Sunday, December 29, 2019

How Learning Style Affects Our Learning - 973 Words

Learning is part of our life from the beginning of birth to the end, death. All of us least have learned something in our lives and must remember it for sometime in the future. Sometimes we forget it that thing we learned and have to go back and relearn it. That right there is an extra hassle. To learn effectively, we first must find out what our learning style is and how to that learning style affects our learning. There are four types of learner: visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic. Each of these types of learners has their own way of learning and thinking. Thinking is part of the learning process and there are two types: global and analytic. To find out what type of learner and thinker you are, you first must take three learning style tests. In this paper, I will discuss what type of learner and thinker, I am, my thoughts on the results, and how I can use the information to maximize my learning at Kennesaw State University. After taking the first two tests on What Is My Lea rning Style, I found out that I was a visual learner. Some learning strengths of being a visual learner is being able to remember what they read and write. In addition to that, visual learners understand information better when they see it, not by hearing it or through hands on. A few major traits of visual learner are that they prefer to see words written down and written instructions rather than verbal instructions. Another trait is that a visual learner prefers to have a picture to view whenShow MoreRelated Learning Styles and the Brain1645 Words   |  7 PagesHow Did You Know That?!Learning Styles and the Brain Although most commonly framed in academic contexts, learning style lies at the foundation of individual identity and development. Learning, the process of acquiring knowledge about the world (1) and learning style, ...the sum of the patterns of how individuals develop habitual ways of responding to experience (2) reflect an array of attitudes, emotional responses, preferences and habits. It is the basis of how we interact with, processRead MoreLearning Styles: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences782 Words   |  4 Pagesthrough our lives, all over the world. Does in-telligence decide what we do with our lives, or is one intelligence more important than any other? When we look at Merriam-Webster (2013) for the definition of intelligence it states that it is the ability to learn different or new actions dependent on circumstances involved. So, who decides what intelligence is, and do we know if emotional intelligence, personal intelligence or any other intelligence plays a part in the different styles of learning. LetRead MoreTeaching Styles, Learning Styles, and Cultural Location in Relation to Academic Success996 Words   |  4 PagesTeaching Styles, Learning Styles, and Cultural Location in Relation to Academic Success The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. -William Arthur Ward. Every teacher is different and teaches differently, but when it comes to academic success of students, how do the teaching styles affect the overall outcome of the student success. Although teaching styles and learning styles have a massive role to play and academic successRead MoreThe Learning Styles Of The Language1731 Words   |  7 Pagesthough. Many more factors go into learning a second language and can affect one’s ability to achieve native-like proficiency in that language. Some of the factors can be age when one begins to learn the second language, how similar the first and second languages are to each other, and individual differences that the person may possess. Individual differences are characteristics that vary person by person such as motivation level, intelligence, language learning aptitude, and personality. One individua lRead MoreA New Thought To Education . Education Has Always Been1253 Words   |  6 PagesA NEW THOUGHT TO EDUCATION Education has always been a major topic in our society, and as of late, the new idea of flipped learning has been announced. Flipped learning can be best described as an instructional strategy and a type of blended learning that reverses the traditional learning environment by delivering instructional content, often online, outside of the classroom. It moves activities, including those that may have traditionally been considered homework, into the classroom. In a flippedRead MoreLearning Style for Student Nurses1522 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstanding learning styles for student nurses. I will also be focusing on the learning cycle and learning style using the Honey and Mumford 80 questionnaire. I look into the details of how learning style helps students to understand the importance of recognising one’s learning style preference. I will also provide an understanding of learning and learning theories and discuss my own dominant learning style and how I aim to deal with my weak nesses to progress well in the nursing programme. Learning is definedRead MoreThe Effects Of Learning Styles, Visual, Aural And Kinesthetic Essay1459 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effects of Learning Styles As Benjamin Franklin once said, â€Å"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.† Throughout the years many have studied how people learn. Knowing this, there are different types of learning. There are three types of learning styles, Visual, Aural and Kinesthetic according to The Twin Cycle Experimental Learning Model: Reconceptulizing Kolb’s Theory. (Avery, Gayle and Bergstiener, Herald. 2014). The observations done in the articles have provedRead MoreWhat I Am A Visual Learner1648 Words   |  7 PagesI know that I am a Visual Learner, and everything I learn is through what I see. I learned that I am able to learn through different teaching styles and still learn the necessary information that is being given. Most people can relate to being a visual learner as it helps to see the information and retain it as well. Another type of common learning style is bodily kinesthetic which I feel I also learn well from as well. Auditory learners retain new information best by hearing it. They to readRead MoreWhat Does It Affect My Personal Learning?912 Words   |  4 Pagesformat that can be used and applied into our experience of life, learning matters. Recently, I have begun to look at the idea of learning in a new way, thanks to the work of many researchers who sought to understand how the human mind learns. In this paper, I will focus on one particular learning model that was presented by Neal Fleming and discuss how it affects my personal learning. In Fleming s model, sometimes referred to as VARK learning styles, learners are identified by whether theyRead MoreMy Personality And The Personality912 Words   |  4 PagesPersonality is a combination of factors in human beings, that is the expression of inner value, learned reaction to others, life experience and beliefs. Our life is shaped by our personality, lifestyles, and gender. I make a connection with many people in my daily life. Those connections have a positive or negative impact in my life. I am an extroversion personality. I have a strong feeling of wanting to find out about something new. I like to ask a lot of questions, because that is the way, I get

Saturday, December 21, 2019

An Ecological Translation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest Essay

IV The Tempest places forward the rhythms of the dynamic Nature in the context of ever changing society and the inconsistent human mind, but also how they reflect both elevated and distorted symbolic association of humans and Nature: allusions to â€Å"pinch-spotted†¦. Than pard or cat o’ mountain†, â€Å"welkin’s cheek†, â€Å"rotten carcass of a butt†, â€Å"Jove’s lightnings†, â€Å"King’s son, Ferdinand/ With hair up-staring then like reeds, not hair, -†, â€Å"veins o’th’earth† and â€Å"bak’d with frost†. Caliban’s lethargy is associated with the movement of a tortoise. Charms and omens of Sycorax are associated with hateful creatures as â€Å"toads†, â€Å"beetles† and â€Å"bat†. In the lines â€Å"Temperance was a delicate wench†, weather and climatic condition of the island is†¦show more content†¦Jumping out of the ship into the se a driven by fear of drowning reflects Nature’s mockery of an ostentatious human contraption. Man’s boastful clinging to his materialistic exhibits and possessions get transformed into his surrender and plea to Mother Nature for mercy. The island symbolizes Nature’s unbounded bountiful, magnanimous realm, which influences and motivates positively in an individual way, the psychology of an individual: â€Å"the enchantment of the island purposely makes its appearance correspond with the several natures of the ship-wrecked men who come ashore†¦.Gonzalo finds his â€Å"garments rather new dyed than stained with salt water†, but â€Å"Antonio and Sebastian cannot see them so. Gonzalo’s comment on the abundance of greenery in the island, ‘how lush and lusty the grass looks! How green!† (2.1.51) Apart from Gonzalo’s eco-affability, it also shows how amidst Nature, man’s outlook/ perception broadens, refreshens, vitalizes a nd advances to a considerable magnitude towards spontaneity of Man-Nature bonding. It stands in sharp contrast to the monotony and stagnancy of man-made confinements/ enclosures that predominantly manufacture people with clumsy, constricted, non-pragmatic, callous and self-centered attitude. Prospero’s cell in the island etches the intrusion

