Saturday, November 30, 2019

Wed searching behaviour of students Essay Example For Students

Wed searching behaviour of students Essay In the article â€Å"A visit to the information mall: web searching behavior of high school students†, the authors aimed at describing the searching behavior of high school students and recommending changes in the design of the web that may improve the learning experience of students (Fidel et al, 1999). The authors conducted a field research to analyze the web-searching behavior of high school students for the three weekly assignments. The field research was a case study involving activities including: observation in class and at the terminal with students thinking aloud; interviews with various participants including students, the teacher who assigned the assignments, the one and only one librarian and the principal of the school; and discussions within research team. 8 students who enrolled in a horticulture class voluntarily participated in the research for the team members to observe them searching online information on a one-on-one basis and interview them at the end of the observation period. Since the students were observed in the horticulture class for three successive weeks and not all the 8 students were present during the three weeks, the team totally observed 21 search sessions in the observation period. After recording observations and interviews, the authors found that the students performed focused searching, in which they just looked for information to accomplish the assignments without deviating from this task such as guiding searches according to assignment sheets and ignoring entertaining diversions on the screen. The authors also discovered that the students performed swift and flexible searching, where they scanned sites quickly and determined the relevance of sites by skimming the first screen and the graphics of the sites. In order to make sure that one can always start a new search and ask for help, the students used landmarks to continue exploring new sites with a safe and familiar site. Overall, they were satisfied with their s earches and results but impatient with slow response. The reasons why the students enjoyed searching the web were because the web had a variety of formats such as pictures and sounds, covered a multitude of subjects, and provided easy access to information. However, the authors had also observed that the students encountered difficulties while searching, by which the authors considered that it implied the need for training to students, teachers and all involved and the need for designing the web to customize user seeking and searching behavior in order to improve the learning experience of students. We will write a custom essay on Wed searching behaviour of students specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In my review, I will mainly focus on the aspects of Methods, Results/Discussion and Paper and its Format. The method of data collection is thoroughly explained in terms of who and what was studied, how they were selected and how data were collected. Six males and two females of eight students in West Seattle High School were studied, in which five of them were in the twelfth grade and the rest of them were in the eleventh grade. Some were experts in surfing the web, but others just surfed occasionally or even had no experience in surfing. Nonetheless, all of them had very little experience in online information retrieval and had no knowledge about the horticulture area. The web-searching behavior for finishing horticulture assignments of the students was intended to be observed and analyzed in the study. The horticulture teacher assisted the research team in inviting eight students to voluntarily participate in the study as requested by the team members. Data were collected through o bserving the eight students in class and at the terminal with them thinking aloud and through interviewing these students, the teacher, the librarian and the principal of the school. .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff , .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .postImageUrl , .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff , .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff:hover , .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff:visited , .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff:active { border:0!important; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff:active , .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u60ee299da9f1c7959924d0b647d1c6ff:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Pollution and Environment - Deforestation en EssayIn my point of view, one weakness in the data collection methods is that the research team members unintentionally participated in what they were studying. Firstly, the team introduced itself and explained the purpose and nature of the study to the participating students at the first meeting. Secondly, each team member accompanied the student that he or she was observing throughout the project to go to the library, sat beside the student and tape-recorded the narration of the student in the search process. Finally, the team members asked the students several questions at the beginning and at the end of each search session. As a result of Hawthorne effect, Babbie (1998, p.286) states that if the subjects of study realize that they are being studied, it is inevitable that whatever the observer does or does not do will have effect on what is being observed. In this research, the observers might affect the behavior of the students by imposing pressure on them. Since the students had known the purpose of the study at the very start and they were being closely observed while searching, it was difficult to expect them performing searching as naturally and honestly as they would do without being focused by strangers. Thus, this might lead to three students being absent in the horticulture class during the three-week observation period even though they knew that the research team were depending on them to conduct the research. In fact, the rate of absence is somewhat high in an eight-student group. Even if the absences were just coincidence and it was nothing about the research, there were still clues to the p ossibility that the students did not like being closely observed and felt like being supervised. For a few times, the students were sitting at the computers and started searching already without waiting for the team members to record their behavior. Moreover, the team members found that most of the students did not like school most of the time. Both of the phenomenons uncovered that the students were likely to dislike being watched to complete tasks. Furthermore, it was unusual that the students performed focused searching by keeping exploration to a minimum on the web and ignoring entertaining diversions on the screen. As the students had little experience in information retrieval on the web, they normally had curiosity to widely explore the features of the web and were supposed to be distracted with the entertainment provided by the web while searching. It was probable that the students did not show natural searching behavior when being watched. Despite the Hawthorne effect brough t to this study, it was ethical to have told the students the truth that they were being studied. Therefore, the research team should have been sensitive to and cautious about the consequences of the effect on the research. One of the strengths in the article is that the research team clearly summarized and categorized the behavior of the students when preparing for a search and during a search, by which the research team succeeded in achieving part of the purpose of this study to describe the searching behavior of the students. For instance, the research team realized that the students prepared for a search by following experience of the past or other participants. Some students considered that a previously successful search should guide them to another success in a new search, whereas most students assumed that efficient searching would be supported by following the suggestions or hints on where to start searching given by the teacher, the librarian or their classmates. For the search processes, the research team observed that all students performed focused searching and advanced through searches swiftly and flexibly. In addition, they used landmarks and assumed that one could always start a new searc h and ask for help. Likewise, the team accomplished suggesting changes in the design of the web so as to improve the learning experience of students. The changes included providing knowledge tools such as encyclopedias, lexicographic aids, synonym finders and thesauruses, landmark shelves and spell-checker programs. Also, the design of the web should be able to filter non-useful information and enable users to access sites using partial or incomplete URLs. Furthermore, the research team suggested that graphical clues should be used to identify type of information provided by web sites. Finally, the team recommended that the first screen should include as much pertinent information about the site as possible. Nonetheless, there is one shortcoming that the research team did not categorize the difficulties or problems that the students encountered while performing a search. Basically, the team did mention about the difficulties for particular students in the section that described the searching behavior of the students. However, the team did not create a classification of those difficulties that specifically led to the main recommendations in the discussion section, which in turn failed in looking for common difficulties and paying attentions to different difficulties encountered by different students. According to Babbie (1998, p.297), by having done an organized list of the variety of types of the difficulties encountered by the students, one can then more easily discover the characteristics of the students, the web environment or the like associated with those different types of difficulties. Consequently, the recommendations for resolving those difficulties would be more persuasive to the audience. For example, some students do not perform searching as efficiently as others do because they are unable to identify appropriate search engines and it is found that expert surfers are good at identifying search engines. Then, it is convincing that the students who d o not perform searching well need training for surfing the web in order to help them search productively. .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 , .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .postImageUrl , .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 , .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20:hover , .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20:visited , .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20:active { border:0!important; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20:active , .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20 .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf899620010e13acffb84e42a826c5b20:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Fall of the House of Usher: Imagery and Parall EssayBibliography:Fidel, Raya, Davies, Rachel K., Douglass, Mary H., Holder, Jenny K., Hopkins, Carla J., Kushner, Elisabeth J., Miyagishima, Bryan K., Toney, Christina D. (1999). A visit to the information mall: web searching behavior of high school students. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 50(1), 24-37.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Gay marriage as a civil rights issue

