Monday, December 30, 2019

Examples of Interviewing Techniques

In composition, an interview is a  conversation in which one person (the interviewer) elicits information from another person (the subject or interviewee). A transcript or account of such a conversation is also called an interview. The interview is both a research method and a popular form of nonfiction. EtymologyFrom the Latin, between see Methods and Observations Interviewing Tips The following interviewing tips have been adapted from Chapter 12, Writing about People: The Interview, of William Zinssers book On Writing Well (HarperCollins, 2006). Choose as your subject someone whose job [or experience] is so important or so interesting or so unusual that the average reader would want to read about that person. In other words, choose someone who touches some corner of the readers life.Before the interview, make a list of questions to ask your subject.Get people talking. Learn to ask questions that will elicit answers about what is most interesting or vivid in their lives.Take notes during the interview. If you have trouble keeping up with your subject, just say, Hold it a minute, please, and write until you catch up.Use a combination of direct quotations and summaries. If the speakers conversation is ragged, ... the writer has no choice but to clean up the English and provide the missing links... Whats wrong... is to fabricate quotes or to surmise what someone might have said. To get the facts right, remember that you can call [or revisit] the person you interviewed. Honor Moore When I first began talking to people, I tended to monopolize the conversation, to steer my subject to my own interpretation of Margaretts life. Listening to my tapes, I learned that I often interrupted people just before they were about to tell me something I never would have suspected, so now I tried to let the subject guide the interview and to encourage the interviewees anecdotes. I came to understand that I was interviewing people not to substantiate my own theories but to learn Margaretts story.–Twelve Years and Counting: Writing Biography. Writing Creative Nonfiction, 2001 Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater and Bonnie Stone-Sunstein When we interview, we are not extracting information like a dentist pulls a tooth, but we make meaning together like two dancers, one leading and one following. Interview questions range between closed and open. Closed questions are like those we fill out in popular magazines or application forms: How many years of schooling have you had? Do you rent your apartment? Do you own a car?... Some closed questions are essential for gathering background data,... [but] these questions often yield single phrase answers and can shut down further talk...Open questions, by contrast, help elicit your informants perspective and allow for more conversational exchange. Because there is no single answer to open-ended questions, you will need to listen, respond, and follow the informants lead...Here are some very general open questions—sometimes called experimental and descriptive—that try to get the informant to share experiences or to describe them from his or her own point of view: Tell me more about the time when...Describe the people who were most important to...Describe the first time you...Tell me about the person who taught you about...What stands out for you when you remember...Tell me the story behind that interesting item you have.Describe a typical day in your life. When thinking of questions to ask an informant, make your informant your teacher.–FieldWorking: Reading and Writing Research, 1997 John McPhee In the way that a documentary-film crew can, by its very presence, alter a scene it is filming, a tape recorder can affect the milieu of an interview. Some interviewees will shift their gaze and talk to the recorder rather than to you. Moreover, you may find yourself not listening to the answer to a question you have asked. Use a tape recorder, yes, but maybe not as a first choice—more like a relief pitcher.–Elicitation. The New Yorker, April 7, 2014

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Legalizing Voluntary Euthanasia Essay - 988 Words

Today, voluntary euthanasia is getting closer to being legalized in more than just one state in the United States. â€Å"‘Voluntary’ euthanasia means that the act of putting the person to death is the end result of the person’s own free will† (Bender 19). â€Å" Voluntary euthanasia is an area worthy of our serious consideration, since it would allow patients who have exhausted all other reasonable options to choose death rather than continue suffering† (Bender 19). The question of whether or not voluntary euthanasia should be legalized is a major debate that has been around for years. Because the issue of whether people should have the right to choose how they want to live or die is so complex. With the advances in technology today we have made†¦show more content†¦It is said that with the legalization of voluntary euthanasia it will â€Å"undermine individual and corporate incentives for creative caring† (Anonymous Why 2). Peop le who argue against voluntary euthanasia ask why not make appropriate and effective care and training more widely available, not to give doctors the easy option of euthanasia. There have been organizations supporting the legalization of voluntary euthanasia in Britain and in the US for years now. They have had some public support but were unable to achieve the goal of legalizing voluntary euthanasia in either nation. In England a society, called â€Å"The Voluntary Euthanasia Society† was founded to make voluntary euthanasia legal for an adult that is suffering. The first group that was formed in the US that was for the legalization of euthanasia was the Hemlock Society. This societie’s purpose was to support the decision of a person to die and to offer support when a person is ready to die. The only way the society would support a person was if the person believed in euthanasia for a certain amount of time before requesting to die. â€Å"On May 5, 1998, the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation announced its establishment. Its purpose is to make available up-to-date information on developments in technology and methods for those s eeking voluntary euthanasia† (Fox 134). Until recently there was no success inShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Legalizing Voluntary Euthanasia1429 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Euthanasia refers to a practice whereby an act is intentionally carried out with the purpose inducing death . It is usually seen in light of inducing death to patients who are terminally ill or may not be terminally ill but are suffering from unbearable pain . The focus of this paper is on voluntary euthanasia, namely, euthanasia carried out upon the request of a patient deemed competent enough to make such decisions . This paper will argue the importance of legalising voluntary euthanasia toRead MoreActive And Passive Euthanasia Essay1739 Words   |  7 Pages Rachels and Brock In â€Å"Active and Passive Euthanasia† Rachels demonstrates the similarities between passive and active euthanasia. He claims that if one is permissible, than the other must also be accessible to a patient who prefers that particular fate. Rachels spends the majority of the article arguing against the recommendations of the AMA. The AMA proposes that active euthanasia contradicts what the medical profession stands for. The AMA thinks that ending a person’s life is ethically wrongRead MoreEuthanasia Should Be Legalized For Terminally Ill People1064 Words   |  5 PagesThe word euthanasia has a Greek meaning â€Å"the good death. On the other hand, in the society today, there are deeper and more meanings to euthanasia than before. Voluntary euthanasia concerns itself with the consent of the person to die through the assistance of others. Voluntary euthanasia can be divided into two areas: passive voluntary witch is holding back medical treatment with the patientâ₠¬â„¢s request, active voluntary killing the patient at that patient s request informing the assistant on howRead MoreThe World Today Is Filled With Pain. Much Of This Pain1271 Words   |  6 Pagesof time of any pain. Then why is euthanasia such a widely debated topic? Euthanasia is a merciful act that can take away pain and give closure to loved ones. The sight of a friend, mentor, family member, or even oneself in a feeble state, nowhere near one’s â€Å"old self†, can be so wretched. Regardless of religion, political views, race, gender, etc, no one wants to experience the pain of this. Voluntary euthanasia and some strictly regulated non-voluntary euthanasia needs to be legalized around theRead MoreThe Difference Between Moral Permissibility And Legal Permissibility1462 Words   |  6 Pageslives: physician-assisted suicide (PAS), voluntary active euthanasia (VAE) and passive euthanasia. PAS is when a physician intentionally and knowingly prescribes lethal drugs to a patient intending to commit suicide. VAE is when a physician administers a lethal injection to kill a voluntary, informed patient upon request. Passive euthanasia is when a physician withholds treatment and leaves the patient to die. It is commonly thought for passive euthanasia to be ethically permissible, but not forRead MoreShould Physician Assisted Suicide Be Legalized?1426 Words   |  6 PagesDifferent life ending decision includes assisted suicide, voluntary or involuntary active euthanasia, voluntary or involuntary passive euthanasia and non-voluntary euthanasia (Cassity, 2009). Voluntary active euthanasia is similar to active suicide, but in this other person is the one who does the death causing act. When the person has intension to die and he/she refuses the life sustaining medical treatment, it is known as voluntary passive euthanasia. When another person is the cause of patient deathRead MoreEssay Pro Euthanasia1372 Words   |  6 Pagesright now euthanasia is il legal in many countries and is a very controversial topic. Is it compassion for the patient helping them in ending their life or murder? The doctor is not giving death as an option, it is the patients choice and even where it is legal there are many rules. Euthanasia should not be considered a crime because the patient is not being murdered; they are having their suffering end in a painless, humane way out of compassion for the patient and their family. Euthanasia is definedRead MoreShould Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide Be Legalized in Canada?1486 Words   |  6 PagesEuthanasia, formally known as mercy killing, is the act of intentionally causing the painless death of a sick person, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. In terms of a physicians actions, it can be passive in that a physician plays no direct role in the death of the person or it can be active in that the physician does something directly to cause the death (Yount, 2002). Euthanasia may also be formed into three types of act, which are voluntary, involuntary, and nonvoluntary. VoluntaryRead MoreEssay about The Debate Over Euthanasia1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe Debate Over Euthanasia The controversy over euthanasia has recently become highly publicized. However, this issue is not a new debate. Society has voiced its opinions on the subject for hundreds of years. Euthanasia, which is Greek for good death, refers to the act of ending another person’s life in order to end their suffering and pain.1 Two forms, passive and active euthanasia, categorize the actions taken to end the person’s life. Passive euthanasia involves removing a patient’s lifeRead MoreEuthanasia Is A Form Of Doctor Assisted Suicide1379 Words   |  6 PagesEuthanasia is a form of doctor assisted suicide. There are many different types of Euthanasia and all are currently illegal in the United States with the exception of the state of Oregon. When a patient is being Euthanized they can be given an injection intravenously which causes their death this is called Euthanasia by action. A person could also be assisted to death through euthanasia by omission; this is when the patien t is not provided with the appropriate things such as food or water. Also patients