Friday, December 13, 2019

Friendship Essay Free Essays

What Makes a Good Friend? Friendships are vital to a person’s life. Although, people have quality requirements that they look for in the â€Å"perfect† friend. There really isn’t the one â€Å"perfect† friend out there that everyone is looking for. We will write a custom essay sample on Friendship Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now They come in all shapes and sizes and each and everyone of them have a different personality with their own faults and imperfections. They are people we associate to having a good time with and, or being sad with. But what makes a true good friend? Qualities that make a good friend are loyalty, trust, and reliability. A quality that makes a good friend is their degree of loyalty to you. A loyal friend will want to be around you. They will make an effort to be with you, and calls you to say hello when you can’t be together. For instance, if your friend is meeting other people at the movie theater, they will call and invite you to go along as well. If you go away for a vacation, your friend will tell you how much they are excited for you to return home. A loyal friend will pull their own weight in your relationship. Leaving everything up to one person in a friendship isn’t fair. They will help you plan times when you will get together, or events so other people can join as well. They will contribute to sharing phone calls between the two of you, instead of making you do all the calling. Another attribute that makes a friend loyal is a possible understanding of an event you have gone through. Having a friend that relates to events in your life is very comforting because they know how you feel or had felt. For example, if you lost a grandparent that was very close to you and your friend did as well, they can relate to your feelings which will make them feel more attached and loyal to you, and you to them. Another quality found in a good friend is their reliability. A trait of a reliable friend is how honest they are with you. If they are completely honest with you, then you can count on them in the future. Honesty is a key quality in a true friendship. A reliable friend keeps their promises. They do what they tell you they were going to do instead of doing something else. For example, when they tell you that they are going home and that they don’t want to hang out, they actually go home instead of going out with other friends. Another trait of a reliable friend is how encouraging they are for you. When you doubt yourself about your greatest dreams, they encourage you not to give up on them and remind you that you can do anything you want to. They tell you to shoot for the skies, and that the sky is the limit to what you are able to do in your life. They remind you of who you are and what you stand for when you forget, or when you are going through a rough time. They continuously let you know that you are special in their life and that they would miss you if you weren’t in it. A very important quality to look for in a friend is trust. Some people can seem very trustworthy but turn out not to be as you get to know them. A trustworthy friend tells you just about anything. If they trust you, they will confide in you their deepest secrets. For example, they will tell you who they have a crush on, or possibly dangerous things that you might be able to help them with such as substance addictions or other fatal problems. A trustworthy friend will tell you about relationship problems and ask advice that they wouldn’t with their parents or even another friend. They might even give you relationship advice if you need it. In other words, if your friend is in an abusive relationship, they would share as much as they wanted with you and possibly ask your advise about what they should do even if it is hard to hear. Another trait that makes a trustworthy friend compassionate they are. If your friend does something to hurt you, they own up to it and apologize. With all of this being said, a true friend is someone to count on in times of need, someone to have a good time with whenever, and someone to talk to about absolutely anything without being judged or misunderstood. Loyalty, trust, and reliability are three major qualities to look for in a true friend. Once you have found that one â€Å"perfect† friend for yourself, they will be around forever and always have your back. How to cite Friendship Essay, Essays

Thursday, December 5, 2019

High School Grad Test free essay sample

In Georgia before graduating from high school you are required to take a certain test. This is a test that evaluates your knowledge of everything that has supposedly been taught the entire time you were in high school. No single test should decide your future by determining whether you’re ready for the harsh society known as the real world. Should students’ futures be left in the hands of Georgia’s high school spectators? The graduation test consists of four parts: math, science, English/literature, and social studies. The state of Georgia forces students to take this judgment test in the middle of their eleventh grade year. Basically since you have not obtained the full knowledge that you would have in your last year of school, you venture into the test with a vague conception of the testing materials. Most people say guessing always helps in times that you don’t know the answers, well I say, â€Å"if we were taught ALL the materials we needed to know instead of just the ones that will cause us to slide by then we wouldn’t have to guess all the time. We will write a custom essay sample on High School Grad Test or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In recent years at my school, second to the drop-out rate, the graduation test is the reason our most prominent or â€Å"B† average students fail to graduate. As an illustration, take a middle class student, never had any discipline problems, perfect attendance, all around scholar, but is not the best test taker. Now he has to deal with one of the most important tests that will ever occur in his entire high school career, he panics and fails two sections. Granted that he now has four chances to pass the failed sections, without surpassing those parts there will be no need for the cap and gown. Consequently there are people that just don’t do well on tests, they will know the materials before the test but on test day it flees their mind. As my year progresses, I find myself becoming frantic about the test that is to come in the near March. I come across pondering all the â€Å"what if’s†, â€Å"What if I don’t pass the first time?†, â€Å"What if I fail the next time?†, â€Å"What if I never graduate?†, What if I never attend college?† Then there are other questions, â€Å"What will I tell my family?†, â€Å"Will they even accept me or will I have to face their devastation from knowing I tried my best and still failed?’ No I would want them to rejoice from me accomplishing one of the great tasks yet to come before me! School is supposed to help and guide us as students in the right path for success. Forcing students to take a test to choose whether students are prepared to graduate is preposterous and makes it appear as if our retained knowledge is at question, when the grades are clear evidence. This mistrust is sending students the message that we are inept of achieving the goals and aspirations we have detained since we were first asked, â€Å"What do you want to be when you grow up?† The state may say our marks are low but our ambitions are high.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Toni Morissons Tar Baby Essays - Jadine, Tar Baby, Ondine

Toni Morisson's Tar Baby It is often said that it is better to follow your heart instead of your mind because it will never lie to you. However, when you follow your heart you are not always prepared for what the outcome may be. This is proven in Toni Morisson's novel Tar Baby . Tar Baby is Morrison's fourth novel and it took three and a half years to write . The story was based on an old African American folk tale about Brer Rabbit and Tar Baby. This book is said by some to be an excess of what made Morrison's other books good but despite the criticism the book still made it to the best seller's list. The story takes place on an isolated island of L'Arbe de la Croix. this was purposely done by Morrison so that the characters would have no way to escape. There were no immediate policemen to call and no neighbors to interfere in the story . The characters were placed in a cage and left to see what would happen. L' Arbe de la Croix is the vacation home of Valerian Street a retired candy maker and his wife Margaret Street. The house is also occupied by a black couple, Sydney and Odine, who have been the long time servants of the Street's. During the time of the story the house is also occupied by Jadine, who is Sydney's and Odine's niece. Jadine was took in by the Streets and they paid for her to go to school and become a model. Jadine came down from Paris to contemplate a marriage proposal from a Frenchman and to spend Christmas with her aunt and uncle. Jadine can be considered the tar baby in this story. She was taken in by the Street's and opened up to the world that they lived in. She got a wonderful education and traveled all over. She had a sense of security and knew that anything she needed would be given to her by the streets. The streets get another unexpected guest during Christmas. One night when Margaret is up in her room she opens her closet and sees a strange black man sitting there. She becomes hysterical and runs down the stairs in a panic. Sydney goes upstairs and brings down the intruder everyone in the house is startled by his appearance and ready to call the police. Everyone except Valerian. He invites the intruder to sit down for a drink and this makes Margaret crazy. She runs up to her room and locks herself in her bedroom. We later find out that the intruder is the same man that we encounter in the beginning of the novel on the boat. The intruder has many names but asks to be called Son. Son Green. Son is the cause of a lot of trouble and he brings out the true side of the characters of this story. After dinner Son is invited to stay for the night in one of the guest rooms. This makes Sydney angry. He could not understand how Valerian could be so calm in such a situation but despite his anger Sydney does what he is told. The next morning Son come into Jadine's room, this is their first personal encounter. Jadine is absolutely repulsed by his looks but she is kind to him and they start to talk, the conversation takes a turn for the worse. After making an insulting comment about Jadine he grabs her, presses his body against hers, and starts to smell her. This makes Jadine feel dirty. She finally breaks loose from his grasp and runs to tell Valerian. On her way to Valerian she stops and starts to think about whether she should go and tell or not. After much thought she decides not to, but also promises herself that she would try to avoid him to the best of her ability. That same day Valerian suggests that Son go to the main island with one of the workers to get some clothes and a hair cut. He comes back the next day and sees Jadine. At first she is amazed by his appearance she could not believe that he was the same guy who she encountered the privies day. Her amazement was not long lasting her memories of the day before quickly came back to her. Son apologized for his behavior but Jadine does not want to hear anything that he has to say. Son offers to

