Analysis of Bandura’s cognitive theory Essay

Introduction The study of human behavior or behaviorism focuses on attributes of humanity that are discernible, measurable and which can be manipulated. The emphasis of behaviorism is on experimental methods and avoids attributes that are subjective, internal or unavailable. The experimental method involves the manipulation of one variable and measurement of its effect on another variable. It is from the study of variable and effects that a Canadian psychologist, Albert Bandura found the cognitive theory (or social cognitive theory) (Bandura, 2006). Bandura for instance observed aggressive behavior in adolescents and opined that the aggressiveness is caused by the environment in which the adolescents grow. On the other hand, he also realized that behavior causes an environment as well. Thus, since behavior and environment are causes and effects of each other, Bandura referred to the concept as reciprocal determinism (Bandura1986). In short, Bandura’s theory was based on the fact that the world and a person’s character (behavior) affect each other (Bandura, 1986). While it would appear that the environment was the cause of behavior and personality, Bandura also realized that personality is an interaction of a person’s psychological responses in relation to the environment (Bandura, 2006). The psychological processes consist of the human being’s ability to entertain different images and languages. Thus, the cognitive theory is built on two essential principles. The first one is a framework for explaining how different personalities function, whereas the other one addresses the type of variables (that is the elements of analysis) on which the personality theory should be centred (Bandura, 2006). In analysis of the influence of reciprocal determinism, Bandura categorically uses the word â€Å"determinism† to imply the aspect in which effects are produced by events (Bandura, 2006). However, this opinion does not mean that a human being’s actions arise from straightforward and predictable chains of cause and consequence. Rather, it implies that events produce effects by chance. As a result, the probability or chance of an event producing an effect is emphasized in Bandura’s cognitive theory (Bandura, 2006). Perhaps the most significant aspect of Bandura’s theory is the way in which the theory treats behavior. Unlike many other theoretical frameworks, this theory has equal action on both the input of the personality and the output of personality (Bandura, 1986). In essence, Bandura’s opinion is that a person’s actions and the resultant effects shape the person’s aptitude, feelings and belief in one self (Bandura, 2006). For example, many behaviorist theories depict scant curiosity in self-process because the theorists assume that human functioning is caused by external stimulus rather than the internal stimulus which is only considered as transmitting rather than causing behavior (Bandura, 1986). This paper critically evaluates the notable features of Bandura’s cognitive theory and discusses in detail the viewpoint of the Bandura at the time of formulation of the theory and the theory’s subsequent modification. The paper will also appraise the strengths and weaknesses of the theory based on the discussion. Analysis of the salient features of Bandura’s cognitive theory The most notable feature of Bandura’s social cognitive theory is the concept of reciprocal determinism (Bandura, 1986). Reciprocal determinism is a phenomenon that implies the causes and effects of different actions on behavior and environment and how they affect each other. Thus, Bandura’s theory was based on the point that personal factors in the form of cognition, biological events and affect, behavior and environmental factors create interfaces that result in a triadic reciprocality as illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1: The foundation of Bandura’s (1986) concept of the social cognitive theory. Source: Created from the description by Bandura (2006) Bandura modified the label of his theory from the common perspective of social learning to social cognitive in order to distance it from the common social learning theories of his time (Bandura, 1986). He also wanted to lay emphasis on the idea that cognition plays a significant role in people’s capability to construct reality, regulate their personality, encode information and display other kinds of behavior. According to Bandura (1971), the reciprocal form of the determinants of individual human functioning in social cognitive theory enables services such as therapeutic and counseling efforts to be rendered with focus on personal environment or behavioral factors as illustrated in the diagram above. Based on this, strategies to improve a person’s well-being can be aimed at ameliorating the emotional, cognitive and motivational process of the human being (Bandura, 1986). The focus can also be on improving behavioral capabilities or changing the communal conditions under which people live and work. As an example, teachers in schools have a role to not only improve their students’ academic learning and confidence, but also boost their (students’) self-beliefs and habits of thinking. Hence, teachers and students have to embrace all the components of Bandura’s triadic expression of cognitive theory. As earlier mentioned, Bandura’s social cognitive theory sets itself aside from other theories that overemphasize the role played by environmental factors in the development of human behavior (Bandura, 1986; Bandura, 2006). These theories are often dismissed since they have the redundant factor of cause and effect that is unworthy in the context of evaluating the psychological aspect of human beings. Thus according to Bandura, psychology per se without a clear self-examination cannot purport to explain the complexities of human intricacies of human functioning. Bandura (1986) further noted it is by evaluating their own conscious minds that people discern their own psychological processes. Therefore, in order to predict how the human behavior is affected by environmental outcomes, it is imperative that the individual’s cognitive process and how he or she interprets the outcomes be understood.

Food, Inc Essay

In America, whoever has the big bucks dictates how things are run. With money, there is no limit to what can be done in America. The documentary â€Å"Food Inc. produced by Robert Kenner and Eric Schlosser, takes an in depth look at America’s food industry and the terrible but completely legal way our food is genetically engineered. The narrator makes the argument that profit is put before the consumer’s well being,. The vision of the American farmer, workers safety, and our precious environment is far from the correct vision of the many major corporations that are producing our food. I firmly believe that these corporations have put aside and have deliberately tried to hide the truth about how unhealthy the food they produce truly is for the American public. The purpose of this video is to shock the American public with clever filmography and facts about the food Americans consume every day. The food industry is full of misconceptions. â€Å"Food Inc. † declares that the food industry is using deceiving images of American farmlands to sell their product. Images of lush green fields, picket fences, and 1930’s farmhouses is only a â€Å"spinning of a pastoral fantasy†. In reality the food being consumed is coming from mistreated animals and large factories all over the country. As the video continues, images of your typical everyday supermarket are cleverly displayed giving the audience something they can relate too. â€Å"There are no seasons in the American supermarket†. (Food Inc. ) The narrator gives details on how we as consumers get to enjoy ‘tomatoes’ all year round. He states that they were â€Å"grown half way around the world, picked when it was green and ripened with ethylene gas† (Food Inc. ). This is meant to inform the audience that what they are eating isn’t what it seems. It definitely makes viewers stop and think next time they are buying a tomato in winter. There has been little understanding and awareness of food in America until the film Food Inc. , which helped show the basis of how food is produced, packaged and sold locally in our grocery stores. We have been made to believe that local stores carry a wide variety of foods in all areas, including meats, dairy and especially in the fast food industry. A typical grocery store has on average 47,000 products and has made us to believe that there is a wide variety of choices inside the grocery store (Food, Inc. ). In today’s food industry most of the products are produced by only a few main companies which allow for cheaper foods in the stores. The current raw food production method has made a huge increase in our fast food companies since the 1950’s (Food, Inc. ). In fact, the production of our food has changed so much since the 1950’s, than the thousand years prior. The food industry which is controlled by only a few companies has turned the industry from the ordinary farmer, to the production of large quantities of food, feeding the nation at low costs which results in enormous profits for the producers. Because of this, health and safety of the food itself, how the animals are raised, the current method of workers being on assembly lines, and the consumer eating the food are now being overlooked by the companies and government; to provide cheap food regardless of the negative consequences. The reason for this innovation has been based on the advancement in science and technology which is a main reason for the negative side effects. With the addition of Carl’s Law, companies now come up with ways to throw more science at the problem to help eliminate the issues and not the root causes for the matter. I believe the message of Food Inc. s that most of what Americans now eat is being produced by a handful of huge corporations which is more detrimental to health, our environment and even our own human race. The horrible known facts about animal mistreatment and food contamination are being covered up by the secretive industry, by not talking to the filmmakers or let the insides of their companies be shown to the world, which include the enormous chicken farms, cattle ranches, slaughterhouses and the meatpacking plants. This film also said that â€Å"exploitation and malpractice in the meat industry were exposed as far back as Upton Sinclair’s 1906 muckraking book, ‘The Jungle. † Food Inc. , is a movie that address’s the voices of advocates, farmers, and journalists, to show what’s wrong with the food and what we can do about it. There are many factors that lead to the killing of the environment. There is a scene in the movie that shows cattle standing in about of a foot of its own feces. The feces that the cattle is standing in is full of harmful chemicals. Not only do the cattle have this bacteria in its body, but it is also spreading the bacteria in the ground, rivers, streams, etc. When it rains, the run off from these â€Å"farms† are affecting the health of the animals in the surrounding areas and further. The factories are polluting the air and killing more of the ozone layer due to the harmful chemicals that the factory is pushing out. It is sad to see how companies can allow cattle that will be slaughtered to stand in a foot of its bacteria infested feces, but worse to then see the cow be slaughtered and eventually be put on the shelves of grocery stores. There is no empathy on how the food is processed from beginning to end. Animals are treated horribly, known bacteria that they oversee and more important the health of the people consuming the products is not in any of the company’s top interest. All in all, this movie has shown me how brutal Americans can be to animals and how our own US Government seems not to care about its citizens health. I have learned to eat organic foods and to shop for produce only in season. The one question that kept arising in my mind during the movies was, I wonder where the food that the white house serves comes from. Is the president eating the same steroid injected chicken her is letting his country eat? It was a great movie and should, by law be shown in schools around the United States.

