Thursday, October 31, 2019
Why is the discovery of the Royal Tomb of Tutankhamen important to Essay
Why is the discovery of the Royal Tomb of Tutankhamen important to Archaeologists - Essay Example He was the first to discover materials that led to the tombââ¬â¢s discovery. The first clue he had was from a royal funeral object referred to as cache that were fro Tell el Amarna. They were brought to Thebes in order to escape destruction. These materials were hidden in a safe tomb that was done by King Tutankhamun himself. This cache is believed to have been stored by tomb robbers who expected to come back for the treasure sometime later. Furniture that was used by Tutankhamun was also found among these treasures (Malek, 2010). Another clue that Davis found helpful was found in 1907 inside a small pit. It provided significant information that contained impressions of Tutankhamun and other materials such as natron, broken pottery and linen bags. Davis took the initiative of taking these items to New York for further examination (Magi & Tenti, 2006). There was also a discovery by Theodore that comprised of a faience cup bearing the name of King Tut. Beside this cup, there were fragments of gold foil with Tutankhamun and his wife inlaid upon it. After a period, an Egyptologist by the name Howard Carter found these items to be interesting for more studies about the Tutankhamun tomb. He believed that these items were enough proof that King Tutankhamunââ¬â¢s tomb was inside the Valley of the Kings. More than five thousand objects were discovered in the tomb that revealed a lot on the ancient life of Egyptians. There were weapons, chariots, clothes, treasured lock and musical instruments. In addition, there wa s the golden burial mask that belonged to Tutankhamun. Carter died after just seven years since his excavation ended in 1939 before he had summarized on his findings. He had no partners who could have continued his work (Malek, 2010). The Tutankhamun tomb lies in an area that where royal burials did not take place in the Valley center hence it was buried beneath the Valley of the Kings surface quickly at Luxor, which was regarded
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Detrimental effects to real women by women portrayed on TV Research Paper
Detrimental effects to real women by women portrayed on TV - Research Paper Example These women are to serve as an example of how a female should look and behave; they radiate magnetism that can generate all imaginable and unimaginable feelings and thoughts. Nevertheless, the arguments behind this suggestion are not unmistakable. It is essential to understand the line between the TV world and the real life, between natural and virtual. It is not infrequent that many women feel themselves imperfect and unworthy in comparison to their TV counterparts (Doane, 1991). A woman who regularly judges herself against the females from TV usually becomes not very self-assured. The images created and shown on TV decrease womenââ¬â¢s self-esteem as they do reflect the ideas of feminism women have been struggling for for many years. And it is a well- known fact, that self-respect guarantees proper attitude of other people and consequently, self-assurance, approval, and finally, the impression a women makes. TV shows talk about and show women different from those we meet in the real life. Surely, it would be more beneficial for female population to look for other samples for assessment (Hyde, 2005). Men and women have very different self-appraisal and the attitudes towards each other are formed through years. These attitudes and stereotypes are formed inside of our souls by what we see and hear around. As we watch TV every day, many of our stereotypes are formed with the help of it. Women were struggling for their rights and self-respect for ages however, sometimes there is an impression that these efforts are not taken into account. Almost every ad contains something offensive for the representatives of fair sex, because what they see on TV canââ¬â¢t even be compared with what they see in everyday life (Juhasz, 2001). Modern famous serials like Sex and the City make women think about their lives. Here we can see four women, free and successful who does not need any marriage or children and just have fun enjoying life. Such life is not natural for
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Factors Explaining Group Behaviour Education Essay
Factors Explaining Group Behaviour Education Essay Introduction: This essay identifies and discusses the reasons motivated me and my work sponsor to come here to study a master degree at Bangor. In this context, explained how I selected Bangor university, explain the ways of choices, background about Bangor university. The benefits I obtain when I finished my degree and my future plan after finished my master degree. Secondly defined term of leaning, explained learning approaches and the learning process, also how differ form one another. Brief description of learning theories such as behaviorism and Classical conditioning, however the definition of styles and his conditions. also discusses the group work which defined types of group formal and informal group and the classification of it , the reasons of how do people joint groups ,the stages of group structures which are forming ,storming , morning, performing and adjourning. Factors explaining group behavior includes internal and external factors, group structure, group process, group tasks and decision making group. In the last topic explained how to attempt to address the issues that related when people anticipate in group work ,the important issue that will be happen is multiracial group which discusses what the leader should be use the RAP framework which stand of recognize, anticipate and problem-solve. What has motivated you to study a master degree at Bangor? Motivation can be defined as a decision making process in which the person put some desired goals and then adopts specific behaviors to gain these goals. Also to satisfy their needs in life and happy with it. According to (Huczinski Buchanan 1991) motivation defined as a process of decision making do by individuals and through it select desired findings and derived the appropriate behaviours to achieve it. Huczinski Buchanan 1991) page 230. First of all I attend here to study at Bangor university to obtain several benefits, the purposes that motive me to came here representing in a lot of reason .firstly I am a banker working in bank in my country, the manager have a proposal to send some of the staff to do a master outside of my country, he has a lot of alternatives of universities abroad. He nominates many countries for example Malaysia, India and UK. He submit their proposal to the Board of Directors to a proof it, but the Board of Directors reply that is the better choice is to sent the employees to United kingdom , the universities in UK provide high standard of qualifications. They also offer more motivation to go ahead in your qualifications. And it offers more support to international students than any other country. The diversity of the UK cities which let you to meet many people from different areas that is chance to know new cultures and tradition from international student they influences me by different cha racteristics, beliefs, values and attitudes via sharing in accommodation, in classes, social activities and doing assignment in group this also have much advantages by sharing idea form multinational students. After Board of Directors agreed of the UK universities the manger transfer his proposal to the Training Department. The staff of it they ask question, how select candidates? After along meeting they decided to make course in mini-MBA and then choice best twenty and after it they sit to IELTS test. Fortunately I passed the test and I get opportunity to study a master degree at UK at Bangor University. Secondly how choice Bangor? The answer was meeting together the candidates, Training Department and H$H consultant. They did comprehensive research, gathering lots of information and began to make alternatives, some surfing internet and other make intensive communication and at the end the selection tend to Bangor University. Why? Because it have high ranking in the areas of banking and business research among the UKs universities, best educational system. They think Bangor has famous professors and lecturers especially in business