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Nintendo Marketing Report Essays

Nintendo Marketing Report Essays Nintendo Marketing Report Paper Nintendo Marketing Report Paper Report on Nintendo plc Table of contents Table of contents2 Introduction3 Exchange process4 P. E. S. T. E. L Analysis5 Segmenting markets6 Marketing information and research7 Product Anatomy8 Product Life Cycle9 New product development10 References12 Introduction Nintendo is the worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment. Based in Kyoto, Japan, Nintendo, Co, Ltd manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo GameCube systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2. billion video games and more than 420 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokemon. Founded on September 23, 1983 by Fusajiro Yamauchi Nintendo has since The exchange process (Transactional marketing) The exchange process is essentially the â€Å"bottom line† when looking at the principles of marketing from an organisational perspective. Followed closely by profitability, transactional marketing can be recognised within both popular and accepted definitions of marketing. Marketing is the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating, and satisfying customer requirements profitably. (Chartered Institute of Marketing 2001) Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchange and satisfy individual and organisational objectives. (American Marketing Association 1985) The exchange process is identified specifically within the (AMA) definition where it refers to exchange as a result or goal of correct practice of pricing, promotion and distribution of goods and services. Below are a couple of examples of the transaction process when customers purchase Nintendo products. When a customer buys a Nintendo product they are entering into a luxury good transaction. This means that the customer is spending a fairly substantial amount of money. With this in mind the customer must have preconceptions and expectations of what they will get from the product. These will either come from advertisements or past experiences. Specifically, if an individual is willing to pay over a hundred pounds for a pocket sized Gameboy, the product must in turn provide the desired output which in this case is fun. Transactional marketing is simply the customer and organization entering into a deal where both parties receive something of value. Nintendo have recently expanded their market to include families and people of all ages. The reason for this expansion is the Nintendo Wii. This product can harbour up to 4 players and Nintendo have released an advertising campaign showing families enjoying product together. In exchange for their cash families and individuals are made aware that the Nintendo Wii will provide fun for years to come. P. E. S. T. E. L Analysis PoliticalEnvironmentalSocioculturalTechnologicalEconomicsLegal Health and safety is a key area the government look for when scrutinising companies. A way in which they are doing this is to ensure that all products pass strict Quality standards. Like all other major corporations Nintendo is subject to intense global pressure to go â€Å"greener† and protect the environment. According to the official Nintendo website all factories and offices recycle paper, plastic and cardboard and In all their shipping they use recyclable goods. Nintendo have recently been targeting older markets with their DS console. Games and applications such as brain age and Sudoku have been enticing sales from the over 25 market. (Note reference A. )During recent years Nintendo have had the majority market share of the portable videogame market. Yet it is currently in direct competition with Apple and the I-phone. (Note reference B)Nintendo’s quarterly profit rose by 31. 5 percent since last year, (2008) from 90. 63 billion yen a year earlier to 119. 19 billion yen. Thats roughly 500 million pounds. (Figures from www. itfacts. biz) Nintendo is involved with many legal issues to mainly ensure the safety of their products; Copyrights. Trademarks Patents Counterfeits Liscences. Etc. British and Quality standards are safeguards put in place to ensure that any products released into the UK market are safe for use or consumption. Nintendo have to take into consider many things when concern with quality standards. Nintendo have contracts with vendors to ensure proper recycling of all electrical goods. Products no longer include styrofoam in either software or hardware. Nintendo have greater than 99% recycling rate of all product returns and repair parts. They also offer a take back programme with consumers for all older products. The generic gamer market is males aged 18-34. After releasing the Nintendo Wii this market has expanded significantly. It is now common for a households and even pubs to incorporate The Wii entertainment system. Nintendo have been continuously innovative within the last 20 years and the technology introduced within the Nintendo Wii has proved highly effective in keeping ahead of its direct competitors; (Xbox, Playsatation 3)Sales of the Wii have jumped by 51 percent since Q1 2008 to 5. 17 million units since April. In the same quarter, PS3 sales reached 1. 56 million units and Xbox 360 shipments hit 1. million units. (Figures from www. itfacts. biz) A copyright gives the owner of the product exclusive rights to sell and reproduce it, Nintendo has copyrights over software, game visual display, game music, game characters etc. Two of the main issues associated with Nintendo’s products are ; Electrical goods and Safe for use of children. Nintendo also have their own company stand ards. (Ref D)Nintendo products tend to have long-lasting value, as many consumers hang on to them long after having upgraded to new consoles or hand held units, accessories or software. For used, working Nintendo products, there are a variety of online options to sell these products to interested fans. Specifically Nintendo has approached the female market by introducing applications for the Nintendo DS where users can follow recipes and watch videos while doing so. It has been said that up to 80% of the Nintendo Wii users are female. The Nintendo Wii is the only games console to date where physical activity has been introduced. In many people’s opinions the Wii fit games have arrived at right time within a health conscious society. Nintendo is taking up the largest market share of all the competitors within the global video game market, this recent influx is largely due to the success of the Nintendo Wii. A patent is a grant of the exclusive right in an invention for a period of time. Nintendo owns many software, hardware and design patents. (Reference A) ‘More than three million copies of Brain Age have been sold in Japan since 2004, and more than two-thirds of the buyers were older than 25. The U. S. version will cost $20 at Best Buy and other retailers. SEAN ONEILL’ Apr 2006. (Reference B) Nintendo, whose gadgets and software dominate the portable-videogame market, faces the greatest risk from the emergence of Apples iPhone and iPod Touch as gaming platforms. But Mr. Iwata says attempts to create a rivalry between the two companies make him uncomfortable, because he says it isnt true. He argues the companies appeal to different consumers. Yet Apple has made clear that it intends to go after Nint endos turf’ (Daisuke Wakabayashi. Nov 11, 2009) (Reference C) This Official seal of quality shows the consumer that the product is authentic. Segmenting markets (Psychographic) Geographic segmentation is dividing the market depending on its location. Nintendo is a worldwide corporation so it needs to be able to acknowledge all areas of the developed world. The global marketing strategy of the Nintendo Wii, is concentrated mainly on Nintendo’s three key markets of Japan, United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (US). Demographic segmentation tells us specifically about the customer, they profile the customer into age, gender, race, income, occupation and social status. Nintendo have recently expanded their market targeting specifically women nd the over 25s. Geo-demographic can be defined by combining the above two segments. This particularly helps organisations to understand how and where their customers live. Behavioural segmentation takes into account the buyers relationship with the product. Factors such as benefits sought, usage rate, loyalty, attitudes and buyer readiness all come into behavioral segmentation. Multivariable segmentation refers to using a number of different variables and types of segmentation to develop a rich profile of a target group of customers. Nintendo undertake this process to access any underlying target market. Psychographic segmentation is also known as lifestyle segmentation. Psychographics go deeper than other variables and attempt to engage the customer on more of an emotional level. ‘The term lifestyle is used in its widest sense to cover not only demographic characteristics, but also attributes to life beliefs and aspirations’ (Brassington and Pettitt 2008, p. 205) With this in mind the marketer can make calculated assumptions about a lifestyle group’s buying habits or traits. In 2001 Mazzoli carried out extensive market research in France to identify and understand various lifestyle groups. After the research had been carried out he found that six lifestyle groups had emerged. (Brassington and Pettitt 2008 p. 203) Although the participants made up a small fraction of the French population, it was useful information because the groups clearly reflected a much larger number. It is also common for marketers to break this segment down into 4 bits; Activities, interests, opinions and demographics. It is important for Nintendo to be conscious of its target market’s activities because this is essentially what they are tapping into and emulating with their products. When the Wii was first released it was targeted at the younger gamer market (Males aged 12-25). The games that were introduced at this stage included Wii sports, bowling, golf, and the generic Nintendo games such as Mario cart. By releasing games such as these Nintendo put themselves at risk of closing off large sectors of potential markets. With many consumers the Wii was perceived as a â€Å"kiddie console†, this was not their aim. Nintendo has countered this by expanding their market to include older generations and females which they have done so successfully. So successfully in fact that the number of female users of the Wii now far surpasses males, (Note table A) Table A POLARIS MARKETING RESEARCH COMPANY2EUROPE INTERNATIONAL MARKETING RESEARCH COMPANY Customer satisfaction surveys. Polaris offers a service where they conduct a huge number of customer satisfaction surveys. This is done in a number of ways including telephone, internet, IVR, and mail. This would be very useful to Nintendo because it would provide them with valuable customer feedback. 2Europe provides a full range of qualitative marketing research services across Europe including, focus groups, face to face and telephone executive depth interviews. 