nature of what we are watching. Thomas character though meaningful, is fictitious and also acknowledges that like photography, film itself can never as a medium represent the ?real.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Fact or Fiction a Critique of the Man-Eating Myth Anthropophagy and Anthropology Essay Example Essay Example

Fact or Fiction: a Critique of the Man-Eating Myth: Anthropophagy and Anthropology Essay Example Paper Fact or Fiction: a Critique of the Man-Eating Myth: Anthropophagy and Anthropology Essay Introduction The Man-Eating Myth: Anthropophagy and Anthropology by William Arens (1979) examines the evidence or lack thereof in determining what constitutes cannibalism or anthropophagy. Throughout history anthropologists as well as other â€Å"explorers† have encountered numerous peoples throughout the world. During their fieldwork they have gathered data which suggest the practice of cannibalism within the communities. There have been countless documents which have substantiated the claim of cannibalism in distant countries. This data has been accepted as fact but in actuality these assumptions contain more fiction that validity. Arens has addressed this issue by scrutinizing these documents and providing secondary information that sheds light on the initial discoveries. Anthropophagy has been an ongoing topic for thousands of years. Cannibals are viewed as exotic, barbaric people whom lack the civilization to realize their customs are inane and fundamentally wrong. Due to this fact, f oreign communities have been labeled cannibals to justify ethnocentric views and actions: â€Å"This avenue of inquiry has led to the conclusion that our culture, like many others, finds comfort in the idea of the barbarian just beyond the gates. (p. 184) Anthropologists, for this reason, have substantiated accusations of cannibalism or anthropophagy without concrete evidence supporting these statements. â€Å".and almost every anthropologist considers it a sacred duty to report that the people studied and lived among were in the past or just recently eaters of their own kind. †(p. 8-9) This agenda is detrimental in finding the actual characteristic of a people because the researchers’ views become clouded by the cannibalistic fascination. Fact or Fiction: a Critique of the Man-Eating Myth: Anthropophagy and Anthropology Essay Body Paragraphs Anthropologist began to formulate ficticous accounts of anthropophagy by combining previously submitted documents along with miniscule true accounts: â€Å".we are to judge by the eye of reason, and not from common account. †(p. 9) First person evidence is the only credible way of substantiating or refuting the argument of cannibalism. Hearsay is only circumstantial in finding the truth on the subject. Arens’ experience with the tribal people in Tanzania added more depth to the anthropophagy debate. While in the field, Arens notice the Tanzanian people referring to him as Mchinja-chinja. Curious of the meaning, Arens asked his guide what the meaning was. Arens was told the meaning of Mchinja-chinja was blood-sucker. â€Å". I learned early on that the majority of the inhabitants either had suspicions or were convinced that I consumed human blood. †(p. 12) This evidence gives rise to the assumption people do not require ample evidence to conclude that a person or a group of people foreign to themselves is or was a cannibal. â€Å". their belief in this common variation on the cannibalism theme without a shred of concrete evidence. †(p. 13) The reason this generalization is prevalent is because everyone is an â€Å"other† to someone. In contrast to this critical position, the idea that Africans, Polynesians, New Guineans, American Indians are or were man-eaters until contact with the benefits of European influence is assumed to be in the realm of demonstrated fact. †(p. 19) The theory of â€Å"others† is associated heavily with anthropology because it helps justify the agenda of â€Å"explorers†. Being an â€Å"other† helps substantiate the assumptions made by travelers arriving in distant lands. The explorers encounter new lands inhabited by people who possess things of value. The easiest way to relinquish them of their possessions is to prove they do not deserve them. Being barbaric and uncivilized w as reason enough to strip a people of their belongings, to conquer and assimilate them to western civilization. This mindset causes the accepted documentation to be skewed and inaccurate; creating a pattern of savagery for future generations to reference. An example of this is seen in Hans Staden’s story of his journey. Hans Staden, a 16th century seaman, supposedly spent a little less than a year as a captive in America. During his stay Staden was captive as well as a guest. He recalled the tribal people whom inhabited his location as being cannibalistic. Staden spoke of an extremely detailed display of savagery. Staden explained how the captives were in cages and he heard women taunting him, saying â€Å"they would eat him†. He was brought, bound, to a spot designated by the painted females were they again taunted him. He then speaks of seeing a victim who is set next to a fire, and then killed by a warrior. The women then begin to collect the body and the village be gins to celebrate. â€Å"I was present and have seen all this with my own eyes. †(p. 23) The Staden example shows the stylized depiction associated with tribal eople. Cannibalism was and is a fascination that has weaved itself into history, although no solid proof has ever been found. Staden’s account has no validity because of the clearly obvious problems within the story. Staden, a 16th century seaman, was able to communicate with a group of people whom didn’t share the same dialect after being around them for less than a year. Secondly, how was it possible for Staden to survive this â€Å"experience† if he was being prepared to be eaten? The majority of the so-called â€Å"cannibal documents† are similar to the Staden account. It is evident the authors of these accounts are referencing the same source documents to acquire their first hand experiences. â€Å"The main point is that Staden and other seafarers of the time were most likely already c onvinced of Tupinamba savagery and cannibalism before they set foot on the continent, since