Friday, December 13, 2019

Dumbest Generation Free Essays

Mark Bauerlein seems to believe that is the dumbest generation because research has shown that knowledge skills and intellectual habits have gone down, and although some people agree with him, others don’t. I believe this generation isn’t the dumbest because there are other things that need to be considered when calling someone, a group of people, or even an entire generation stupid or dumb, rather than just knowledge skills and intellectual habits. Knowledge isn’t all about what people know or how well they are in school. We will write a custom essay sample on Dumbest Generation or any similar topic only for you Order Now IQ tests test the intelligence of the person; however they test the pure thinking capacity rather than what people know. This means that intelligence comes from the entire cognitive thinking ability and not what they know. IQ tests have also been rising since the 1930’s (Source B). Furthermore, just because this doesn’t know things that people knew two generations before us did, doesn’t make us dumb. This generation is learning about things that people didn’t even know about two or even one generation ago. Also, most students in college don’t think that what was important back then is relevant today, so they don’t see the point in remembering or learning about it. That isn’t stupidity, that’s just choice in the information that they wish to hold. Plus, some people are more intelligent about certain things about other people, but that doesn’t make them dumb or stupid about that subject. They just don’t understand it as much as other people. If you look at other subjects for that person, I’m sure you’ll find their strong spot, and what they’re good at. It all depends on what their brain can understand and comprehend. Moreover, students and even adults are coming together. They create groups and social activities that allow people with similar interests and intelligence to get together and help and teach what they know about that particular subject. They come to these people for their knowledge to improve their craft, gain reputation, and expanding their intelligence and interest in their craft (Source C). Although most people may disagree, the new media and social advances help with this. It allows students to reach people around the globe and get other information so they get direct information. According to Mizuko (Source C), â€Å"Youth respect one another’s authority online and are more often motivated to learn from peers than adults. † So by this meaning, the social media allows students to learn in a more advanced way to where they don’t feel like they are being condescending. This also allows the students to learn more of on their own and exploring, rather than knowing the goals and going by a direct lesson plan. Given the fact that most students use Google instead of a library might make people think that we are being derived of learning how to do research on our own. Although most people are right, Google does have benefits. If someone just needs a quick way to get information, Google is good place to get started. Most people know to make sure things are doubled in places rather than just in one place though, so they know what to do about how to research. Additionally, having social media and the internet, texting, email etc. , also creates more chances of writing. Most parents and teachers think that this is causing a downfall in school and literacy capabilities but in reality its actually helping. According to Thompson (Source G), she believes we are in the middle of a literacy revolution. This generation writes more than any other generation before. Most peoples’ writing happens outside the classroom. It may not be very advanced writing, but it is writing. It works the writing and literacy capabilities because it is still writing. They have to read, comprehend, understand, and respond. All of which includes using the abilities that they already had. Also, almost thirty-eight percent of writing happens outside of the classroom. Everything that people write, including texting and email etc. , add up and help with their brain which expands their learning and thinking capacity. Along with social media, there are video games. The people who play video games say that they help with hand-eye coordination, and those who don’t say that the video games make the brains weak. But in all actuality, video games help expand the thinking capacity and help the thinking and learning capabilities. They figure out how to get through things in the game and don’t just cheat by using a manual. They have to think about what could happen next or look at how things happen so they know how to act, react, and do (Source F). Furthermore, every generation has their â€Å"dumb spots†. That doesn’t make each generation the dumbest generation though. One person can’t say that this is the dumbest generation when every generation is dumb at some point or with some group of people. In 1962, according to Simpson, (Source E), he did a documentary about a group of people who didn’t even know what most people did know at their age. They barely knew anything at all and they weren’t able to spend all day texting or playing video games. Each generation has their problems, so one cannot pinpoint what generation is the dumbest generation. So, although some people believe different, I believe this generation is not the dumbest generation because knowledge is not all about the amount of information a person holds. It’s about the thinking capacity and other things can interrupt that thinking process, and also, each generation has their â€Å"dumb† faults. This generation may be more evident, but it is not the dumbest generation. How to cite Dumbest Generation, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Power and Politics in Organizational Management

Question: Discuss about the Power and Politics in Organizational Management. Answer: Introduction: According to the author of the article, power is closely connected to the organizational cultural and behavioral issues like employee satisfaction, organizational commitment and last but most importantly the employ performance. As described by the author, the sources of power are hugely important for the successful exercise of leadership within an organization. As per the authors discussion, for a successful leadership, exercise of the legitimate and referent power is necessary. A coercive pattern of power exercise is always harmful for the organizational culture and success. Moreover, the author has found from his research that it is important for the organizations to giving away the power among the employees within an organization. According to the author, there are a certain sources of power within an organization which are typically responsible for crating distinguishable pattern of result. He has mentioned that there are 5 sources of power within an organization: legitimate power, reward power, coercive power, expert power and referent power. With the help of the legitimate power people can b influenced by the authority of a position. It can make people work under a protocol, but it is not efficient for crating motivation. On the other hand, reward power may create motivation as it uses the strategy of providing the martial and intangible things those the employees want. With coercive power the people can be made conformed to the directions, but it will create de-motivation and dissatisfaction. The expert power can influence people with the knowledge and last but most importantly, the referent power can collect enthusiastic and unquestioning trust and loyalty. Henc, the author has suggested it has the best w ay of power control within an organization. The author have also discussed that in the modern day organizations it is needed to opt for empowerment of the employees. With a democratic approach, better participation and effective use of power can be mad possible. Moreover, a leader needs to exercise very kind of power sources, depending on the organizational situation. The Influence of Power and Politics in Organizations (Part 1) by Bernard Oladosu Omisore, Augustina Nwaneka Nweke: Power exercise and political play is inevitable within an organizational setup. Power is important for any kind of decision making and it automatically comes with the exercise of organizational politics. Organizational power and organizational politics are typically interconnected and interdependent. However, the authors have found that it is important for the peoples of an organization to take part in the organizational politics. It creates a power dimension within an organization. However, according to the authors, it is important for the organizations to b aware of the negative impact of organizational politics. Moreover, as concluded by the authors of this particular article, exercise of coercive power by the management may lead an organization to failure. It may cause disruption of the organizational political dimensions and the team morale. The authors have found that the organizations which are on the threshold of prosperity, need to opt for sectional interests. It will be helpful for them to reducing the employee frustration, friction and conflicts among the members. Moreover, the authors have that organization is an ever changing entity. With perpetual bargaining, repeated coalitions and influence tactics the organizational players uphold the enterprises. Henc, it can be clearly identified that for the survival of th organizational and its culture, politics is fundamentally important. Henc, the authors have suggested that to eradicate issues related to the organizational power tussle and political conflict, the players or the executives may use the strategy of bargaining and communication. It is important to establish such an organizational culture, which will be helpful in upholding communication among all the power stature and p olitical lobbies. Compare and contrast with the previous articles: Now, if a compare and contrast with the previously selected articles can be done, it can be noticed that, the selected articles have an underlying consent about the rejction of coercive power culture. As mentioned by Amarjit Singh the referent and expert power has a number of good impacts on the employee motivation, organizational culture and employee motivation. It helps in acquiring a positive organizational and employee performance. On the other hand, as opined by the author, a coercive power exercise creates an abusive work culture and end up in organizational failure. This particular opinion has been strongly supported by the articles of Fred C. Lunenburg and Bernard Oladosu Omisore and Augustina Nwaneka Nweke. Both the articles have suggested the rejection of the coercive power sources within an organization. However, the article of Amarjit Singh has identified the positive and negative factors of the power sources with vivid discussions, whereas, the article of Fred C. Lunenburg has suggested the rejection of the coercive power source depending on some theoretical discussions. On the other hand, the article by Cameron Anderson and Sebastian Brion has identified that an autocratic source of power has negative impact on the organizational performance level. When all the other selected articles have discussed the power issue depending upon the social and managerial perspective, the article of Cameron Anderson and Sebastien Brion has analyzed it under the light of psychological concept. However, in the conclusion of the article, the authors have suggested that it is important for the CEOs or the power players of an organization not to be autocratic or self-serving. As mentioned by them in this particular article that the self-serving attitude of the higher level of executives face them the loss of power and credibility. In the article of Fred C. Lunenburg, the author has mentioned that in the modern organizational approach, it is need to opt for a democratic approach of power exercise. He has also mentioned that with the division of power, it is possible to gain a better control over the employees. The same idea has been supported by the article of Cameron Anderson and Sebastien Brion but in different mode. These two authors have mentioned that a self-serving CEO not only disrupts the personal credibility as a leader, but also upst th team culture and employee performance. The same idea has been supported by the article of Bernard Oladosu Omisore and Augustina Nwaneka Nweke. With a different approach and context thy have supported the importance of communication within the organizational process and relation. As argued by the authors, for maintaining better team management and organizational conformity, it is important to maintain an open communication within the organization. It will be helpful in eradicating unhealthy organizational power clashes. On the other hand, Amarjit Singh has mentioned that information flow within an organization is typically important for the success of an organization. As mentioned by the author, information is opposite to the uncertainty, which is typically propelled by an autocratic leader. Henc, it is important for the organizations to encourage communication with the organizational setup. Last but not the least, both the articles of Bernard Oladosu Omisore, Augustina Nwaneka Nweke and Fred C. Lunenburg have suggested the use of new approaches for addressing the ever changing organizational challenges in the busses world. As mentioned by Fred C. Lunenburg the new approach of employee empowerment has become useful in the modern organizational setup. Recommendations: From the above-discussions, the following recommendations can be made: Avoid aggressive use of power The employees of the organizations must try to avoid any kind of aggressive use of power. The aggressive use of power creates mental pressure on the other employees and breaks the team bonding within the organization. Ultimately, the overall performance of the company is hampered. Use power in a friendly way The employees of the organizations must use the power in order to improve their personal performance as well as the overall performance standards of the organization. Therefore, if the employees use their power in a friendly manner then they can get help from the others and they can help others in their works. Hence, power can be used for personal improvements and organizational improvements. Use power strictly to implement any essential policy The management of the organizations can use its power to implement any new and essential policy. Sometimes, management faces several issues from the employees end while implementing any new policy. At this time, management can use its power to implement the policy successfully. Use power to motivate the others The people especially the leaders in the organizations can use their power to motivate the sub-ordinates. The leaders can positively influence the sub-ordinates or team members by using their personal as well as organizational power. For example, the leaders can provide the reward to the sub-ordinates, whose performance standard is at the highest position. This will motivate the employees or team members to perform better in the future days. Therefore, from the above recommendations, it can be said that if the people in the organizations use the power in a right manner, then the performance of the organization can be improved easily. Key findings: In the analysis of the four articles, it has been identified that term power is very common for any type of organization. Power can bring positive outcomes as well as negative outcomes. In the article Power and Leadership: An Influence Process, it has been identified that there are mainly two types of power present in an organization and these are organizational power and personal power. Personal power of the people in the organization comes from the job satisfaction, performance standards and the organizational commitments. On the other side, organizational power comes legitimate and rewards. The impact of power on the performance of organization depends on the way how the people use it. Sometimes, the people use the power in such a way that abuses the other people. This kind of use of power hampers the organizational performance. The authoritative power forces the employees within the organization to execute their tasks or works. This type of force creates mental pressure on the employees. Hence, the performance standards of the employees get down, which affects the overall performance of the organization. However, the articles have also indicated that the power that is generated through high standard of performance and job satisfaction is helpful for improving the performance level of the organization. This type of power of the employees helps the management to operate the business successfully. At the same time, the presence of this type of power helps to bring a positive working environment within the company. On the other side, positive power helps the employees to enhance their performance standard. Improved performance standard also helpful for the future carrier development of the employees as well as helps them to overcome any type of challenges at the workplace. Therefore, it can be said from the key findings of the articles that power is good for future development of an organization; however, the impacts of power depends on its use. References: Anderson, C. Brion, S. (2016).Perspectives on Power in Organizations - Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1(1):67.Annualreviews.org. Retrieved 5 October 2016, from https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091259 Lunenburg, F.C., 2012. Power and leadership: an influence process.International journal of management, business, and administration,15(1), pp.1-9. Nweke, A.N., 2014. The Influence of Power and Politics in Organizations (Part 1).International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences,4(7), p.164. Singh, A. (2016). Organizational Power in Perspective: Leadership and Management in Engineering: (ASCE).Leadership And Management In Engineering. Retrieved from https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29LM.1943-5630.0000018.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Leadership Defined Essays - Leadership, Social Psychology