Investment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Investment - Essay Example It has often been said that some investment types such as unit trusts are more profitable as compared others such as open ended investment companies (Atrill & Elliot 2005). In this paper we critically review this assertion by looking at literature on the subject of different investment types. The paper begins by providing an overview on the various investment types and afterwards concentrates on evaluating which one is a better investment vehicle by weighing their advantages and disadvantages with respect to their various tax implications. The rest of the paper is organised as follows: section 2 presents an overview of the various investment types focusing on their advantages and disadvantages as an investment vehicle; section 3 provides an overview of these same investment types but this time paying attention on their various tax implication, section 4 presents a brief summary of both investment vehicles as well as some empirical evidence on the performance of some of these investme nts; while the last section presents some concluding remarks. In finance, Investors typically faced two challenging questions. How much to invest? And where to invest (Berlin & Lexa 2005, Brealey & Myers 2005). These are some of the pertinent issues this paper seeks to address. By examining the various investment options available to potential investors. By the end of this paper, we intend to make important conclusion and recommendation as to the best investment option. 2.0 Types of investment products with advantages and disadvantages Globalisation, the new information technology, and deregulation of financial markets have eased not only the provision and search of finance but investment opportunities open to investors. Millions of shares are traded every day on the world's stock markets. (Penman, 2003). Investors who trade on these stocks are often forced to ask themselves whether they are buying or selling at the right price. (Penman, 2003). They often attempt to provide answers to these questions by turning to various media including internet chat rooms, printed press, "talking heads" on television and financial networks, who often voice opinions on what they feel the stock prices should be. (Penman, 2003). In addition, investors consult investment analysts who provide an almost endless stream of information and recommendations investment options opened to them to sort out. There are often claims that some shares are undervalued and vice versa. (Penman, 2003, Shapiro 2003, Ross et al. 1999). This information pertaining to the various investment options at times becomes confusing leaving the investor with no clear indication of what the

Financial performance comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial performance comparison - Essay Example The ROA of Brown-foreman was better than Anheuser Bush. Return on equity (ROE) when compared to return on assets, measures the extent to which financial leverage is working for or against common stockholders (Garrison & Noreen). Brown-foreman’s ROE of 32.43% was superior to the 20.83% return on equity of Anheuser Bush. The earnings per share (EPS) metric is the portion of a company’s profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock (Investopedia). The EPS of Anheuser Bush in 2014 was $5.54, while Brown-foreman had a lower EPS in the same period of $3.08. The current ratio shows the ability of a company to pay off its short term debt. A current ratio is considered good if is above the 1.0 threshold. Anheuser Bush had a current ratio of 0.62, while Brown-foreman had a current ratio of 1.02 in 2014. The working capital shows whether a company can pay off its current liabilities solely using its current assets. The working capital of Anheuser Bush was -$8,867 million, while Brown-forman had a working capital of $106 million. Based on these two ratios the liquidity of Brown-forman is superior of Anheuser Bush. The debt ratio shows how much leverage a company uses. In 2014 Anheuser Bush had a debt ratio of 0.62, a figure that is 0.12 higher than Brown-foreman. The desirable outcome is to have a lower debt ratio, thus Brown-foreman outperform Anheuser Bush in this financial metric. The inventory turnover shows how many times a company sold its inventory during a year. Anheuser Bush sold its inventory 6.31 times during 2014. Brown foreman only sold its inventory 1.04 times during the year. Average sale period measures the number of days taken to sell the inventory one time. It takes Anheuser Bush 57.88 days to sell its inventory, while it took Brown-foreman 352.61 days. The financial performance of both companies was good since both firms generated positive income during 2014. When comparing the

Answer questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Answer questions - Essay Example Another assumption that will be considered is the time taken. Driving to and fro work takes a lot of time and effort than being a telecommuter. There are several valid reasons that would prompt one to consider the telecommuting offer. One of the reasons is reduction in expenditure. The telecommuter job will help in reduction of vehicle associated costs like fuel and maintenance costs. Consequently, one will have an increased amount of money for expenditure at home. The second reason is convenience. The telecommuter job will be convenient in terms of time taken and effort. The time taken to drive to work and effort used will be reduced. Thirdly, the job will reduce the risks associated with driving to work like accidents and insurance. While the current job is a race against time, the telecommuter job will be less of a burden. Fourthly, the telecommuter job will reduce the time taken to access the job location and also drive back home. This will increase the time that one can dedicate to the care of the baby. This in turn reduces the costs of childcare. Fifthly, the job reduces the distance that one has to commute to and fro work. The telecommuter job will result into pay reduction, which will affect the money available for expenditure. Secondly, it will reduce the comfort that one enjoyed as they drive to and fro work. Thirdly, the telecommuting job may not be luxurious as the current job and may have a lot of hardships. With lack of experience in the job, one is likely to face many problems. Fourthly, there may be no guarantee of how safe one will be on the job. Telecommuting may be an unstable job and may not guarantee job tenure. Fifthly, the telecommuting job may not offer the chance to grow career wise and one may stagnate in one job. As per my decision, I would prefer to remain in my current job rather than taking up the telecommuting job. The

Reading response of the reading women's Sexuality Essay

Reading response of the reading women's Sexuality - Essay Example The societal forces vary from distorting the possible options to the significant physical enslavement. Lesbian existence cannot be exclusively blamed on the mothering role of women. The forces tend to dispute the fact that compulsory heterosexuality is just but a phenomenon. The societal forces gain their ground from the male-identified society. Male power in the modern society enforces heterosexuality and result to sexual inequality. The power of men in the society has the ability to; Male power is able to manifest itself through the societal forces to restrain a significant counter-force. Lesbianism would sprout from women’s innate reproductive orientation towards their young. Male power is able to counter acts of lesbianism; to ensure that men are viewed as the appropriate partners. The dominance of male power provides the foundation towards morals of sexuality. Young boys and girls are taught to honour their roles in the society. There is a clear demarcation between their roles as future elders. They should respect their innate orientations. High school students are mature enough to recognize their reproductive functions. They ought to respect that a family consists of a father, mother and children. Two people of the same sex cannot bring forth a child. In as much as there are calls for gender equality in the contemporary world, societal forces should never be distorted to allow for sexual

Theology Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Theology Paper - Essay Example The spirituality that I envision is the Spirituality of Service, which has for its ideal the motto that service to mankind is the highest form of service to God. Spirituality of Service is part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. It has its roots in the teachings of the Holy Bible and is greatly influenced by the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi. This spirituality of service emphasizes that love expressed to God must be made evident by love expressed to humanity. This concept of spirituality can also be called the Spirituality of the Hammer. Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity, a Christian ministry that builds homes for the homeless, says regarding the theology of the hammer "our Christian faith mandates that we do more than just talk about faith and sing about love. We must put faith and love into action to make them real, to make them come alive for people. True faith must be acted out." (p.7). The Spirituality of Service looks to the Holy Bible as the source of its inspiration. The two great commandments of the Bible regarding loving God and loving one's neighbor are the pivots of this spirituality. The major emphasis of this spirituality is putting faith into action. ... e of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it"(Holy Bible, James 2:14-17 NIV). People deprived of the basic necessities of life need much more than comforting words, they need food, clothing and shelter. The spirituality of service seeks to serve God by identifying and meeting the needs of the poor and outcasts of society by community effort. This spirituality's concept of God is of an eternal being of infinite goodness existing as the Trinity - the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. God's goodness is evident in creation and this goodness is expressed in a continual giving on God's part. The highest gift of this good God is the person of Jesus Christ, the incarnated Word, who died on the cross to liberate man from the bondage of sin and established for man, a new way to fellowship with God. The concept of man in this spirituality is of a created being. Man's ultimate goal in life is to live in intimate fellowship with God and this is made possible through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in man. Man's broken relationship with God was restored at the cross and now to live in close fellowship with God, man is commanded to love God and love his neighbor. The bottom line is that love to God must be expressed in social action. Apostle John giving a practical application of this commandment says "If anyone has material possessi ons and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."(Holy Bible, 1 John 3:17-18.NIV). Meditating on the philosophy of human existence, this spirituality holds the view that achieving the consciousness of God is closely linked to the consciousness

Bipolar Disorder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Bipolar Disorder - Essay Example Secondly, the social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects of bipolar will be described. Next, the interactive effects of class, ethnicity, and gender will be detailed. Following will be an outline of current treatment options and their strengths and weaknesses. Finally a conclusion shall summarize the main points of the paper and provide implications for research into bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness and is a psychological disorder that induces shifts in a person's mood, energy levels and their ability to function optimally in society. Unlike everyday ups-and-downs, the experiences of mood swings with bipolar disorder are much more severe (Kessler et al., 2005). In general, the disorder develops during late adolescence or early adulthood, although some people will have their first symptoms in childhood, or in later adulthood (DSM-IV, 1994). The consequences of bipolar disorder are dysfunctional interpersonal relationships, poor job and academic performance, isolation and at the extreme, suicide. However, the disorder is able to be treated and many people who experience bipolar disorder lead full and productive lives, contributing to the community and building stable support relationships. The manic episodes are diagnosed by the presence of three or more symptoms of elevated mood occurring for most of the day, nearly every day, for a week or more. Depressive episodes are diagnosed when five or more symptoms last for most of the day, nearly every day, for two weeks or longer (DSM-IV, 1994). Social The person experiencing bipolar may blame others for the way that they feel. As such, bipolar disorder may lead a person to isolate themselves from support networks, as their interpersonal relationships cannot be sustained over the erratic behavior. Family and friends may find themselves being shouted at, talked about inappropriately in public or having false accusations made against them. Bipolar disorder may result in the person becoming very egotistical or self-centered and this is not conductive to healthy social relationships, and people may draw away from the person with bipolar (DSM-IV, 1994; Goodwin & Jamison, 1990). Emotional Bipolar disorder is characterized by significant mood swings, a person goes from an extreme "high" (mania) of feeling overly good and euphoric, during which they may or may not also be irritable, to a state of sadness, loneliness and hopelessness (depression). Like a pendulum the person's mood swings back and forth, although there are also experiences of normal mood in between the extreme episodes of mania and depression (DSM-IV, 1994; Kessler et al., 2005). Cognitive During a manic episode the person's thought tend to "race" and "jump" very rapidly, form one idea to the next. The person is easily distracted and has difficulty concentrating, and they tend to have unrealistic believes in their capabilities and "powers". During both the manic and depressive phases their judgment tends to be poor. In general there is denial by the person experiencing the episodes that anything is different or wrong (DSM-IV, 1994; Sachs & Thase, 2000). BehavioralDuring the manic phase, the person may have increased energy levels and be very active and restlessness, or creative and extremely "chatty".

Management Process Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Management Process Analysis - Essay Example Change management is best defined as the process of continuous reviewing and renewing of the direction, structure and capabilities of the organization in order to meet the ever-changing needs and demands of internal and external customers (Todnem, 2005). Organizational change is a very important element of the organizational strategy. It is very important for an organization to have the ability to identify where it needs to be in the future and then manage the change management process in order to get there. The business environment is constantly changing with increased globalization, technological innovation, deregulation, dynamic workforce, shift in demographic and social trends, etc (Todnem, 2005). This makes the change management process even more important. For any organization, to sustain growth and remain successful it is very important that it effectively manages its change management process. One of the best examples of effective change management in modern day businesses is Apple. Apple Inc. Founded in 1976, Apple has become the most valuable company on the planet today. Started as a computer company, Apple has revolutionised the personal computer industry. Apple started with a personal computer, but today its products range from music (iPod) to phones (iPhones). Chief Architect of Apple’s success story is Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple (Royston, 2009). Apple’s journey to the top has not been a smooth one. It has had failures along the way and at one stage was on the verge of being shut down. Apple has adapted to changing environment and the industry needs and demands to become the most successful and valuable company on the planet. Apple’s products include iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iTunes (Apple, 2011). Apple is also developing cloud computing products and services which are not commercially available at. Apple – Change Management Apple is one of the best examples for effective organizational change management. It can be said that Apple has mastered the art of change management. Apple has been successful in understanding the changing needs and demands, and at same time adapt to those changes and needs. It has been able to build a loyal customer base, build new technologies, products and services. Leadership The most important element of Apple’s change management is Steve Jobs, i.e. his leadership. Apple’s nightmarish run started with the exit of Steve Jobs in 1985 and ended with his return in 1996. With the return of Steve Jobs in 1996, there was a major change in the organization’s leadership. The bureaucratic management style that had replaced the creative and entrepreneurial culture (organizational culture that Steve Jobs had infused into Apple in the beginning) had to undergo a major change. Steve Jobs along with him brought back the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants entrepreneurial culture back to Apple (Anderson & Anderson, 2010). He redefined the organization’s DNA and ensured its effective implementation. The original culture and the mindset were welcomed by the workforce and they responded with creativity and innovation. With the change in leadership, the management structure was now redefined with only very few management layers. This was vital in order to accommodate the change in the leadership and organizational cul