Gay marriage as a civil rights issue Gay marriage is indubitably the greatest civil rights issue facing the United States today. Despite the fact that gay activists have been able to get many influential people to back gay marriage, gay couples are still being discriminated in many states in the U.S. The President and vice president have come out openly supporting gay marriage but the U.S. lacks legal framework for ensuring that gay couples enjoy the same rights as people in heterosexual unions. This paper is an investigation of the civil-rights aspects of gay marriage.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Gay marriage as a civil rights issue specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The gay rights movement has been characterized by incidences that can be used to draw parallels with the civil rights movement for the rights of black people in America, which occurred in mid-twentieth century. An example of such incidences include the Stonewall riots in which members of the gay community protested against police raids that had been carried out at The Stonewall Inn – a gay bar. This was the birth of gay activism in the U.S., and it occurred in the summer of the year 1969. Another incidence is the murder of Matthew Shepard in the year 1998. Shepard was gay and his prosecutors linked his murder to the fact that he was gay. There have also been incidences of suicides and other issues that can be attributed to the reaction of gay people to the attitude of the public about homosexuality. It is however important to note that gay discrimination cannot equal the level of black discrimination that existed before the civil rights movement of the mid-twentieth century. The gay civil rights movement has been particularly fuelled by the fact that there has been inequality between the property rights of heterosexually married couples and people in gay unions. Inequality perse is itself an issue because the Constitution advocates for equality for all citiz ens. Gay activists have repeatedly argued that the laws that have been written against gay marriage are a violation of the Constitution because they deprive homosexuals of their freedom to get married to a person of their choice while allowing heterosexuals to do so. They argue that by doing so, the people who wrote and passed those laws blatantly violated the promise of protecting the Constitution, and thus they violated civil rights. In addition to this, gay couples are not able to get spouse medical insurance like heterosexual couples in states where gay marriage is prohibited.Advertising Looking for essay on family law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This implies that the right to equality, as enshrined in the Constitution, is violated. Gay couples are not recognized legally in the law of succession in states that have disallowed gay unions. It is also discriminatory for gay couples to be barred from hospital vi sitations and other rights like adoption of children and financial, legal and tax benefits of marriage. This is a violation of property rights, which should be enjoyed by all U.S citizens. From the discussion above, it is apparent that the arguments presented by gay rights activists regarding the violation of their rights are valid. The Constitution advocates for equality of all but some laws have been developed favouring some religions by declaring the ban against gay marriage an act of protecting the sanctity of marriage. Denying homosexual people their social rights, property rights and other rights is a violation of the constitution.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Characteristics of an Effective Team Leader