the idea already had currency. †(p. 28) Staden wasn’t the only explorer of his time who decided to record their adventures. These men all traveled separately and weren’t connected to each other in anyway, but somehow they seemed to have experienced the same exact situation. Through three different accounts the same experiences are felt, almost word for word. â€Å"For example, Las Casas, in his History of the Indies, also written in the sixteenth century, reproduces a letter from some unnamed Portuguese priest among the Tupinamba who describe the cannibalistic rite and point out that the victim says to his executioner ‘that in his day he too killed his enemies, and that his relatives remain to avenge his death. ’†(p. 29) A Frenchman stationed in Brazil also commented on the Tupinamba as cannibals. â€Å"Are you not of the nation called Margaias, who ar e our enemies? Have you not killed and eaten our parents and friends? †(p. 29) Finally, an English man witnessed the exact same situation take place: â€Å"I am he that hath killed many of thy Nation and will kill thee. † (p. 29) These accusations provided Europeans with enough â€Å"evidence† to go throughout the world attempting to civilize the cannibals they came across. Cannibalism as a whole has been perpetuated by the necessity to conquer foreign territories. Anthropophagy gives would be explorers the â€Å"moral† right to invade communities stripping them of their possessions and culture in hope of bringing them to the level of western civilization. Evidence of this form of assistance has been seen throughout history. Most noticeably, the Aztec Indians were ravaged by Cortes and his search for gold. Cortes expressed that the Aztecs were uncivilized and barbaric. The Spaniards ransacked the civilization stripping it of all it possession and at the sa me time killing off its people. To justify this large scale genocide, the easiest thing to do was dehumanize the Aztecs. â€Å"Sometime shortly after the Conquest, it became apparent that in addition to being idolaters the Aztecs were both sodomists and cannibals. †(p. 58) Arens addresses the issue of cannibalism or anthropophagy as being associated to â€Å"others†. Whether a person is from Spain or a remote part of Africa, the foreigner will be classified in a derogatory manner. This is evident throughout the world by each individual’s ethnocentric views. The necessity for superiority is embedded in every culture no matter how sophisticated or simplistic. The necessity to substantiate these claims however, isn’t a priority. â€Å"The most certain thing to be said is that all cultures, subcultures, religions, sects, secret societies, and every other possible human association have been labeled anthropophagic by someone. (p. 139) Evidence is the key in d etermining which groups of people fall within the category of anthropophagy. Arens doesn’t classify individuals in this category; he instead gives examples of false classification. Whether a person is or isn’t a cannibal isn’t the issue. What is at the core of this argument is documentation. The association of a group of people to anthropophagy without proper support to substantiate the claims provides the imagination with room to grow. This has been the case throughout history. One person, Herodotus, in the 5th Century B. C. mentioned people in distant lands resorted to barbaric acts. .felt compelled to inform his readers in the fifth century B. C. that some unknown people, far beyond the pale of civilization, resorted to this barbaric custom. † Since this point in history, future generations have â€Å"borrowed† thoughts of cannibalism from their predecessors. Countries throughout the world have written on the exotic acts barbaric and savage tribe s’ people have participated in, however no solid facts have been submitted to solidify these remarks. The questions remains, If cannibalism is obviously so prevalent throughout distant societies why is finding a piece of concrete evidence so difficult? The answer to this question is because there is no need for evidence. Ethnocentrism is all that is need to substantiate the claims of individuals who say they have witnessed cannibalism. Societies vie to be the most superior and sophisticated civilizations. In this respect it makes sense to belittle competitors for these accolades. These sentiments are passed through the society reaching every part of community until mere thoughts become reality—fact. An example of this is of a German graduate student. He searched meticulously to find actual account of cannibalism but came up short. His search of all the publications from the sixteenth to the twentieth century had failed to produce a single first-hand account of the act itself in this, one of the last preserves of man-eaters. Almost all of the books he read mentioned its existence, but as unusual they were relying on other sources which never materialized as eyewitness accounts. †(p. 173) After concluding his research the graduate student told his professor of his finding and they concluded: â€Å".in light of their knowledge of the massive available evidence on cannibalism for this cultural area, he was mistaken. (p. 174) Although his professors never glanced at the documents their ethnocentric ideas dictated their actions. There prejudices toward cannibalism overrode their graduate students meticulously work in examining documents because in their eyes: â€Å".these were South American Indians, not civilized Europeans. †(p. 174) The solution to this problem is taking each instance with a grain of salt. Whether they are cannibals or not, there needs to be clear cut evidence that substantiates any data collected. The previously accept ed way of solidify truth needs to be re-evaluated as to safeguard the reputation of peoples of the world. If this comes to pass the ideal of hearsay being fact will cease to exist as it has in the past: â€Å"Now the notion of a flying sect of heretics had great advantages: it made it possible to account for assemblies which were frequent and often vast, and which nevertheless nobody ever saw. †(p. 185) This new way of addressing cannibalism with finally create a conclusion, a solid conclusion, whether it is fact or fiction. 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Sunday, November 24, 2019