Systems and Structure of compulsory Education in the Uk Assignment

Systems and Structure of compulsory Education in the Uk - Assignment Example Through the years, there has been a relevant collaboration of different organizations and statutory bodies so that a strong educational standard is maintained. According to Fosket (1992), the role of external relations would â€Å"address the issues of the school’s relationship to its outside audiences† (p. 3). Being an institution of education and training for society’s use, it is important to constantly connect with the current situation and elaborate its need for solutions, appreciate and conserve whatever good things the community has to offer. The external statutory bodies, even though not directly related to it, carry education by means of emotional support (parents and guardians) and financial support (scholarship programs from the business sector). External relations also play an important role in the realization of some changes in the curriculum; an example would be the unsuccessful transition of Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2. Messer (1992), as cited in Fos ket (1992), discussed that the supposed to be â€Å"smooth transition† of a key stage to another was not carried out well because schools disregarded the individual planning of the teacher and preferred a corporate planning. In carrying out the plan effectively, Hanford, Reader, and Fullick (1992) as cited in Fosket (1992), proposed that there should be a linkage of the schools to the community, having the parents, media, and the employers as regulators so that the education being offered to the students is holistic. According to Hanford as cited in Fosket (1992), â€Å"liaison between the school and the parents of the pupils is based on a well-founded tradition† (p. 105). Saying that parents are just for the home holds an obsolete idea since the Education Act of 1994 strongly indicated the â€Å"legal duty of the parents to ensure their children’s education.† The use of media in schools has greatly affected the teaching techniques of the teachers. Thus, having the media in line with other regulatory bodies is just coherent. Media can be used to â€Å"raise awareness,† and â€Å"create a positive image of the school† (Reader as cited in Fosket, 1992, p. 118). Fullick as cited in Fosket (1992) concerns more on future employment, where the economic trends affect the choice of students of their career paths. Funding is also a major issue in the education sector. Knowing that no organisation could survive without proper financial help, privately owned businesses also finance certain schools and even directly helping the students by giving them scholarship grants. This situation implies that even institutions not related to giving education also matter in terms of support. An existing challenge faced by both government and external statutory bodies of is the tiering of the school system. The tiering of the UK school system has lowered the education’s principle of equality since it can be a form of stratification amon g students. The report says that the two-tier system creates a â€Å"poverty trap for disadvantaged.† Chitty (1989) contends that the tiering of the school system is a reflection of the society as a whole; where the top tier represents the advantages and well-funded private schools, the second tier resembles that of the middle or working class, and the third tier

Letter to Isle of Wight County Press Essay Example for Free

Letter to Isle of Wight County Press Essay As an adolescent and Islander I can fairly say there are few activities for children to partake in, however due to mass demand a skate park has been recently built in one of the parks in Cowes, my local town. Although this new facility is considered to be very good for local children there has been widespread opposition from local residents and council officials, due to the appearance and conduct of a number of children. There are also acute problems with noise for local residents, who complain it goes on all-day and late at night, especially in the school holidays. Whilst Ive neither visited the skate park, nor plan to do so, I have many constructive and supportive arguments for the retention of the facility, but on the other hand, those negative unsupportive opinions. As an adolescent I can see why so many children are enthusiastic about such a provision, generally as there are few such services on the Island. However I do not support the council in such a controversial decision and feel the money could have been spent more wisely. Similarly I can see why there is such harsh opposition from local people. Moreover, I support the idea that skateboarding is another of the child fashions, and is likely to become out of date soon in the future; subsequently the funds spent on such a package, could be another misuse of taxpayers money. Inevitably, drugs are ubiquitous in the park and there have been criticism from the parents of younger children who use the park, this is the most compelling piece of evidence for the closure of the park. Correspondingly, there is a possibility that drugs could become even more prominent in the local town. In conclusion, I think that however much the provision is used the problem of drugs and violence is unacceptable, consequently in my opinion though much fun is enjoyed at the skate park, such things are deplorable and though this may seem harsh, I believe the skate park should be either disbanded or assisted with adult supervision.