Conflict arises from the differences, and when individuals come together in teams, their differences in terms of power, values, and attitudes contributes to creation of conflict. Without conflict, teams will not be challenged and will not perform at their optimum levels. When this becomes apparent, how should the team prepare themselves to face this challenge, and how should the team leader facilitate and resolve conflict? The purpose of this paper is to present the characteristics and traits of an effective team leader. We will also be discussing the different types of conflicts as well as the effective way of managing and resolving disputes among team members Discussion: Effective Team Leader Successful management requires more than just assigning tasks to the team. It calls for a leader who can inspire team members to achieve their full potential. People want to be guided by a person they respect; someone responsible and dependable and someone who has a clear sense of direction. More and more businesses are becoming international. Team members need to trust each other as well as trust each others expertise. They need to feel confident that the other members are doing their share, so that when the team finally pools their ideas together, a multifaceted solution results. Different countries have different cultures, ways of doing things and behaving. Leaders need to learn about these differences if they are to succeed. Being an effective team leader requires basic leadership skills. Leadership is becoming tougher and tougher and requires continued development. When times are especially tough, it is the purpose of the leader to cheer the team through it. It is the leaders job to remind the members of the team just what they are capable of getting done. The team leader is someone who provides guidance, instruction, direction, leadership to a group of other individuals for the purpose of achieving the team results. It is their job not only to ensure that the standards of their team are high and the tasks that have been assigned are being done, but also to ensure that the team spirit and morale of their team is kept. But good and effective team leader knowledgeable in managing conflict can result in benefits for a team. All leaders are not the same, but they share a common trait. They don’t lead in traditional â€Å"to-down† manner (Information. com). Tyrants can no longer effectively manage a diverse, highly-educated, flexible, and independent workforce. Business and team leadership in 21st is more a matter of influencing the culture within which work is done, in the pursuit of a shared goal. Inspiring teamwork is a skill that allows people the freedom to achieve new heights of accomplishment through effective use of the teams collective skills. In this way you allow people to fulfill their own destiny, their work becomes the vehicle that will allow them to achieve both their professional and their personal goals. A leader is not always the leader of a country or a ‘movement’. A leader can be in so many different walks of life, be it business, entertainment, sport, politics, charities etc. But, in whatever field, it seems there are these certain traits that characterize a good leader. True leadership is only developed by those who continually work and study to improve them. Even the so-called born leaders need to constantly work on self improvement.. Many of the studies of team leadership have employed a behavior oriented approach, derived from job analytic methods. In some of the earliest research on team leaders, McGrath (1962) outlined several functions the team leader should serve. Leaders perform a diagnostic function by monitoring team performance (and comparing it to accepted standards) and a remedial function by taking action to improve group performance. Leaders also perform a forecasting function by watching environmental conditions (and their potential effects on team performance) and a preventive function by attempting to avert the negative effects of a volatile environment. Zenger, Musselwhite, Hurson, and Perrin (1994) also took a functional approach to team leadership and used questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups to outline the practices and skills of successful team leaders. The team leader is typically a member of the team who provides guidance and support and has ultimate responsibility for the outcomes of the team. As such, the success of a team leader is often measured in terms of both the cohesiveness of the team as well as producing some tangible outcome. Interestingly, little systematic research has been conducted on the success factors underlying effective team leadership. In a separate article, â€Å"How to Be an Effective Team Leader† (Technology, 2004), it says that there are five characteristics of effective team leader (a) Coach, Don’t Demonstrate – demonstrating the task rather than to provide supportive direction, (b) Provide constructive criticism by communicating the good and the bad actions and providing clear suggestion to improve the assigned task, (c) Back off- show team members hey’ll get a fair chance to demonstrate what they can do without interference, (d) Try to be Positive – during hard time, regain team motivation by discussing with them what needs to be changed and listen to what they have to say, and lastly (e) Value your Group’s Ideas – consider each and every idea that your generate and encourage them to communicate their insights on a regular basis. Team Confl ict: Without a good team leader, the team could not function effectively and later on could lead to conflict between team members. The best way a good leader resolves conflicts is with communication, allowing everyone to express themselves, be open to criticism, and processes the ability to encourage compromise and negotiation. Conflict in teams is a significant contributor to poor performance, but seldom is it dealt with effectively. This section will help with a basic understanding of conflict and how to deal with it (Teambuilding. Inc, 2001-2007). Conflict. This is a word that causes most of us a great degree of discomfort, anger, frustration, sadness, and pain. Conflict arises from the clash of perceptions, goals, or values in an arena where people care about the outcome (Alessandra, 1993, p. 92). If the management of that conflict is not effective, it can totally disrupt the entire group process. The dictionary defines conflict as a struggle to resist or overcome; contest of opposing forces or powers; strife; battle. A state or condition of opposition; antagonism; discord. A painful tension set up by a cla sh between opposed and contradictory impulses. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, conflict periodically enters our lives. In the workplace, a simple disagreement between team members, if unresolved, may escalate into avoidance, inability to work together, verbal assaults, and resentment. In the worst cases, it may also lead to hostility and eventual separation from the organization. Many people and organizations view conflict as a negative, or something to be avoided. Yet conflict, differences, or disagreements are a natural result of people working together. Also, without conflict, teams can become complacent and not perform at optimum levels. The challenge then becomes, how should the team be prepared for this stage of their existence, and how should the team leader facilitate through it? (Cappozzoli (1995) and Alessandra (1993)) In some articles from the web, causes of conflict were itemized into eight possible causes. These are (a) perceived breach of faith and trust between individuals, (b) unresolved disagreement, (c) miscommunication leading to unclear expectation, (d) personal clashes, (e) differences in acquired values, (f) underlying stress and tension, (g) ego problem, and lastly (h) combination of the above (Teambuilding. Inc, 2001-2007). According to Cappozzoli (1995) and Alessandra (1993) some common sources of group conflict are: 1) values of team members, 2) attitudes of team members 3) goals / expectations – the processes and expected outcomes 4) roles and responsibilities of team members 5) limited resources 6) personalities 7) interdependency and 8) increased interaction (frequency). On the other hand, Thompson, Aranda and Robbins defined two types of conflict â€Å"A-Type; emotional† and†C-Type; cognitive†, Type-A, emotional conflict, involves interpersonal friction not related to the task and is considered harmful conflict, but Type C, task-oriented conflict, revolves around discussion and debates about the task itself, and can promote productivity. In our book (Langton, 2004), it was summarized into three variables communication, structures, and personal variables. It says that one of the sources of conflict is communication through semantic difficulties, misunderstandings, and â€Å"noise† in the communication channel. But communication is certainly not the source of all conflict. These are structures and personal variables as well. The structures includes the variables such as group size, degree of specialization in the task assigned to group members, jurisdictional clarity, member-goal compatibility, leadership styles, rewards systems, and degree of dependency between group. Personal variables, on the other hand, include the individual value system that each person has, and the personality characteristics that account for individual idiosyncrasies and difference (Langton, 2004, pp. 87-189). Other version of why conflict arises is coming from Stulburg (1987) Five-P’s of Conflict management :(a) Perceptions: People associate conflict with negative responses such as anger, fear, tension, and anxiety. Rarely do we perceive any benefits from being involved in a dispute. Our negative perceptions impact our approach in resolving conflict as we strive to eliminate the source of these negative feel ings. (b) Problems: Anyone can be involved in a conflict, and the amount of time, money, and equipment needed for resolution will vary according to its complexity. c) Processes: There are different ways to go about resolving disputes: Suppress the conflict, give in, fight, litigate, mediate, etc. (d). Principles: We determine the priorities of all resolution processes on the basis of an analysis of our fundamental values regarding efficiency, participation, fairness, compliance, etc. (e) Practices: Power, self-interest, and unique situations are all factors relating to why people resolve disputes the way they do. Stulberg proposed these patterns as an aid for formal mediators, but anyone dealing with conflict can benefit from understanding the elements common to disagreements. Furthermore, Conflict arises from the clash of perceptions, goals, or values in an arena where people care about the outcome (Alessandra, 1993, p. 92). If the management of that conflict is not effective, it can totally disrupt the entire group process. However the old saying that which does not kill us will make us stronger illustrates how successfully managed conflict can benefit the group. Conflict in work teams is not necessarily destructive. It can lead to new ideas and approaches to organizational processes, and increased interest in dealing with problems. Conflict, in this sense, can be considered positive, as it facilitates (a)the surfacing of important issues and provides opportunities for people to develop their communication and interpersonal skills, (b) motivating team to examine a problem they would have overlooked; (c) forcing them to re-examine a solution and be more