A Walk in the Night and A Dry White Season

A Walk in the Night and A Dry White Season African apartheid and discrimination that some many people had to face has become the basis for a number of books and films. â€Å"A Walk in the Night† and â€Å"A Dry White Season† are two movies that describe the oppression people of African descent had to face. The discrimination and unequal treatment had no real basis, except for selfishness, greed and the mere ability to inflict unpunished harm onto other people.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"A Walk in the Night† and â€Å"A Dry White Season† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The movie â€Å"A Walk in the Night† tells a story of an African man Mikey who has had a rough night. He is one of the workers at the local factory and is fired because he confronts the foreman, after being called a racist name â€Å"kaffir† (A Walk in the Night). This is very much representative of the society where people were able to get a way with offending others based on their race and skin color. Such behavior would not be tolerated if it was done to someone of equal status or race but for those of African descent this was acceptable. This shows how ignorant and cruel a whole nation of people can be and what sort of influence a large number of individuals can have. Mikey is outraged by such behavior and his reaction costs him his job. After he leaves the factory, he meets Joey who is caught up with the wrong crowd and leads a life of crime and unemployment. Even though Mikey wants to help Joey, he realizes how futile and pointless his efforts are because a whole society is prejudiced and will not be able to change overnight. Mikey then finds out that his girlfriend is pregnant and is feeling hopeless because he lost his job and he knows that the society they live in is very much unhealthy. He then encounters a police officer who adds to the frustration by harassing him and calling another racial name. Mikey is in such a stressed condition that he goes drinking with his neighbor Uncle Doughty. They have a heartfelt conversation because Doughty has been around for some time and knew Mikey when he was a child, as well as his mother. The climax of the movie is the scene where Uncle Doughty says: â€Å"Mikey, my boy†¦ It’s just a manner of speech.† (A Walk in the Night). This outrages Mikey and he kills Doughty. This scene shows how tired and humiliated the nature of African people was because they were facing discrimination and disrespect for so long. The movie â€Å"A Dry White Season† is another representation of discrimination towards Africans. It tells a story of a white teacher in a South African school who is asked for help by a man Gordon. Ben, the teacher, refuses, as he does not want to participate in the fight between races and societies. Even though he avoids the fight, he faces it later because he sees the unacceptable behavior of the white people. Gordon an d his wife are killed and Ben takes up the fight against the white man’s regime.Advertising Looking for essay on african american? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The quote â€Å"Blacks lead double lives one you see and one you dont† proves how the offense and stress that the whites have caused is unseen and Native Africans are forced to live their lives in segregation and separation (A Dry White Season). In the movie, Ben represents the fight for respect and equality and portrays everyone who was in support of blacks and was not afraid to fight them. Both movies are a strong representation of events that can be seen as one of the dark spots in human history. A Dry White Season. Ex. Prod. Paula Weinstein. Beverly Hills, United States: MGM. 1989. Film. A Walk in the Night. Ex. Prod. Mickey Madoda Dube. Johannesburg, South Africa: SABC. 2000. Film.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Focus Groups Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Focus Groups - Research Paper Example In the groups, questions are asked in an interactive way and the members are allowed to socialize among themselves in a free manner (Stewart et al 2006, p.55) There are a many of reasons that make focus groups different from one-to-one interviews. One of the differences is that focus groups give a room for a person to gain information from the society’s cross section. It also enables a person to obtain multiple views at once. On the other hand, in one on one interview the research is targeted on only one person and, therefore, the cross section of the society is not fully represented. The one on one interview only allows only single point of view at a particular time as opposed to focusing groups. One on one interview allows the interviewer to obtain deep information from a person. It can be very essential when a particular person has much knowledge about a particular aspect. However, the focus group limits the availability of deep information from the study participants (Rubin & Rubin 2005, p.67). Group interviews have numerous advantages over one on one interview. One of the benefits is that the focus groups give room for interaction among the group members. It gives an advantage of generation of new thinking concerning the topic in consideration. The focus groups are dynamic in nature. Due to this fact the moderator can be able to modify the topics. There is also the ability to utilize the nonverbal behaviors of the participants. However, there are issues that one needs to be aware of the focus groups. There are cases when they can be influenced by the dominant people. Secondly they cannot be effective when sensitive issues are concerned. The findings of the groups are not projectable. It means that this cannot be compared to the results achieved by other methods of research. The environment that is created by the groups is artificial and there are chances that

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

How effectively did the three armed services combine in the Falklands Essay

How effectively did the three armed services combine in the Falklands campaign - Essay Example Despite being over 8,000 miles away and at a tremendous logistical disadvantage, Prime Minister Thatcher sent an invasion force consisting of ships of all varieties, airplanes, helicopters, soldiers and one British Prince. Mrs. Thatcher wanted to prove to the USSR and communist governments throughout the world that western powers were not going to back down from a conflict, especially a colony or territory that contained a large number of western inhabitants. Thatcher was informed that Soviet intelligence reports stated that even if Thatcher were to go ahead with a military invasion, the English would lose if they went at it alone. Again, The Iron Lady took offence and set out to prove them wrong. The British Prime Minister realized the implications of this crisis. She knew that what ever she chose to do would be setting one precedent or another. It was in Thatcher's hands to decide which precedent she would set. For her, there was no question, she could not let it seem that the Sovi ets could freely choose a Western territory or colony and simply invade it without fearing the consequence of military action. In most of the renowned strategists’ opinion, the Falklands War has been referred to as like two bald men fighting over a comb. Neither country particularly needed the Falklands, and the Falklands had very little that either country coveted, but it was the symbol that was important. (Gordon 2006) Argentina lost the war in part because the comb wanted to go to England but more importantly because they simply were not prepared to fight a war against the whole world. How did British Royal Forces Show Leadership Styles The British royal armed forces used dramatically different leadership styles portrayed by British Officers at the battle of Goose Green. As regards to these two characters are the most prominent: the Battlegroup Commander Colonel H Jones who was famous for assaulting a trench single handedly and was subsequently killed. The second character is that of the B Company commander Major John Crosland who successfully lead an assault on Burntside Hill and demonstrated a markedly different style of leadership than that of Colonel Jones. These two characters have been chosen because of their almost polar opposite approaches to initially the orders process and then their own leadership style. They demonstrate just how subjective the orders process can be and the affect that a differing approach can have on the battle itself. Jones demonstrated how an autocratic style of leadership coupled with a positionalist approach to war fighting lead to near disaster, whereas Crosland showed how a slightly more Laisser Faire attitude and an understanding of mission command could prove successful. How could two such different approaches be present in what was to all intents and purposes was the same organization? The first - the orders delivered by Jones for the Assault on Goose Green and secondly his individual leadership style. These will then be contrasted with that of Major Crosland and his assault onto Burntside Hill. Colonel H Jones was a renowned figurehead of the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. He was known for his fiery temper, his embrace of the Parachute Regiment ethos and his dogged tenacity (Middlebrook, 1985). His actions

Sunday, November 17, 2019

History of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

History of Art - Essay Example Starry night is one of the masterpieces by Vangogh, and it depicts a sky at night filled with blazing stars, swirling clouds, a bright crescent moon and a morning star as centre point. The features of this painting is bit exaggerated, but it reflects a feeling of ease and comfort in human being. This starry sky makes the viewer’s eye gazing all around the painting. The dots of the stars and swirls of cloud keep the viewer hold on to the painting as well as engaged. Below the sky there is a hill and close to the horizon lies a village. The cool colors of the painting bring in nostalgic memories to the viewers about their childhood years. Guitar’s by Picasso was a breakthrough in the world of sculpturing, as it was an epitome of human experimentation and creativity. First this work was done in cardboard and later it was reconstructed in metal. The antiquity of the work is that it was not constructed from traditional materials like wood, marble or bronze but from sheet met al. Here the guitar is being portrayed in a unique form where the lower half of the guitar projects outwards instead of receding. Picasso with this art explored the cubism and presented a different form of guitar to the world. This guitar in paper was the most influential art work of Picasso in the 20th century. The starry night has a theme of serenity, as a person viewing it feels calm and peace both emotionally and physically. The prominent blue color of the painting cools down the senses and relaxes a person entirely. Watching a starry sky at night have always been an act of pleasure. It is definite that Vangogh while painting this work had been intensely calm and at peace. The massive dark structure on the left hand side of the painting evokes a feeling of isolation .This art work remarks about the sense of serenity a person feels while watching a starry sky at night in isolation while weather is cool. The paining also connects a person immensely to the nature. The art work has a core message of the significant impact nature has on human beings. Even when the times changed, the affect of a star studded night on a person is enormous. In this age of technology, people find less time to appreciate nature and its characteristics. If we find some quality time to observe sky at night, we could dream away in its beauty. It could make us see what Vangogh has seen and additionally