collage, Bangor city is one of the most beautiful places in the UK,. On the other hand it very quiet suitable for studies. It has friendly people and lovely, cheaper stores, private rent available around the university, has many libraries and full equipped. My future plan is to improve a career in banking and finance in an internationally oriented bank. My objective is to work as a manager for one of the top investment banks in my country, or as a banking Advisor for any world banks. To gain this, I want to complete my academic knowledge and to take the Master Degree in Islamic banking and finance in Bangor University which provides me best background education to secure my future job. à Having this knowledge will allow me to better background in banking working. With changes in the world, in political, economic, and technological fields, I think that after world crisis all professional Islamic investment say Islamic finance the best ways which ably it in bank that particularly appear in by the lasted crisis in the US that any banks work in Islamic finance do not affected by it . à I am however open-minded and prepared to meet all challenges faced to me. I am trust that a Master Degree in Islamic banking and finance will brig me a c hance to build a successful career and become a good professional, contributing value to my future banks. (my own opinion before inter Bangor university ) What is your approach to learning? Leaning is now recognized is a shift in behavior as outcome of experience or practice, knowledge acquisition and obtain through study like skill in some thing example books, TV, newspapers, radio and internet . Also the people process of building understanding focus on experience from different sources, also inferred form change in behavior and performance, shift in memory, and outcomes experience. (Tessie J, Rodriguez, D. M.) Page 144. The learning granted or gift from god who somebody are cleverer than other they have fast understanding and remembering things. The learning is not exclusive to an education system. Learning starts before long time before apparent of large number of school or institutions. It spread rapidly after school came, there are a lot of different approaches of learning not only enter educational system which discusses and explained by many interested researcher. The learning process and learning approach is differ from one person to another the idea of that notion learn as individual learners have specific approach to learns so as individuals have different preferred approach for example some individual take information through specific ways and other find it impossible by this medium because it quite difficult to take it. This lead us to the types of which learners take information such as visual or auditory learners. There a lot of theories of approach learning like behaviourism explained o n the observation and mental activities also which humans and animals similar can be learned to do specific things. Classical conditioning this theory focus on acquisition, extinction, generalisation and discrimination. Learning style is recognised as a specific method in which an individual learns, learning mode which the best manner to understand and take information, gain skills and knowledge , strategies or habit like regular reading in deliberate educational that an individual displays. Cognitive style is also recognised in a set of different approaches, as a certain approach to problem-solving, focus on ability to think and understand things, especially complicated ideas. A typical or noticeable quality of someone or something of cognitive processing which are strange to a specific people. Regular or strategies, mental behaviours, randomly applied by an individual to problem solving. The expression preferences of learning has been used to relate the situations , environmental , encompassing, emotional, sociological and physical situation, that people learner would select to adopt comfortable position. Learning styles are not permanent a particular characteristic which people will often fallow it. Individuals getting knowledgeà are able to do many different styles of learning in a lot of causes. might be use more than style according to Honey and Mumford (1986) (suggest that we in need of skillful to adopt one of four different styles in so as finished any given learning job in more satisfactorily) According to Honey-Mumford Model there are four type styles, activists which individual prefer action learning rather than reading or listening . Reflectors which individuals collect more information before making decision. Theorists, which to see the relationship between observations. And pragmatists which are keen to search and find new idea and use it. ). (ALAN PREICHARD 2009 p1-44). About my self the best approach to learn my self is practice learning, for example in my studies I prefer empirical study that base on home work , show in the lap also via a lot of media like TV or games . What issues do you anticipate in the group work? Any number of individual which perceive themselves to form a group and interact with each other to achieve specific goals. According to David Buchanan and Andrzey Huczynski say (group is tow or more people in face-to-face interaction, each aware of their membership in the group, each aware of the others who belong to the group, and each aware of their positive interdependence as they strive to achieve their goals) page 286. The group includes two types of groups, formal groups and informal groups. Formal groups are formal created to achieve specific task in the organization. In formal groups, the behaviors are serving the needs of the organisation to perform specific tasks. For example the staff of business school collages an example of formal group. Informal groups are not created formally, unplanned by the organization are basis on common interest. The groups divides into, task and command groups are related to formal groups, whereas friendship and interest groups are naturally created. Group command this group is forms by the power of the leader in the organization. Task Group, this refers to individuals who work combine to execute a job task. The important issues face or encounter any body joint in work group represent in why do people joint in groups , stages of group development ,the factors inside organization and out side organization affect the group behaviour which explain why are many group performances successful and others unsuccessful?, group structure and group process ,and finally the group decision making. About my self I work in a bank and my experience six years. I jointed in many group work during working all points I mentioned above I think is important issues face any individual group members which any body anticipated occur or happen during groups work , most authors and researchers talking and discussed this issues . Why Do People Join Groups? People join in group for many reason personalities and organizational. The personality includes, security to joined in group individuals will decrease risk of appearing responsibility alone, because they afraid from threats. Status, by joining a group, members can have recognition and status. Self-esteem, in order of more confidence. Affiliation, they become more close relationship to achieve best result. People can enjoy the continuous interaction with each others. Power, There is more power in great numbers. On the other hand for organizational reason includes flatter structures, perform tasks, improve productivity and quality and more motivation in order to provide support reward sense of belonging. Stages of Group Development: Group development in common passes via five stages. According (Tuckman 1965, Tuckman Jensen 1977).Forming, this phase is featured by the group responsibilities and roles, also group purpose, goals and external relationships. Storming, this phase is featured focused in the main objective and avoid conflict. There is conflict between the leader and members group. Norming, this phase is characterized by complete relationship and best cohesiveness and the decisions making sharing among whole group. Performing, In this phase the group known what is doing and why, put the strategic into action and apply it as it planning, focus on over -achieving objectives. Adjourning, In this phase, the task has been finished or achieved the group members can go to an other new job, and be ready themselves to