Leadership Defined Leadership Leadership Defined As defined by Webster, a leader is someone who has commanding authority or influence or a first or principal performer of a group. It is my position that Leadership, in essence, is the sum of these definitions. In order to have and maintain commanding authority, a leader must be the principal performer of his/her group. Leadership, based on examples presented by Michael Hanna and Gerald Wilson , is dynamic. The field of knowledge has developed through a series of trials and discoveries, ranging from the Classical scientific theory to contemporary Total Quality Management. With this in mind, leadership should be classified as a soft science, just as philosophy, sociology and psychology. Leadership, without regard to method, is an art; the skillful application of leading is much the same as the skillful application of brushstrokes by a painter. Being both rational and emotional, it involves both sides of human experience. It includes actions and influences based on reason and logic as well those based on inspiration and desire. Leadership also requires involvement working within the social context shared among all members of a group. As illustrated through the Hawthorne experiment, empathy and involvement are important elements of leadership. Is management the same as leadership? Management is a position of authority. Management says what need to get done and supplies the material to get it done. Management tends to be the more educated than the experienced. Managers can be trained to hold a position. Though management is often a position of leadership. Leadership and management are not the same. Anyone can be a manager and not have anyone to lead. Being able to manage requires understanding the aspects of a particular task or mission. A leader must motivate followers to the completion of the mission. Simply stated, management sets the stage and directs and the leadership motivates and makes it happen. Both need support from each process in order to achieve its' goals. Leadership is not just based on the leader. In assessing leadership you must look at the leader, the follower, and the situation or task. In order to do an assessment of the leader, evaluate what is expected from those following. Look at the situation and environment that surrounds the whole concept. Both the leader and followers must serve a common goal. Leadership is 100% service and 100% partnership, to maintain good leadership; one must develop a working relationship between themselves and followers. There are different types of followers, alienated, conformist, pragmatist, and exemplary followers. Alienated followers are the ones that are irritants, who like to always point out the negative aspect on everything and overlook the positive aspects. The conformist follower is the yes person, or brown noser within a group. As long as things are in conformance with social and organizational standards, as long as promotions and other aspects of the job are equal there's really no probl em. Pragmatist are not committed to workgroup goals but have learned not to make waves, basically they will do only what is needed to get by. The exemplary follower is almost like a self-leader. They can adjust to any situation. They are independent, innovative, creative and willing to stand up to superiors. A strong follower helps a good leader to become a better leader. This could also bring on a well-bonded working relationship. In evaluating the leadership process, a lot of things come into play. Followers usually play a key role in organizational successes and failures, yet these outcomes are often attributed solely to leaders. Everyone has spent and will spend more time as a follower than as a leader. Spending time reflecting on follower experiences may be one important key to leadership success. Values play a central part of a leader's psychological makeup. Values are an important component of the moral reasoning process. Values also serve to organize attitudes, which are gen eral and enduring positive or negative feelings about some person, object, or issue. There are two sets of attitudes that play a role in leadership. They are the attitudes leaders have about themselves and the attitudes leaders have about others. Managing stress is also an important skill for leaders and followers to have. They both must learn to monitor their own

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Progress in Western Civ. essays

Progress in Western Civ. essays It is a common misconception, in our modern day society, that more money, intelligence, power and fame are signs of success, or progress. This is not a coincidence, but a very old concept dating back to the rise of civilization. The Babylonians believed this notion, as did some other more successful empires such as the Greek and Roman. It is true, that they were able to acquire more money, land, a larger army, etc... It was in there pursuit of the former that they disregarded the essence of human existence, the sanctity of human life. How can any economic, intellectual, or technological advances be seen as progress, when their societies didnt even strive for an equality of peoples? Western civilization has done nothing but brought forth persecution from one group to another. The essence that civilization was founded, equality, only lasted for a short time before domination began to shape our western culture. It could be said that perhaps one of the earliest dominations was that of the male being over the female. This could most clearly be attributed to the new perception of a male God. As it was seen, the early Mesopotamians embodied a female god, and it wasnt a coincident that females were considered equal, if not superior to their counterparts. It was believed that the world was self-sustained like a womb. It would follow that the female spirit was immortal because a female could bleed for seven days a month and still live. It wasnt until the Neolithic era, which brought more hierarchy and male domination. This was largely due to the focus of more male gods. This set the stage for all the western civilizations and religions to follow. It can also be noted that during this time that male gods came into effect, the crimes followed. The constant wars with their burning and sacking of cities, left many Sumerians in deep despair(8). The Israelites were subject to oppressive pe...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Primary Health Care in Developing Countries Essay

Primary Health Care in Developing Countries - Essay Example Primary health care is essential health care made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them, through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford. It forms an integral part both of the country's health system of which it is the nucleus and of the overall social and economic development of the community (WHO). It values to achieve health for all and requires health systems that "Put people at the centre of health care"1. To achieve this, there is a need to understand citizen's expectation of health and health care and to see to it that their voice and choice decisively influences the way in which health services are designed and operated. The Alma Ata Declaration in 1978 gave an insight into the understanding of primary health care. It mobilized a "Primary Health Care movement" of professionals and institutions, governments and civil society organizations, researchers and grassroots organizations that undertook to tackle the "politically, socially and economically unacceptable"2 health inequalities in all countries. It viewed health as an integral part of the socio-economic development of a country. It provided the most holistic understanding to health and the framework that States needed to pursue to achieve the goals of development. The Declaration recommended that primary health care should include at least: education concerning prevailing health problems and methods of identifying, preventing and controlling them; promotion of food supply and proper nutrition, and adequate supply of safe water and basic sanitation; maternal and child health care, including family planning; immunization against major infectious di seases; prevention and control of locally endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries; promotion of mental health and provision of essential drugs. It emphasized the need for strong first-level care with strong secondary- and tertiary-level care linked to it. It called for an integration of preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health services that had to be made accessible and available to the people, and this was to be guided by the principles of universality, comprehensiveness and equity. In one sense, primary health care reasserted the role and responsibilities of the State, and recognized that health is influenced by a multitude of factors and not just the health services. It also recognized the need for a multi-sectoral approach to health and clearly stated that primary health care had to be linked to other sectors. At the same time, the Declaration emphasized on complete and organized community participation, and ultimate self-reliance with individuals, families and communities assuming more responsibility for their own health, facilitated by support from groups such as the local government, agencies, local leaders, voluntary groups, youth and women's groups, consumer groups, other non-governmental organizations, etc. The Declaration affirmed the need for a balanced distribution of available resources (WHO 1978). THE INDIAN SCENARIO Demographic, Social and

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Visual Literacy in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 11

Visual Literacy in Business - Essay Example When putting together a communication piece through the use of visuals, there are important steps to follow. The first step is organizing the data to present. There are two fundamental possibilities in the organization of data, and they are charts and tables. Neither of these possibilities is better than the other though each has its specific purposes and strengths. The most crucial point to consider before commencing the process of designing is the main point of the presentation. The second step is highlighting the data. When designing the charts, it is important to recall that the human brain intuitively recognizes the differences in size, shape, color, orientation, and hue and attach particular meanings to them (Apkon, 2013). The visual properties are known as pre-attentive variables since the process of perceiving them is immediate and automatic and does not need the involvement of conscious thought. The designer should use this knowledge for the purpose of intentionally highligh ting the most important information. The third and last step is showing the data. It is important to display only the content that is meaningful and leave the items that are extraneous. It is not advisable to decorate the data since it may hinder and distract the audience from perceiving what is irrelevant and what is important (Apkon, 2013). Failure to follow these steps will lead to distracting the audience who will not understand the main point of presenting the visual communication