Friday, November 15, 2019

Advantages and Disadvantages of Triangulation Research

Advantages and Disadvantages of Triangulation Research Triangulation Qualitative Analysis Triangulation is often used in qualitative methodology to increase the validity of findings, but it is not a panacea. Using British examples in the police and public sector, discuss the meaning of the term triangulation, how it can be used in qualitative research and its limitations and potential. Abstract This paper focuses on the use of triangulation within qualitative research using examples from British public sector and more specifically, police research. Qualitative research approaches have been increasingly used within public sector research. Different types of triangulation are explained and the relevance of each type is identified. The purpose of using triangulation within qualitative research; which is to increase validity, is critically discussed. Different types of validity are explained, as well as the significance of the concept of validity to research. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches are critically compared. The use of qualitative approaches within public sector research is defended, and the positivist perspective is challenged by arguing that the use of triangulation can strengthen the validity of qualitative research methodology. Using three examples of public sector research, some advantages and potential limitations of using triangulation within this area are identified. Several examples of police research studies that have adopted the use of triangulation as part of a qualitative approach are critically discussed with reference to different types of triangulation and their relationship to different types of validity. A synthesis of the issues that emerge from the selected police research studies in relation to triangulation is included. The paper concludes that while there are potential limitations associated with the use of triangulation within qualitative research, the cited examples of public sector and police research demonstrate that there are also several potential advantages and that triangulation can contribute to the validity of qualitative research in these domains. It is important to acknowledge that the application or the omission of different types of triangulation within a research study can correspond to its strengths and weaknesses, and there is an implication for the researcher to be knowledgeable and skilled in the use of triangulation in order to optimise its application within qualitative research. In other words, the limitations of triangulation might relate to the way that it is implemented rather than to the strategy itself. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the use of triangulation within qualitative methodology as a means of increasing the validity of findings, with reference to research examples from the police and other public sector areas. Triangulation, Validity and Qualitative Research In simple terms, triangulation refers to the examination of a situation from different perspectives, using different methods (Laws et al 2003). Triangulation is often referred to as the use of mixed methods within research, however Denzin and Lincoln (2000) developed this concept further to include four different types: data triangulation, which refers to the use of a variety of sources of data within a study; investigator triangulation which involves several researchers; theory triangulation, which uses multiple perspectives to interpret a single set of data and methodological triangulation which involves the use of multiple methods to study a single problem. Data triangulation is commonly used within qualitative research as it facilitates understanding of the complexity of a poorly understood phenomenon, an example being the combination of holding in- depth discussions with participants and observing their behaviour within a natural setting (Polit and Beck 2004). Investigator trian gulation can help to overcome the potential problem of personal bias (Sim and Wright 2000). The advantage of using methodological triangulation is that it helps to resolve the limitations that single methods have in studying the complexity of social reality (Kendall 2005). Frequently triangulation involves the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods, the rationale being that the strengths of each are optimised (Flick 2006). This paper however, will focus on the use of triangulation exclusively within qualitative methodology. The purpose of using triangulation within qualitative research is to add rigour, depth, breadth, complexity and richness to the research process (Denzin and Lincoln 2003a). The use of triangulation within qualitative research is therefore, said to increase validity (Giles 2002). The term validity is often referred to as the ability of a research instrument to measure what it is intended to do (De Vaus 2002). There are however, different types of validity; internal validity, which asks whether researchers are actually measuring what they think they are; external validity which relates to the generalisability of the findings of a study to other settings; interpretive validity which is concerned with the accurate understanding and portrayal of data; theoretical validity which relates to the appropriateness of theory that emerges from the data and evaluative validity which refers to the quality of the research process, in relation to the actions of the researcher. Overall, within qualitative research; validity relates to the trustworthiness of the data, its analysis and its interpretation (Waltz et al 2005). Holloway and Wheeler (2002) however, suggest that triangulation does not always confer validity; that this is dependent on the nature of the individual research project and that only researchers who are experienced should use triangulation within qualitative research. Qualitative research approaches seek to understand the meaning of phenomena (Patton 2002a). They aim to represent the true complexities of human behaviour, gaining access to thoughts and feelings that cannot be accessed by using other methods Flanagan 2005). Quantitative research on the other hand, has been criticised for its reductionist approach towards the human experience; it has the ability to produce results which are statistically significant yet humanly insignificant. Qualitative research methods include interviews, observations and document analysis. The qualitative researcher tends to engage more with the research participants and aims to address any associated criticism of the potential for subjectivity by the application of rigorous and systematic methods of data collection and analysis. Qualitative research approaches have increasingly been used in public sector research within the UK, for example within the health care domain, where they have helped to enhance understanding of health, health behaviours and health services (Green and Thorogood 2004). There are also several examples cited within the literature, of qualitative methodology being used in police service research. (for example: Cassell and Symon 2004; Dick 2000; Dick and Jankowicz 2001; Dorn and Brown 2003; Noaks and Wincup 2004; Office for Public Management 2006). Triangulation in Public Sector Research Qualitative research methodology is often employed within the public sector because of the ‘people factor’; public sector organisations such as the police, health and social services and local councils employ large numbers of personnel (Grant and Vidler 2000), added to which these are helping organisations that