Attitude and behavior towards internet shopping

Attitude and behavior towards internet shopping Studies on factors determining consumer attitude and behavior towards Internet shopping: Most of the studies conducted in the recent years in field of online shopping behavior and attitude have been focusing on the factors influencing the online shopping attitudes and behavior. But, different researchers have diverse opinions and focus, while studying the impact of these factors on the online consumer buying behavior and attitudes. For example, there is a segment of researchers who have tried to explain the consumer attitude and intentions for online shopping by taking theories like Theory of Reasoned Action, Technology acceptance model or Theory of Planned Behaviour as a basis and have tried to extend them further by adding more web specific factors to them(Cheung, Zhu, Kwong, Gloria, and Limayem, 2003), whereas there has been another segment who have derived relationships between various factors and customer satisfaction with reference to the Internet shopping experience in the form of dependent and independent variables. Further, there have been researchers who have f urther organized and compiled the previous researches done in this field so as to pave way for future researches. These researchers have also contributed in terms of designing structured frameworks for online consumer attitude, intention and buying behavior. Web experience The literature review done by Constantinides (2004) helps in identifying the web experience components and their role as the first step in shaping the online consumers behavior. He has added web experience as a controllable element in his model depicting factors that influence the online buying behavior. He has further explained web experience factor by classifying it in three sub-categories which are the building blocks of the web experience. These three sub-categories are Functionality factors (usability and Interactivity), Psychological factors (trust) and Content factors (aesthetics and Marketing Mix). The following figure as adopted from his article presents a brief description of the number of references in support of each of these factors: Source: Constantinides, E.(2004). Influencing the online consumers behavior: the web experience. Journal of Internet Research. Vol 14 No.2, pp. 114, figure 2. Literature review Li and Zhang (2002, p.508) have defined online buying behavior or Internet shopping/buying behavior as the process of purchasing products or services via the Internet; which according to Liang and Lai (2000), is similar to the traditional five steps process of consumer buying behavior (as cited by Li and Zhang, 2002). They have also defined online shopping attitude as the psychological state of the consumers in terms of Internet shopping (2002). Li and Zhang (2002) have analysed 35 empirical studies on online shopping attitudes and behavior conducted during the period of January 1998 to February 2002 and have finally identified 10 inter-related factors for which the reviewed studies have significant empirical evidences. These 10 factors have further been classified into five independent factors (viz. external environment, demographics, personal characteristics, vendor/service/product characteristics, and website quality) and five dependent factors (viz. attitude towards online shoppi ng, intention to shop online, decision making, online purchasing, and consumer satisfaction.) Another exhaustive literature review in this field has been by Cheung et al. (2003). They have examined a total of 351 articles in the area of online consumer behavior from 1994 to April 2002. They have attempted to link together the concepts of intention, adoption and continuance and form a base model- a Model of Intention, Adoption and Continuance (MIAC) for the development of an online consumer behavior framework. Further, the various factors as mentioned by various researchers in their study have been categorized under five major domain areas viz. individual/consumer characteristics, product/service characteristics, medium characteristics, and online merchant and intermediary characteristics. According to them, online purchase intention and adoption has been extensively studied and there are lots of empirical evidences available, but research on continuance or consumer online repurchase is in its infancy. The following figure describes the MIAC model as suggested by Cheung et al. Framework of online consumer behavior Source: Cheung, C.M.K., Zhu, L., Kwong, T., Chan, G.W.W. Limayem, M.(2003). Online Consumer Behavior: A Review and Agenda for Future Research. Proceedings of the 16th Bled eCommerce Conference, eTransformation. 194-218 A recent study conducted by Kuczmarski and James (April 2008) further contribute to the available body of literature by adding that consumers prefer online stores to actual stores due to potential reasons like convenience, cost and selection. Trust as a factor Studies also indicate that trust remains a crucial factor in e-commerce and in influencing the purchase decision of online shoppers. Consumers prefer to shop from trusted websites. Researches reveal that trust is a factor which also helps in forming long-term customer relationships (Dwyer, Schurr Oh, 1987; Gefen Straub, 2003; Kim, Xu Koh, 2004). Some researchers like Lee (2002), Liebermann and Stashevsky (2002), McKnight et al.(2002), Suh and Han(2002) and Liang and Lai(2002) have even argued that a new step has been added to the online buying process and that is the step of building trust or confidence (as cited by Constantinides, 2004). The available literature explains that trust facilitates e-commerce and online transactions, but at the same time the consumers lack of trust in online vendors continues to remain a hindrance in the growth of e-commerce. (Ba Pavlou, 2002; Gefen and Straub, 2003; Gefen, Karahanna Straub, 2003; Kim, Xu Koh, 2004; Lim, Sia, Lee Benbasat, 2006; P avlou Gefen, 2004). Gefen(2002) and Kim, Xu Koh (2004) have stated that a key challenge to e-commerce is that creating trust typically requires multiple interactions and superior service over a period of time(as cited by Lowry et al., 2008). Brand has also been established as one of the factors influencing the customer trust for a website (Bart, Shankar, Sultan Urban, 2005; Yoon, 2002). Ward and Lee(2000) conducted a research to examine whether consumers use brands as sources of information when shopping on Internet and they concluded that branding can facilitate consumers acceptance of e-commerce. Lowry, Vance, Moody, Beckman Read (2008) have studied the impact of branding alliances and web-site quality on the consumer trust of e-commerce websites. They explored the usage of branding alliances and website quality by the less familiar websites to enhance the consumer trust and suggested that branding and web-site quality can significantly increase the initial consumer trust in the e-commerce websites. Ballantine(2005) has studied the effects of interactivity and the amount of product information provided by an online shopping environment on consumer satisfaction. A web-based experiment was conducted where respondents were exposed to a simulated online retail store. Findings indicate that these two factors had a significant effect on the consumer satisfaction. Tangibility also remains an important factor in influencing the purchase process of Internet shoppers. Melian-Alzola and Padron-Robaina(2006) have analysed the role and importance of the tangible elements of purchase processes in business to consumer(B2C) e-commerce, and the impact on overall perceived quality and the customers attitudes. Their research concluded that that four attributes navigation, signposting, tools and explanation explain the tangible dimension in electronic commerce. They revealed that design was an important factor of overall perceived quality and the willingness to recommend the purchase experience to others. Security of transactions is another factor that remains as a matter of concern for e-commerce consumers. According to a study conducted by American Banker in 2007, one-third of Canadians refused to shop online due to fear of identity theft. Web assurance services help in building up the trust and confidence of such consumers. In an experimental study undertaken by Mauldin and Arunachalam (2002), the impact of web assurance services and retailer disclosures on purchase intent was studied. They have defined web assurance as the measures taken to reduce information risks and increase online purchasing by improving the reliability of certain information on the website. Their findings indicate that web assurance. In this research they considered TRUSTe, WebTrust and VISA web assurance services for the study. Their findings indicate that there were no significant differences in intent to purchase among the three assurance providers. Mauldin and Arunachalam have also studied the impact of product and retailer familiarity on the buying behavior of online consumers in the above mentioned study and they suggest that web assurance is insignificant when product familiarity is higher, or in other words, where product familiarity is lower, intent to purchase is higher with web assurance. Retailer familiarity is not fou nd to be significant in any of the conditions. Further, their study also reveals that retailer disclosures are sufficient to impact buying intention of online consumers; the web assurance services studied in the above study did not provide any additional assurance beyond the retailer disclosures. They have further emphasized that comfort with the Internet, general intent to buy online, and website design played significant role in influencing purchase intention. Although security is a major concern of online buyers, their study indicates that information risk generally did not significantly influence purchase intention, which explains why web assurance is generally not significant in their study. Bruce, Katherine and Murphy (2008) have further explored the prior studies on web assurance models to provide detailed explanation on current reporting requirements, differences among web assurance services and perceptions of consumers regarding these services. The study concludes that consumers give importance to web assurance services, but younger consumers place greater value on these services rather than older consumers. Technology Acceptance Model as a basis for research on Literature review In an attempt to design a structured framework for the effects of different factors on consumer attitude towards Internet shopping and their intentions to shop online, Monsuwe, Dellaert and Ruyter (2004) have reviewed the various researches conducted in the field. They have used Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a base and suggested a framework based on previous research on consumer adoption of new technologies and services. The Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989) has served as a basis for various researches conducted in the Information systems field. In order to support the selection of TAM as a basis for their research work, Monsuwe et.al, 2004 have cited Chen et al.(2002), Moon and Kim(2001) and Lederar et al.(2000) who suggest that although this model is specifically designed to understand the adoption of a new computer based technology in the job/workplace, it has also proven to be suitable as theoretical foundation for adoption of e-commerce as well. The Technology Ac ceptance Model (TAM) suggests the usefulness, ease of use and the later addition of enjoyment (Davis et al., 1992) as the determinants of consumers attitude towards adopting a new technology. This attitude, further, has a strong and positive effect on consumers intentions to actually use the new technology or system (Bobbitt and Dabholkar, 2001; Davis, 1993). While redefining the three constructs in context of online shopping Monsuwe et.al.(2004, p.107) have referred to usefulness as the consumers perceptions that using the Internet as a shopping medium enhances the outcome of their shopping experience. Similarly, they have redefined ease of use as the consumers perception that the process leading to online shopping will require minimum effort and will be easy. Further, according to them, the enjoyment construct refers to the fun and playfulness of the Internet shopping experience. While usefulness has a weak direct link to attitude, it shows a strong direct link towards intention t o shop online (Davis et al., 1989). It is also linked with ease of use to determine consumers attitude towards online shopping. Hence, ease of use has a direct as well as indirect effect on consumers intention to shop online. Using TAM as a basis for the study, the framework proposed by Monsuwe, Dellaert and Ruyter(2004) not only includes the functional/utilitarian and hedonic dimensions like ease of use, usefulness, and enjoyment which affect the consumers attitude and intention towards Internet shopping, but they have also included some of the exogenous factors recommended by various researchers in the framework such as consumer traits(Burke, 2002; Dhabolkar and Bagozzi, 2002; Brown et al., 2001; Eastin and LaRose, 2000), situational factors(Wolfinbarger and Gilly,2001; Avery, 1996), product characteristics(Grewal et al., 2002; Elliot and Fowell, 2000), previous online shopping experiences(Shim et al., 2001; Eastlick and Lotz, 1999) and trust in online shopping(Yoon, 2002; Lee and Turban, 2001) Monsuwe et.al. in their research, have mentioned about the various researches done in order to extend the TAM by suggesting additional factors. For example, Venkatesh (2000), who has proposed integrating factors like control, intrinsic motivation, and emotion into the existing Technology Acceptance Model which are considered to be strong determinants for ease of use construct of TAM. Dabholkar and Bagozzi (2002) have given an attitudinal model of technology based self-service by suggesting two exogenous factors like consumer traits and situational influences. Further, they have cited OCass and Fenech (2002) who have added seven key consumer characteristics namely opinion leadership, buying impulsiveness, satisfaction with websites, web shopping compatibility, shopping orientation, Internet self-efficacy, and web-security to the model. Further, they have substantiated their model by citing the classification given by Hirschman and Holbrook (1982) who have categorised Internet shoppers in two categories; one is of the problem solvers and other category is of those seeking for fun, fantasy, arousal, sensory stimulation, and enjoyment. Monsuwe et al. suggest that this classification also supports the basic three constructs of TAM which affect the consumers attitude towards Internet shopping as ease of use and usefulness reflect the utilitarian aspect and enjoyment is in sync with the hedonic aspect of the model. The above explanation given by Monsuwe et al. is similar to the categorization of the shopping orientations by Bellenger, Robertson and Greenberg(1977) as convenience versus recreational orientation (as cited by Kim, LaRose, 2004) Various researches have been conducted to identify the underlying dimensions for the basic constructs of the TAM model. These latent dimensions can be further used to understand how these constructs get influenced by various exogenous factors. For example, Mathwick et al. (2001) have added two interesting latent dimensions to the usefulness construct Consumer Return on Investment(CROI), and service excellence. Monsuwe, Dellaert and Ruyter (2004) have defined CROI as a perceived return on cognitive, behavioural or financial investment made by the consumer. Whereas, service excellence evaluates the delivered promises against the performance. If both these dimensions are satisfied, then consumers will judge the Internet shopping performance positively (Mathwick et al., 2002) which adds to the perceived usefulness. Zeithamal et al. (2002) have stated that site characteristics such as search functions, download speed and navigation also acts as a determinant in shaping ease of use constru ct of the TAM model. But, Monsuwe et al. (2004, p.109) have a different opinion regarding this dimension. They have stated that these site characteristics merely influence the ease of use of a particular web site or online store, and not the Internet as a shopping medium in generalà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Online Shopping orientations Kim and LaRose (2004) have defined shopping orientation as a shoppers attitude toward shopping activity that may vary with the situation rather than an invariant personality trait of the shopper. They have cited the categorization given by Bellenger, Robertson and Greenberg (1977) which classifies shoppers on the basis of their shopping orientation into convenience versus recreation oriented. Kim and LaRose (2004) also posit that shoppers may possess multiple orientations depending upon the expected outcome of a shopping experience and may demonstrate a regulated/utilitarian or an unregulated/recreational shopping orientation depending upon the environmental stimuli. Their study also shows that these two shopping orientations are not mutually exclusive and interactive web features may draw shoppers with convenience orientation into unregulated buying. Li, Kuo and Rusell(2006) have also studied the impact of shopping orientations on online consumer behavior alongwith other factors like demographics, channel knowledge and perceived channel utilities. Primary data was collected by a research company using an online survey of 999 U.S. Internet users. They have classified Internet users as frequent, occasional and non-buyers. Findings indicated that frequent web buyers have a higher degree of perceived channel utility for the purpose of communication, distribution and accessibility. Similarly channel knowledge also has a positive effect on the Internet buying and it also has a reciprocal influence on the perceived channel utilities. Their study also indicates that frequent web buyers value convenience more than experience(touch and feel of the product) whereas those who are non-web buyers have a higher degree of experience orientation. Recreation and economy orientation are found to be similar for the three types of Internet buyers. Th e study of the demographic factors revealed that male are more frequent web buyers than women, better-educated consumers shop more frequently online and consumers with higher income are more likely to be in frequent web buyer category. Age was not significant as far as frequency of web buying was concerned. Note: Most of the researchers feel that the classical consumer behavioral theories used for can only act as a starting point for understanding the online consumer behavior. There is no structured framework for explaining the online consumer behavior; the studies are mostly fragmented. Researchers have suggested different factors and frameworks, but there is a lack of a cohesive theoretical base to the online consumer behavior. Ba, S.L., and Pavlou, P.A. Evidence of the effect of trust building technology in electronic markets: Price premiums and buyer behavior. MIS Quarterly, 26, 3 (2002), 243-268. Gefen, D., and Straub, D.W. Consumer trust in B2C e-commerce and the importance of social presence: experiments in e-products and e-services. Omega: The International Journal of Management Science, 32, 6 (2004), 407-424. Gefen, D.; Karahanna, E.; and Straub, D.W. Trust and TAM in online shopping: An integrated model. MIS Quarterly, 27, 1 (2003), 51-90. Kim, H.-W.; Xu, Y.; and Koh, J. A comparison of online trust building factors between potential customers and repeat customers. Journal of the AIS, 5, 10 (2004), 392-420. Lim, K.H.; Sia, C.L.; Lee, M.K.O.; and Benbasat, I. Do I trust you online, and if so, will I buy? An empirical study of two trust-building strategies. Journal of Management Information Systems, 23, 2 (Fall 2006), 233-266. Pavlou, P.A., and Fygenson, M. Understanding and predicting electronic commerce adoption: An extension of the theory of planned behavior. MIS Quarterly, 30, 1 (2006), 115-143. Dwyer, F.R.; Schurr, P.H.; and Oh, S. Developing buyer-seller relationships. Journal of Marketing, 51, 2 (1987), 11-27. Everard, A.P., and Galletta, D.F. How presentation flaws affect perceived site quality, trust, and intention to purchase from an online store. Journal of Management Information Systems, 22, 3 (Winter 2005-6), 56-95 Kuczmarski, James (2008, Apr). JOURNAL-IST: Freedom of Choice. Fast Company, Issue 124, 43-43, 1/2p Runyan, B., Smith, K.T., Smith, L. M.(2008, Mar). Implications of Web assurance services on e-commerce. Accounting Forum (Elsevier), Vol. 32 Issue 1, 46-61 Gefen, D. Customer loyalty in e-commerce. Journal of the AIS, 3, 1 (2002), 27-51. Bart, Y.; Shankar, V.; Sultan, F.; and Urban, G.L. Are the drivers and role of online trust the same for all Web sites and consumers? A large-scale exploratory empirical study. Journal of Marketing, 69, 4 (2005), 133-152. Yoon, S.-J. The antecedents and consequences of trust in online-purchase decisions. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 16, 2 (2002), 47-63. Lowry, P.B., Vance, A., Moody, G., Beckman, B. Read, A. (2008). Explaining and Predicting the Impact of Branding Alliances and Web Site Quality on Initial Consumer Trust of E-Commerce Web Sites. Journal of Management Information Systems / Spring 2008, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 199-224. American Banker(2007, 17 Dec), Vol. 172 Issue 241, p17-17, 1/9p Monsuwe, T.P., Dellaert, B.G.C. Ruyter, K.D.(2004). What drives consumers to shop online? A literature review. International Journal of Service Industry Management.Vol.15 No.1, pp.102-121 Ward,M.R. Lee, M. J.(2000). Internet shopping, consumer search and product branding. Journal of Product and Brand Management, Vol.9 No.1, pp.6-20 Ballantine, P.W.(2005). Effects of interactivity and product information on consumer satisfaction in an online retail setting. International Journal of Retail Distribution Management, Vol.33 No.1, pp.461-471 Melià ¡n-Alzola, L. Padrà ³n-Robaina, V. (2006). Tangibility as a quality factor in electronic commerce B2C. Managing Service Quality. Vol.16 No.3,pp.320-338 Li,N. Zhang, P.(2002). Consumer Online shopping attitudes and behaviour: An assessment of research. Proceedings of the Eighth Americas Conference on Information Systems. 508-517 Constantinides, E.(2004). Influencing the online consumers behavior: the web experience. Internet Research. Vol 14 No.2, pp. 111-126 Cheung, C.M.K., Zhu, L., Kwong, T., Chan, G.W.W. Limayem, M.(2003). Online Consumer Behavior: A Review and Agenda for Future Research. Proceedings of the 16th Bled eCommerce Conference, eTransformation. 194-218 Li, H., Kuo, C. Rusell, M.G.(2006, Jun). The Impact of Perceived Channel Utilities, Shopping Orientations, and Demographics on the Consumers Online Buying Behaviour. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. 5(2). Retrieved July, 1, 2009, from http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/120837782/HTMLSTART Mauldin, E. Arunachalam, V. (2002). An Experimental Examination of Alternative Forms of Web Assurance for Business-to-Consumer e-Commerce. Journal of Information Systems. 16. 33-54 Abstract: Customers in an Internet shopping environment actually play dual roles. One is the role as a customer in a shopping place, and the other is the role as a user of information technology. In both cases, the level of satisfaction is of great concern. In this vein, a way of measuring the satisfaction level that takes both roles into account is needed. However, in past research indexes for consumer satisfaction and indexes for user information satisfaction have been developed separately in the fields of marketing and management information systems. Because of this lack of interaction between the two streams of research, an index for electronic commerce consumers that has its base in the dual roles has not been developed and tested. In this research, an instrument for measuring electronic commerce consumer satisfaction was proposed and validated using a sample of over 400 customers. The relationship between the index and consumers purchasing intention was also examined. Title: Development of electronic commerce user-consumer satisfaction index (ECUSI) for Internet shopping Author(s): Namjae Cho, Sanghyuk Park Journal: Industrial Management Data Systems Year: 2001 Volume: 101 Issue: 8 Page: 400 406 ISSN: 0263-5577 DOI: 10.1108/EUM0000000006170 Publisher: MCB UP Ltd Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of consumers shopping orientation on their satisfaction level with the product search and purchase behavior using multi-channels. Design/methodology/approach A total of 181 students in a large US mid-western university provided usable responses to the survey. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analyses were employed to examine the research questions. Findings The results showed that more than three quarters of the respondents shopped via the internet and catalogs, and about 95 percent shopped at non-local retailers. About 60 percent reported that they never shopped from TV shopping channels. Confident/fashion-conscious shopping orientation and catalog/internet shopping orientation were found to be key predictors of customer satisfaction level with information search via multi-channels. Both confident/fashion-conscious consumers and mall shopping-oriented shoppers were more satisfied with store-based retail channels for apparel purchases, whereas non-local store-oriented shoppers and catalog/internet-oriented shoppers were more satisfied with non-store-based retail channels for their apparel purchases. Research limitations/implications The sample of this study was biased by gender and age. For the apparel retail industry, this paper offers practical knowledge about the relationships between shopping orientation and consumer search and purchase behavior in a multi-channel retailing context. Originality/value No study has utilized the shopping orientation framework to explain consumer behavior in a multi-channel environment. This study provides understanding of consumer product information search behavior on four dimensions (price, promotion, style/trends, and merchandise availability) via multi-channels. Title: The effects of shopping orientations on consumers satisfaction with product search and purchases in a multi-channel environment Author(s): Hyun-Hwa Lee, Jihyun Kim Journal: Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management Year: 2008 Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Page: 193 216 ISSN: 1361-2026 DOI: 10.1108/13612020810874881 Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited Article Information: Title: Attitude toward internet web sites, online information search, and channel choices for purchasing Author(s): Yoo-Kyoung Seock, Marjorie Norton Journal: Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management Year: 2007 Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Page: 571 586 ISSN: 1361-2026 DOI: 10.1108/13612020710824616 Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited Document Access: Existing customers: Please login above. You do not have rights to view the article Purchase this document: Price payable: GBP  £13.00 plus handling charge of GBP  £1.50 and VAT where applicable. Purchase Request this document: Print or e-mail a document request to your librarian. Request Reprints permissions: Request Abstract: Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of attitudes toward particular clothing web sites, specifically favorite ones, on information search at those web sites and on the choice to purchase items from those web sites and from non-internet channels after finding the items at the web sites. Design/methodology/approach Using survey data from 414 US college students who had online shopping experience and favorite clothing web sites that they especially like to visit, hypothesized relationships among attitude toward internet web sites, online information search and channel choices for purchasing were tested using path analysis. Findings Results showed that participants attitudes toward their favorite clothing web sites had a direct, positive effect on their intentions to search for information at those web sites as well as intentions to purchase clothing items from those web sites after finding the items there. Additionally, operating through information-search intentions at the web sites, participants attitudes toward those web sites had an indirect, positive effect on their intentions to purchase clothing items from non-internet channels after finding the items at the web sites. Research limitations/implications Results cannot be generalized to the larger population of young consumers and to other consumer groups. Future research should include other population groups. Practical implications This research provides insights into how college students attitudes toward internet web sites affect their information search at the web sites and their channel choices for purchasing. Our results suggest potential benefits of multi-channel retailing for online clothing retailers targeting US college students and the importance of building effective web sites to elicit those consumers positive attitudes toward the web sites. Originality/value This study is the first to investigate young adult online shoppers attitude towards internet web sites and their information search and channel choices for purchasing. Keywords: Consumer behaviour, Information retrieval, Internet shopping, Purchasing, United States of America Article Type: Research paper Article URL: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/13612020710824616 Article Information: Title: Do determinants of online shopping differ for personal shoppers and professional shoppers? Author(s): Amit Bhatnagar Journal: EuroMed Journal of Business Year: 2007 Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Page: 87 102 ISSN: 1450-2194 DOI: 10.1108/14502190710749974 Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited Document Access: Existing customers: Please login above. You do not have rights to view the article Purchase this document: Price payable: GBP  £13.00 plus handling charge of GBP  £1.50 and VAT where applicable. Pu