Monday, November 18, 2019

Comparative project success factors - 2550 words Essay

Comparative project success factors - 2550 words - Essay Example e above mentioned course, we will also try and make a few suggestions that, according to us, might have rendered to a better strategic move and hence, less of a fiasco. Every case study has a conclusion to make. Ours happens to outline the wrong moves and learning from the mistakes made by those involved in the strategic decision making of the above mentioned three projects. While we will be discussing the chosen three projects in details later, let us get a brief outline of the same to assist the uninitiated. The Millennium Dome Project was termed as one of the biggest and most exceptional of the projects undertaken so far. Many politicians amongst the country took personal strides to make the project work. Millennium dome was built to serve as a memento for the third millennium, and hence the name, while its purpose was to exhibit art. Our next project, the London Ambulance Project, is one that helps many in their course of lives. It has one of the largest fleet of medical services, with 24x7 help, offering mobile medical services. It is one of the oldest establishments and still runs to its utmost capacity. The Terminal 5 project in Heathrow airport is also one of the oldest projects, taking over 18 years to take form, shape and finally life. In this project, a new terminal – terminal 5 – was developed to enable smooth processing and fl ight availability by the BAA officials. a) The Millennium Dome – We have already explained what the main purpose of Millennium Dome was. Let us now take a look at the specifications of this project. The Millennium Dome was originally conceived by the John Majors Conservative government, mainly to celebrate the third millennium. However, the scope for the conception was small in nature. When the new government entered, lead by Tony Blair, in 1997, the project assumed a new and larger than life scope. The project was allotted  £399 million, while the size for the whole project too increased by manifolds. The design and