innovative; and lastly (d) increasing team interest and energy, thus reinforcing solidarity and cohesiveness. On the other hand, conflict becomes negative when it is left to escalate to the point where people begin to feel defeated, and a combative climate of distrust and suspicion develops (A. F. Bowditch, 1997)Nelson (Nelson, 1995) cautions that negative conflict can (a) destroy a team quickly, and often arises from poor planning, (b) leading to crucial information being withheld and to work patterns being disrupted, (c) diverting team’s energy towards destructive ends, and (d) undermining their credibility in the eyes of outsiders and clients. Some high potential areas from which negative conflict issues commonly arise: (a) administrative issues, (b) people resources, (c) cost overruns, (d) schedules, and lastly (e) responsibilities. Team members can and should attempt to avoid negative conflict to occurring. With this information, negative conflict will therefore result to possible productivity and motivational loss to all employees. An effective charter covers areas such as the team’s purpose, goals, methods, resources, boundaries, commitments, and process checks. Properly constructed, it can provide a basis to work through the normal issues encountered by new teams and help them deal more effectively with the conflicts that are certain to arise (Thompson, Aranda, Robbins et al 253). In addition to the charter, the team should develop a good set of ground rules to guide the expectations for interaction of the group and the resolution of any conflict in the team. The ground rules should be clear and agreed upon everyone on the team. There are lots of more going on beneath the surface – with the organization, between and within teams and within individuals. The first step is to clarify the causes of the conflict. In other to identify these, some questions such as; Are there unclear accountabilities? Are there mismatched expectations? Are leaders clear at communicating what they expect? And have leaders provided the appropriate resources and sources to meet the expected organizational goal? should be considered. In ICRA Learning Resources(Fuente : Oomkes and Team, 1992) , it reviews the stages of conflict as (a) Nervousness – debate begins to get heated and opponents take different position, (b) Neurosis – views become fixed, opponents become the â€Å"enemy†. To â€Å"give in†at this stage means loss of face. Threats are made. ; and lastly (c) Combat- enemies becomes faceless, threats are often carried out, coalistion form, fighting may become physical. Conflict Resolution Nevertheless, if conflict arises, there are methods or key principles in resolving conflicts (a) take shared responsibility for the conflict, (b) recognize and appreciate differences among people, (c) preserve individual dignity, (d) listen carefully and with empathy, listen to understand, communicate, don’t debate, (e) be calm, don’t give in to emotional outburst or reactions, (f) vulnerability is the key to successful resolution, therefore open up and share your feeling, (g) don’t assume people are being difficult intentionally, (h) choose a safe place or person with whom you can vent and clarify the issue for yourself, (i) generate solutions and find agreement, and lastly, (j) follow up to assure resolution and modify as necessary (Conflict). Effectively managing conflict allows teams to stay focused on their goals. When it comes to teamwork, a persons ability to build relationships, work with others, and communicate effectively can be more important than his or her technical expertise (Dawson, 2005) Rayeski and Bryant (E. , 1994) recommended that we use Team Resolution process when conflict arises. Conflict should first be handled on an informal basis between the individual involved. This, they say, allow time for resolution or self-correction by the individual. But if this doesn’t solve the conflict, a mediator can be brought in to help resolve the situation. If resolution is not achieved the dispute should be openly discussed in a team meeting. A formal discipline process needs to occur, if resolution is not achieved after being addressed at the team level. The escalation process of the Team Resolution is as follows : a) collaboration –handling the new problem person to person(one on one)-Handle the new problem person-to-person. Use as many facts as possible and relate the issue to customer, team, or organizational needs. Be open and honest and conduct the session in a private setting. Document the concerns or issues, the dates, and the resolution, if any, and have both parties sign it. (b) mediation one on one with mediator, If collaboration did not work or was inappropriate, handle the problem with a mediator. The mediator must be trained in conflict resolution, understand policy and ethics, be trusted by the team, and have the ability to remain neutral. Gather facts and talk over the issue with the people involved. Bring up as many facts as possible and relate the issue to customer, team, or organizational needs. Be open and honest and conduct the mediation session in private. Document it and have all parties sign. A mediation is a process by which the conflicting sides call on a third party to help resolve their conflict. However, it is not the same as arbitration. Mediation can only occur if both parties are wiling to find a solution and if the mediator is respected by both of them. The role of mediator is then to make them aware of their shared interests. The conflicting parties keep control of the decision making process. c) team counselling handle the conflict at a team meeting; put the problem on the next agenda and invite the necessary individuals. The conflict is now a definite issue to the team. Collaboration and/or Mediation could not be done, were not appropriate, or did not work. Handle the conflict at a team meeting; put the problem on the next agenda and invite the necessary individuals. Again, bring up the facts, relate the issue to customer, team, or organizational needs. Be open and honest, discuss it in a private setting, document it, and have all parties sign it. Anyone on the team can put an issue or problem on the team agenda, however, this step should be used only after Collaboration, and Mediation has been ruled out. Another method approach to conflict management is Endelburgs 4 Rs Method as presented below: 1) Reasons- The causes or reasons for the conflict are explored and openly, yet respectfully discussed. 2) Reactions. Team members look at their own reactions to the conflict. If those reactions are destructive, rather than constructive, individuals can self-correct and take the necessary steps to recommit to team success. 3) Results. If the conflict is not resolved, what might happen? How might the team work together to resolve the conflict in a constructive manner? 4) Resolution. Which approach to conflict resolution could be used to effectively resolve the conflict? (Engleburg, 2003). On the other hand, ICRA Learning Resources also suggested Ways of Dealing with conflict: (a) Ignoring the conflict and living with consequences; (b) going into confrontation and fighting; (c) giving in, freely or under pressure; (d) negotiation –this is the best method when both parties stand to gain something, when both have some power and when they are interdependent; (e) calling in respected intermediaries as mediators; and lastly (f) referring to arbitration: this disempowers the team and may weaken it; always try to solve the conflict within the team first. Arbitration is done by an outside authority figure. They are called in to decide how conflict is to be solved. This is usually based on facts and the conflict parties’ rights. It is formal process. The conflicting parties relinquish all control on decision making process. This process is needed when some of the conflicting parties feel they stand to gain because of their rights concerning the issue and when other methods have failed. However, arbitration by outsiders have some disadvantages: (a) time may be wasted waiting for a suitable arbitration to become available; (b) someone form outside the team will only be concerned with the facts. They are not likely to know the deeper emotional factors, and lastly (c) communication can become strained within the team and members could take â€Å"side† which makes agreement difficult to reach. Leadership demands a delicate balance between sensitivity and authority, between the whole and the parts, between loose and tight leadership styles, between functional expertise and cross-functional excellence (width of knowledge), internal (creating value for organization and employees) and external (creating value for investors, customers, and society). † (Kotelnikov, 2008, p. 27) Understanding and appreciating the various viewpoints involved in conflict are key factors in its resolution. The best way a good leader resolves conflicts is with communication, allowing everyone to express themselves, be open to criticism, and processes the ability to encourage compromise and negotiation. Another way leadership skills are amplified is by the leader’s behaviour when problems arise and how conflict is handled. One minute the team leader may be a referee, the next minute, the role changes to coach, all in all, the group is looking for the leader to handle the conflict fairly. Maintaining the groups cohesiveness is an indirect reflection of the teams leader and conflicts can determine the effectiveness a leader has on the group. The ideal leader will â€Å"make people believe they have benefited from the conflict when â€Å"(1) a new solution is implemented, the problem is solved, and it is unlikely to emerge again, and (2) work relationships have been strengthened and people believe they can work together productively in the future. † (Bateman Snell, 2004, p. 443) Recommendation: Based on the above information, it is recommended that an effective leader is required to be a coach, provide a positive criticism, back off if necessary, try to be positive and values group ideas. An effective leader should also be able to be resolve and address conflicts within his team members. Not all conflicts are destructive, if resolved effectively it can lead to personal and professional growth. Team resolution process recommended by Rayeski and Bryant is a formal discipline process which an effective leader can use if resolution is not achieved after being addressed at the team level. Conclusion/ Remarks Leaders are people who write down goals and strive to achieve them. They understand the importance of goal setting and the example that they are teaching by doing this. We often hear the words â€Å"Great leaders are made, not born†. There are many well-educated and motivated people who lack the knowledge of how to lead people. You can test the effectiveness of a leader once conflict arises in his organization. An effective leader should be able to identify, manage, inspire and resolve the dispute to regain the stability of his organization. Thus, this is why leadership is a very challenging task. A good team leader should be able to articulate and communicate the team’s rules, goals and expected duties clearly and persuasively, while also being able to be diplomatic in the face of any conflict. By correctly positioning the individual member strengths and compensating for weaknesses, the leader can bring the team into a productive balance and harmony.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Financial Ratios Used in the Financial Statements and Policies Coursework