provide a human service. Qualitative research is described as a naturalistic, interpretative approach that is concerned with understanding the meanings which people attach to phenomena within their social worlds (Ritchie and Lewis 2003). As stated previously, it is very much concerned with human behaviour, experiences, values and beliefs. It does however attract criticism from positivists in terms of not being valued as a scientific approach (Haslam and McGarty 2003). Positivism adopts the position that the purpose of science is to limit research activity to what can be directly observed and measured; that aspects such as feelings, attitudes and beliefs cannot be directly observed and measured and are not therefore, legitimate areas for scientific investigation (Trochim 2006). As previously stated, the implications of this are that there are huge areas within the human experience that would not warrant investigation within the quantitative paradigm. The purpose of triangulation within qualitative research is to challenge the criticism that this is not a scientific approach, by combining multiple observers, theories, methods and data sources in order to overcome the intrinsic bias that arises from single- methods, single observer and single- theory studies (Patton 2002b). There now follows an overview of three public sector research studies that have employed triangulation in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. McAdam et al (2002) used data triangulation of qualitative methodology to investigate how the principles of total quality management (TQM) are being sustained in the UK public sector by contributing to improved performance levels. The research methodologies included focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Using triangulation served to strengthen their finding which was that quality frameworks play a key role in improving organisational performance over time. A study by Atwal and Caldwell (2006) aimed to explore nurses perceptions of multidisciplinary teamwork in acute health-care. In order to do so, they adopted methodological triangulation by conducting interviews and direct observations of interactions between nurses and health-care professionals in multidisciplinary teams. The findings of this study identified three barriers that hindered teamwork: differing perceptions of teamwork; different levels of skills acquisitions to function as a team member; and the dominance of medical power that influenced interaction in teams. The combination of interview with observation in qualitative research is becoming increasingly popular (Ekstrom 2004). A study by Bryans (2004) aimed to articulate the health visiting expertise involved in recognizing and responding to client need during home visits. The researcher adopted what she describes as an innovative, multi-method approach used to articulate this expertise which involved a 20-minute simulated visit to an actress-client, a post- simulation focused interview and subsequent observation of actual home visits with 15 study participants. The researcher identified the strength of this approach as providing a blend of control and naturalism and considers that this approach could usefully be applied within multidisciplinary contexts. The researcher also acknowledged the limitations of the approach as arising from the variability of naturally-occurring, observational data which meant that simulation and observational data were not directly comparable in terms of content in a study of this type. Comparability of observational and simulation data, and the reliability of the observational data, were also diminished by the use of different methods of data-gathering. These studies collectively demonstrate that the use of triangulation within qualitative research can strengthen its findings; a potential limitation is that it may not be easy to make dependable comparisons between two sets of data due to differences in the ways that the data was collected. Triangulation in Police Research A review of the literature reveals that qualitative research approaches have been employed within police research involving the use of triangulation for some time. An interesting example of the use of triangulation within police research are studies that highlight discrepancies between information given about experiences of crime to the police by comparing this data obtained by other means, for example by using interviews conducted by external researchers (Bechhofer and Paterson 2000a). In other words, a more accurate picture can be gained by the use of triangulation. The same authors refer also to the use of qualitative research and multiple methodologies in order to obtain information about peoples’ perceptions about crime; for example relating to their fear of crime. This information might otherwise be inaccessible. It is possible that the use of triangulation within police research could be effective in dealing with information of a sensitive nature. Lee (2000a) makes reference to a study conducted by Norris et al in 1992 that demonstrated how the use of different methodologies can highlight the difference between perceptions held about, and the reality of, a situation. In this instance observations were made of the demeanour of police officers and citizens in situations where citizens were stopped by the police. During an encounter, blacks and whites were equally likely to present a calm and civil demeanour towards the police. There were also few differences in police demeanour and action towards the two groups. These findings did not support competing claims (i.e. derived from other sources of information) that the police are overtly hostile to blacks, or that blacks display disrespectful attitudes towards the police. Devine and Heath (1999) provide a critique of an ethnographic study conducted by Hobbs in 1988, of petty criminals and local CID detectives working in the East End of London. The ethnographic research consisted of both overt and covert participant observation of both the criminals and the police in a variety of different settings. The researcher was able therefore to gain a variety of sources of data which contributed to what is described by Devine and Heath as the ‘richness of his ethnography’ (p.8). However they also consider that the study would have benefited from investigator triangulation in order to overcome the problem of bias. They felt that this would have led to a more accurate picture of malpractice within the Metropolitan CID. An identified limitation of participant observation is that the researcher can become biased in favour of the group or indeed against them (Moore 2001). A study of this kind is also unlikely to have external validity; as being an ethno graphic study; it is very much informed by the uniqueness of its social and cultural context. The last two studies demonstrate the value of observation as a research method particularly as a component of triangulation. The advantages of observation are as follows: the researcher can observe interaction within a group as well as gain information from people individually via interviews, as the dynamics of a group might influence the nature of communication between its members; the researcher might gain a more objective view of a situation than a research participant who is likely to be immersed in their social world and may not as a result, identify aspects which are of interest to the researcher. Observation also enables the researcher to observe actions, which can be more meaningful in some ways than verbal communication (Weinberg 2001). The value of investigator