Friday, November 15, 2019

Management of Direct and Indirect Taxes

Management of Direct and Indirect Taxes Neha Kathuria The assignment attempts to bring out various dimensions of the Indian Tax structure. Three articles were reviewed along with the relevant case laws. All the three articles are based on one theme, the fact that the Indian Tax Structure needs reforms. The first article regarding the Direct Tax Code proposes changes in the Income Tax Act,1961 to be in line with the modern day changes and other economies. The next two articles bring to the notice that there are increasing incidences of the Tax Avoidance and Tax evasion. This is attributed to various factors discussed in the summary of the articles. There have been increase in the tax burden over the middle and lower income slab people and as a result they feel burdened. Also, there has been seen that the growth rate of tax rates for these two groups has went up speedily as compared to for the third group. For these reasons tax administration require changes so that such incidences can be reduced. Article 1: An Appraisal of New Direct Tax Code in India A New Challenge in Direct Taxation by Sarbapriya Ray This Article attempts to study about the new direct tax code which got introduced from the financial year 2012-2013, having replaced the five-decade old system. Further, the article move over to discuss the pros and cons of this new code. The article was written in the year 2011, so all the amendments are in comparison to the Income Tax Act,1961. It has been written by Sarbapriya Ray, Assistant professor at Calcutta University. Although, Direct tax code was introduced to bring about positive changes it was criticized and was considered to be confusing, and So, there have been certain other amendments after that as well, which is given after the summary of the article. The aim of the new tax code was to make the system of direct taxation more equitable and straight-forward. The direct tax rates were henceforth not supposed to be part of the Budget. The modern tax system and provisions were required to come in line with the constantly changing economy. The objective was to end unnecessary exemptions, widen tax bases, increase the ratio of Tax-GDP, minimize disputes and litigation to bring about a more effective and equitable tax system. The reduction in the tax exemptions and deductions which have been increasing were to be reduced or amended because they helped in Tax evasion or Tax avoidance. In the process of providing exemptions and deductions, the amount foregone is termed as the total expenditure and the amount has been increasing from one financial year to another. For instance, the figure for the year 2008-09 has been Rs.27389 crores. General Concepts: 298 sections and 14 schedules were to be replaced by 319 sections and 22 schedules. A unified concept of Financial Year replaced concept of Assessment year and Previous year, doing away with the confusions that arose. Changes in terms of the income tax return filing date were: For corporates, due date proposed was August 31st ever FY. For individuals 30th June was proposed. Income to be divided into two parts: Income from special Sources: Income to be taxed at special rates in case of winning from lotteries, income of non-residents, etc. Income from ordinary sources: Income from salary, Income from capital gains, Income from house property, etc. Features of the new tax code: Tax Rates: The following table shows the income tax slabs till FY 2010-11 and the amended tax slabs that would be applicable from the FY 2012-13 with the implementation of the new direct tax code.   Ã‚   Income Tax Slabs for others and Men Women S.NO Tax Percentage FY 10-11 FY 12-13 1 No Tax/ Exempt Upto 1,60,000 Upto 2,00,000 2 10% 1,60,001 5,00,000 2,00,001 5,00,000 3 20% 5,00,001 8,00,000 5,00,001-10, 00, 000 4 30% Above 8,00,000 Above 10,00,000 The proposed changes were estimated to bring down the tax liability of an individual having income greater than 10 lakhs by Rs.41040 annually. The following table shows the changes in the corporate tax rates with the implementation of the new direct tax code (DTC). Particulars Income Tax Act, 1961 Original DTC Revised DTC Domestic Company 33.22% 25% 30% Foreign Company 42.23% 25% 30% Branch Profits Tax 15% 15% MAT 19.93% on Book Profit 0.25% / 2% of Gross Assets 0.25% / 2% of Gross Assets Dividend Distribution Tax 16.61% 15% 15% Wealth Tax 1% on Net wealth exceeding Rs. 3mn 0.25% on Net Wealth exceeding Rs. 5 mn 1% on Net wealth exceeding Rs10 mn Corporate tax rate was reduced from 33 to 30%. Residential Status: Companies incorporated in India are domestic companies and resident. Only those foreign companies are to be treated resident whose place of effective management is partially or wholly in India. Income from Employment: Another change in the new Direct tax code is in terms of replacing EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) to EET (Exempt- Exempt-Taxed). These changes mean that till accumulation of income, withdrawal will be exempt otherwise it is taxed. The following table shows a comparison of the EEE and proposed EET system: EEE under Income Tax Act, 1961 EET under DTC Providing incentive in the investment year Incentive in the form of deductions from gross taxable income in the investment year No tax on income from this investment No tax on income on the investment No Tax on the maturity of the investment Tax is levied on the amount withdrawn EET was proposed to deal with the shortage of resources with India. Also, In India since savings form a major part of the earnings, taxation would help in solving the problem of dealing with the debt accumulated with the government. MAT: The amendments led to capital intensive industries to pay MAT even in case of book losses. The changes will lead to increased efficiency and utilization of the assets. Wealth Tax Benefits The new direct tax code also proposed changes related to wealth tax calculations. Particulars Income Tax Act,1961 New Direct Tax Code Threshold Limit Rs. 30 lakhs Rs. 50 Crore Tax Rate 0.25% 1% Wealth Tax includes calculation of financial assets fixed deposits, corporate bonds, shares, which are done at cost or at market price, whichever is lower. Companies are not supposed to pay wealth tax anymore. Capital Gains: The following are the changes according to the new direct tax code: The structure of long-term capital gain and short-term capital gain tax is replaced with the uniform system as capital gains were now to be taxed at the marginal tax rate as per that applicable to the assesse. The period of holding has no bearing on the Tax liability of the assesse. Securities transaction tax concept is to be removed. Business loss and loss from capital gains can be carried forward for an indefinite time period as per this new DTC. Loss under capital gain can also be adjusted against income from capital gains. Conclusion: New DTC introduced a stable and effective system for the FIIs. However, there were two opposite view points about it. DTC was criticised on accounts of the fact that the new amendments may not be beneficial to the investors and FIIs, for whom primarily they were proposed. On the other hand, the concessions or relaxations would lead to loss of revenue. India still needs the Direct Tax Code Nov 01 2015 This article is from MINT and was published on Nove,01,2015. In 2015 budget, DTC was removed giving the explanation that a lot of provisions have already been considered or merged in the Income Tax Act, 1961.The finance minister, gave up the provision of reducing the corporate tax to 25% in the years to come. But further cuts on tax rate would require the Direct Tax Code. The requirement of direct tax code if felt today because a simpler version of tax structure is required in India as it leads to the growth of the economy. A tax consultant feels that an efficient tax system reduces tax avoidance and evasion. An article from the economic times mention that when Direct Tax code was proposed in 2011 to be implemented from the FY 2012-2013. Some of the provisions of the DTC as mentioned in the summary of article were not accepted by the government, which were as follows: Widening of Tax slabs. Increase in basic exemption limit. Securities transaction Tax not to be abolished. Direct Taxes Code: Revised bill makes avoiding tax tougher for foreign companies Wed, Apr 02 2014 This is another article from the newspaper MINT. This is a case of Vodafone group versus the supreme court and happened because of the original provisions of the proposed DTC and hence after this certain provisions were revised. The revised provision could help in reducing the incidences in which the foreign companies avoid taxes. This case happened when Vodafone group decided to acquire Hutchison to become Vodafone India. Original DTC Revised DTC 50% of total assets in India, then income from such a transaction would be taxed 20% of total assets in India, then income from such a transaction would be taxed In a case, previously of Vodafone, the supreme court gave the judgement that if the shares are transferred by a foreign company having a subsidiary in India, from one non-resident person to another, is not considered a transfer of a capital asset and hence and so any income from such transaction would not attract tax. However, when Vodafone International Holdings (British Company) acquired Hutchinsons (again a foreign company) Indian subsidiary. The government intervened on the ruling of the supreme court that the transactions which derives its value substantially from the assets located in India[1] are to be taxed. At present, section 9 of the income tax Act does not provide any threshold as to what is the meaning of substantially deriving value from assets located in India. Though this now brings in clarity, lowering the threshold from 50% to 20% will lead to many more indirect transfer cases coming under the tax ambit.[2] Due to the need of a variety of changes to be required in the original DTC, revised DTC was proposed in 2013: KEY CHANGES IN THE REVISED DIRECT TAXES CODE 2013: An indirect share transaction will be liable to be taxed in India if 20% of the assets are based in India. New tax slab introduced; individuals earning more than Rs10 crore a year to be taxed at 35%. No changes in other tax slabs for individuals; age for senior citizens relaxed to 60 years from 65 years. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹ Levy an additional 10% tax on the recipient of dividend payments if the dividend income exceeds Rs1 crore. Financial assets included under the ambit of wealth tax as compared to only physical assets at present. Rationalization of provisions related to non-profit organizations. Ring-fencing of losses from business availing investment linked incentives. Provision of settlement commission removed.[3] One of the provisions of the new Direct Tax code is the abolishment of the securities Transaction Tax (STT). This will help companys in reduction of tax as STT was a tax paid while purchasing shares. Since this was a part of the amount paid to the broker that cost would also be lessened. Further, the reduction in the corporation tax rates from 30% to 25% would reduce the tax burden on the companies. The changes in the provision of MAT may have negative effect on the companies that are asset based companies. The investments by corporates would be reduced. The change of provisions in terms of Income from employment that is a change from EEE to EET is expected to increase costs. EET has an increase in the limit and the following are the two points related to it: Savings on the amount of Rs. 2lakhs invested. Income on this invested is exempted from tax. Further, DTC proposes the reduction in the tax rates for LTCG and STT. This would lead to an increase in the trades in securities market. Article 2: Personal Income Tax Structure in India An Evaluation by Dr. Radha Gupta The article is from January 2013. An attempt is made wherein the personal tax structure in India is reviewed and the issues and amendments required to lessen the tax burden on the lower income groups are highlighted. Research is carried out for the same by using descriptive and exploratory techniques of research. Tax slabs and the rates were higher during the period under study in this paper and the need for its rationalization was felt. The characteristics of a good tax system include a change in the national income corresponding to a high response in tax revenue. Further tax revenue has in total three components on which it depends tax rate, tax base and national income. There were three main objectives behind undertaking this study by Dr. Gupta and they are as follows: To see the trend of Indian personal tax structure To see the present situation and estimate the future trends Based on the study, finally suggesting ways to improve or rationalize the structure if need be. The study was undertaken with respect to the general tax payers. The time span under study is 12 financial years from 2000-01 to 2011-12. The study has five broad elements: Composition and comparative analysis of Income exempted from tax. Composition of Total Tax liability of general tax payer for period under review. Composition of growth rate of tax burden. Composition of tax liability on different income Slabs. Conclusion and Suggestions.[4] 1) Composition and Comparative Analysis of Income Exempted from Tax Tax free Income for Male, Female and Senior Citizen: Financial Year Male Female Senior Citizen 2000 01 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 2001 02 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 2002 03 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 2003 04 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 2004 05 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 2005 06 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 50,000 2006 07 Rs. 100,000 Rs. 135,000 Rs. 185,000 2007 08 Rs. 110,000 Rs. 145,000 Rs. 195,000 2008 09 Rs. 150,000 Rs. 180,000 Rs. 225,000 2009 10 Rs. 160,000 Rs. 190,000 Rs. 240,000 2010 11 Rs. 160,000 Rs. 190,000 Rs. 240,000 2011 12 Rs. 180,000 Rs. 190,000 Rs. 250,000 The table consists of the data from the highlights of budget in the newspaper. The table shows that despite increase in the cost of living, the tax exemption limit remained constant for fist six years. From the seventh year, there has been an increase in trend but that was found not to be in line with the increase in prices. Also, from the financial year 2011-12, a new head was introduced Very senior citizen citizens of more than 80 years of age. Tax exemption limit for this category is Rs. 500,000. One notable finding under the first head was that, the amount of tax exemption limit was directly proportional to the number of individuals falling under each category or age limit. 2) Composition of Tax Liability for General Tax Payers for Period under Review: As can be seen from the table showing trend of tax rates and tax liability, the trend for first and second slab category is increasing. Thus, it was indicated that those falling in these two slabs were paying higher taxes as compared to those in the third slab. And so, a need was felt to bring about changes in the prevailing structure. Furthermore, because of the inflationary trend in the country, people falling under these two tax slabs feel that their sustainability is being affected and on the other, affect their willingness to pay tax. The following table shows the trend of tax liability for 12 financial years under review: 4) Composition of growth rate of Tax burden The following table shows the growth in the tax liability of the different income groups. So, when it comes to the lower and middle income group to pay taxes, looking at the growth they feel burdened and so a reason requiring changes in the tax administration.   Ã‚   4) Composition of Tax Liability on Different Slabs Tax liability with respect to different slabs was calculated. It was found that the maximum amount of people, based on income, fall in the first two categories and they form the middle-income group. Also, the tax payers whose income fall in all slabs belong to the higher income group. Tax weight on General Tax Payer of Different Slabs: FY Tax burden on First Slab Tax burden on Second Slab Tax burden on Third Slab 2000 2005 Rs. 1,000 Rs. 18,000 Rs.225000 2005 2007 Rs. 5000 Rs. 20000 Rs. 195000 2007- 2008 Rs. 4000 Rs. 20000 Rs. 195000 2008 2009 Rs. 15000 Rs. 40000 Rs. 150000 2009 2010 Rs. 14000 Rs. 40000 Rs. 150000 2010 2011 Rs. 34000 Rs. 60000 Rs. 60000 2011 2012 Rs. 32000 Rs. 60000 Rs. 60000 There has been a growth in the tax rates and tax liability for those falling in the first slab and so they are increasingly being burdened. This comes to the point out lower income group is paying more tax liability as compared to other tax payers. Thus, a reform is required in the personal income tax structure. When it comes to the middle-income group tax payers, they are also bearing the tax liability burden as compared to the third slab group. The difference between the first slab group and second slab group is that the rate with which their tax liability is increasing is less as compared to the first slab bracket. Because of this difference, there is the violation of Equity Principle of taxation given by Adam Smith. So, another reason backing the requirement of the change in the tax structure and making it more equitable. This would also ensure that the practices of tax avoidance and tax evasion are lessened. 5) CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS Dr. Gupta comes to the concluding points based on the research she did that despite of the fact that tax payers are aware that the tax collected by the government is used for the welfare of the people only, yet because of the findings and reasons found above, there have been increasing incidences of Tax avoidance and Tax evasion. This also affects the economic situation of the country. So, policies are to be changed and tax rates to be administered properly. A way to reduce the burden on the first two slabs is that the tax slabs can be fewer and should fair and equitable. Cairn India vs Government: There is a gap between what government has to say and the work the tax department does. One notable difference was highlighted in case of Cairn India, where despite of having said that there would be no retrospective amendments in tax laws, the government demanded company with the same. Retrospective demands are said to be there only in case of the need to increase revenues, as there could be an urgent requirement for some social cause or infrastructural development. Thus, revenue forecasts are to be realistic and desirable. The targets are to be completed and looked after by the transfer pricing officers and they have to ensure that there is no incidence of tax evasion. Article 3: Indian Tax Structure- An Analytical Perspective by Nishant Ravindra Ghuge and Dr Vivek Vasantrao Katdare India has a well-defined taxation structure and it is divided into three tiers. This paper attempts to bring out the changes that the Indian Tax structure has gone through in a move to becoming an ideal tax structure. Further, it highlights the issues and problems that prevail in the structure and still needs to undergo further changes to get rid of the problems. The problems prevailing are the tax avoidance, black money and reliance on indirect taxation system. The study is done based on the data collected from the sites of the government. It goes over to explain the various types of direct taxes and indirect taxes and the pros and cons of each. This paper is from September, 2015. The following are the three tiers: The main taxes that the union government levy Income Tax, Customs duty, sales tax, excise duty and service tax. The main taxes that the state government levy Intra- state tax on goods, stamp duty, land revenue, agricultural tax, Tax on professions and Duty on Entertainment. Local bodies levy taxes Octroi, Tax on properties and markets, tax on utilities. Due to the liberalization since 1991, the following are the changes noted that the tax structure in India had undergone: Rationalization of tax structure. Progressive reduction in peak rates of customs duty. Reduction in corporate tax rate. Customs duty aligned with ASEAN levels. Introduction of VAT Widening of tax base[5] There are two types of taxes direct and indirect taxes. Direct Taxes Taxes which are paid directly to the authority who imposes it by the tax payer and are levied on profits and income. The list includes the following Taxes on income, corporation tax, interest tax, gift tax, estate duty, wealth tax, agricultural tax, expenditure tax, land revenue, Hotel receipts tax. Indirect Taxes Taxes which are not paid directly to the authority who imposes it by the tax payer and are levied on goods and services. The list includes the following state excise duty, customs duty, Entertainment tax, service tax, taxes on purchase of sugarcane, General sales tax, Union excise duty, tax on electricity, Stamp and registration fees. In this study, certain research papers were reviewed and the results are presented thereof. Three papers were as follows: Taxation laws of India Overview and fiscal analysis written by Kumat in 2014. Tax structure in India and its effect on Corporate Individual written by Jha in 2013. Tax system reforms in India: achievement and challenges ahead written by Rao in 2005.[6] All the three papers mentioned above suggests the following: Coordinated tax consumption system. Focus on the decreasing the reliance on indirect taxes and levy direct taxes more on the upper income group tax payers. Transfer pricing to be abolished. Analysis of the Indian Tax Structure The following table shows the amount of direct taxes and indirect taxes collected by the government for period under review: Year 2010-11 2011 12 2012 13 2013 14 Revenue Receipt Direct Tax 45822.09 501394.92 574680.54 679297.56 Revenue Receipt Indirect Tax 820843.26 966495.51 1151867.99 1353191.51