Financial Ratios Used in the Financial Statements and Policies - Coursework Example The financial statement prepared with the help of financial ratios is an aid to find out the efficient operation of the business for the share holders, competitors, and outsiders who are willing to invest in the firm. These ratios play a key role in calculating the dividend to shareholders, interest to debenture holders, as well as the tax payable to the government. They also express the risk factor and bankruptcy chances of the firm. There have been no convincing theories on financial ratios over the years. Horrigan (1965), writes on how the financial ratios were originated and how the theories were not. He says that a unique outcome of the accounting evolution in the United States was the development of financial ratios which helped in analyzing accounting statements. Such ratios were originally formulated for using short-term credit analytical devices. The origin of such ratios can be traced out as far back as the late 19th century. A number of various financial ratios were developed by the analysts in the early decades of the century. The next step after the formulation of such ratios was the development of the body of empirical generalization about such financial ratios which later turn out to be the hypothesis for drawing out a theory of financial ratio analysis. However, the materialization of a system of empirical generalization never happened, much less a theory (Horrigan, 1965). There are a number of sources for the collection of information for financial ratio analysis. The Profit and Loss Account and the Balance Sheet serves as the main source for information.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Assigment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Assigment - Assignment Example She kills his new wife and kills the children. In Medea, a woman is seen as a complex being; as the writer was triggered by the unjust treatment of women during the era of Athens and the moral hypocrisy that it revealed. This is the intent why I deem the play Medea on an American plantation with respect to Euripides and the pressing matters that were contemporary to his life. The inciting incident in the play is where by Medea, decides to carry out revenge on her husband by killing his new wife and the children. After she is banished from the kingdom of Corinth, she begs for a day in the land. Medea then asks the chorus of Corinth women to help her carry out the revenge. The chorus tries to discourage her from carrying out the revenge, but she is set to go ahead with her plans. She poisons Jason’s new wife by poisoning her dress which she disguised it as a gift. She then poisons her children and kills them. Jason discovers this when it is too late. The writer displays the event in a fast manner to create anxiety in the audience. The events occur very fast in a manner that Medea would be caught in the act. This shows how women are forced by circumstances to take some harsh decisions. Women face a lot of mistreatment from the society forcing them to take drastic measures. Although it pains Medea to murder her children, she still goes ahead with the plan. This is because she feels betrayed by Jason and has the urge to revenge. The climax of the play is whereby Medea is banished from the kingdom. Her husband condemns her and accuses her of her downfall. He forgets that he was also part of some of the atrocities she committed. He forgets how Medea helped her to kill his uncle so as to take the throne. All this brings bitterness to Medea, which pushes her to plot a revenge mission against her husband. She decides to kill the wife, which could also hurt King Creon. The writer shows how Jason condemns Medea for her actions. This