triangulation is highlighted in a second study cited by Lee (2000b). This also looked at police- citizen interaction using multiple observers from different backgrounds. Data triangulation was also employed as the observers were asked to collect data in two forms, one on a checklist; the other as a narrative account. The two sources of data were then compared. The use of multiple observers should help to overcome the potential problem of personal bias that was said to arise from the Hobbs study. A study by Knock (2002) drew on the findings of a telephone survey of all police forces in England and Wales and interviews with key personnel in 16 police forces to gain information about the use of Sex Offender Orders (SOOs) which came into force in 1998; the aim of these being to provide an additional measure of protection to the public from sex offenders by prohibiting an offender from certain behaviours that had previously been precursors to offending. It was found that the pattern of SOO applications is not uniformly distributed across the country. The researcher commented that the low uptake of SOOs by some forces needs to be carefully interpreted. The use of triangulation allowed for the underlying reasons for low uptake to be identified. These included a general lack of understanding about the SOO process and concerns about inadequate resources for monitoring the Order; this information being gained via the interviews. Furthermore, some forces identified that other strategie s for managing sex offenders without resorting to an Order were considered to be adequate; others had negotiated voluntary agreements with offenders in order to modify their behaviour. The relevance of this study in relation to triangulation is that the ‘first level’ of presenting information could be misleading; the use of more than one methodology facilitated a deeper level of understanding about the variation in applying the SOOs. As with all qualitative research methods, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of telephone interviews. It may be possible for the researcher to enter responses directly onto a computer which could increase time efficiency and accuracy of recording. Respondents might find it easier to respond to questions of a sensitive nature when they are not face- to- face with the interviewer. The disadvantages include a lower response rate than for face- to- face interviews, which reduces further when longer telephone intervie ws are required (Pocock 2000). It is also not possible to observe non- verbal aspects of communication. The use of triangulation therefore, helps to overcome the disadvantages of a single research method. The identified weaknesses of the telephone interview are all aspects which could be compensated for by the additional use of face-to- face interviews. Conversely, the strengths of the telephone interview should help to overcome the limitations of the face- to- face interview. Pain et al (2002) carried out research commissioned by the Home Office to produce a Police Research Series paper which examined homeless and school- excluded young people’s experience of crime and disorder; the rationale being that they had previously been poorly represented in consultation. The need to adopt a qualitative approach for this study was emphasised by the researchers, in order that the young people’s attitudes, experiences and understanding of crime could be explored in depth. The participants were invited to develop a range of visual materials, and observations and informal discussion were also used by the researchers. Findings included that there are negative outcomes of the vicious circle created by being labelled as either homeless or as troublemakers at school; that most of the crimes committed by the homeless young people are petty and victimless, such as begging; that the homeless feel most at risk in spaces where control can be exerted over them, su ch as within the home or in dealings with the police and as a result they actually feel safer on the streets; that crime and homelessness are two factors which are correlated; that school- excluded young people are more likely to be involved in crime, most of which is petty but some of which is serious; that school- excluded young people often feel victimised and have been bullied, some have been the victims of abuse within the home and others have been exposed to crime previously as non- offenders. The researchers highlight the benefits of participatory research approaches as enabling the young people to be involved in the process of research and strategy development, at the same time allowing their interests to be promoted. In other words, they are being empowered. The researchers also acknowledge the limitations of participatory research methods, which are not specified within this research report but which have been identified elsewhere as being time intensive; as having been criticised as involving reduced scientific rigour and that the researchers’ control over the project could be compromised (Arble and Moberg 2006). The researchers comment that the limitations of participatory methods could impact upon the effectiveness of their use as a basis for action. Triangulation involving informal discussion and observation in addition to the participatory methods therefore is a strategy which was used in this instance to overcome the potential limitations of the latter, th us increasing the validity of the research process and the interpretation and application of the data. This is a very interesting study which has revealed some powerful insights into the issues affecting an otherwise disenfranchised group, drawing upon their unique perspectives. Some of the findings are surprising and challenge widely held assumptions and negative perceptions held about homeless young people; that are reflected in the lack of resources, support and appropriate accommodation available for this group (Dean 2006). The impact of such a study could be therefore, to contribute towards improved service delivery for homeless and school- excluded young people. It could be argued that triangulation is a powerful strategy that adds credibility to a study of this kind, which in turn could have an impact on improving the lives of otherwise disempowered and misunderstood groups of young people. In summary, there are several examples within the literature of qualitative approaches adopted within police research which employ triangulation. A synthesis of the issues relating to the use of triangulation in this specific area of work is as follows: triangulation can help to address sensitive issues within police research that might not be effectively dealt with using a single method; triangulation can highlight discrepancies between data obtained as a result of using different sources and methods, which could also be interpreted as a limitation of triangulation, in that it could lead to data from different sources not being directly comparable; it enables the subjective perceptions of participants (and therefore those who may be affected by the outcomes of research studies) to be taken into consideration, in addition to the more objective observations of researchers, this allows for participants to be empowered and to potentially have some influence over the development of strat egy which results from the research process; triangulation potentially allows for the use of multiple researchers, multiple settings, multiple sources and multiple methods to be used within police research; the use of multiple methods enables the strengths to overcome the limitations of each