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Being a Good Tutor :: essays papers

Being a Good Tutor Tutoring, you think it is the easiest job that you could have. You think so because of the flexibility of time, and the only thing you need to do is be there on time to help students (Tutees) with the subject that they have difficulty understanding, which you obviously have the full knowledge about because you earned an ‘A’ or ‘B’ in earlier semesters. However, all that you were thinking is definitely wrong. The tutees don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. There are many qualities you need to have in order to be a good tutor besides being intelligent. As Clayton College and State University Peer Tutoring Program (CCSU) mentioned in their web site, â€Å"Intelligence alone does not result in successful tutoring; more important is what kind of person you are† (Characteristics of a Good Tutor). Also, as CCSU mentioned, the tutor should have a â€Å" Positive outlook, having a desire to help others, liking for the subject matter, open minded by accepting others points of view, having the ability to see what needs to be done and do it, understanding, and having the ability to feel what another person is feeling.† So what do you need to do when you have an appointment with a tutee for the first time? Besides having all the personal characteristics that I mentioned earlier, you also need to know about the subject that you are going to help the tutee with before going to the appointment. Then you need to review this subject even though you are good at it because you can gather the different ideas on this subject and also analyze the information that you might have forgotten. You need to think after that about how the session with the tutee is going to be, write some notes, and be ready to answer any question your tutee might ask you. Now you are ready to meet the tutee. When you meet the tutee, the first thing you need to do is to introduce yourself and tell him or her that you are a student, especially if that is his or her first time having a tutor. Try to be friendly in order to help the tutee lose his or her nervousness by asking the tutee how the class is going on. Use the first ten to fifteen minutes to organize, plan, and show the tutee what you are going to talk about in the session.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Essay on Harlow and Ainsworth

Compare and contrast research by Harry Harlow and Mary Ainsworth on understanding attachment Harry Harlow and Mary Ainsworth undertook studies aimed at providing a clearer insight into the processes associated with attachment. Even though both Harlow and Ainsworth chose a different approach to their research, they met with some similarities. This essay will therefore seek to both compare and contrast their researches, the methods they used as well as evidence gained through their respective researches.It is I feel important to have a brief understanding as to what attachment is, and thus help to provide a perspective in regards to what the experiments being conducted are aiming to define. Attachment can be defined as â€Å"a long term emotionally important relationship in which one individual seeks proximity to and derives security and comfort from the presence of another† (discovering psychology p. 193, 2012). As such both Harlow and Ainsworth through their different approach es sought to investigate the mechanisms inherent with infant bonding.Was it due to the carer providing for their emotional and physical needs or was it more deep-seated, in that infants were more inclined to seek attachment to stimulus that met their needs, such as warmth, and softness as suggested through the researches of Bowlby (1948) (discovering psychology p. 196 ,2012) Harlow in his approach chose to base his research solely on animals, in this case the Rhesus Macaque monkey. He chose this method in part due to the fact that these monkeys have approximately ninety four percent in common with human DNA.Coupled with this was the further factor concerning ethical issues, as it would have undoubtedly raised serious concerns had he chose to conduct his experiments on human infants. His observations were conducted entirely within the seemingly harsh surroundings metered through the laboratory environment, which differed in comparison to the research conducted by Ainsworth through he r responses to sensitivity. Through his research, Harlow noticed that the monkeys grew attached to sanitary pads placed in their cage, and suspected that the monkeys boned ith them and gained â€Å"contact comfort† from them, as they were the only soft item in their otherwise harsh environment, (discovering psychology p. 202, 2012) Harlow thus surmised that the softness of the sanitary pads along with the â€Å"contact comfort† the monkeys gained from them seemed a more important factor within the infant bonding process than the presence and supply of food. (discovering psychology p. 202, 2012)In order to further investigate his hypothesis, Harlow constructed two very different types of â€Å"surrogate mothers†, one being constructed of wire which lacked any form of tactile comfort, whilst the second was made of wood with a layer of sponge and covered with a soft layer of towelling. Both â€Å"mothers† had heating supplied by a light bulb and both had a f eeding bottle inserted through the body providing the monkey with food. Through his observations and experimentation, Harlow noted the monkeys bonded with the soft bodied â€Å"mother† regardless of whether it contained a supply of nourishment or not. discovering psychology p. 205, 2012). In contrast Ainsworth‘s research focused on human infants, in part through her observations with mothers and their infants. Whilst living in Uganda, Ainsworth observed a number of families with unweaned babies, and noticed that the more responsive the mothers were to the signals of the infant, the less the infant cried and the more confident the infant was, conversely the less responsive mothers were to signals the more the baby cried (discovering psychology p. 216, 2012).Ainsworth, though different in her approach, in her case observing children and their carers in natural surroundings which differed from that of Harlow, in that he observed monkeys in a laboratory surrounding, they bo th however reached the same conclusion. Infants that feel secure, in that they have a safe base, whether this is provided by a terry towel covered â€Å"mother† or a doting parent, the tactile stimulus provided by each is of paramount importance in infant and monkey bonding. At the centre of Ainsworth’s research was what became known as the â€Å"strange experiment†, which she conducted in America, and consisted of a series of even consecutive episodes within a controlled environment. The experiment involved three people, the mother, infant and a stranger. (discovering psychology p. 217, 2012). Ethical considerations have to be taken into account once more, for unlike Harlow’s monkeys who having been bred in captivity and could not choose to opt out, or indeed be comforted as in Ainsworth’s experiments, whereby should the infant become distressed the experiment was stopped and the infant immediately comforted.Monkeys though forming a complex hierar chical society are not deemed to be as complex as humans, as such the responses to various stimuli employed by Harlow in his experiments could be deemed as being easier to interpret. In contrast to Harlow’s experiment, Ainsworth through her more closely controlled observations, and in mind that humans exhibit a more complex behaviour, she was able to delve deeper into the mechanisms associated with infant bonding, whereby she was able to define four different types of attachment. (Discovering psychology p. 204, 2012)Clearly the relevant studies undertaken by Harlow and Ainsworth had both their advantages and disadvantages. Harlow for example based his researches entirely on monkeys, within the harsh confines of the laboratory environment. The fact that Macaque monkeys share ninety four percent of DNA with human infants does not necessarily denote that their subsequent behaviour would be similar to that of human infants. â€Å"There is a need to be very careful how one interp rets this genetic similarity, for a small difference in DNA can make a huge difference in a species’ anatomy and behaviour† (discovering psychology p. 04, 2012). Ainsworth on the other hand centred her research based on observations in both Uganda and America. She chose a more sensitive approach. Her observations were of infants interacting with primary care givers and strangers and gauging their reactions. Through this process she was able to delve deeper into the mechanisms of attachment, given that not only are humans more complex as exhibited through their interactions, it also offered further opportunities for her to expand and deepen her researches.This however had its own disadvantages, for Ainsworth it seems did not factor into account the country of origin or cultural backgrounds of the infants being studied, along with the infant’s mood or indeed if the infant was used to the situation they were being exposed to. (discovering psychology p. 219, 2012). T his situation did not arise in the research conducted by Harlow, as all the monkeys had been raised in captivity which in itself ensured a more general set of expected patterns of behaviour.Ainsworth’s study does not seem to reflect any innate behaviour in the infants, whereas the researches of Harlow’s, particularly concerning the wire and terry towel covered â€Å"surrogate mothers† seem to support his theory that regardless of species, that infants show an innate predisposition in forming attachments with carers who provide for their needs. This I feel was due to Harlow being able to look deeper into this facet of infant behaviour as he was not hindered by ethical considerations as was the case with Ainsworth.It is fair to say that both researchers had their work criticised to some extent by the scientific community at large. Obvious questions having been raised as to the validity of their findings, Harlow for his sole use of monkeys and how the research corr elated to human behaviour, whereas the work of Ainsworth in her not taking into account of the differences of nationality and thus the cultural background of the infant. The primary aim of this essay was by way of making an informed comparison between the works of Harlow and Ainsworth.Were they able through their researches to show a clear insight into the mechanisms associated with infant bonding? What evidence did their different methods of approach provide? Are animals an effective means of basing a premise as to the expectations of human behaviour? Researches that have insight into our innate tendencies allow us a glimpse into the hidden world of the psyche. Whether evidence provided has come via way of animal experiments, viewed as repugnant by many, or through closely monitored experiments with human infants. The implications can have a marked effect upon other avenues of research that come to follow.Undoubtedly the work of both Harlow and Ainsworth has had a marked import upo n and allowed for a deeper understanding into the mechanisms of infant bonding. The implications of their research has provided for a basis upon which to build a yet deeper and fare wider reaching insight, not only on the various stimuli associated with infant bonding, but also in regards to how the infant develops through their life and their wider range of social interactions. (Word count 1440) References Brace, N. and Byford, J. Discovering Psychology (2012), Milton Keynes, The Open University.