Saturday, November 16, 2019

English for Night Essay Example for Free

English for Night Essay Night Thematic Statement In the book: â€Å"Night the Author†, Elie Wiesel writes about, many different themes such as death, racism, faith, trust, love and much more. The main theme in the book would be Elies faith, his faith in God is absolute. Throughout the entire book Wiesel talks about his faith and it really shows how loyal he is to God while being shaken during his experience in the Holocaust. Wiesel was raised believing that everything on Earth was a reflection of Gods holiness and power, so everywhere he looked he was thinking about and studying this God. Elie was dedicated and wanted to know more and more each day. Wiesels faith looked as if it could never be brought down or shaken, but by the time he got to the second camp Elie was already slowly loosing faith, He says â€Å"Why did I pray? Why did I live? Why did I breathe? † Wiesel was so brainwashed that he most likely didnt even know it was happening. Wiesel says â€Å" It was silent, What had I to thank Him for? † His faith was being moved because he was looking at all the pain around him and not the hope inside. He wonders how an amazing God could be apart of such a cruel place, his faith was now rocking by the cruelty and selfishness he sees among the prisoners. But soon enough Elie was one of those selfish prisoners a kapo says â€Å"Here, every man has to fight for himself and not think of anyone else. Here, there are no fathers, no brothers, no friends. Everyone lives and dies for himself alone. † Wiesel was getting it in his head that maybe I could eat that extra bread instead of giving it to my father, Im most likely to survive longer. He was believing the lie being told and loosing much more than he had hoped. All-throughout Night Elie Wiesel writes how much he wanted to pursue God in his life and how much his life revolved around his relationship with God. Even though he has been forever changed from his horrible experience during the Holocaust, Elie still emerged with his faith. He didnt let the worst thing in his life effect the best part of his life, his faith in God.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

We Wear the Mask Essay -- Literary Analysis, Paul Laurence Dunbar

William Shakespeare once proclaimed that â€Å"the past is prologue.† Are we really bound by history? Is our present a mere continuation, a monomorphic continuation if you will, of the novel that is our existence, or can it be developed in a bifurcated fashion? Paul Lawrence Dunbar, prominently noted as the "Poet Laureate of the Negro Race" (p 905) is a prime example of how the past can be depicted in a multifold manner. His two works " We Wear the Mask" and "An Ante-Bellum Sermon" illustrate the double-consciousness that Dunbar was most notorious for. It must be noted, however, that these two works, despite differing in forms of dialect, are conflations of one source, through an intrinsic connection. One will evidently see both the apparent polarity and hidden exemplification associated with the implementation of duality within the aforementioned poems. Dunbar's ability to conflate the standard English verse and the "Negro" dialect not only enables him to illustrate yeste rday's hardships but also tomorrow's promises, in which each poem in itself epitomizes the properties of bifurcation through juxtaposition and exemplification. To exemplify, Dunbar's poem "We Wear the Mask" utilizes the standard English verse to shed light on the hidden "tears and sighs" (p 918,1) of African Americans, particularly slaves. As one maneuvers through the poem, he/she will notice a transition of thought, not necessarily of time. In other words, the time frame does not shift throughout the poem. The past is not a date or a mark on a timeline, it is the previously held belief of the speaker. What shifts is the speaker's perspective of the mask. He transitions from mourning the conditions of those wearing it(past view), to perhaps noting its benefits( ... ...s. We have seen, through the two works analyzed above, how the incorporation and recognition of the past[both in terms of time(Biblical and Antebellum) and thought] depicted a metamorphosis within the "Negro" slave and his ability to transcend this institution of imprisonment. Du Bois, who coined the term double-consciousness, used it to label persons whose identities were multifaceted in nature. Of course we see Dunbar's use of two forms of verse as fitting pieces to the puzzle that is double-consciousness, but, we have yet to realize that we have not found all the pieces. The other pieces lie in the speakers within each poem, as exemplified in this essay. The transformation of perception, initiated and propelled by the acknowledgement of the past(in multiple forms), can certainly be at the crux of the double-consciousness that defines Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Noli Me Tangere Essay