2Europe provides focus group venues of research partners in each European country, Nintendo are a global company so relations within foreign countries is very important. This will help to familiarise them with markets of different cultures and also public opinion. Unlike Polaris, 2Europe can help the organisations with Business to Business interviews. This would be beneficial to Nintendo as deals need to be made with wholesalers and distributors on a worldwide scale. Brand research and planning, Polaris state ‘Brands exist in the marketplace and as such there are three separate sets of forces working on your brand and determining how it is perceived in the marketplace. First is your company and the actions you are taking in the marketplace, next is your competitors and the actions they are taking for their brands and against yours. Finally, economic and social trends impact your brand. ’ Polaris claim to make your brand robust within current and future markets. Nintendo is one of the most successful brands in the world and thus does not require any external brand management. 2Europe also provides a range of qualitative research capabilities. These include face to face street interceptors, mall tests, Online surveys and telephone interviews. Quantitative research is predominantly the most reliable type of market research as it puts the company and its customers in direct contact. The data collected will be put into manageable charts and tables so the company can understand the results. This type of research is often required when companies are trying out new products and because Nintendo is a continuously innovative organisation it would be essential for it to undertake some sort of quantitative research. Employee Surveys Measure Employee Satisfaction, Polaris will conduct employee satisfaction surveys that will measure the organizational communication of the company emphasizing the downward and upward communication in the organization. This could prove very valuable to Nintendo as they are a large organisation and ‘it is an organization’s employees who influence the behaviour and attitudes of customers, and it is customers who drive an organization’s profitability through the purchase and use of its products. ’ (Research from Northwestern University)As indicated within the title, 2Europe are an international research company who attract businesses hoping to understand and work within the European market. This can at times seem like an insurmountable task and the barriers that often occur are languages, culture, local economy and lack of communication. Europe have put together a four step programme to minimise the risks. ‘Appoint an experienced project manager, Establish a clear ‘Implementation Process’. Create a baseline for analysis. Minimise the variables’ (2Europe marketing research official website) Nintendo are aware of their three most successful and import ant markets; Japan, United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (US). In order to be more successful within central Europe It would be beneficial for Nintendo to incorporate a programme Similar to the one 2Europe offers. Customer Retention part of Customer Lifestyle Research, A customer lifecycle market research survey program could included surveying prospective customers, competitors customers, new customers, loyal customers and previous (lost) customers. Conducting these surveys could possibly make Nintendo aware of why they have lost customers to their competitors. This is important information because in order to stay ahead of your competitors Nintendo must understand what they are doing to entice customers from the same market,Similarly to Polaris, 2Europe recognise the importance of employee loyalty and satisfaction. Ways in which this can be measured is by asking employees for their feedback, Finding out how the employees rate key aspects of the organisation often provides the senior managers with valuable information on how to improve employee satisfaction. Nintendo currently have 3400 employees worldwide and to ignore their input would be counterproductive. With growing evidence to suggest employee satisfaction directly correlates with customer satisfaction it would seem wise for Nintendo to pay attention to this area of research. Anatomy of a product When looking at the anatomy of a product for Nintendo or any other organisation, it important to break the anatomy down into four key sections; core product, tangible product, augmented product and potential product. Nintendo’s current core product is the Wii console. The console on its own is obsolete and without such augmented products such as games and controllers the customers will be distinctly unsatisfied. However, when the console is used in conjunction with these products the core benefit of the product comes to life. As previously stated the Wii is an expensive luxury good and its main purpose is to provide the user(s) with endless interactive fun. The core product is a durable product meaning it will last for years and have multiple uses. Although the Wii is currently retailing at ? 169. 99 it is a relatively low risk product, this is because the customer will have used the product before purchase and Nintendo offers warranties and easily available repairs. With many customers the brand name Nintendo is linked with providing hardwearing quality goods, this is assumed by its millions of loyal customers worldwide. The tangible product is essentially the marketer turning the core product into a real product which embodies the core benefit. In the case of the Nintendo Wii the tangilble product includes product features, quality level and branding and packaging. The features the Wii boasts are Wii sports, a set of interactive games that emulate real sports including golf, boxing and tennis. Quality level can be related to the visual display of the console. The graphics of the gameplay, clear crisp pictures are more likely to encapsulate the user. The augmented product represents add-ons to the existing product. This is very important within the gamer market as successful augmented products can boost the sales of the core product. For example if a videogame is released exclusively on the Nintendo Wii and it brings in lots of revenue, customers who don’t own a Wii console will purchase one just to play this game. The Wii is often sold in packages including games and controllers. Customers are commonly subject to marketing ploys by Nintendo where they will have to buy various augmented products such as memory sticks and rumble packs. Customers are lead to believe these products will intensify the gaming experience. The three previous sections have described the product as it is now where as the potential product describes the product as where it could be in the future. If we look at the Wii when it was first released it was directly aimed at the younger gamer. After Nintendo’s successful market expansion it is now used by people of all generations and genders. This is a result of correct use of product potential when the product was in the early stages. Product mangement (Product life cycle) There are four key stages within the product life cycle and it is important to think of the product’s life within the market. These four stages are introduction, growth, maturity and decline. Introduction, when a product begins its life within a market, sales will be slow and profit will more often than not be negative. The speed in which sales and profit increase is a reflection of how well the product has been promoted and the levels of anticipation created. The marketer’s main aim within the introduction stage is to create wide spread awareness within the selected market it is essential that within the introduction phase the correct promotion is fulfilled because this could prove extremely damaging to sales and profit if the introduction stage is prolonged. Then Growth stage is where the sales begin to increase significantly, this could be because product awareness is spreading rapidly and reputation is building. This is also the stage where profits begin to rise quickly, in many cases this can be due to repeat purchases, but in the case of the Nintendo Wii it is likely to be due to reputation and widespread promotion and awareness. Competitors will often try to combat an organisations product during its growth by releasing a similar product at a cheaper price. This will threaten to flatten the growth curve unless something is done to retaliate. In order to maintain a growth curve the organisation may have to lower prices to compete. When the product reaches its maturity phase it has achieved the optimum sales and profit. This is essentially the stage where repeat and loyal customers have been established. There will be heavy price competition from competitors and the market is generally stable. There will be short run booms due to certain augmented products being released but the product will typically begin its decline hereafter. Once a product has reached its decline it is nearly impossible to stop it. This stage is where the sales and profit slow down rapidly and most people who liked the product have already purchased it. It is of the discretion of the marketer whether they want to milk the product, which means withdrawing support of investment or promotions and try to get as much profit out of it as possible, or regenerate some sales by increasing advertising etc. The Nintendo Wii is in the maturity stage of the product life cycle. The product has been on the market for over two years and after a recent successful regeneration due to releases of Wii fit and fifa 10, the Wii will sit in the maturity stage until subsiding to a decline. New product development ‘A market characterised by dynamically continuous innovation tends to involve new products with a significant degree of innovation’ (Brassington and Pettit 2008 p. 387) an example of a market that is dynamically innovative is the Men’s razor market. Companies such as Gillette, Mach and Braun are always competing for the next best razor. These are continuously innovative companies as roughly every 6 months they seem to release a razor that is different from the previous one. It is however important that these new products still resemble a generic razor. Companies can put themselves at risks of alienating themselves within a market if a product is too distinct or complicated. This type of innovation definitely applies to Nintendo because they are always competing with Playstation and Xbox within the gamer market, The Nintendo Wii has was the most innovative console to date and Nintendo’s competitors are working harder than ever to combat irs success. Discontinuous innovation is by far the hardest and most sought after market to be in. Usually linked with entrepreneurship, companies strive to come up with the next big thing. This type of market requires a whole new learning experience from the customer as they are dealing with something entirely new. Marketers have to make the customers aware of the product and try to explain it before purchase. This is extremely hard to achieve because if the product seems too complicated the company is at risk of losing a large customer base. References Beth Snyder Bulik. Advertising Age. (Midwest region edition). Chicago: May 8, 2006. Vol. 77, Iss. 9; pg. 24, 1 pgs SEAN ONEILL. Kiplingers Personal Finance. Washington: Apr 2006. Vol. 60, Iss. 4; pg. 26 Daisuke Wakabayashi. Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition). New York, N. Y. : Nov 11, 2009. pg. B. 5 www. itfacts. biz (27/11/09) BRASSINGTON,F. , S. PETTITT, 2008, Principles of marketing fourth edition, Harlow, Pearson education www. wiitalk. co. uk/forums/general-wii-discussion/14866-demographics. html (02/12/09) polarismr. com/brand-audit. htm (03/12/09) incentivecentral. org/pdf/employee_engagement_study. pdf (03/12/09)