go their on ways. (David Buchanan and Andrzey Huczynski, page 305) Factors Explaining Group Behavior Why are many group performances successful and others unsuccessful? The solution includes many internal and external variables which influence the ability of the group member, the group size, the conflict level, the consideration of group norms, homogenous represent on routine and standard task, the level of cohesiveness. Members education such as experience and training, job design ,motivation of employees and attitudes, also diversity training , gender, and academic major, personality orientation. The individual factor must be followed first because are effect on the outcomes of group. Also the are many external factors which affect the group performance , so every work groups are influenced by conditions come from outside like overall strategy of the organisation, government regulations , structures authority, official regulations, resources or the input represent by skills, knowledge and abilities and personality , process selected by the employees, system of reward and evaluatio n the performance , the culture of the organization physical work setting, the traits of groups affect the performances of group which influence outcomes of whole group members . Group Structure and group process The group structure act as the main issues face the groups when work to gather because of the behavior of members are unclear and possible to do predict inside the group as well as the outcomes that you planed. There are many different factors which affect the group behavior. They include the leader of group like unit manager, employee charge or responsible for workers, project manager or committee president. The roles of any member, norms are necessary because they help and support group and let it go on and survival, help to predict behavior, reduce the clash between the group individuals and give individual to express the main values or attitudes of the group, status group is important to classification of group among the other, size of group which make Social loafing is that some people of the group tend to do less effort than other when they work to gather in the group, the group composition is an important factor for predicting groups behavior. Heterogeneous groups tend to perf orm better than homogeneous groups over the long run. The level of group cohesiveness is group individual attracted help others in order to motivated whole group and to stay together to achieve tasks. Group Processes is important such as ways of communications each group individual support each other to provide information and exchange information between other so as to solve problems, decision process, chair group behavior and conflict reaction. During social loafing obtains opposite outcomes of using individuals, the positive results when the out pot greater than input. (David Buchanan and Andrzey Huczynski page 318-335) Group Decision Making Decision-making in groups or an organization is the important task made by group members in order to choose the best alternatives that doing by group member which represent the outcomes, may in all departments of the organization be able to be used. At this point, when a decision maker chooses a particular action, he does so with full background of the power and diversity of alternative opinions. He does so, however, using his own notions of the severity of the reactions and disappointments of the individuals whose own prefer- ences for some action has been shunted aside, if not ignored. This problem of how to combine the action preferences of individuals with differing values (utility functions) has been studied intensely in recent years. A basic question concerns the degree to which a group of individuals with differing utility functions can agree upon a single, group utility function. Under certain axiomatic assumptions, Arrow (1963) has shown that such agreement is impossible. Un der other assumptions, however, agreement is possible. If, for example, there is a single decision maker who wants to take every group members preferences into account, but who will make the ultimate decision himself (this is the context we are assuming throughout), then no contradictions of this type arise. (Kirkwood 1972). During my work, I work in country have a big diversity, the population composed form different tribes and have different tune speaking and values, attitudes and ethnics so as difficult to work in group and to forming group work until arrived to decision making (outcome) . . 4-How will you attempt to address these? Whereas people joint group come from different races to interact together to doing a work or job I think some problem or causes should be occurred in all the stages of group which I explained above, from forming a group to finish the job and making decision for specific goals. So as the manger or the group leader should be aware of this important issues might be happen and failures group continues. The important issue may be happen the race because it is much apparent when group members joint for different multiracial in the group that must be forming this is called multiracial group. To mange or control multiracial group according to Davis Galinsky and schopler (1995) (urge that the leader use the RAP (recognize, anticipate and problem-solve) framework which stand of recognize, anticipate and problem-solve. Recognizing crucial ethnic , cultural and racial differences in any group work requires the manger to be both self-aware and aware of racial dynamics of the group. A manger of mu ltiracial group needs to be aware of personal values and stereotypes. Recognize racial ethic and cultural differences among the members of group. Respect the norm, cultures and customs of the population represented in the group, familiar with resources in the community that responsive to the needs of racial component of the group, be aware of various forms of institutional discrimination in the community and their impact on various populations of groups, and racial tension in the community also. Anticipating how individual members will be affected racial issues prepares the leader to respond preventively and inter-preventively when racial issues arise. The leader should anticipate potential sources of racial tension in the group when members formulate their group goals and when the leader structure group work. To anticipate tensions and help members deal effectively with them the leader should be seek to include more than one member of any given race, develop a leadership style that is culturally appropriate to the groups specific racial configuration, treat all members in respect and equality ,seek to empower members to obtain their rights particularly if they are been victimized by institutional discrimination or other forms of racism in the community , encourage development of norms in mutual respect and appreciation of diversity. The last element is solve-problem which the leader should be use solve-problem approach by the evaluation and generating alternatives, use conflict resolution approach include role reversal, empathy, inquiry, use intervention and goal that are culturally acceptable and appropriate for all members of the group and provide some rules in problem solving and conflict .( Charles Zastrow, Karen K. Kirst-Ashman 2010-2007, P359-360.) Conclusion To conclude, this essay has explained factors which motivated me to study master degree at Bangor university, focus on the reputation of it academics ,staffs, and area, also my future plan after complete my study at it. The definition of learning, approach of learning and styles of learning any my styles learning during my live. However the most important issues anticipate occur or happen in a group work as general and my experience work such as, why do people joint in groups, stages of group development, the factors inside organization and out side organization affect the group behaviour which explain why are many group performances successful and others unsuccessful?, group structure and group process, and finally the group decision making. Although how will you attempted to address this issues I mentioned above which I focus on multiracial group I think it is important issues face in my work experience which must be mange or control by RAP framework which stand of recognize, antic ipate and problem-solve, which the leader should be do in recognize, anticipate and problem-solve.