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Yaroslav Gromov In present time, the question about sustainable use of natural resources has become very important all over the world. People start to realize that nature cannot provide more resources that it has, and that the natural resources consumed a lot. Therefore, there should be found a way how to solve this particular problem energy crisis. Consequently, we should answer the question if the widespread of renewable energy is as serious alternative to the use of fossil fuels or not. There is no correct answer to this question, but if we definitely want to say ‘yes or ‘no, it will be better to weighting up the pro at contra. So let us find out the causes why renewable energy is a serious alternative to the fossil fuels. First of all, fossil fuels are non-renewable. Natural gas, coal and oil are the most common example of fossil fuels, and they are the three main types of fuel that people mostly use and depend on. Seitz (2008) states that ‘according to many analysts the world would not run out of oil, but in a few decades shortages will become prevalent. According to the Energy Information Agency, approximately 93% of the worlds energy sources are fossil fuels, and renewable energy is just about 7%. (2, 2008) Also burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide, which is the greenhouse gas that leads to global warming and seriously damages our planet. Secondly, renewable energy sources, such as hydropower energy, solar energy and wind energy are renewable, efficient and non-polluting or causing little pollution. They are simple: all you need is sunlight, running water and blowing wind. Lastly, expanding the use of renewable energy will have a positive impact on employment, according to more than a dozen independent studies analyzing the impact of clean energy on the economy. Greater reliance on renewable energy would have large, positive impacts on economy, creating significant numbers of new jobs, driving major capital investment, stabilizing energy prices, and reducing consumer costs. (Flavin C. 2006, p.10). By contrast, employment in the fossil fuel industries has been in steady decline for decades, in large measure due to growing automation of coal mining and other processes. (Flavin C. 2006, p.10). As these three types of renewable energy were mentioned let us discuss them more specific. Hydropower energy is the most developed technology for renewable energy. The main potential that this type of energy has is that it can be used in multipurpose area. For example, benefits of hydropower are flooding control, irrigation and public water supplies. (6) Hydropower energy is usually generated form falling water, causing little pollution and it is a type of clean energy. Hydropower resources are usually divided into two main categories. As it is mentioned, the first category is resources that require man-made dam structure with high hydraulic heads; the second one is a â€Å"run-of-river† system that require minimum dam structure and with low hydraulic heads. (4, 2000, p.44-45). Similarly, World Bank (2004) believes that hydropower can play significant role ‘in poverty reduction in developing countries. In addition, World Bank (2004) also claims that ‘currently about 19 percent of the worlds electricity is produced from hydropower and that the greenhouse gas emissions ‘from most hydropower plants are relatively low. It is also important to weight the facts about advantages and disadvantages of hydropower energy. On the one hand, hydropower is a clean energy source. It does not pollute the air like fossil fuels do. (6) Hydropower plays a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The maintain cost is relatively low. It is renewable. The technology is reliable and proven over time. (7). On the other hand, if water is not available, the hydropower plants will not produce electricity. (6) USGS (7) reports that hydropower energy is not perfect and has some disadvantages. For example, ‘high investment cost, inundation of land and wildlife habitat, changes in reservoir and stream water quality, displacement of local populations. Solar energy is the second type of renewable energy that was mentioned in this essay. Solar energy is the second most common type of renewable energy. Basically solar energy is the energy of sun. It helps us to survive on our planet, it heats us, it makes threes grow up, and, mostly everything on our planet depends on solar energy. It is possible that ‘our current life cannot continue if we remain economically dependent on fossil fuels, as Hermanns (2004, p.4) claims, but as for me, we cannot predict the future and we do not know what will happen tomorrow. So Hermann claims that something is unlikely to happen./p> It is not so easy to talk about advantages and disadvantages of solar energy. Speaking about advantages of solar energy it is necessary to mention some of them. Firstly, solar cells can be used almost any place around the world. Secondly, solar cells silent and non-polluting. In addition, they require little maintenance and have log lifetime. Finally, solar cells can be easily used in places where there is no main electricity. Now let us move on to the disadvantages of solar energy. The main and most important disadvantage is initial cost. Lastly, solar cells are totally depends on weather, and can be used just during daytime and sun hours. It is because the only time when cells can generate electricity. (9) The last and possibly most interesting type of renewable energy is wind energy. There is an interesting point about wind energy. Wind is a form of solar energy; it is ‘caused by the heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the rotation of the earth, and the earths surface irregularities (11). Seitz (2008, 141) reports that wind as an energy source was generally used for power as well as for the cooling houses, adding that wind energy source started to gain respect all around the world. In recent years the widespread of wind energy has been extremely rapid, but, for example, ‘despite that rapid growth, wind energy amounted to less than 1% of U.S. electricity generation (10, p.15). But as any other type of energy wind energy also has advantages and disadvantages. According to the Committee on Environmental Impacts one of the advantages is that ‘wind energy has the potential to reduce environmental impacts, because it does not result in the generation of atmospheric contaminants or thermal pollution (10, p.15). Another good point about wind energy is that it is ‘one of lowest-priced renewable energy available today (11). In conclusion there is a very serious question if the widespread of renewable energy is as serious alternative to the use of fossil fuels or not. Three main types of renewable energy were considered. So there is a chance in the nearest future that renewable energy sources will fully displace fossil fuels. It may happen, but not very soon and probably just when there is nothing to extract or mine. Now both renewable and non-renewable energy will be used simultaneously. People are not ready yet to abandon fossil fuels, and are not ready for spending huge amount of money for renewable energy. References Christopher Flavin. (2006, September). American Energy. The Renewable Path to Energy Security. Worldwatch Institute. Energy information administration. Renewable Energy Consumption and Electricity Preliminary Statistics 2008. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/rea_prereport.html John L. Seitz. (2008). Global issues: an introduction. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Committee on Programmatic Review of the U. S. Department of Energys Office of Power Technologies. (2000). Renewable Power Pathways : A Review of the U. S. Department of Energys Renewable Energy Programs. National Academic Press. World Bank Staff. (2004). Water Resources Sector Strategy: Strategic Directions for World Bank Engagement. World Bank Publications. U.S. Department Of Energy. Energy efficiency and renewable energy. Advantages and disadvantages of Hydropower. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/hydro_ad.html USGS (U.S. Geological Survey). Water use: hydro electronic power. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html Scheer, Hermann. (2004). Solar Economy: Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future. Earthscan Publications Ltd. Bristol University. Advantages of solar energy. http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2003/ledlie/advantages_of_solar_energy.htm Committee on Environmental Impacts of Wind Energy Projects. National Research Council. (2007). National Academies Press U.S. Department Of Energy. Energy efficiency and renewable energy. Advantages and disadvantages of Wind Energy. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/wind_ad.html