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Blockbuster as the Defining Characteristic of Post-Classical Essay

The Blockbuster as the Defining Characteristic of Post-Classical Hollywood - Essay Example Bordwell (2006) explains that blockbuster is often used not to denote a genre of film per se but to describe the performance of a movie on the market. In simple terms, blockbuster is often associated with hit or good movies that generate a lot of revenue for filmmakers. One would then ask whether in the pre-blockbuster era there were no good movies. The answer is no. there were good and hit movies but after movies like Jaws started showing the possibility of amassing so many profits from the box office, the focus of filmmakers now shifted to finding the trick of making huge box offices in each and every movie they made and that started the blockbuster era. So in general terms, the writer agrees that blockbuster came to take off as the defining characteristic of post-classical Hollywood. However, the writer refuses to agree to the often negative connotation given to blockbuster as the defining characteristic of post-classical Hollywood. In the opinion of the writer, therefore, blockbu sters came as a good and positive phenomenon and continue to remain so. One of the first reasons why the writer disagrees with the argument that the blockbuster is a negative defining characteristic of post-classical Hollywood is that blockbuster actually came in to serve a dying situation. This is to say that the trend of the blockbuster was very important in saving the Hollywood film industry from absolute and total collapse. Clearly, bankruptcy was taking over the film industry and so there was every justification for a process that would salvage the situation. Two clear examples can be given in the cases of Heaven’s Gate, which was produced in 1980 by Michael Cimino and One from the Heart, which was produced in 1982 by Francis Ford Coppola. Heaven’s Gate actually made a loss of 40.5million USD after earning $3.5 million in box-office as against a $44 million production cost. One from the heart earned merely $636,000 out of $26 million. The said now that such giant players behind the film industry actually run into bankruptcy since those losses. Without any doubt, the industry would have been seriously affected if the pursuit for profit-making through the production of ‘hit’ films was not followed as what was earned in 1975 with the making of Jaws. On the grounds that blockbuster was necessary to rejuvenating the efforts of filmmakers to seek ways of producing films that were good enough to make them stay in the industry is thus a positive rather than a negative phenomenon of the blockbuster as the defining characteristic of post-classical Hollywood. It is even interesting to note that blockbusters do not necessarily have to be of good quality to make profits but there have been newer introductions such as technology backed publicity by the use of social and popular media to ensure that blockbusters sell. The second point that makes the writer take a stand against the idea that blockbuster is a negative defining characteristic of post-classical Hollywood is that not much has changed in terms of concept.  

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Micro-environmental Factors of a Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Micro-environmental Factors of a Company - Essay Example Infosys is a large and developing company in information technology and consulting services and is now considered as one of the foremost technology companies of the world. Its rapid growth, innovative approach and corporate governance practices have attracted worldwide attention. Infosys started its operations in India in 1981 in a small way when a few technocrats joined hands and set up the company. Its phenomenal growth occurred after the government of India adopted economic liberalization in 1991. Presently Infosys employs over 100,000 people, operates virtually in all the major economies of the world and has revenues in excess of US$ 4.66 Billion (Annual Report, 2008-09). It offers software services in product engineering, reengineering, consulting, application and maintenance, business process outsourcing as well as independent testing and verification services. It clients span many sectors of industry and its services to banking, insurance and financial industry are some of its core activities – all executed in a pioneering way called the global delivery model (GDM), which according to their website, â€Å"†¦is based on the principle of taking work to the location where the best talent is available, where it makes the best economic sense, w ith the least amount of acceptable risk† (Infosys, 2009). This innovative approach gave birth to the concepts of off-shoring and outsourcing. Other major global and Indian software companies like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, TCS, and WIPRO are the main competitors for Infosys in India and abroad.

Monday, November 18, 2019

EARLY MOTIVATIONAL THEORIES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

EARLY MOTIVATIONAL THEORIES - Essay Example However, the theory that comes closest in understanding the motivation in human being in every sense is Abraham Maslow’s theory of ‘Hierarchy of Needs’. Unlike the ‘reward-punishment’ and ‘fair-unfair’ approach of motivation theories like ‘reinforcement theory’ by B.F. Skinner and ‘equity theory’ by John Adams respectively, the theory of ‘hierarchy of needs’ takes a ‘humanistic approach’ towards the motivation factor in human beings. It considers human beings as ‘humans’ and not ‘machines’ or ‘trainable’ beings who can be made to behave in certain way by giving them certain rewards in return. ‘Hierarchy of needs’ is the most developed and ‘human’ theory of motivation because it not only values the physical and psychological needs of human being, but also values the spiritual needs of human beings and hence, demonstrate that every human being has a spiritual dimension hidden in him which can be attained when his basic needs are fulfilled. The idea of ‘whole’ being Abraham Maslow was a revolutionary psychologist. He was instrumental in bringing a totally different kind of thinking, known as ‘the third force’, in the field of psychology. Maslow believed that religious aspects of human beings, like morality and spirituality, are as much a part of human nature as science is (Goble 32). He believed that if one is to truly understand the nature of human being, then one should study not only the ‘scientific’ aspects of his nature but also the spiritual and moral aspects (Goble 32). This belief led Abraham Maslow to develop the theory of motivation called as the ‘hierarchy of needs’. Maslow’s theory of human motivation is based on an understanding that human being is an integrated and organized ‘whole’ being and hence, when he is motivated to do something, then his ‘whole’ being gets involved in fulfilling the motivated act and not just a part of him (Goble 50). Hence, the desires and the needs that motivate human beings are related to each other and do not function independently from each other. The more complex the need and desire is, the higher are the chances of interrelation with other needs and desires (Goble 50). Hence, human beings cannot be motivated to perform by rewarding (ends) their individual needs (means) (Goble 50). An individual cannot be motivated to act unless all his interrelated needs are fulfilled. Hence, Maslow based his theory of motivation on the basis of the understanding that human being gets highly motivated only when he realizes that the needs of his ‘whole’ being are getting fulfilled. Hierarchy of needs Maslow has classified human needs into following five categories: 1. Physiological Needs According to Maslow, the physiological needs of food, liquid, shelter, sex, sleep and oxygen are the most powerful needs of human being as his physical survival depends on these needs (Goble 50). Once these needs are sufficiently satisfied, then the next category of needs emerge in the nature of the human beings. 2. The Safety Needs The safety needs of human beings are fulfilled when they experience security, consistency, fairness and routine at home and at school/work (Goble 54). When a person is denied of safety needs, he becomes neurotic and his need for order and control becomes a matter of life and death (Goble 54). This leads him to develop compulsive and neurotic attitude towards safety needs. When the safety needs are unfulfilled, then people get