Friday, November 8, 2019

A Cetainty essays

A Cetainty essays The mind, which has grasped a right theory of knowledge, and has experienced it, that mind is on the road to certaintythe only kind of certainty that is open to the consciousness soul because it has begun to cross the threshold between the objective and subjective worlds. Our perceptions and memory are only reliable to the point of how we judge. We see from our own perception and memory. What the mind perceives is realty. Your life can be greatly affected by the way you think. One thing about perception it doesn't have to be off by much to give you a false picture. We may be looking at the picture through cockeyed glasses. It is very difficult to get an accurate rendering of the true story. We justify and defend our perceptions and memories. We permit our self to judge by what is certain in our perceptions and memories. My experience has been we can see the glass half empty or half full. I chose to see the glass half full. Certainty, is an established fact? To be certain is having no doubt and being positive. One thing we can be truly certain about is one day we will leave this life and earth as we know it today and that is certain. ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Compare and Contrast the Tudor and Stuart Dynasties essays

Compare and Contrast the Tudor and Stuart Dynasties essays Throughout history, dynasties, or a series of rulers who belong to the same family, have come and gone. No two are exactly alike. They all have similarities and differences when compared to each other. The Stuart and Tudor dynasties are no exception to the rule. Each had different views on how to rule. An example of a ruling style would be divine right. When a king or queen is said to rule by divine right, it means they believe god chose them to rule. While Elizabeth, the last and the greatest Tudor monarch, ruled somewhat by divine right, she did not rule by divine right to the extent of James I of the Stuart dynasty who felt that it was beneath his dignity to bargain with parliament over money. Instead, Elizabeth used her intelligence to get her way or for her countries financial benefit. For example, she used the hopes of a marriage to Phillip II of Spain to win diplomatic advantages with many European countries. Ruling by divine right was common of the Stuart dynasty but only Elizabeth of the Tudor family ruled in that manner. Henry VII tried desperately to have a son. He wanted to have a male heir in order to help assure that the Tudor family would continue to control the throne and prevent any fighting over who would succeed him. Six wives later, he had one son, but he died at age 15. Having male heirs was something the Tudor family was not to good at. Henrys daughters, Mary and Elizabeth both died childless. Charles I took over the throne from his father, James I, and then had two sons of his own to continue the Stuart dynasty. The dynasties are similar in that both mostly ruled England. In addition to ruling England, James I ruled Scotland also. His heir to the throne, Charles I not only ruled England and Scotland, but also ruled Ireland. While the Tudor dynasty did not have many problems with parliament, the Stuart dynasty did not cooperate well with parliament at all. James I had many quarrel...

Monday, November 4, 2019

JFK Inaugural Speech Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

JFK Inaugural Speech - Research Paper Example His personal and political convictions can be determined not just by reading the contents and evaluating the style but also be learning about the context. John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech has been considered as one of the best ever made not just by an American president but by a world leader. Apparently though, the speech became famous not just because of its inherent characteristics but because of the man who delivered it. President Kennedy is one of the most enigmatic leaders in the 20th century. He was at the help of the US government when the country faced serious challenges coming from USSR at the height of the Cold War. One of the most prominent incidents that highlighted his effective leadership and diplomacy was the successful initiative on the nuclear test ban treaty in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis which he also handled well. President Kennedy did not pursue the ban merely due to his geopolitical views. He personally saw it as necessary as he explicitly pointed out when he said that the US owes it â€Å"because we are the only country that engaged in atomic warfare in the last war† (Schlesinger 453). ... A brief glance of President Kennedy’s life several years before he ran and won the presidency does give the readers or audience of the context of what he wrote and then spoken during his inauguration. President Kennedy’s inaugural address is best remembered by the oft quoted line â€Å"ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country† (1961). The reason why this line has been recognized as the most compelling part of the speech is that it departed from the usual practice of previous presidents who took their oaths and rendered their own inaugural addresses. Prior to Kennedy, it was expected of newly elected presidents to state the domestic and international policies that their administration would pursue while in office. In this regard, the inaugural addresses served as the reiteration of the promises they might have made during the electoral campaigns, assuming that these are what the public wanted which is why they were vot ed into office. The most commonly used formula for the inaugural address was to state the problems confronting American society and then to provide the audience a briefing on the actual steps that the new president and his administration would initiate to develop and implement effective solutions. As a result, this leaves the audience with higher expectations but at the same time instilling in them a certain degree of passivity. President Kennedy’s inaugural address, however, took a radically different approach to the methods of how the problems of the country and of the world could be resolved. There is not a single portion in the speech that mentioned what concrete steps

Friday, November 1, 2019

How Effective Is Drug Abuse Resistance Education Essay

How Effective Is Drug Abuse Resistance Education - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that the researchers found out that the effect of drug use behavior after the implementation of DARE core curriculum ranged .00 to .11 across the eight studies that were included in the study. The mean was .06. The authors also found out that DARE effect size was the one that produced substantially smaller means compared to other interventions emphasizing on social and general competencies. The practical significance of these findings is that they suggest that the effect of DARE’s core curriculum on the use of drugs relative to drug education is slight and insignificant except in the case of tobacco use. However, this does not mean that DARE’s core curriculum is not effective. Rather, it might be because it is used among elementary children who mostly do not use drugs.This study highlights that the authors considered all the relevant studies as they conducted a search of other studies on the use of DARE’s core curriculum an also conduc ted a primary research for the study. The consideration of these aspects helped the authors reach the conclusion presented in the study, which helps establish the credibility and validity of the study.  The authors have discussed the relevant limitations of the study. For instance, they acknowledge that there have been few studies on the use of DARE’s core curriculum.  The study fits with other research on the subject because it clearly refers to the acknowledging the fact that they are few, thereby contributing to the growth of research on the subject.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

URGENT 8 HOURS DEADLINE Brief Summary oF Macroeconomics chapters 5 and Essay

URGENT 8 HOURS DEADLINE Brief Summary oF Macroeconomics chapters 5 and 12 - Essay Example it is necessary to take note the total net export of goods and services which are also known as the Trade Balance given that a healthy economic activity should not have excessively large amount of total net import as compared with the net export. (p. 118) What happens when the total net import exceeds the total net export is that the country may eventually feel the negative economic consequences of not having sufficient money that flows within the domestic market. When this happen, there is a strong possibility that the normal domestic demand and supply for goods and services will be disrupted. In worst case scenario, it is possible for some domestic companies to implement massive lay-offs to ensure the business profitability and stability. Therefore, unemployment rate in the long-run is expected to increase. The same theory and economic consequences applies when a country’s net capital outflow of domestic lending abroad exceeds the total amount of foreign lending that enters the country. (pp. 118 – 119) Trade Balance uses the formula S – I and NX respectively (p. 118 – 119). In other words, a Trade Deficit and Trade Surplus occur in case the total Net Output and Trade Balance is negative and positive respectively (p. 119). Trade Balance occurs only when the total Net Capital Outflow and Trade Balance is equals to ZERO. It means that the total value of import is equal to the total value of export. A Bilateral Trade occurs when two countries agree to enter into a regular trading contract. However, it is not possible for a country to have experience a Bilateral Trade Balance. (p. 120) For instance: There is an agreement between China and U.S. to strengthen their import and export activities within one another. Even though both countries agreed to import and export goods and services, it is not possible for both countries to experience equal import and export. For this reason, it is possible to say that China has recently experienced Bilateral Trade