education Essay -- essays research papers

Rather than emphasizing on maintaining discipline in a classroom, classroom management would be more appropriate for an effective teacher. Discipline has two significant limitations such that discipline highlights the individual rather than the classroom and secondly it connotes negative behavior (352). Whereas classroom management is broadly defined as â€Å"all of those positive behaviors and decisions a teacher makes to facilitate the learning process of their students† also reiterating all of those â€Å"activities necessary to create and maintain an orderly learning environment† (352). The reason why creating an effective classroom management plan is essential is to create a positive and productive learning environment, be able to work and communicate with the students, â€Å"reduce the incidents of misbehavior† while maintaining student interest, motivation, and involvement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Everyone classroom is diverse since not one person is the same. Keeping this concept in mind, it is important to understand that everyone, primarily the students, have different cultural beliefs, values and attitudes. Some students may also come from a single parent home or may have their family going through a divorce. By understanding each student and their various cultural diversities, it will help the effective teacher produce a stronger level of communication with their students and encourage a productive learning environment. It is important to acknowledge each students differences and not ignore their needs outside the academic setting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With the focus of creating an effective classroom management plan, it is essential to define rules and implement them so they may be clearly and easily understood. While establishing rules it is important to remember that the goal is â€Å"to establish and maintain an effective learning environment† (361). While developing rules for the classroom, it is best that the list of rules be few yet clear and concise. â€Å"It is also important to involve the students in the development of these rules; this not only facilitates their understanding and ownership but also cultivates their sense of power and self-esteem† (362). The effective teacher will realize that by including students into the decision making process of their own classroom management, they are encouraging a more productive learning environment. ... ...ively enthusiastic in a classroom is important to engage student motivation. This can be implemented by showing interest in the subject matter being discussed and the teacher’s enthusiasm should reflect onto the students’. Organization is important to be developed in the classroom so that the students may carry the organizational skills outside the classroom and through out the rest of their lives. This can be implemented by having the students organize their desks at the end of every week and having a binder/notebook of their work shown to the teacher periodically which is organized according to the rules the teacher has established. Following through the rules is also important for the children because it is necessary that they have a consistent environment. The rules may be positively reinforced but this must be consistently done. It is a teacher’s role to have patience and with that the students will benefit the most. Finally, rules shall be implemented w ith respect, courtesy and listening on both ends of the spectrum. By showing the student that you, the teacher, has these qualities, they will realize that these are crucial in the proper development of a well-rounded student.

Christmas History :: essays research papers

Christmas History The word Christmas comes from the old English "Cristes maesse" meaning Christ's Mass. The Holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The actual birthday of Jesus is not known; therefore, the early Church Fathers in the 4th century fixed the day around the old Roman Saturnalia festival (17 - 21 December), a traditional pagan festivity. The first mention of the birthday of Jesus is from the year 354 AD. Gradually all Christian churches, except Armenians who celebrate Christmas on January 6 (the date of the baptism of Jesus as well as the day of the three Magi), accepted the date of December 25th. In American/English tradition, Christmas Day itself is the day for opening gifts brought by jolly old St. Nick. Many of our current American ideals about the way Christmas ought to be, derive from the English Victorian Christmas, such as that described in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The caroling, the gifts, the feast, and the wishing of good cheer to all - these ingredients came together to create that special Christmas atmosphere. The custom of gift-giving on Christmas goes back to Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Kalends. The very first gifts were simple items such as twigs from a sacred grove as good luck emblems. Soon that escalated to food, small items of jewelry, candles, and statues of gods. To the early Church, gift- giving at this time was a pagan holdover and therefore severely frowned upon. However, people would not part with it, and some justification was found in the original gift giving of the Magi, and from figures such as St. Nicholas. By the middle ages gift giving was accepted. Before then it was more common to exchange gifts on New Year's Day or Twelfth Night. Santa Claus is known by British children as Father Christmas. Father Christmas, these days, is quite similar to the American Santa, but his direct ancestor is a certain pagan spirit who regularly appeared in medieval mummer's plays. The old-fashioned Father Christmas was depicted wearing long robes with sprigs of holly in his long white hair. Children write letters to Father Christmas detailing their requests, but instead of dropping them in the mailbox, the letters are tossed into the fireplace. The draft carries the letters up the chimney, and theoretically, Father Christmas reads the smoke. Gifts are opened Christmas afternoon. From the English we get a story to explain the custom of hanging stockings from the mantelpiece. Father Christmas once dropped some gold coins while coming down the chimney. The coins would have fallen through the ash grate and been

Aboriginal Land Rights within Australia Essay -- Rights of Indigenous

Terra Nullius was once apparent in Australian society, but has now been nullified with the turn of the century. With the political changes in our society, and the apology to Indigenous Australians, society is now witnessing an increase in aboriginals gaining a voice in today’s society. Described by Pat Dodson (2006) as a seminal moment in Australia’s history, Rudd’s apology was expressed in the true spirit of reconciliation opening a new chapter in the history of Australia. Considerable debate has arisen within society as to whether aboriginals have a right to land that is of cultural significance and whether current land owners will be able to keep their land. An issue facing society is whether legislation in place is sufficient in balancing the rights of Indigenous Australians and the rights of current land owners who will be affected by the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). To determine whether legislation is sufficient and fair, an investigation into the current societal view point needed to be considered by legislators. These legislators needed to evaluate the ways in which other societies had catered to the needs of indigenous land owners. Through consideration of these points, recommendations and changes to legislation need to be debated and enacted to ensure more equitable legislation on land rights within Australia Struggles by Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people for recognition of their rights and interests have been long and arduous (Choo & Hollobach 2003:5). The ‘watershed’ decision made by the High Court of Australia in 1992 (Mabo v Queensland) paved the way for Indigenous Australians to obtain what was ‘stolen’ from them in 1788 when the British ‘invaded’ (ATSIC:1988). The focus of legislation in the past w... ...oseville NSW: McGraw Hill. Brennan, F. 1995. One land, One Nation. St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. Richard Harding, Roderic Broadhurst, Anne Ferrante, Nini Loh. 1995. Aboriginal Contact with the criminal justice system. Leichardt, NSW: Hawkins Press Keon- Cohen, B. 2001. Native Title in the New Millennium. Sydney: Panther Publishing. Choo, C and Hollbach, S. 2003. History and Native Title. Western Australia: Studies in Western Australian History. Australian Government. 1993. Addressing the key issues for reconciliation. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. Bourke, E and Edwards, B. 1994. Aboriginal Australia. St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. Healey, J. 2002. Aboriginal Disadvantage. Rozelle NSW: Spinney Press. Healey, J. 2007. Native Title and Land Rights. Thirroul NSW: Spinney Press