Friday, November 15, 2019

Book Summary On Presentation Of Self

Book Summary On Presentation Of Self Introduction The presentation of oneself is based on the observation of an individual through comparing the life of him and the other people. Because of that inspiration of determining the revolutions that are found in the society, the roles and relationships that are found can affect the value of an individual and the idea on how he can describe himself from other people. Due to the intensive curiosity of an individual in life and his environment, there are studies that stress out the possible explanation on how to describe the changes in the earnest way. Various sociological models and approaches were presented to show the connection of the man in his environment. The interaction of the people in the social life is presented by the Erving Goffman in his dramaturgical model that attempts to see the society in a lighter sense. The Key Ideas Erving Goffman prepared the key ideas behind the discussion on the values wherein the ideas in theorizing the social roles and relations that are present in the contemporary society. According to the book of Goffman, the individual performs a certain role, which varies according to their audience. Those individuals as actors have an intention in manipulating the role that they play for the purpose of managing others impressions of them. Usually, this occurs through the interaction of the individuals in their everyday life. Since the society presents the interactions that usually matters with the human social relations or group of life, there is a natural involvement of disciplines that goes right with the study of sociology including the economics, political science, and psychology because they all fall within the topic of human society. Goffman, presented the theory that suggests that individuals engage in a significant amount of expressive manipulation along several fronts. Goffman likened his ideas to a theatre because individuals are, in essence, dramatic actors on a stage playing parts dictated by culture and this is the goal of such a presentation is acceptance from the audience through manipulation. If the actor succeeds, then they will be viewed as they desired by the audience. Goffman argues that the key to this success is to control which information the audience has access to (Goffman, 1959). Unlike the sociological theories wherein the individuals are linked with the disciplines early states, Goffmans dramaturgical model outlines the existence of the humans perspective on the stages where as an actor he usually plays. Giddens (2009) suggests that front regions are situations where individuals act out formal roles, essentially when they are on-stage. Performances in front regions often require teamwork in order to be successful. Impression management also occurs in the front regions as the actor is trying to give the audience certain impressions of himself. Goffman suggests that when an individual appears before others, he will have many motives for trying to control the situation. In contrast, back regions (of the stage) are where individuals or performance teams prepare themselves for their roles. Goffman implies that it is where teams discuss and rehearse their performance before they enter the front stage. Props can also be used to aid an actor in their performance an d they are assembled in the back region. These props assist an actor in convincing the audience that their performance is true. For example, a waitress in a restaurant would use a notepad and paper to take an order, to help convince her audience (customers) that her performance is true. Goffman indicated that the two regions are connected by a guarded passageway. This stops public performances being shattered by an inadvertent look from an audience member. If an individuals performance is weak, the audience will see through it. The phenomenon of embarrassment is where the actor acts ineffectually or is unable to sustain their expected role. This leads to them being excluded from full participation in society, which demonstrates the importance of maintaining the appearance of being a competent social actor. The dramaturgical models value in theorizing social roles and relations in contemporary society is open to discussion. Goffmans ideas are praised for having had a profound influen ce on sociology as a discipline. On his book, it clearly states that Goffman uses the dramaturgical metaphor as his contribution in the field of sociology. He acknowledges the most stimulating and thought-provoking contributions to sociology which made the sociologists today refer to his work, especially for examples on how to carry out micro sociological work. Goffmans dramaturgical model can also be seen as valuable within contemporary society as the concepts he developed have become part of the very fabric of sociology (Giddens, 2009). For example, phrases such as front stage, back stage and performance have all become an important part of sociologys vocabulary. Moreover, Goffman identifies the way in which humans use culture in interaction. This allows for a certain level of understanding in how our culture shapes our social interactions with others. This all provides evidence for the argument that Goffmans work, especially his dramaturgical model, is valuable in contemporary society when trying to theories social roles and relations. However, it can be argued that Goffman does not give enough recognition to the role those power plays in shaping our social relations. If his dramaturgical model ignores this potentially crucial factor, can it be considered valuable? Additionally, his choice of methodology has also attracted criticism. How ever, there are doubts over its validity as a research method. It can be argued that using a metaphor means any resulting analysis cannot be disproved and may therefore have little scientific use and also the metaphors are criticizes only partial descriptions of social behaviour. Consequently, Goffmans use of a metaphor to outline his dramaturgical model may result in the validity of his entire theory being questioned, and therefore its overall value to contemporary society. Goffmans suggestion that his dramaturgical model revolves around the interaction rituals of everyday life has also been questioned. But in the continuous increase in the formality of modern interpersonal relationships there is a decline in class in contemporary society raise doubts about the degree to which such rituals are essential to everyday life. This again suggests that Goffmans dramaturgical model is of no value to theorizing social roles and relations in contemporary society. This argument is also reinforced by the fact that his model is only relevant to western societies which have developed a division between the public and the private realms of life. Essentially, Goffman universalizes from a perspective of a white, middle-class male in 1950s America, where there are apparent front and back stages. Giddens (2009) argues that this division is not as apparent or does not exist at all in other societies and therefore Goffmans dramaturgical model is irrelevant. In conclusion, Goffmans dramaturgical model has both its criticisms, and its values. It can be seen that there are legitimate concerns regarding its validity and significance within certain cultures. However, it is valuable in some respects as it can be applied to contemporary western societies when theorizing social roles and relations. This helps to give us a greater understanding of why people act they way to do in different situations. In addition, Goffmans overall contribution to sociology is unquestionable and it is fair to say that his dramaturgical model has a strong role to play in that (http://socyberty.com/sociology/erving-goffmans-dramaturgical-model/). Discussion The work of Goffman manifests the deep appreciation in the individual work within the society. His contribution in the sociology has a great effect in the modern sociological studies. For example, economics is linked to the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services; political science to political philosophy and to actual forms of government; and psychology to individual human mental processes. Sociology, however, is involved with almost the whole human life beyond the biological level which fully asserted by Goffman in his study. Virtually, all human activities have a social aspect in that people engage in them together rather than alone and mutually influence one another. Sociology is best viewed with the contribution of Goffman as not as a distinct subject area but as a particular perspective on human conduct. The same may be said of psychology, but the psychologist focuses on the individual whereas the sociologists are concerned with the pattern of social rel ations formed by two or more persons. Social interactions, or the mutual responses of individuals, are perhaps the basic sociological concept, because such interaction is the elementary component of all relationships and groups that made human society. As a discipline, or a body of systematized knowledge of sociology, Goffman used this as an inspiration in presenting one-self and which can be the very foundation of a society. The aspect of his studies was long identified primarily with the broad evolutionary reconstructions of historical changes in Western Societies, as well as the endeavour to explore the relationships and interdependencies among their more specialized institutions and aspect of social life, such as economy, the state, the family, and religion. Sociology, in Goffmans study, can be thought more about synthesizing the field that attempted to integrate the findings acquired from other social sciences. Although such concepts concerning the scope and task of sociology are still prevalent, they now tend to be regarded as the province of sociological theory, which is only a part of the entire discipline. Sociological theory, in a lighter sense as based on the works of Goofman, includes the discussion and analysis of basic concepts that are common to all different spheres of social life that had been part of studying sociology. An emphasis on empirical investigations that is, the gathering of data carried out by standardized and often statistical research methods, directed the attention of sociologists away from the total but abstract visions towards the limited and concrete areas of social reality. These areas where Goffman focused on came to constitute the recognized subfields and specialties of sociology that are today part of the college courses, textbooks, and specialized journals. Much of the scholarly and scientific works of Goffman, it falls clearly within one another of the many subfields into which the discipline is divided and can be performed by an individual. In addition to the basic concepts, research sociological theory and research methods are both usually required s ubjects for all who study sociology. The oldest subfields in the disciplines are those that concentrate on the social phenomena in which Goffman in practically asserting and that have not previously been adopted as objects of study by other social science disciplines. These include marriage and the family, social inequality, and social stratification, ethnic and race relations, deviant behavior, urban communities, and complex or formal organization. Subfields of more recent origin examine the social aspects like on sex and gender roles. Because nearly all human activities involved in social relation, another major source of specialization within sociology is the study of the social structure of recognized areas of human activity which is bound to be in the concept of interaction. These areas of teaching and research include the sociology of politics even in simple conversations law, religion, education, and many others. The subfields differ widely in the extent to which they have accumulated a substantial body of rese arch and attracted the large numbers of practitioners. Some, such as the sociology of sports, are of recent origin, whereas others rooted deeply in the earliest form of sociology. Certain subfields had achieved brief popularity, only to be later incorporated into a more comprehensive area. A more common sociological phenomenon is the splitting of a recognized subfield into narrower subdivisions; the sociology of knowledge, for an instance, has increasingly been divided into individual sociologies of science, art, literature, popular culture, and language. In the shade of interdisciplinary fields, the oldest and most important would be the social psychology in which Goffman justified through explaining the things around and at present through the simple interaction. Actually, it has often been considered virtually a separate discipline, drawing practitioners from both sociology and psychology. As sociologists, they are primarily concerned with the social norms, roles, institutions, and the structure of groups, while social psychologists concentrate on the impact of these various areas on individual personality. Social psychologists trained in sociology have pioneered in the studies in interaction in small informal groups; such as the distribution of the beliefs and attitudes in a population; and the shaping of personality through the experience