Many Filipinos will recognize the Latin phrase â€Å"Noli me Tangere† as the title of Jose Rizal’s first novel, rather than as a biblical line from the gospel of St. John (20:17). In English, it is usually rendered as â€Å"Touch me not. † This was what the risen Jesus told the startled Mary Magdalene when she tried to approach him after he had called her name. The meaning of this utterance has been the subject of much dispute, not least because it appears only in John and not in the other gospels. When later he appeared before his disciples, Jesus invited the doubting Thomas to touch his wounds. Yet he would not allow Mary, whose faith needed no confirmation, to hold him. Why? Was it because she was a woman and not one of the original disciples, and therefore unworthy of being the first witness to Jesus’ triumph over death? Or was it because â€Å"Noli me Tangere† meant something else other than â€Å"do not touch me†? Curiously, Rizal’s particular use of this phrase as the title of his novel might give us a better understanding of its meaning. I remember as a child asking my father what â€Å"Noli me Tangere† meant. He had come home one day with a freshly printed hardbound edition of Charles Derbyshire’s translation titled â€Å"The social cancer. † Proudly, he presented it to me as if it was the most precious book in the world, enunciating every syllable in that enchanting phrase â€Å"Noli me Tangere. † He uttered it as if it was a magical incantation. â€Å"What language is that? † I asked him. â€Å"Latin for ‘touch me not’,† he replied. What’s that got to do with cancer, I pressed, pointing to the English title of the book. He answered: â€Å"The cancer of our society in Rizal’s time was already so advanced that no doctor would touch it anymore. That perspective stayed with me throughout my first early reading of the Noli. My father clearly took the cancer analogy from Rizal’s own prefatory dedication, â€Å"To my country. † In it, Rizal had written: â€Å"Recorded in the history of human suffering are cancers of such malignant character that even minor contact aggravates them, engendering overwhelming pain†¦. Therefore, because I desire your good health†¦ I will do with you what the ancients did with their infirmed: they placed them on the steps of their temples so that each in his own way could invoke a divinity that might offer a cure. †

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Quality Indicators for Safe Medication Preparation and Administration Essay

Being passionate about caring and helping others has influenced and inspired me to enter the medical field and has then encouraged me to become a registered nurse in the Philippines. I have worked in a public hospital located in Manila which caters health care services for people presenting infectious and tropical diseases. One day, I had an admission who was diagnosed with an Acute Gastroenteritis secondary to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. The doctor ordered a new antibiotic that should be given intravenously. When the antibiotic was already at hand, I administered the medication with the 100ml solution of normal saline to the patient. Afterward, because of a lot of toxicity in the area caused by a large number of patients, I forgot to reassess the patient whom I gave the antibiotic initially. I was surprised when I got back, the patient was already experiencing an allergic reaction to the antibiotic that the skin was flushed and generalized rashes were observed. I referred the patient immediately to the resident on duty and anti-histamine medications were given right away. Because of the incident happened, I felt overwhelmed with fear due to the possible consequences I had in my mind that the patient might suffer. I had been administering antibiotics many times in the past, but this situation made me feel guilty and uneasy. I even questioned myself if I am really that competent enough to do medical interventions to the patients. A nurse’s role is to render a high quality of care at all times. The reactions of the antibiotic would have been prevented if the proper assessment has been executed. Being knowledgeable in interventions especially medication administration is essential in my role, that I felt I didn’t accomplish fully. I documented all that happened to the patient and I made an internal incident report so that the other team members would be well-informed about the situation and also proper endorsements were done. Further errors and complications will be prevented through active management and effective reporting system would ensure patient’s safety. Administration of medicines to individuals who are ill is part of nurse’s responsibility to deliver holistic and optimal care (Veitch & Christie 2007). In the Philippines, nurses are required to practice methodical approach that follows local polices. In regards to my own experience, nurses practice 10 rights of medication administration that are intended to protect patients from any misconduct in promoting health. Some of the key things I have learned include developing my time management, multi-tasking, and organizational habits. One of the ways I would change what I did then would be to assess before and after administering certain medication to the patient especially if it’s an initial dose. I am now more cautious and responsible for my actions when delivering holistic care. Although I should’ve reassessed the patient, the experience I have gained from this has made me more mindful of patient’s rights that safeguard patient’s well-being. In the future, I think I would try to deal with this by improving the level of my competence and not neglect the aspects of nursing as a caring profession. I will continue to provide genuine care to the patients through further developing my skills in performing the 10 rights of medication administration. I intend to become more careful and as well as confident when protecting the health of my patients from possible risks of any treatment and health practices. As a registered nurse, I aim to advance my knowledge and skills that will befit the needs of the clients. Therefore, even if this experience for me was a challenge, I took it as an advantage to help me understand the importance of values in nursing and will guide me in tackling different instances and situations in the future.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Review of Godspell †The Musical †Summary Paper