method; triangulation facilitates different levels of research investigation to be carried out, for example underlying reasons for the findings emerging from the use of one method can be identified by the use of an alternative approach, thereby contributing to the depth, breadth, complexity and richness of the research process (Denzin and Lincoln 2003b) and triangulation could add to the credibility of a research study which in turn could impact upon changes being made to improve service provision. Conclusion Robson (2002) agrees with the statement within the question; i.e. that triangulation is not a panacea. It can be problematic, for example when two data sources are inconsistent or conflicting. Further investigation might lead to an even more complex set of understandings. Kirby (2000) agrees that while triangulation is used to overcome the problems associated with using one research method, it does not eliminate these problems, but disguises them by compensating for the weaknesses of one method with the strengths of another. Triangulation is not a unified overall methodology; it is a way of using complementary methods. Coleman and Briggs (2002) argue that while triangulation contributes to validity, it is not a panacea and that its value can be overestimated. Bechhofer and Paterson (2000b) suggest that there are weak and strong forms of triangulation. They describe a weak form as making multiple observations of a situation using the same method and a strong form as making several obs ervations using different methods. Despite these identified limitations of triangulation, examples cited within this paper from public sector and specifically, police research indicate that there are several potential ways in which it can contribute to the validity of the qualitative research process. The advantage of using qualitative methods within public sector and police research has been identified here as enabling the human experience to be valued and investigated. Potential limitations of qualitative research methods can be overcome by the use of triangulation as the strengths of each individual method can compensate for the weaknesses of others. Finally it is important to acknowledge that the appropriate skills of the researcher can contribute towards the quality of a mixed- methods study and that it might be necessary to involve two or more researchers who have complementary research skills in order to optimise the benefits of using triangulation within qualitative research (Tashakkori and Teddlie 2003). References Arble B and Moberg D. Participatory Research in Development of Public health Interventions. Population Health Institute. 2006. p. 3. Atwal A and Caldwell K. Nurses perceptions of multidisciplinary team work in acute health-care. International Journal of Nursing Practice. 12(6) 2006 pp.359-365 Bechhofer F and Paterson L. Principles of Research Design in the Social Sciences. Routledge. 2000. p. 58. Bryans A. Examining health visiting expertise: combining simulation, interview and observation. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 47(6) 2004 pp.623-630, Cassell C and Symon G. Essential Guide to Qualitative Methods in Organizational Research. Sage Publications. 2004. p. 316. Coleman and Briggs. Research Methods in Educational Leadership and Management. Sage publications. 2002. p. 70. Dean H. Social Policy. Polity Press. 2006. p. 99 Denzin N and Lincoln Y. Handbook of Qualitative Research. Sage Publications. 2000. p. 391. Denzin N and Lincoln Y Collecting and Interpreting Qualitative Materials. Sage Publications. 2003. p. 8. De Vaus D. Surveys in Social Research. Routledge. 2002. p. 53. Devine F and Heath S. Sociological Research methods in Context. Macmillan. 1999. p. 8. Dick, P. The social construction of meaning of acute stressors: a qualitative study of the personal accounts of police officers using a stress counselling service, Work Stress, 14 (3) 2000. pp.226-244. Dick P. and Jankowicz D social constructionist account of police culture and its influence on the representation and progression of female officers: A repertory grid analysis in a UK police force. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management, 24 (2) 2001. pp. 181-199. Dorn L and Brown B, Making sense of invulnerability at work: a qualitative study of police drivers. Safety Science, 41(10) 2003 pp.837-859. Ekstrom K. Elusive Consumption. Berg Publishers. 2004. p. 57. Flanagan C. Research Methods for AQA A Psychology. Nelson Thornes. 2005. p. 46. Flick U An Introduction to Qualitative Research. Sage Publications. 2006. p. 33 Giles D Advanced Research Methods in Psychology. Routledge. 2002. pp. 220-1 Grant S and Vidler C. Economics in Context. Harcourt Heinemann. 2000. p. 64. Green and Thorogood. Qualitative Methods for Health Research. Sage Publications. 2004. p. 4. Haslam S and McGarty C. Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology. Sage Publications. 2003. p. 389. Holloway I and Wheeler S. Qualitative Research in Nursing. Blackwell publishing. 2002. p. 2. Kendall D. Sociology In Our Times. Thomson Wadsworth. 2007. p. 67. Kirby M. Sociology in Perspective. Harcourt Heinemann. 2000. p. 9. Knock K. The Police Perspective on Sex offender Orders: A preliminary view of policy and practice. Policing and Reducing Crime Unit: Police Research Unit. 2002. Laws S , Harper C and Marcus R. Research for Development: A Practical Guide. Sage Publications. 2003. p. 280. Lee R. Unobtrusive Methods in Social research. Open University Press. 2000. p. 37, 48 McAdam R, Reid R and Saulters R Sustaining quality in the UK public sector: Quality measurement frameworks. International Journal of Quality Reliability Management. 19(5). 2002. pp. 581 – 595 Moore S. Sociology Alive!Nelson Thornes. 2001. p. 34 Noaks L and Wincup E. Criminological Research: Understanding Qualitative Methods. Sage Publications. 2004. p. 101. Office for Public Management. Metropolitan Police Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service. Safer London Panel. Communication Matters. OPM. 2006. Pain R, Francis P, Fuller I, O’Brien K and Williams S. ‘Hard- to- Reach’ Young People and Community Safety: a model for participatory research and consultation. Police research Series paper 152. Home Office 2002. Patton M. Qualitative Research Evaluation Methods. Sage Publications. 2002. pp. 1, 555. Pocock R. Market Research in Health and Social Care. Routledge. 2000. p. 100. Polit D and Beck C. Nursing Research: Principles and Methods. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. 2004. p. 36. Ritchie J and Lewis J. Qualitative Research Practice: a guide for social science students and researchers. Sage Publications. 2003. p. 3. Robson C. Real World Research: A Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner-Researchers. Blackwell publishing. 2002. p.483. Sim J and Wright C Research in Health Care: Concepts, Designs and Methods. Nelson Thornes 2000. p. 137. Tashakkori A and Teddlie C. Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social Behavioural Research. Sage Publications. 2003. p. 553. Trochim W. Positivism Post-Positivism. Research methods Knowledge Base. Web Centre for Social research Methods. 2006. http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/positvsm.php. Accessed 10th March 2007. Waltz C, Strickland O and Lenz E. Measurement In Nursing And Health Research. Springer Publishing. 2005. p. 217. Weinberg D. Qualitative Research Methods. Blackwell Publishing. 2001. p. 135.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Using The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Essay -- Personality Tests Psych