Monday, October 28, 2019

Patient Education And Epidural Pain Management Essay Example for Free

Patient Education And Epidural Pain Management Essay The term pain pertains to a sensation that is communicated by the sensory neurons that are located around the human body to the brain. This sensation is described as an unpleasant feeling that is generally related to a form of damage to a particular tissue in the body. Pain thus activates a specific physical and psychological reaction that tends to find a mechanism to terminate the unpleasant feeling. The ability to sense pain serves as the body’s warning system that informs us of any form of injury to our bodies. Pain is generally described in terms of its intensity and its duration. Intensity can be expressed through a range of descriptors from slight to agonizing, while the duration of pain may be depicted as constant or intermittent. Other characteristics that are commonly employed to describe pain include sharp, dull, throbbing and nauseating. The threshold of pain varies among individuals hence a numeric rating scale, with rating from 1 as the least painful situation to 10 as the most painful condition, has been employed for a more specific quantification of pain in patients. The numeric rating scale identifies level 4 as the cut-off score for pain that impedes an individual from performing his normal functions (Krebs et al. , 2007). In order to relieve an individual from pain, pain management is often provided at hospitals and clinics. In cases wherein the patient only suffers from acute pain, temporary medications are commonly administered to correct the medical problem. However, if the patient is experiencing chronic pain that is related to a condition that is currently being treated or is still undiagnosed, pain conduits are often put up to alleviate the sensation of pain in the patient. These conditions generally include cancer and neuropathy, wherein the pain is distinguished from the major medical condition of the patient. Pain management usually employs that administration of pharmacologic drugs such as analgesics and pain modifiers. In addition, other non-pharmacologic treatments may also be provided, which as normally interventional methods such as physical therapy, heat or cold compression and psychological therapy. One of the major interventional methods for pain management involves the administration of epidural analgesia, which is provided through the introduction of a catheter into the epidural space which is the space between the spinal cord and spinal canal. The effect of the injection of pain medications is to essentially remove the pain that the patient is experiencing by inhibiting further conduction of pain signals along the nerves or the spinal cord. Epidural analgesia is considered as a common technique for pain management because aside from reducing the pain felt by the patient, it also promotes vasodilation of blood vessels. Such result is actually a side-effect of epidural analgesia, yet it still benefits a patient if he has been diagnosed with a peripheral vascular medical condition. In addition, the utilization of epidural analgesia extends the effect of the pain medications for several days, instead of just a few days. In specific conditions that have associated pain such as childbirth, epidural analgesia is the favored pain management regimen because it does not cause any changes in muscle movement or power and it still retains its main role in pain conditions that may or may not require surgery. Epidural analgesia is also commonly used as an accessory to general anesthesia to decrease the patient’s need for opioid analgesics. Its use as an adjunct pain management scheme has been applied in a broad range of surgical procedures including hysterectomy, hip replacement, laparoscopy and open aortic aneurysm repair. Epidural analgesia is commonly used as the primary method for surgical anesthesia especially is Caesarean sections, which keeps the patient conscious during the entire surgical obstetric procedure (Halpern et al. , 2004). However, in such situations, the amount of anesthesia administered is generally much higher that what is usually employed for analgesia. Post-operative pain management may also involve epidural analgesia for the first few days after the procedure, which involves the introduction or retention of a catheter. There are certain situations when the patient is allowed to regulate the amount of pain medications that will be passed through the catheter. Such patient-controlled analgesia makes use of an infusion pump which the patient himself controls. Epidural analgesia is also used as remedy for back pain, as well as for palliative care. It has been established that epidural analgesia is most effective for the treatment of pain in specific regions such as the abdomen, pelvic and legs. This pain management technique is less effective in treating pain in chest, neck or arms, and is not effective for pain treatment in the head. It has been proven that epidural analgesia is more effective in relieving pain than intravenous narcotics and has been identified as the second most frequently used pain medication (Leighton and Halpern, 2002). Majority of women who give birth in hospitals are usually given only two options with regards to pain management, namely epidural analgesia or intravenous narcotics. It should be noted that alternative pharmacologic treatments for pain are also available, such as nitrous oxide and paracervical blocks. In addition, there are also doulas and continuous labor support, which typically requires less medical treatment and results in better outcomes with regards to the health of the mother and child. Also, these women are generally more satisfied with the results they observed after such alternative treatments. However, these alternative options are generally much more expensive (Simkin and OHara, 2002). It is interesting to note that even though epidural analgesia is reported to be significantly effective and common treatment for pain during child labor, there are a number of major side-effects that are associated with such use. It has been reported that epidural analgesia prolongs labor for an extended and considerable duration. In addition, its administration also influences the need for operative vaginal delivery and increases the chances for perineal laceration (Lieberman and ODonoghue, 2002). It has also been observed that the administration of epidural analgesia during obstetric procedures causes the mother to run a fever, which then results in the provision of antibiotics to the newborn child, as well as monitoring for symptoms and signs of sepsis in the infant. To date, great controversy envelopes the issue of whether epidural analgesia increases the risk of delivering a baby through Caesarean section as well as induces difficulty during labor. Research surveys show that most women have not been educated with regards to the possible side-effects of epidural analgesia (Declercq et al. , 2002). Hence the role and need for patient education has been an issue of close scrutiny in the past 5 years. Specific medical and non-medical groups have expressed their concern over the risks and benefits of epidural analgesia. More importantly, there has been concern that such type of patient education of pain management regimens should be given during pre-natal visits, and not during the actual labor stage of pregnancy. Hence, there is an urgent need to determine the amount of information that mothers know in relation to pain management and epidural analgesia because this option strongly influences the behavior of the newborn child, the breastfeeding conditions and the bonding between the mother and infant. In the United States, the dominant delivery method is composed of the induction of labor, administration of epidural analgesia, constant electronic fetal monitoring and Caesarean section. It has been analyzed that when the frequency of epidural analgesia is high, the alternative methods for childbirth are usually not available in the medical institution. These include sessions in childbirth education, doulas, non-pharmacologic pain management regimens, as well as the provision for nurses especially trained in assisting in medication-independent childbirth. Hence what is observed now in most of the hospitals are labor stages that are mainly supported by epidural analgesia and parenteral analgesics. In addition, medical healthcare professionals providing labor support are often overworked due to the huge number of delivery cases in a week. The issue of the shortage of nurses in the healthcare industry has also complicated the problem on the usage of epidural analgesia in hospitals. There are certain obstetricians who prefer to maintain a patient at labor that is supported by an intravenous line in order that they still find time to monitor their other patients in the hospital. It has been considered that the availability of healthcare professional during a patient’s labor and delivery is a luxury. More so, the inability to provide epidural analgesia to a patient during labor has often been a topic that has frequently been investigated in court malpractice cases. The importance of patient education with regards to epidural analgesia as the pain management scheme is thus very important in order to provide the patient with more than the regular two pain management choices that could be administered during her delivery. Patient education should also include the provision of information on the Caesarean delivery, wherein the patient must be able to carry enough knowledge to know that it is her right to request for a Caesarean delivery even when it is normally not recommended if there are no maternal or fetal complications for childbirth. There has been controversy with regards to the competence of smaller hospitals to could not universally provide epidural analgesia. It is unfortunate to know that not a single medical organization supports the concept of establishing a wide range of support methods during labor and pain management schemes, which is strongly associated with patient education and choice. In other countries, Caesarian delivery is the preferred delivery method by women because they are aware the other forms of labor and delivery schemes are not associated with sufficient medical care and attention (Behague et al. 2002). At the same time in the United States, women perceive that epidural analgesia is the sole and effective method for pain management. Actually, family physicians are not the main healthcare professionals that are responsible for the unbelievably high rates in the use of epidural analgesia during labor and childbirth. This medical professional observes when the patient is experiencing pain during labor and he relays this condition to the attending nurses, who in turn, will communicate the information to the anesthesiologist. Such relay of message from the patient to eventually the anesthesiologist is generally comprised by a simple nod from the family physician, which then triggers a battery of messages that eventually end with the administration of epidural analgesia to the patient. Such translation of patient pain to epidural analgesia administration is actually inappropriate and this is where patient education related to epidural analgesia comes into the picture. It is actually the family physician responsibility to educate his patient with regards to the choices in pain management. Instead of having a family physician that advocates epidural analgesia because it provides him freedom to look at his other patients while a particular patient is in labor, the family physician should be an advocate for the patient herself. Patient education entails spending time to teach and coach his patient which pain management schemes are currently available, as well as describing to the patient the effectiveness, side-effects and complications of each pain management scheme. The patient should also be educated of the limitations of each of the available pain management options. It is also ideal that the patient knows that she has the right to choose which pain management scheme she wants to receive, but this can only be done if the patient has sufficient understanding of pain management. It is also ideal that family physicians learn more of the details of the other alternative methods in managing pain. It has been observed that such patient education regarding pain management choices are important so that the patient has knowledge of what to expect during the actual medical procedure (Marmor and Krol, 2002). Patient education also involves the explanation of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), which is a labor and delivery pain management option that uses bupivacaine with or without opioids. The theory behind PCEA is that the patient can personally adjust the amount of epidural anesthesia that is needed to remove the pain he is experiencing. Such option for pain management often results in a high degree of patient satisfaction because it allows the patients to be free of the uncomfortable sensation of pain, as well as provide a way for the patient to feel a sense of control over the entire hospital procedure (Standl et al. 2003). It is thus important the patient education be provided to a patient, in order for him to understand the entire scenario of the procedure as well as to help him draw an image of the expected events that could unfold during his stay at the hospital. PCEA is currently in high demand because the patients often want a quick solution to the pain they are experiencing. In addition, these patients are not patient enough to wait for the next round of administration of pain killers when they are experiencing constant pain. It is also essential that patient education in relation to epidural analgesia must explain that PCEA is inefficient during the first stages of labor and thus a higher concentration of epidural analgesia is needed to relieve the patient from pain. Patient education also diminishes the expectations of patients that PCEA always results in the complete removal of the feeling of pain when they choose PCEA. Knowledge and understanding of epidural analgesia will thus result in patient satisfaction in terms of pain management. Patient education as related to epidural analgesia also includes a description of the possibility that an extensive spinal block in the positioning of the catheter may happen (Bernard et al. , 2000). This event often results in the decrease in the motor abilities of the legs and that once the patient observes this, he must inform a healthcare professional immediately for medical attention. In addition, patient education should also alert the patient that the catheter employed in epidural analgesia has a chance to migrate within the blood vessels, which is also known as intravascular migration. Such event is associated with a slower rate of infusion of analgesia which in turn generates systemic effects. The patient should also be educated with regards to the toxicity of epidural analgesia. Providing patient education in relation to epidural analgesia often results in patient satisfaction because the patient has a better understanding of the mechanisms and principles behind the pain management scheme, as well as its similarity and difference to other pain management options, such as continuous epidural infusion (CEI). Patient education also involves explanation on the receptors that are involved in controlling pain. These include the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) which acts in the central sensitization of the patient. Simple explanations regarding antagonists that decrease the sensitization for pain without reducing hemodynamic or respiration activity should also be included, and the other options that results in negative physiological effects such as opioids should also be described. The provisions for instruction is especially important to patients that suffer from pain due to general musculoskeletal tumor resections and those that have other medical conditions that are related to wakefulness and full orientation. There are also options in combining a N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist such as dextromethorphan with PCEA, which often circumvents the issue of sedation in PCEA (Weinbroum et al. , 2004). Reports have described that such combination generally results in better feelings of well-being in the patient. Dextromethorphan is relatively safe for orthopedic oncological patients who are commonly administered massive dosages of analgesics. There has also been reported the patients could not distinguish the feeling of PCEA and dextromethorphan, although there is a significant difference in a lack of inhibition of motor abilities using this combination. CONCLUSION This report suggests that patient education in relation to epidural analgesia results in patient satisfaction. Patient education generates a better understanding of the principles and mechanisms behind pain management schemes. In addition, the patient is given the right to reject or accept epidural analgesia based on his own comprehension that was earlier provided by the healthcare professional. Patient education also supports a PCEA setting that improves analgesia, as well as patient satisfaction during labor. This supports a better setting for the patient himself and decreases the need for rescue analgesia. Also, the increase in analgesia consumption can also be controlled through patient education, thus minimizing the side effects that are generated by particular pain killers. More importantly, patient education removes the discontent and disappointment that the patient may experience from insufficient knowledge and understanding of epidural analgesia.