Review of Godspell – The Musical – Summary Paper Free Online Research Papers Review of Godspell The Musical Summary Paper A more modern day rendition of the Gospels of Jesus, John the Baptist is depicted as a clown who gathers disciples from the city streets of New York by blowing on a horn. He comes to baptize them and in doing so, Jesus comes to him for his own baptism. Jesus and all his disciples (including women) become clowns and teach and learn the Gospels of Jesus through song and dance. In the end, Jesus and the other disciples are crucified on a chain link fence after Judas (formerly John the Baptist) reports the group to the police. In Lloyd Baugh’s lecture, he pointed out that the teachings of Jesus are omitted the parables are present. Also, unlike Andrew Lloyd Weber’s â€Å"Jesus Christ Superstar† musical which uses rock music, Godspell’s songs are more subdued and coherent thus causing the movie to not draw attention to itself as much as to the lessons being taught. There is a very clear representation of Jesus’ intimacy with God through his gentleness with his disciples. The repetition of an earlier song at the end signifies the resurrection of Jesus after his death. The isolation of the group as Jesus takes the disciples away from the real world and its issues and problems possibly suggests a space experience like a retreat where the disciples can be one with the lord. Rather than remain hidden with Jesus after isolation, he liberates them and grants them the strength to do all they desire. Personally I did not really like this film. The idea was good but I believe that the whole point of the movie could have been wrapped up within 2 of the songs or so and the ending crucifixion scene. Also, the idea of one actor as both John the Baptist and Judas was confusing but at the same time it was intriguing because the viewer builds a bond with John from the beginning and then is betrayed by the change in a way that Jesus himself is betrayed by Judas. I did like the concept of a very happy and contemporary view of the story of Jesus but I felt the songs ran somewhat long on film where they were probably much more effective on stage where Godspell is usually performed. In all I do believe that the film offered an adequate portrayal of the Jesus of the Gospels for he is kind, very knowledgeable, passes information and spreads his word just as the Jesus of old, the only difference being exceptionally large shoes. Research Papers on Review of Godspell - The Musical - Summary PaperWhere Wild and West MeetHip-Hop is ArtComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionMind TravelAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementTrailblazing by Eric AndersonRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Monday, November 4, 2019

Proposal-determine if the cell cycle proteins are expressed at Essay

Proposal-determine if the cell cycle proteins are expressed at different stages of nurse cell development in Trichinella spires infected muscle - Essay Example The life cycle of Trichinella begins with larvae being ingested raw or undercooked, pork meat. The larvae attach and bury themselves in the intestinal mucosa developing into adults in the small intestines. The adults in the intestinal mucosa mate producing more larvae. A single female can produce up to 1500 over a period of 1 to for weeks. The produced larvae then enter the lymph and mesenteric veins traveling throughout the body eventually attaching itself as a cyst in the striated muscle. The cyst helps the Trichinella species to survive the host’s immune system. The larva may remain viable for up to 25 years in humans. The viable cysts when ingested by a new host they become viable again beginning the cycle. The nematodes of genus Trichinella infect a wide range of mammal’s reptiles and birds. The parasite usually alternate between the enteric and skeletal muscle stages within their hosts. The eleven known genotypes are made up of two categories. The first is the species that encapsulation occurs and that one that no encapsulation occurs. (Zarlenga et al. 2004). T spirally is the most common cause of human infections, and much of the proposal will discuss this species. The T spirally usually inhabits the host muscle cells and become encapsulated. The Trichinella species is found in a broad geographic range from the tropics to the Arctic. The encapsulated species shows more adaptations to colder climates as compared to the encapsulated species. The major hosts of Trichinella species are sylvatic swine and domestic swine. The synanthropic group of animals such as rat’s cats, dogs, and carnivore also from the host to the Trichinella species. The high infections to swine mean that Trichinella species spread to most continents thus showing a cosmopolitan distribution in equatorial and temperate climates (Pozio 2001). The species has been classified into three by use of molecular phylogenetics(Blaxter et al. 1998).

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Joint venture success factors in the petroleum industry (management Essay

Joint venture success factors in the petroleum industry (management side) - Essay Example On the other hand, there were thirteen failure factors that gas and oil managers pointed out. The failure factors include; i. Selecting a suitable business partner. ii. Managerial teams having mixed abilities. iii. The company’s power of negotiation. iv. Gain of foreign technology v. Compatibility of each partners objectives vi. Having a clear understanding of the petroleum sector future dynamics vii. Gaining managerial expertise from foreign partners viii. Cooperation between supply and reinforcement. ix. Export development. x. Sharing risks and profits. xi. International marketing cooperation. xii. Joint venture agreement transparency. xiii. Powers for independent decision making. The success factors that were pointed out by the managers include; i. Corporate cultures importance ii. Production cooperation. iii. Solving of conflicts iv. Export development v. Domestic marketing cooperation. vi. Taking an equal responsibility in management vii. The willingness of the partners f rom Algeria to retain their stake as majority shareholders in the Joint Ventures. viii. Involvement of domestic partners in R & D. ix. International leasing eligibility. The data gathered from all the participants in the form of filled questionnaires were then arranged as tables in the SPSS data files in order to be analyzed through the SPSS processor. In total, four SPPSS data files or tables were composed, out of which one represented the Algerian Managers failure factors, one included the Algerian Managers success factors, one comprised of Foreign Managers failure factors and one consisted of Foreign Managers success factors. Each one of the 4 SPSS data files was analyzed by executing the descriptive analysis, t-test analysis and chi-square analysis with the help of the SPSS software. Subsequent to which, the output data that were generated for each table have been presented in the respective tables in the following sections. The SPSS processor also generated the histogram showin g the distribution of each factor with respect to the normal-distribution-curve. The output data for each section will then be compared to develop the similarities and the differences in the perception of the Algerian managers to that of the foreign managers in relation to the success and failure factors of the international oil and gas joint ventures in Algeria both in the past and in the present. 11.1. Literature Review 11.1.1. Hypothesis Testing A hypothesis, in a research-study, can be defined as an expression that can be subjected to analysis. For answering a statistical question, the question is formulated in the form of a hypothesis. Then the hypothesis is accepted or rejected on the basis of the outcome of the analysis. The hypothesis that is being analyzed or tested is referred as the null hypothesis and is denoted by H0, which has to be a true or false statement. There is an alternative hypothesis denoted by HA for every null hypothesis. In this regard, the development and the assessment of the hypotheses is the most important task however the best way for the hypothesis-construction is not necessarily evident: Priority is given to the null hypothesis and it is accepted until some strong evidence is found or produced against it. If a hypothesis is simpler than the other one then it should be given priority in order to adopt a relatively 'simpler' theory unless adequate evidence is found