Friday, October 25, 2019
Queen Nefertiti as a Significant Historical Figure in the Coloring Book :: History Queen Nefertiti Essays
Queen Nefertiti as a Significant Historical Figure in the Coloring Book The influence and admiration of Ancient Egypt's Queen Nefertiti in the modern world is quite apparent, particularly in children's literature. "A Coloring Book of Queen Nefertiti" is a prime example. This 18-page coloring book includes black-outline illustrations of various aspects of ancient Egyptian history pertaining to Queen Nefertiti. Also incorporated are brief anecdotes pertaining to the pictures, written in simple language appropriate for ten to 13 year olds, though this was probably not the intended target age bracket. The language is probably too complex for younger children, (ironic as the prime age for coloring book use is three to eight years old); however these passages can easily be read to them by a parent, teacher, or older sibling, and hold great educational value for the child and adult alike. Placed prominently on the glossy front cover is an image of Nefertiti's famous bust portrait from a well-known Berlin museum. The Nefertiti bust portrait, from Ancient Egypt's 18th Dynasty, was created sometime between 1348 and 1336 B.C. and now resides in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Agyptisches Museum. (Stokstad, 120) It was found in the studio of its believed sculptor, Tuthmose, at the then-capital city, Akhetaten. Because bust portraits during this time were a rarity, scholars believe that Tuthmose may have created the bust simply as a model for future sculptures and paintings of Nefertiti. Though it is generally known from ancient depictions of sculptors at work that statues were sometimes created in parts and then assembled, it is believed that this bust was never intended to be part of a full-bodied statue. (Stokstad, 120) The illustration of the Nefertiti bust on the cover of the coloring book and the actual bust itself are physically similar in many ways, but they also differ significantly. The basic depiction is the same; Nefertiti faces towards the viewer's right side, has the same general facial and dress features, and features the same proportions. The physical similarities end there, however. The actual bust measures twenty inches (51 cm) in height, while the coloring book's depiction is a mere 9.5 inches (24 cm). The true bust, of course, gives us more definition in facial features because of its use of three-dimensional representation. For example, Nefertiti's cheekbone is prominent on the bust, but is completely absent on the coloring book cover. The two representations also differ drastically in color.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Childhood Nostalgia Essay
Childhood memories never fade easily, and I long for the life I had as a child, as many others do. Nostalgia will always be a part of me, as my childhood was simply unforgettable and wonderful. When I was a child, I lived with my grandparents for a while, as my parents are both busy with work in their company. I still have a clear visual memory about my grandparentsââ¬â¢ traditional Chinese house. The old wooden gate with black rings on both sides displays the typical Asian atmosphere. When I open the gate, I immediately smell the smoke of burning wood used to heat the house. The split firewood is stacked on the side wall of the house, enough for several winters. The front yard is covered in green fresh grass which turns into yellow dry grass as winter approaches. Some stones are imbedded in the grass like a bridge to the house from the gate. It was truly a view few other places can compete, and itââ¬â¢s a break from the concrete urban jungle I was used to in the cities. A medium-sized pomegranate tree is planted in the corner of the yard, and its sweet sour fruits are picked and eaten. These fruits are some of the most delicious Iââ¬â¢d ever had, and I still long for them every single day. As a child, I was always amazed how the tree bore the red delicious fruit every year. It was then I realized how food always tastes better when you grow them yourself. Finally, there is a titanic rectangular building that seems simple in shape but complex in other aspects. The black tiled roof, in my opinion, is the most appealing strength of the house as those hundreds of tiles are engraved with delicate patterns, making the tiles bumpy and coarse. Under the roof, there is a tiny nest of swallows which symbolize peace and happiness in China. The morning at my grandparentsââ¬â¢ house is welcomed everyday with the harmonic songs that the birds provide. These fine details of the house always linger in my head, persuading me to visit my grandparents, as these memories are simply timeless.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Narratives of Adolescence Explored Through the Harry Potter
Ergo, when had decided to examine the movies, two movies in particular came to mind ââ¬â Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Cabana (2004) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One (2010). My Hypothesis is that as the movies progress, or rather, as Harry Potter (the main character) grows up, his surrounding social relationships mature him as well. They shape his personality and consequently, shape the turn of events yet to come. And I would like to explore how they Influence him and why.The movie relates to the topic of the course, as it focuses on narratives of adolescence in European cinema. It takes place In a far off dimension in the United Kingdom, contains a unique combination of basic teen everyday dilemmas, social relationship matters, mental maturity conversion, and various turning points heehawed by a super natural kick. I plan to explore different influences within Harry life ââ¬â his parents and parent-like role models, his friends, romantic relationships an d rival enemies ââ¬â to see how those relationships attributed to his maturing.Consequently, the point of focusing on society will result In a comparison of his decisions, which were much associated with protecting his kind and ensuring peace to the generations after him. The matter of taking responsibility for not only oneself, but also others, is very much relevant to the pressure many teens are feeling across the globe today. As the course focuses on gaining content and source for the corning of age subject through films, discussion and analysis of the Harry Potter movies will aim at gaining a general understanding of trauma and its depiction.Therefore, distinguishing between the personal and the social levels will emphasize these findings. In order to fully comprehend the concluding outcome of Harry Potter's development, the basic plot shall be briefed: Harry Potter was born to a wizard and a witch, Lilly (a mugged ââ¬â has no wizardly blood) and James (pure-blood) Potte r, during the First Hazarding war. HIS parents were members of the order of the Phoenix ââ¬â an organization led by Albums Tumbledown, purposed to defeat the dark lord, Voltmeter, and his enforcers, the Death Eaters.Voltmeter, hearing the prophecy of Hardy's future causing his defeat, murders Lilly and James with the