of socialization, or the formulation of character and outlook under the influence of the family, the school, the peer group, and other socializing agencies. The psychoanalytic ideas derived from the work of Sigmund Freud and other later psychoanalysts have been particularly important in this last area of psychology. This might be also played a significant part in the study of Goffman in presenting one-self. As for the comparative historical sociology there is an often strongly influenced by the ideas of both Marx and Weber but has shown much growth in the recent years. Many historians have been guided by concepts borrowed from sociology; at the same time some sociologists had carried out large-scale historical comparative studies. The once firm barriers between history and sociology have crumbled especially in such areas as social history, demographic change, economic and political development, and the sociology of revolutions and protest movements. Research Methods Sociologists use nearly all the methods of acquiring information employed in the other social sciences and the humanities, from advanced mathematical statistics to the interpretation of the texts. They also rely heavily on primary statistical information that is usually regularly collected by the governments such as census, records of employment, immigration, the frequency of crime, and other useful statistics that can be used as variable and for quantitative measurement. It seems like the method established by Goffman is criticized by some of his contemporaries because it appeared that the process of his information gathering is plainly through observation and interpreting things. The direct observation or reporting is the firsthand in some aspect of study within the society. The society, in fact, has a long history in sociological research. Sociologists have sometimes obtained information through what has been called participant observation- that is, by temporarily becoming or by pretending to become members of the group being studied. Sociologists also obtain firsthand information by relying on knowledgeable informants from the group. Both methods have also been used by social anthropologists. Several of the classical studies of American sociology, in fact, were patterned on anthropological accounts of illiterate peoples, in that they attempted to present the complete pictures of life that represents their study. In recent years, the detailed firsthand observation has been applied to smaller-scaled settlings, such as hospital wards, religious, and political meetings, bars and casinos, and classrooms. The work of the Canadian-born sociologists Erving Goffman (1922-82) has actually proven both models and a theoretical rationale for such studies. Goffmans influence has been only one of the numbers of theoretical currents insisting that everyday life as directly experienced is the bedrock of social reality, underlying all statistical and conceptual abstractions. This emphasis has encouraged intensive microsociological investigations using instruments as tape recorders and video cameras in natural rather than artificially contrived experimental social situations (Giddens, 2009). Furthermore, sociologists use surveys for scholarly or scientific purposes in nearly all subfields of the discipline, although surveys had been most often employed in the study of voting behavior, racial and ethnic prejudice, responses to mass communications, and other areas in which the probing of subjective attitudes is clearly appropriate. Although surveys are an important sociological research tool, their suitability for many types of investigation has been widely criticized. Direct observation of social behavior cannot be replaced by verbal answers to an interviewers standard list of questions even if such answers lend themselves easily to statistical tabulation and manipulation. Observation enables sociologists to obtain in-depth information about certain group in which Goffmans method is good as an example. Emerging Trends Since the 1960s sociology has ceased to be primarily an American subject. In sociological theory, in particular, a partial reversal of the previous direction of influence has occurred, with theoretical currents once again and the sociologists expanded enormously in both Europe and US. In addition to theoretical diversification, new subfields came into being, such as the sociology of gender (spurred by the resurgence of feminist movements), which includes the analysis of gender-based social roles and inequalities, and the study of emotions, aging, and the life course. Older subfields such as historical and comparative sociology were revitalized, as was the broaden movement towards theoretical practice, which encompasses applied sociology, policy analysis, and various sociological interventions. Sociological practitioners apply their knowledge through roles as consultants, planners, educators, researchers, and managers in federal, state, and local government, in nonprofit organizations , and in business especially in the field of marketing, advertising, insurance, human resources, and organizational analysis. Sociologists made greater use both of traditional research methods associated with other disciplines, such as the analysis of the historical resource materials, and one of more sophisticated statistical and mathematical techniques adapted to study of social phenomena. Development of increasingly complex computers and other devices in handling and storing information has facilitated the processing of sociological data. Because of the wide diversity in research methods and approaches, sociologists working in a particular subfield often have more in common with workers in a complementary discipline than with sociologists specializing in other subfields. A sociologist of art, for example, stands much closer in interests and methods to an art historian or critic than to a sociologist who constructs mathematical models of occupational mobility. In theory, methods, and the subject matter, no single school of thought or topic dominates sociology today (Mujtaba, Griffin, Oskal, 2004). In Practical Association Actually, Goffman focuses on how the men are interacting with the society and his environment which mainly involves the changes in the objectives. In today, the development in the society came to the point where in the discussion leads to human security there is an emerging role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the development of multidimensional peace-building activities. In the changing international environment in which local, regional, and global level actors and norms have accrued enhanced legitimacy, a new generation of multi-dimensional peace-building activities has developed aiding in the development of ethical norms, utilizing peacekeeping, traditional mediation, conflict resolution or transformation, increasingly through transnational organizations and NGOs (Mercer, 2002). The re-emergence of ethonationalist and identity based conflicts, and to respond to urgent humanitarian crises. It is in this context that the peace-building role of NGOs in conflict and complex emergencies may be usefully located and assessed as part of a socio-political fabric engaged in sustainable approaches to ending conflict. Conflict resolution/transformation and peace-building approaches to understanding conflict and methodologies for addressing it are being utilized by NGOs. This is in conjunction with more formally constituted methods and actors, in order to stabilize local environments in a local, regional and global normative context, as well as in the context of an emerging global civil society. This may enhance the legitimacy of NGOs (and their regulation) and may also increase the effectiveness of peace-building in the international system (Bratton, 1994). Part of NGOs approach in peace-building is with the perspective on conflict, and the methodology which is derived from it for solving conflict, is thought to remove the critical difficulties inherent in first generation peacemaking where the common argument is made that involvement is crippled by the intensity of the dispute, the resources or lack of that the third party has access to, and the type of issues at stake for the disputants. The application of the international system dictates those third parties or the NGOs to view their role as one of conflict management as opposed to resolution in order to bring about compromise through bilateral and trilateral negotiations. In response to the peace-building approaches, it has been argued that settlements need to be based upon just political orders which promote democracy and human rights, new norms, participatory governance structures, civil society, international tribunals, and truth commissions. Disarming, repatriating refugees, bui lding a consensus for peace under the auspices of the UN, and moderate local political leadership play a role in this method (Mercer, 2002). This is based on conflict resolution perspectives of conflict, and requires deep access into local environments, something that requires grassroots processes rather than top down approaches. NGOs can often provide this because of their unofficial and human security oriented focus. As actors of peace-building process, NGOs should focus on the injustices relating to human needs/security, humanitarian intervention, and human rights and the inflexible perceptions that states have held with respect to territorial sovereignty. NGOs have often been a low profile response to the exploitation of power by political entrepreneurs in domestic environments, and to intractable conflicts, economic inequality, and humanitarian abuses. The relationship of the NGOs in the society creates an emergence in the solving the needs and act in a much broader range of se curity issues, which makes the role of the NGOs complex. Providing a serious action on the impediment is a great start in the peace-building processes (Richmond, 2001). The global changes continuously draw its impact in different parts of the world and reflected in the e-society. It also affects the simple business transactions up to the simple livelihood of the citizens. The issue of globalization got the attention of the researchers and proved itself as a great substitute from the traditional. In addition, the society embraced those changes and crafted a revolution that aims for its benefits. The e-society is the term applied in the use of the consumers on Internet, web, and information technology in which it can change the society for the better living. The purpose of this interaction depends on the application of an individual which is mostly according to their needs (Reiter, 2008). However, the people can still recognize that the changes require many non-technical barriers that is indeed, needed to be addressed. The non-technical barriers oftentimes limit the ability or capability of the technology. The e-society is divided in many sectors namely e-commerce which can be applied to the businesses (Mujtaba, Griffin, and Oskal, 2004); e-government that recognizes the activities involved in the governmental sector (Heeks, 2001); e-learning or the innovative approach on education to achieve the quality education; e-health that was made to improve the health status of the society (Kaveny and Keenan, 1995); e-science that sometimes collaborated to the e-health and is bound fo r the continuous scientific research activities (Binik, Mah, and Kiesler, 1999; Reiter, 2008) and; e-entertainment that is for the leisure of the individuals (Husselbee, 1994). All of the components of the e-society are purposely made for the benefit of the society. But as the old saying says no one is created perfect the e-society also receives drawbacks and other limitations because of the issues. One example is the e-commerce, the business leaders recognized the benefits such as changing the facilities, production process, or service offered. The business leaders also aim for serving the customers even from a far. But with the aid of the technology, this is highly positive. In fact, through the interaction of the business in the technology, the marketing and/or advertising can be easy. There are only problems that limit the businessmen in doing so. The problems are on the business models that can be apply for the organizational change; the security of the applied internal system , privacy of the people and even the consumers, and the trust and; the legal barriers to international sales (Mujtaba, Griffin, and Oskal, 2004). Conclusion Sociologists, like historians, also make extensive use of secondhand source materials. These generally include life histories, personal documents, and clinical records. Although the popular stereotypes have sometimes pictured sociologists as people who by pass qualitative observation of human experiences by reducing them to statistical, or quantitative, summaries, these never had been accurate. Goffmans works impressively left a great contribution in sociology and explaining the interaction of individuals as much as giving the light emphasize on how an individual represents in the crowd. Therefore, his part in sociological field of work is utilized to use as basis in developing the society in a most attractive way.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