Expert Systems and Artificial Intelligence

Expert Systems are computer programs that are derived from a branch of computer science research called Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI's scientific goal is to understand intelligence by building computer programs that exhibit intelligent behavior. It is concerned with the concepts and methods of symbolic inference, or reasoning, by a computer, and how the knowledge used to make those inferences will be represented inside the machine. Of course, the term intelligence covers many cognitive skills, including the ability to solve problems, learn, and understand language; AI addresses all of those. But most progress to date in AI has been made in the area of problem solving — concepts and methods for building programs that reason about problems rather than calculate a solution. AI programs that achieve expert-level competence in solving problems in task areas by bringing to bear a body of knowledge about specific tasks are called knowledge-based or expert systems. Often, the term expert systems is reserved for programs whose knowledge base contains the knowledge used by human experts, in contrast to knowledge gathered from textbooks or non-experts. More often than not, the two terms, expert systems (ES) and knowledge-based systems (KBS), are used synonymously. Taken together, they represent the most widespread type of AI application. The area of human intellectual endeavor to be captured in an expert system is called the task domain. Task refers to some goal-oriented, problem-solving activity. Domain refers to the area within which the task is being performed. Typical tasks are diagnosis, planning, scheduling, configuration and design. An example of a task domain is aircraft crew scheduling, discussed in Chapter 2. Building an expert system is known as knowledge engineering and its practitioners are called knowledge engineers. The knowledge engineer must make sure that the computer has all the knowledge needed to solve a problem. The knowledge engineer must choose one or more forms in which to represent the required knowledge as symbol patterns in the memory of the computer — that is, he (or she) must choose a knowledge representation. He must also ensure that the computer can use the knowledge efficiently by selecting from a handful of reasoning methods. The practice of knowledge engineering is described later. We first describe the components of expert systems. The Building Blocks of Expert Systems Every expert system consists of two principal parts: the knowledge base; and the reasoning, or inference, engine. The knowledge base of expert systems contains both factual and heuristic knowledge. Factual knowledge is that knowledge of the task domain that is widely shared, typically found in textbooks or journals, and commonly agreed upon by those knowledgeable in the particular field. Heuristic knowledge is the less rigorous, more experiential, more judgmental knowledge of performance. In contrast to factual knowledge, heuristic knowledge is rarely discussed, and is largely individualistic. It is the knowledge of good practice, good judgment, and plausible reasoning in the field. It is the knowledge that underlies the â€Å"art of good guessing. † Knowledge representation formalizes and organizes the knowledge. One widely used representation is the production rule, or simply rule. A rule consists of an IF part and a THEN part (also called a condition and an action). The IF part lists a set of conditions in some logical combination. The piece of knowledge represented by the production rule is relevant to the line of reasoning being developed if the IF part of the rule is satisfied; consequently, the THEN part can be concluded, or its problem-solving action taken. Expert systems whose knowledge is represented in rule form are called rule-based systems. Another widely used representation, called the unit (also known as frame, schema, or list structure) is based upon a more passive view of knowledge. The unit is an assemblage of associated symbolic knowledge about an entity to be represented. Typically, a unit consists of a list of properties of the entity and associated values for those properties. Since every task domain consists of many entities that stand in various relations, the properties can also be used to specify relations, and the values of these properties are the names of other units that are linked according to the relations. One unit can also represent knowledge that is a â€Å"special case† of another unit, or some units can be â€Å"parts of† another unit. The problem-solving model, or paradigm, organizes and controls the steps taken to solve the problem. One common but powerful paradigm involves chaining of IF-THEN rules to form a line of reasoning. If the chaining starts from a set of conditions and moves toward some conclusion, the method is called forward chaining. If the conclusion is known (for example, a goal to be achieved) but the path to that conclusion is not known, then reasoning backwards is called for, and the method is backward chaining. These problem-solving methods are built into program modules called inference engines or inference procedures that manipulate and use knowledge in the knowledge base to form a line of reasoning. The knowledge base an expert uses is what he learned at school, from colleagues, and from years of experience. Presumably the more experience he has, the larger his store of knowledge. Knowledge allows him to interpret the information in his databases to advantage in diagnosis, design, and analysis. Though an expert system consists primarily of a knowledge base and an inference engine, a couple of other features are worth mentioning: reasoning with uncertainty, and explanation of the line of reasoning. Knowledge is almost always incomplete and uncertain. To deal with uncertain knowledge, a rule may have associated with it a confidence factor or a weight. The set of methods for using uncertain knowledge in combination with uncertain data in the reasoning process is called reasoning with uncertainty. An important subclass of methods for reasoning with uncertainty is called â€Å"fuzzy logic,† and the systems that use them are known as â€Å"fuzzy systems. † Because an expert system uses uncertain or heuristic knowledge (as we humans do) its credibility is often in question (as is the case with humans). When an answer to a problem is questionable, we tend to want to know the rationale. If the rationale seems plausible, we tend to believe the answer. So it is with expert systems. Most expert systems have the ability to answer questions of the form: â€Å"Why is the answer X? † Explanations can be generated by tracing the line of reasoning used by the inference engine (Feigenbaum, McCorduck et al. 1988). The most important ingredient in any expert system is knowledge. The power of expert systems resides in the specific, high-quality knowledge they contain about task domains. AI researchers will continue to explore and add to the current repertoire of knowledge representation and reasoning methods. But in knowledge resides the power. Because of the importance of knowledge in expert systems and because the current knowledge acquisition method is slow and tedious, much of the future of expert systems depends on breaking the knowledge acquisition bottleneck and in codifying and representing a large knowledge infrastructure.