killing spell. However, his attempt to kill baby Harry fails, as Lilly's love and protection causes the spell to bounce off Harry, leaving him with a lightening-shaped scar on his forehead. The scar 1 OFF Now orphaned Harry is adopted by his aunt and uncle (muscles), who mistreat him and neglect his needs. By locking Harry in his small, dusty under-staircase room and polling their only child right in front of his eyes, Harry develops a dealing mechanism of settled life.He is not aware of his rich wizardly history, or of his magical potential. When Haggard, a half-giant wizard gamekeeper from Hogwash's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry appeared with the school's lett er of acceptance addressed to Harry, an immensely influential turning point had taken over Hardy's life. No longer was he feeling out of place or unneeded ââ¬â he had finally felt he had belonged somewhere. These feelings encouraged Hardy's sense of purpose in life, especially as he quickly bonded with two other students at Hogwash's ââ¬â HeroineGranger and Ron Wesley. As fate would have it, Harry and his two new friends were all sorted into the same house ââ¬â Gratifying. The individual who has not befriended Harry, and mocked the name preceding him was Dorado Malady, and he was sent into the Slithering house. Many relationships have influenced Harry Potter and shaped his unique characteristic individuality. This enabled a reoccurring plot twist of the constellation of his personal relations (family, intergenerational relations, peer groups- friendly allies and notorious enemies, etc. . With time, Harry is exposed to various situations here he is put under a magnifying glass for his choice of actions, although always well intended. It is almost as if he is pressured into maturing all too fast, as from the point of attending Hogwash's Harry deals with constant life threats on his own. Help from his friends and some handpicked school staff is provided, and although much is being done in order to make Harry feel safe and home, it is quite clear that much is being put at stake on the young adolescent's shivering shoulders.In the first movie to be discussed ââ¬â the Prisoner of Cabana ââ¬â Harry is in his early adolescence stage, as he is thirteen years-old. His cinematic narrative and inherent conflicts represent a less romantic and more individual growth, as it has mostly to do with family descendents reaching out to him and unveiling the truth behind his parents and their cause of death. However, in the second movie I wish to refer to ââ¬â the Deathly Hallows, Part One ââ¬â Harry is eighteen years-old, meaning he is in his late adole scence stage, Just approaching the emerging adulthood stage.This movie puts the spotlight on the threesome's friendship (Harry, Ron and Heroine), as they set out on a mission to find and destroy all of the Hercules, as they are the key to Voltmeter's immortality. Adult presence is not felt particularly within this movie, as there is no guidance or protection from their professors, families or others. The threesome rely on each other, however, this turns out to be a difficult task, as the Dark Forces use black magic and mind games to make the three turn on each other.Overall, the learning process the film offers is a distinguished moral outline of adolescents' development, demonstrated by social relations and interactions. The protagonist ââ¬â Harry Potter ââ¬â faces many obstacles in the righteous path of discovering and tears. His character evolves from a clueless, naive and stray form, to a mature, responsible, identity confident state. In this essay I plan on using a vari ety of research materials ââ¬â the official Harry Potter books and movies, websites, fan pages and open-floor forums.The reason I have decided to use many forms of median resources is because not only am I interested in my interpretation of the character development, but I would also like to review other opinions. Shall my hypothesis be refuted, conclusive evidence must be provided as to what has influenced Harry Potter to fulfill his prophecy ââ¬â become the error and savior of an entire magical kingdom. Part II: 1. Exposition (central conflict of narration). Which are the antagonistic elements of the film? 2. Intensification of the conflict (Show scenes and explain them) 3.Show development of main characters. What do they learn? How is it expressed in their action? Which fields of adolescence are addressed? 4. Turning points of story (Periphery) 5. Resolution of the conflict? Message of the story (cognitive level) 6. Which feelings/ emotions are conveyed by the film? What was the strongest emotional impression for you? How did it relate to the plot or to certain aesthetically elements of it like music, pictures. Can you describe it as an experience? / (Flabbergasting II) 7.Assessment: How could the filmed be used for educational purposes? What can be learned or experienced? Make a short statement. Work (education, profession, socio-economical situation) Cultural Belief System (Ideology, political and historical Identity) Part Ill: Scientific articles Find at least one scientific article which relates to your subject. It is favorable to use also an article that provides insights to the film, director, genre etc. Give the main arguments of the texts and try to draw a line to the message / (Flabbergasting) of the movie.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
42 Must-Read Feminist Female Authors
42 Must-Read Feminist Female Authors What is a feminist writer? The definition has changed over time, and in different generations, it can mean different things. For the purposes of this list, a feminist writer is one whose works of fiction, autobiography, poetry, or drama highlighted the plight of women or societal inequalities that women struggled against. Although this list highlights female writers, its worth noting that gender isnt a prerequisite for being considered feminist. Here are some notable female writers whose works have a decidedly feminist viewpoint. Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966) Russian poet recognized both for her accomplished verse techniques and for her complex yet principled opposition to the injustices, repressions, and persecutions that took place in the early Soviet Union. She wrote her best-known work, the lyric poem Requiem, in secret over a five-year period between 1935 and 1940, describing the suffering of Russians under Stalinist rule. Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) Feminist and transcendentalist with strong family ties to Massachusetts, Louisa May Alcott is best known for her 1868 novel about four sisters, Little Women, based on an idealized version of her own family. Isabel Allende (born 1942) Chilean-American writer known for writing about female protagonists in a literary style known as magical realism. Shes best known for novels The House of the Spirits (1982) and Eva Luna (1987). Maya Angelou (1928-2014) African-American author, playwright, poet, dancer, actress, and singer, who wrote 36 books, and acted in plays and musicals. Angelous most famous work is the autobiographical I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969). In it, Angelou spares no detail of her chaotic childhood. Margaret Atwood (born 1939) Canadian writer whose early childhood was spent living in the wilderness of Ontario. Atwoods most well-known work is The Handmaids Tale (1985). It tells the story of a near-future dystopia in which the main character and narrator, a woman called Offred, is kept as a concubine (handmaid) for reproductive purposes. Jane Austen (1775-1817) Jane Austen was an English novelist whose name did not appear on her popular works until after her death. She led a relatively sheltered life, yet wrote some of the best-loved stories of relationships and marriage in Western literature. Her novels include Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1812), Mansfield Park (1814), Emmaà (1815), Persuasion (1819) and Northanger Abbey (1819). Charlotte Brontà « (1816-1855) Charlotte Brontà «s 1847 novel Jane Eyre is one of the most-read and most-analyzed works of English literature. The sister of Anne and Emily Bronte, Charlotte was the last survivor of six siblings, the children of a parson and his wife, who died in childbirth. Its believed that Charlotte heavily edited Annes and Emilys work after their deaths. Emily Brontà « (1818-1848) Charlottes sister wrote arguably one of the most prominent and critically-acclaimed novels in Western literature, Wuthering Heights. Very little is known about when Emily Brontà « wrote this Gothic work, believed to be her only novel, or how long it took her to write. Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) First African American writer to win the Pulitzer Prize, she earned the award in 1950 for her book of poetry Annie Allen. Brooks earlier work, a collection of poems called, A Street in Bronzeville (1945), was praised as an unflinching portrait of life in Chicagos inner city. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) One of the most popular British poets of the Victorian era, Browning is best known for her Sonnets from the Portuguese, a collection of love poems she wrote secretly during her courtship with fellow poet Robert Browning. Fanny Burney (1752-1840) English novelist, diarist, and playwright who wrote satirical novels about English aristocracy. Her novels include Evelina, published anonymously in 1778, and The Wanderer (1814). Willa Cather (1873-1947) Cather was an American writer known for her novels about life on the Great Plains. Her works include O Pioneers! (1913), The Song of the Lark (1915), and My Antonia (1918). She won the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours (1922), a novel set in World War I. Kate Chopin (1850-1904) Author of short stories and novels, which included The Awakening and other short stories such as A Pair of Silk Stockings, and The Story of an Hour, Chopin explored feminist themes in most of her work. Christine de Pizan (c.1364-c.1429) Author of The Book of the City of Ladies, de Pizan was a medieval writer whose work shed light on the lives of medieval women. Sandra Cisneros (born 1954) Mexican-American writer is best known for her novel The House on Mango Street (1984) and her short story collection Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories (1991). Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) Recognized among the most influential of American poets, Emily Dickinson lived most of her life as a recluse in Amherst, Massachusetts. Many of her poems, which had strange capitalization and dashes, can be interpreted to be about death. Among her most well-known poems are Because I Could Not Stop for Death, and A Narrow Fellow in the Grass. George Eliot (1819-1880) Born Mary Ann Evans, Eliot wrote about social outsiders within political systems in small towns. Her novels included The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), and Middlemarch (1872). Louise Erdrich (born 1954) A writer of Ojibwe heritage whose works focus on Native Americans. Her 2009 novel The Plague of Doves was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Marilyn French (1929-2009) American writer whose work highlighted gender inequalities. He best-known work was her 1977 novel The Womens Room. Margaret Fuller (1810-1850) Part of the New England Transcendentalist movement, Margaret Fuller was a confidant of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and a feminist when womens rights were not robust. Shes known for her work as a journalist at the New York Tribune, and her essay Woman in the Nineteenth Century. Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) A feminist scholar whose best-known work is her semi-autobiographical short story The Yellow Wallpaper, about a woman suffering from mental illness after being confined to a small room by her husband. Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965) Lorraine Hansberryà is an author and playwright whose best-known work is the 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun. It was the first Broadway play by an African-American woman to be produced on Broadway. Lillian Hellman (1905-1984) Playwright best known for the 1933 play The Childrens Hour, which was banned in several places for its depiction of a lesbian romance. Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) Writer whose best-known work is the controversial 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909) New England novelist and poet, known for her style of writing, referred to as American literary regionalism, or local color. Her best-known work is the 1896 short story collection The Country of the Pointed Firs. Margery Kempe (c.1373-c.1440) A medieval writer known for dictating the first autobiography written in English (she could not write). She was said to have religious visions which informed her work. Maxine Hong Kingston (born 1940) Asian-American writer whose work focuses on Chinese immigrants in the U.S. Her best-known work is her 1976 memoir The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts. Doris Lessing (1919-2013) Her 1962 novel The Golden Notebook is considered a leading feminist work. Lessing won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2007. Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950) Poet and feminist who received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923 for The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver. Millay made no attempts to hide her bisexuality, and themes exploring sexuality can be found throughout her writing. Toni Morrison (born 1931) The first African-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, in 1993, Toni Morrisons best-known work is her 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Beloved, about a freed slave haunted by her daughters ghost. Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938) Prolific novelist and short-story writer whose work deals with themes of oppression, racism, sexism, and violence against women. Her works include Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? (1966), Because it is Bitter, and Because it is My Heart (1990) and We Were the Mulvaneys (1996). Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) Poet and novelist whose best-known work was her autobiography The Bell Jar (1963). Sylvia Plath, who suffered from depression, also is known for her 1963 suicide. In 1982, she became the first poet to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize posthumously, for her Collected Poems. Adrienne Rich (1929-2012) Adrienne Richà was an award-winning poet, longtime American feminist, and prominent lesbian. She wrote more than a dozen volumes of poetry and several non-fiction books. Rich won the National Book Award in 1974 for Diving Into the Wreck, but refused to accept the award individually, instead sharing it with fellow nominees Audre Lorde and Alice Walker. Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) English poet known for her mystical religious poems, and the feminist allegory in her best-known narrative ballad, Goblin Market. George Sand (1804-1876) French novelist and memoirist whose real name was Armandine Aurore Lucille Dupin Dudevant. Her works include La Mare au Diable (1846), and La Petite Fadette (1849). Sappho (c.610 B.C.-c.570 B.C.) Most well-known of the ancient Greek women poets associated with the island of Lesbos. Sappho wrote odes to the goddesses and lyric poetry, whose style gave name to Sapphic meter. Mary Shelley (1797-1851) Mary Wollstonecraft Shelleyà was a novelist best known for Frankenstein, (1818); married to the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley; daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) Suffragist who fought for womens voting rights, known for her 1892 speech Solitude of Self, her autobiography Eighty Years and More andà The Womans Bible. Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) Gertrude Steins Saturday salons in Paris drew artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Her best-known works are Three Lives (1909) and The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (1933). Toklas and Stein were longtime partners. Amy Tan (born 1952) Her best-known work is the 1989 novel The Joy Luck Club, about the lives of Chinese-American women and their families. Alice Walker (born 1944) Alice Walkers best-known work is the 1982 novel The Color Purple, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Shes also famous for her rehabilitation of the work of Zora Neale Hurston. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) One of the most prominent literary figures of the early 20th century, with novels like Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse (1927). Virginia Woolfs best-known work is her 1929 essay A Room of Ones Own.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Why Introverts are Vital to the Health Care Team
Why Introverts are Vital to the Health Care Team If youââ¬â¢ve spent any time in the industry, you know that the typical state of any health care facility is controlled chaos: patients stream in and out in need of attention, while doctors, nurses, assistants, and techs all work together to keep the machine running. If you thrive on solitude, can you make it in this profession? There has been a lot of talk lately about the role of introverts in society (people who feel more comfortable focusing inward on thoughts and feelings rather than outward on interactions with others). Popular opinion used to be that you were doomed if you werenââ¬â¢t commanding and outwardly confident.à But people are starting to realize that introspection is a very valuable professional skillââ¬âespecially in medicine, when dealing with the important topic of patientsââ¬â¢ health.Starting in undergraduate school, and then through professional studies, introverts learn to rely on themselves to weather the most challenging storms. Building up a quiet confidence comes in extremely handy when life-or-death challenges are thrown your way in the working world.You also have a skill set the more social of your peers struggle with: the ability to tap into the more emotional and sensitive side of patients.à In fact, if you identify as an introvert you likely will not only surviveââ¬âyou will thrive in patient relations, one of the toughest parts of the job.Embrace your ability to be quiet and thoughtful. Then, learn to work with extroverted colleagues to create a medical team that can handle all sides of patientsââ¬â¢ needs.à Your introversion is not a liability, itââ¬â¢s a bonus!Can Introverts Survive in Medicine?
Saturday, October 19, 2019
An Exploration of the US Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
An Exploration of the US Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Was the United States Justified in Using the Atomic Bomb? On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city, Hiroshima. To this day, this has been a controversial military strategy. Those who believe that the U.S. was justified in using the atomic bomb argue that more lives were saved, and that the Japaneseââ¬â¢s vigor and willingness to fight to the death forced the U.S. to extreme measures. On the other hand, those who thought using the atomic bomb was unjustified argue that the atomic bomb violated the principles of war, that it did not end World War II (WWII) sooner and it was not the ideal choice to use for WWII. Looking at proponents of the United Statesââ¬â¢ usage of the atomic bomb such as Hugh A. Halliday and Richard Frank, military historians, and Michael Kort, a professor of Social Science at Boston University, as well as opponents including policy analyst, John Siebert, Martin J Sherwin, a professor at George Mason University, and Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, a professor emeritus of History at th e University of California we intend to evaluate and summarize both sides of the discussion as to whether the United States was justified to drop the atomic bomb. Proponents of employing the atomic bomb argue that had the atomic bomb not been dropped and the original ground invasion was implemented more lives from either side would have been lost. Japanââ¬â¢s unwillingness to surrender forced the United States to the point that they did not know what it would take to end the war. To discuss these points, we will look at the arguments from Hugh A. Halliday, a military historian who served in the RCAFââ¬â¢s Air Historian, Canadian Forces Directorate of History, and Canadian War Museum, Michael Kort, a professor of Social Science at Boston University, and Richard B. Frank a military historian who served almost four years in the United States Army. Japan had an ingrained conviction that the purpose of life was to die for the Emperor which was seen in not only her militants but also in her civilians with civilian causalities ranging from 42,000 to 150,000 dead from suicide or battle. Ground invasion of Japanese home islands was an option that the U.S. government considered. However, estimates from General Douglas MacArthur, in favor of ground invasion, curbed the numbers to roughly 130,000 casualties; however, this did not include the 300,000 Allied prisoners of war (PoWs) nor the enemy civilian casualties. In addition to the ground invasion and bombardment, the U.S. planned to utilize a blockade that was projected to cause famine, ensuing thousands of civilian deaths. Though roughly 200,000 people were killed thru the atomic