ARLT: Chinese Imagination Essay -- essays research papers

Repay your love and friendship Chinese literature, for example, ancient poetry, lyrics, and traditional Chinese stories, reveals many different kinds of good personalities of people. According to a famous ancient Chinese philosopher, Confucius ( ¿Ãƒâ€"Ãâ€"Ó), men are born to be kind (ÈËÃâ€" ®Ã‚ ³Ãƒ µÃ‚ ©o à Ãƒâ€Ã‚ ±Ã‚ ¾Ãƒâ€°Ãƒâ€ ). Everyone has his or her own good qualities and sometimes they are just hidden and needed to be explored and discovered. In traditional China, people had a strong sense of repayment (ˆÃ ³Ã‚ ´Ãƒ °). People who do not have this ability to repay others who have helped them before are usually being looked down on. The sense of repayment is perhaps a product of a good friendship or love. And the boundary of love here in this case, is not only about the love between couples but all different kinds of love also, for instance, the love between family members. Therefore, repayment is in fact tied in with the theme of filial piety. People ¡Ã‚ ¯s devotion to and their respect for their parents or elders are actually a form of repayment. In the story,  ¡Ã‚ °The Courtesan Li Wa, ¡Ã‚ ± Li Wa is surely very respectful to her  ¡Ã‚ °mother ¡Ã‚ ± though she is not her real mother who gives birth to Li Wa. While Li Wa and the young man are taking a rest at Li Wa ¡Ã‚ ¯s aunt ¡Ã‚ ®s place, she gets a message that her mother is ill, suffering very badly and cannot even recognize the people in the house. Li Wa, without a doubt, decides to go back immediately to see her mother without even considering the young man. Though I have to say that I personally doubt that this is in fact a proper and an appropriate way to handle this situation, Li Wa has certainly shown her respect and devotion to her so-called  ¡Ã‚ °mother ¡Ã‚ ±. A while later in the story, the young man fails to find Li Wa and her aunt. He has been roaming about and at some point close to death due to illness. He ends up being employed by the mortuaries to sing. On one occasion, the young man ¡Ã‚ ¯s father happens to be there and an old servant recognizes the young man. His father takes him out of there, stripped him, flogs him with a horse whip several hundred times and leaves him for dead. The young man does not end up in death because the youth ¡Ã‚ ¯s music instructor sends someone to keep and eye on him. At this point of the story, the young man ¡Ã‚ ¯s relationship with his father has already broken and the young man ¡Ã‚ ¯s father even thinks that his son is beaten to death by himse... ... Kuo goes to visit them. Here at this point in the story, Kuo repays Wu for all he has done to rescue himself back in the days when Kuo is captured by the barbarians. He carries Wu ¡Ã‚ ¯s and his wife ¡Ã‚ ¯s bones back to their native place along with their son Wu T ¡Ã‚ ¯ien-yu and on the road he once says,  ¡Ã‚ °Yung-ku (Wu Pao-an ¡Ã‚ ¯s style name) labored for ten years for my sake. Carrying his bones for a little while is the least gesture I can make to show my gratitude. ¡Ã‚ ± After they arrive, Kuo shows his respect for Wu as if Wu is his father and does what a son would do when his father dies and  ¡Ã‚ °every detail of the burial arrangements is the same as when he has buried his father. ¡Ã‚ ± Kuo treats his benefactor as if he is his father. Here it reveals that a true friendship tie in with filial piety. Kuo also offers Wu T ¡Ã‚ ¯ien-yu his own post as a further repayment to his  ¡Ã‚ °father ¡Ã‚ ±. The story  ¡Ã‚ °Wu Pao-an Ransoms His Friend ¡Ã‚ ± discloses the connection between friendship, repayment, and filial piety. Between people with high quality of humanity, there is a genuine friendship which acts as a bond. And this bond leads to repayment when there are favors to be repaid. A form of repayment is being filial.