Using The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Test measures personality according to eight traits, in twos. The first set of traits tested is introversion and extroversion. When taking this test, I scored twenty-two introversion points and only six extroversion points. According to the test, I am an introvert. This means that I better relate to the world of ideas rather than the world of people or things. Introverts are energy conservers. They hold in stress, feelings, and ideas and they build up as long as possible. This type of person would push to the limit all day and hold as much in as possible. When they sit down at the end of the day, they are exhausted. This is what I do. Introverts are quiet but friendly and generally reserved with incredible drives for their own ideas. I feel that I am an introvert because I relate more to ideas and feelings than people. I am very shy and reserved but friendly. I have trouble remembering names and faces but I am interested in what people do and say. I am very detailed and somewhat of a perfectionists, carefully thinking about things before I act. The second set of traits are the sensate and intuitive. The sensate involves a preference to work with known facts while the intuitive is a preference to look for possibilities and relationships. Sensate personalities are characterized by those who do research and observation. This type of person wants to know the facts and can see what is on the outside. They te...

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Mbuti Culture Essay

The Mbuti or Bambuti are one of several indigenous pygmy groups in the Congo region of Africa. Their language belongs to the Central Sudanic subgroup of the Nilo-Saharan phylum.1 After researching the Mbuti culture, I think we will see that their government, traditions, and culture is slowly and sadly melting into the surrounding, changing world. Mbuti’s primary mode of subsistence is Foraging. They hunt and gather food from the forest, and they trade as well for survival. The Foragers, or hunter-gatherers, in modern-day Zaire have survived with a subsistence lifestyle in small-scale societies. Political organization-Bambuti societies have no ruling group or lineage, no overlying political organization, and little social structure. The Bambuti are an egalitarian society in which the band is the highest form of social organization. Leadership may be displayed for example on hunting treks. Men and women basically have equal power. Issues are discussed and decisions are made by consensus at fire camps; men and women engage in the conversations equivalently. If there is a disagreement, infraction, or offense, then the offender may be banished, beaten or scorned. No chief or formal council has imposed rules. Kinship of the Bambuti tend to follow a patrilineal descent system, and their residences after marriage are patrilocal. However, the system is rather loose. The only type of group seen amongst the Bambuti is the nuclear family. Kinship also provides allies for each group of people. One of the Mbuti’s social problems is interclan disputes, over children and women. Women migrate to villages, losing close to one out of five of their female population. An uneven number of women lead to the inevitable transfer of women from one family, to another. This leads to great conflict between the men, over the disposition of their female siblings. â€Å"Divorce is common. The women often initiate divorce simply by packing their things (including small children) and moving back to their family’s camp. If they have boys, they return to their father when they are old enough to hunt. The typical marriage is monogamous because women are scarce.† Beliefs and Values – Prior to independence, tropical forest foragers remained outside the mainstream of society and politics. However, post independence wars and nation-building drives have changed customary ways. Landscapes are eroding due to the cutting of timber, the building of roads and mining. Commerce has also further isolated the Mbuti peoples. They are in a state of social flux affecting their beliefs, values, and traditional culture. Everything in the Bambuti life is centered on the forest. They consider the forest to be their great protector and provider and believe that it is a sacred place. They sometimes call the forest â€Å"mother† or â€Å"father.† An important ritual that impacts the Bambuti’s life is referred to as molimo. After events such as death of an important person in the tribe, molimo is noisily celebrated to wake the forest, in the belief that if bad things are happening to its children, it must be asleep. As for many Bambuti rituals, the time it takes to complete a molimo is not rigidly set; instead, it is determined by the mood of the group. Food is collected from each hut to feed the molimo, and in the evening the ritual is accompanied by the men dancing and singing around the fire. Women and children must remain in their huts with the doors closed. These practices were studied thoroughly by British anthropologist Colin Turnbull, known primarily for his work with the tribe. â€Å"Molimo† is also the name of a trumpet the men play during the ritual. Traditionally, it was made of wood or sometimes bamboo, but Turnbull also reported the use of metal drainpipes. The sound produced by a molimo is considered more important than the material it is made out of. When not in use, the trumpet is stored in the trees of the forest. During a celebration, the trumpet is retrieved by the youth of the village and carried back to the fire. The Mbuti people are in great cultural transition, being influenced more and more by the surrounding dominate encroaching culture. As the outside word encroaches on these indigenous people, their beliefs, traditions and practices, they are slowly losing their original uniqueness in an ever shrinking world that seems to be losing boundaries. As of recent, they are even given to the accumulation of outside currencies for use in their day to day lives.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Craven Books Case Study Solutions Essay Example

Craven Books Case Study Solutions Essay Example Craven Books Case Study Solutions Paper Craven Books Case Study Solutions Paper One day, we were making money, the next, everything was falling apart But can the case be so easily closed ? A quick look on the history of the firm and its failure should help us define the culprit(s). In the asses, the company was at the peak to it success and was looking to expand , to do 50, it was decided the company should have an efficient distribution system, and thats why the management team opted to create an IT system. However, the system did not work as expected for Craven Books, and sales started dropping. One of the first reasons for the failure of the system is the fact that Craven Books management, unable to determine the best IT system to use, and to draw a strategic planning, rushed into choosing the first system that seemed fit to the company _ Rapid efficiency and competitiveness appear to have prevailed in their choice of the system. Moreover, nobody was really designated to handle the project, see to its success, and to be held accountable in case of failure. The fault can also lie with the IT consultants on whom management relied too much, and the supplied Who provided the IT system. Not only did they not assess the system and its education to Craven Books in terms of efficiency and effectiveness -? they also focused on charging the company rather than fixing the issues Craven Books was facing, and helping them improve the system. However, management should have known not too trust consultants too much, and to decide cautiously. Employees can finally also be partly blamed for the failure of the system. Though the system was new and somehow hard to handle, employees did not try to understand it and remained passive, complaining without pointing at real issues. . Describe the project decision making process. What are the events which led to the decision to go ahead with the implementation of the software? What was the final key event which made the system fail? Peter Cravens company enjoyed a rapid growth in the seventies, after its decision to enter the comic books business. Therefore, the number to customers increased, making the existing classification system less efficient as before. Peter Craven then decided to adopt a new strategy to face this issue: computerizing seemed to be the best solution, as avail companies had already adopted a similar IT system. The decision was taken very quickly, without asking either the management team or the employees how they were feeling about such a change, or setting clear goals. However, to help With the decision-making process, they referred to consultants Who strongly believed the change would benefit the company. Yet, shortly after the decision, the company encountered a few problems. They had forgotten to consider some important steps of the change, such as calculating the cost of computerizing, r strategically planning this change. In the decision-making process, decisions were made way too quickly, leading to unclear objectives. And employees being left out. Even after the system had been implemented, further decisions lacked direction or clarity, as leaders had lost common sense. The major final key event which led to the failure of the system was most probably the growing numbers of clients, ordering books. Indeed, with a much faster system, deliveries would also speed up. But with the reduction of the number of employees, and the major peepholes in the system, mistakes were made, books placed at some other place than it was supposed to be : stocks started increasing instead to decreasing, and wrong deliveries were often made. 3. Draw the storehouse management process before and after introducing the new software Bettor introducing the new software, the order process of the old system was individual. It means that after receiving the order of a customer, employees had to walk around the storehouse to gather the different items required by a customer, pack them and then proceed to the delivery. With the new software, the order process avgas in batches orders were systematically processed. This state of the art fully integrated system was supposed to be time and cost efficient, and save a lot of efforts. It was working as following Orders were Sent directly to a Computer that would provide a list of items needed for the given day to the employees. Employees would then collect the books and magazines listed, pack them up and distribute the order. The new system allowed for all activities to be organized together, via a computer.