Personality development

Development quint essentially means enhancing and grooming one's outer and inner self to bring about a positive change to your life. Each individual has a distinct persona that can be developed, polished and refined. This process includes boosting one's confidence, improving communication and language speaking abilities, widening ones scope of knowledge, developing certain hobbies or skills, learning fine etiquettes and manners, adding style and grace to the way one looks, talks and walks and overall imbibing oneself with positivity, liveliness and peace.Personality Development is gaining more and more importance because it enables people to create a good impression about themselves on others. It helps them to build and develop relationships, helps in your career growth and also helps to improve your financial needs. After all, Personality Development is nothing but a tool that helps you realize your capabilities and your strengths making you a stronger, a happier and a cheerful pers on. utward appearance is the window of your personality to the world. You are not only dress for others but for yourself too.External appearance is important b'coz that gives the first impression to others about your personality. Two Major Reasons: 1) Outward appearance is easier to examine and easier to improve. 2) Outward appearance has a more direct and immediate effect on one's interactions with others. Role Plays Inspirational Clips Learning with Fun Pre-Training Observation * Post-Training Observation * One-on-One Feedback Provided * Weekly Follow-ups * Tailor-made courses to suit your needs Incentives for Improvement from Crescendo* What is † Grooming? Importance of Personal Grooming Relation between personal appearance and image projection Disclaimer: This are â€Å"Guidelines Only' about grooming in professional environment and not intended or meant to hurt anyone's feeling. We understand that dressing and outward appearance are affected by Culture and Ethnic backgro und. It is important to dress according to your own style and for the occasion while meeting your organizational dress code guidelines. What is Grooming? It is the process of making yourself look neat and attractive The things which you do o make yourself and your appearance tidy and pleasant.Whether this is real or imaginary, the most important fact is that your appearance influences the opinions of everyone around you. Your professionalism, intelligence and the trust people form in you is mainly due to your appearance. Some of the perceptions people can form solely from your appearance are: Your professionalism Your level of sophistication Your intelligence Your credibility Personal Grooming Habits: Grooming involves all aspects of yourself Overall Cleanliness Hair Nails Teeth Uniform Make-up Personal Grooming Habit: HAIRIt is your crowning glory Keep it at a length and style at which you can maintain it Wash your hair everyday or at least every other day Men: We recommend to not fall over the ears, eyebrows or even touch the back of the collar Will always present a neat appearance Facial hair should be neatly trimmed ( moustache, sideburns), beards are not recommended Women: Tie your hair in a neat hairstyle with hair pulled back from face Hair if longer than jaw line should be tied into a bun Should be well groomed with a neat appearance at all times hHair holding devices should be plain and of natural colours.Nails: Clip nails short, along their shape A healthy body ensures healthy nails. Brittle or discolored nails show up deficiencies or disease conditions.Teeth: Brush teeth at least twice a day Remember to rinse your mouth after every meal For those who smoke it is important you rinse your mouth after every smoke and use a mouth freshener Uniform: Your uniform talks a lot about your organization First impressions are made within the first five minutes of meeting someone A neat, clean and well ironed uniform is acceptable and appreciated by one and all at all imes Your ld-Tags are also an important part of your uniform Make-up: Make up should be natural looking Try avoiding bright and attention catching colors for nail polish and lip color Mild fragrance Women: we advise to stay away from extremely dark, bright reds and fluorescent colors Hair color should not be more than two shades darker or lighter than your natural hair color. Unnatural colors (burgundy, green etc. ) must be avoided Accessories Male: Men should limit possibly limit accessories/]ewelry to 3 pieces Accessories include watch, ring, handkerchief Avoid bracelets, necklaces, and visible piercingWomen: Jewelry shoud be keep minimal and conservative Remove all facial piercing except earrings The 5 Piece Rule: Wear only five accessories – earrings count as 2; watch count as 3, allowing 2 additional accessories Shoes: Lace up conservative shoes are the most appropriate Choose black, brown or burgundy shoes. Shoe colors should match your trousers or be of a darker color. Avoid very old, shape distorted shoes. Socks should match the color of your suits and cover you calves. (Try changing socks everyday) Safest color is black. Belts should be in good condition and match the color of your shoes. Females: Shoes should be pumps or sling backs, do not wear shoes with open toes, open heel, or ankle straps. Shoes should be of good quality leather Shoe color should be darker than your trouser Hells should be 1-3 inches; higher heels should be saved for after hours.You can also rest your feet on a footrest one at a time, but maintain proper posture and avoid slouching. Step 4 Let your arms hang freely at your sides when possible. Personality Development Training Everyone is influenced by an attractive personality and without influencing others ou can't get success in todays competitive world. For many of us, it is not enough to simply have life as it happens. We find it essential to get the most we can out of life and that is being the best that we ca n be. We may be coping with life – but are we in control of it? You may be successful in some areas of your life, so why not be successful in all aspects of your life?We believe that working on both your inner self and your outer self will help you build the confidence you need to be in complete charge of your life resulting to fulfilled dreams and living life in abundance. By doing o, an individual maximizes their potential to excel both in their careers as well as their personal lives. Similarly a training in personality development enhances the general as well as unique traits (characteristics which differentiate one from others) of a person. This course aims to help a person understand and know his / her purpose in life, get a positive thought pattern, gain confidence, improve behavior, learn better communication and develop a healthy physique. Course Objective: Help create a purpose statement for life and work Usher an individual to personal wholeness and satisfactionTo strategize ways for an individual promotion by building your personal brand Aid in achieving correct posture and a healthy life style Manifest good grooming on a person's outer appearance Read and understand the importance of body talk Describe ways to enhance Verbal Communication Describe common practices in observing manners in your work place. Personality development Development quint essentially means enhancing and grooming one's outer and inner self to bring about a positive change to your life. Each individual has a distinct persona that can be developed, polished and refined. This process includes boosting one's confidence, improving communication and language speaking abilities, widening ones scope of knowledge, developing certain hobbies or skills, learning fine etiquettes and manners, adding style and grace to the way one looks, talks and walks and overall imbibing oneself with positivity, liveliness and peace.Personality Development is gaining more and more importance because it enables people to create a good impression about themselves on others. It helps them to build and develop relationships, helps in your career growth and also helps to improve your financial needs. After all, Personality Development is nothing but a tool that helps you realize your capabilities and your strengths making you a stronger, a happier and a cheerful pers on. utward appearance is the window of your personality to the world. You are not only dress for others but for yourself too.External appearance is important b'coz that gives the first impression to others about your personality. Two Major Reasons: 1) Outward appearance is easier to examine and easier to improve. 2) Outward appearance has a more direct and immediate effect on one's interactions with others. Role Plays Inspirational Clips Learning with Fun Pre-Training Observation * Post-Training Observation * One-on-One Feedback Provided * Weekly Follow-ups * Tailor-made courses to suit your needs Incentives for Improvement from Crescendo* What is † Grooming? Importance of Personal Grooming Relation between personal appearance and image projection Disclaimer: This are â€Å"Guidelines Only' about grooming in professional environment and not intended or meant to hurt anyone's feeling. We understand that dressing and outward appearance are affected by Culture and Ethnic backgro und. It is important to dress according to your own style and for the occasion while meeting your organizational dress code guidelines. What is Grooming? It is the process of making yourself look neat and attractive The things which you do o make yourself and your appearance tidy and pleasant.Whether this is real or imaginary, the most important fact is that your appearance influences the opinions of everyone around you. Your professionalism, intelligence and the trust people form in you is mainly due to your appearance. Some of the perceptions people can form solely from your appearance are: Your professionalism Your level of sophistication Your intelligence Your credibility Personal Grooming Habits: Grooming involves all aspects of yourself Overall Cleanliness Hair Nails Teeth Uniform Make-up Personal Grooming Habit: HAIRIt is your crowning glory Keep it at a length and style at which you can maintain it Wash your hair everyday or at least every other day Men: We recommend to not fall over the ears, eyebrows or even touch the back of the collar Will always present a neat appearance Facial hair should be neatly trimmed ( moustache, sideburns), beards are not recommended Women: Tie your hair in a neat hairstyle with hair pulled back from face Hair if longer than jaw line should be tied into a bun Should be well groomed with a neat appearance at all times hHair holding devices should be plain and of natural colours.Nails: Clip nails short, along their shape A healthy body ensures healthy nails. Brittle or discolored nails show up deficiencies or disease conditions.Teeth: Brush teeth at least twice a day Remember to rinse your mouth after every meal For those who smoke it is important you rinse your mouth after every smoke and use a mouth freshener Uniform: Your uniform talks a lot about your organization First impressions are made within the first five minutes of meeting someone A neat, clean and well ironed uniform is acceptable and appreciated by one and all at all imes Your ld-Tags are also an important part of your uniform Make-up: Make up should be natural looking Try avoiding bright and attention catching colors for nail polish and lip color Mild fragrance Women: we advise to stay away from extremely dark, bright reds and fluorescent colors Hair color should not be more than two shades darker or lighter than your natural hair color. Unnatural colors (burgundy, green etc. ) must be avoided Accessories Male: Men should limit possibly limit accessories/]ewelry to 3 pieces Accessories include watch, ring, handkerchief Avoid bracelets, necklaces, and visible piercingWomen: Jewelry shoud be keep minimal and conservative Remove all facial piercing except earrings The 5 Piece Rule: Wear only five accessories – earrings count as 2; watch count as 3, allowing 2 additional accessories Shoes: Lace up conservative shoes are the most appropriate Choose black, brown or burgundy shoes. Shoe colors should match your trousers or be of a darker color. Avoid very old, shape distorted shoes. Socks should match the color of your suits and cover you calves. (Try changing socks everyday) Safest color is black. Belts should be in good condition and match the color of your shoes. Females: Shoes should be pumps or sling backs, do not wear shoes with open toes, open heel, or ankle straps. Shoes should be of good quality leather Shoe color should be darker than your trouser Hells should be 1-3 inches; higher heels should be saved for after hours.You can also rest your feet on a footrest one at a time, but maintain proper posture and avoid slouching. Step 4 Let your arms hang freely at your sides when possible. Personality Development Training Everyone is influenced by an attractive personality and without influencing others ou can't get success in todays competitive world. For many of us, it is not enough to simply have life as it happens. We find it essential to get the most we can out of life and that is being the best that we ca n be. We may be coping with life – but are we in control of it? You may be successful in some areas of your life, so why not be successful in all aspects of your life?We believe that working on both your inner self and your outer self will help you build the confidence you need to be in complete charge of your life resulting to fulfilled dreams and living life in abundance. By doing o, an individual maximizes their potential to excel both in their careers as well as their personal lives. Similarly a training in personality development enhances the general as well as unique traits (characteristics which differentiate one from others) of a person. This course aims to help a person understand and know his / her purpose in life, get a positive thought pattern, gain confidence, improve behavior, learn better communication and develop a healthy physique. Course Objective: Help create a purpose statement for life and work Usher an individual to personal wholeness and satisfactionTo strategize ways for an individual promotion by building your personal brand Aid in achieving correct posture and a healthy life style Manifest good grooming on a person's outer appearance Read and understand the importance of body talk Describe ways to enhance Verbal Communication Describe common practices in observing manners in your work place. Personality development Development quint essentially means enhancing and grooming one's outer and inner self to bring about a positive change to your life. Each individual has a distinct persona that can be developed, polished and refined. This process includes boosting one's confidence, improving communication and language speaking abilities, widening ones scope of knowledge, developing certain hobbies or skills, learning fine etiquettes and manners, adding style and grace to the way one looks, talks and walks and overall imbibing oneself with positivity, liveliness and peace.Personality Development is gaining more and more importance because it enables people to create a good impression about themselves on others. It helps them to build and develop relationships, helps in your career growth and also helps to improve your financial needs. After all, Personality Development is nothing but a tool that helps you realize your capabilities and your strengths making you a stronger, a happier and a cheerful pers on. utward appearance is the window of your personality to the world. You are not only dress for others but for yourself too.External appearance is important b'coz that gives the first impression to others about your personality. Two Major Reasons: 1) Outward appearance is easier to examine and easier to improve. 2) Outward appearance has a more direct and immediate effect on one's interactions with others. Role Plays Inspirational Clips Learning with Fun Pre-Training Observation * Post-Training Observation * One-on-One Feedback Provided * Weekly Follow-ups * Tailor-made courses to suit your needs Incentives for Improvement from Crescendo* What is † Grooming? Importance of Personal Grooming Relation between personal appearance and image projection Disclaimer: This are â€Å"Guidelines Only' about grooming in professional environment and not intended or meant to hurt anyone's feeling. We understand that dressing and outward appearance are affected by Culture and Ethnic backgro und. It is important to dress according to your own style and for the occasion while meeting your organizational dress code guidelines. What is Grooming? It is the process of making yourself look neat and attractive The things which you do o make yourself and your appearance tidy and pleasant.Whether this is real or imaginary, the most important fact is that your appearance influences the opinions of everyone around you. Your professionalism, intelligence and the trust people form in you is mainly due to your appearance. Some of the perceptions people can form solely from your appearance are: Your professionalism Your level of sophistication Your intelligence Your credibility Personal Grooming Habits: Grooming involves all aspects of yourself Overall Cleanliness Hair Nails Teeth Uniform Make-up Personal Grooming Habit: HAIRIt is your crowning glory Keep it at a length and style at which you can maintain it Wash your hair everyday or at least every other day Men: We recommend to not fall over the ears, eyebrows or even touch the back of the collar Will always present a neat appearance Facial hair should be neatly trimmed ( moustache, sideburns), beards are not recommended Women: Tie your hair in a neat hairstyle with hair pulled back from face Hair if longer than jaw line should be tied into a bun Should be well groomed with a neat appearance at all times hHair holding devices should be plain and of natural colours.Nails: Clip nails short, along their shape A healthy body ensures healthy nails. Brittle or discolored nails show up deficiencies or disease conditions.Teeth: Brush teeth at least twice a day Remember to rinse your mouth after every meal For those who smoke it is important you rinse your mouth after every smoke and use a mouth freshener Uniform: Your uniform talks a lot about your organization First impressions are made within the first five minutes of meeting someone A neat, clean and well ironed uniform is acceptable and appreciated by one and all at all imes Your ld-Tags are also an important part of your uniform Make-up: Make up should be natural looking Try avoiding bright and attention catching colors for nail polish and lip color Mild fragrance Women: we advise to stay away from extremely dark, bright reds and fluorescent colors Hair color should not be more than two shades darker or lighter than your natural hair color. Unnatural colors (burgundy, green etc. ) must be avoided Accessories Male: Men should limit possibly limit accessories/]ewelry to 3 pieces Accessories include watch, ring, handkerchief Avoid bracelets, necklaces, and visible piercingWomen: Jewelry shoud be keep minimal and conservative Remove all facial piercing except earrings The 5 Piece Rule: Wear only five accessories – earrings count as 2; watch count as 3, allowing 2 additional accessories Shoes: Lace up conservative shoes are the most appropriate Choose black, brown or burgundy shoes. Shoe colors should match your trousers or be of a darker color. Avoid very old, shape distorted shoes. Socks should match the color of your suits and cover you calves. (Try changing socks everyday) Safest color is black. Belts should be in good condition and match the color of your shoes. Females: Shoes should be pumps or sling backs, do not wear shoes with open toes, open heel, or ankle straps. Shoes should be of good quality leather Shoe color should be darker than your trouser Hells should be 1-3 inches; higher heels should be saved for after hours.You can also rest your feet on a footrest one at a time, but maintain proper posture and avoid slouching. Step 4 Let your arms hang freely at your sides when possible. Personality Development Training Everyone is influenced by an attractive personality and without influencing others ou can't get success in todays competitive world. For many of us, it is not enough to simply have life as it happens. We find it essential to get the most we can out of life and that is being the best that we ca n be. We may be coping with life – but are we in control of it? You may be successful in some areas of your life, so why not be successful in all aspects of your life?We believe that working on both your inner self and your outer self will help you build the confidence you need to be in complete charge of your life resulting to fulfilled dreams and living life in abundance. By doing o, an individual maximizes their potential to excel both in their careers as well as their personal lives. Similarly a training in personality development enhances the general as well as unique traits (characteristics which differentiate one from others) of a person. This course aims to help a person understand and know his / her purpose in life, get a positive thought pattern, gain confidence, improve behavior, learn better communication and develop a healthy physique. Course Objective: Help create a purpose statement for life and work Usher an individual to personal wholeness and satisfactionTo strategize ways for an individual promotion by building your personal brand Aid in achieving correct posture and a healthy life style Manifest good grooming on a person's outer appearance Read and understand the importance of body talk Describe ways to enhance Verbal Communication Describe common practices in observing manners in your work place.