bomb, it was still the morally preferred choice compared to the estimated deaths via an invasion. However, Michael Kort argues that it was never about deciding to use the atomic bomb versus implementing a ground invasion, but rather what it would take to have Japan surrender. The United States had been bombing Japan for three years prior to the Potsdam Declaration. She had already suffered an estimated 806,000 casualties in Okinawa and Tokyo. And yet when the U.S. had the Potsdam Declaration that gave Japan a chance to surrender, she not only chose to ignore it but also sought negotiations with the Soviet Union, to the extent of bargaining alliance benefits. Thus, the United States hoped that the sheer destructive power of the atomic bomb could persuade Japan to surrender and thus put an end to WWII. Advocates against utilizing the atomic bomb contend that it was a violation of the principles of war as well as the Geneva Protocol, which banned the usage of chemical weapons in war. Furthermore, in response to the belief that the atomic bomb lead to the shortening of WWII, the reason that Japan surrender was because of the USSR declaring war against her as well as invading Japanese-occupied land. In addition, had the United States adjusted the Potsdam Declaration, Japan would have been more inclined to agree to its terms. In order to analyze these arguments, we will discuss the points of John Siebert, a policy analyst who served in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Human Rights and Aboriginal Justice with the United Church of Canada as well as a consultant to government and non-governmental organizations, Martin J. Sherwin, a Pulitzer winner and professor of History at George Mason University, and Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, a professor emeritus of History at the University of Californi a. Arguably there are principles of war that are commonly agreed upon such as not directly targeting non-military establishments and non-militants. However, the United States knowingly targeted civilian cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And had Henry L. Stimson, former U.S. Secretary of War, not opposed the Target Committee, they would have chosen Kyoto, the center of Japanââ¬â¢s civilization for over a thousand years. Moreover, after the practice of mustard gas as well as other chemical weapons in World War I, the Geneva Protocol was created and signed by members of the League of Nations, banning the use of chemical weapons in war. But though the United States was aware of the radiation poisoning that would occur from the atomic bomb, it was still deployed. By exploiting the atomic bomb, the U.S. indicated that nuclear arms were valid weapons of war. Aside from the moral discretions of implementing the atomic bomb, the argument that the atomic bomb led to the end of WWII sooner is invalid. Because the USSR declared war against Japan and invaded Japanese-controlled land, Japan could not ensure success in fighting both fronts and thus surrendered. Ward Wilson, Senior Fellow and Director of the Re-thinking Nuclear Weapons, remarked that Japanese leaders said it was the atomic bomb that led to their surrender as it was less embarrassing to lose against a miracle weapon. Not only that but Japanââ¬â¢s military officials argued that they could convince the USSR to negotiate for better surrender terms than the unconditional surrender in the Potsdam Declaration. However, with the declaration of war, they no longer had a case to continue the war. Along with this, had the United States adjusted their Potsdam Declaration to indicate that the Emperor would not be held liable for the war under the unconditional surrender then perhaps Japan would have agreed. This is because her term for surrender was to preserve their imperial system and Japan was already known to hold her Emperor to a high-degree. Though Secretary of War Stimson did recommend this adjustment; unfortunately, Secretary of State, James Byrnes, vetoed it. Though the amendment was attempted yet vetoed, the U.S. could have invited the USSR to sign the Potsdam Declaration in doing so would show Japan that she could not rely on the USSR to aid her. Supporters of using the atomic bomb argue that the bomb saved more lives than the planned ground invasion and because of Japanââ¬â¢s disinclination to surrender the war despite heavily unfavorable odds provoked the U.S. to undergo drastic measures. Japanese peopleââ¬â¢s disposition to perish for their Emperor was unsettling and led to a high civilian casualty even prior to considerations of dropping the atomic bomb. This temperament to die rather than to be a prisoner is one of the teachings in bushido, a samurai heritage and code of ethics. The Japanese were taught from a young age bushido and to worship the Emperor, a descendent from the Sun Goddess. Because of this contempt of being PoWs, many times the Japanese would fight until they were killed or committed suicide. American soldiers would witness the horror of Japanese mothers holding their children and choosing to jump to their deaths rather than to be taken as prisoners. The U.S. estimated that a ground invasion would not only lead to losses on the Allied powers but also to a high casualty rate due to the extreme devotion the Japanese had to their Emperor. The Joint Chiefs of Staff assessed that the United States would experience 1.2 million casualties for the entire ground invasion operation, while personnel in the Navy Department estimated 1.7-4 million casualties (Trueman). These estimates were significantly larger than the roughly 200,000 people killed by the atomic bomb. Not known at the time, it was later found that the Japanese Army had trained a civilian militia of around 28 million men and women to defend the home islands should a ground invasion occur (Giangreco). A year after the dropping of the atomic bomb, Karl T. Compton, a member of Trumanââ¬â¢s Interim Committee ââ¬â ââ¬Å"a committee to advise the president about matters pertaining to the use of nuclear energy and weaponsâ⬠(Harry S Truman National Historic Site) ââ¬â interviewed a Japanese Army officer asking him if they could have repelled Operation Downfall to which the officer responded ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ I do not think we could have stopped you.â⬠When asked what the Japanese would have done, the officer responded ââ¬Å"We would have kept on fighting until all Japanese were killed, but we would not have been defeated,â⬠in which defeat meant the disgrace of surrendering (Compton). Not only that but the Japanese imperial system was corrupted by the influence of military officials who strongly desired to continue fighting despite the extremely detrimental predicament the country was in. Despite suffering 806,000 casualties in Okinawa and Tokyo, when the U.S. issued her Potsdam Declaration, Japan chose to try and invoke the aid of the USSR, who had a delicate relationship with the United States. And after the atomic bomb dropping on Hiroshima and given a three-day grace period to respond, significant Japanese military officials thought it unlikely that the U.S. would have another bomb. Even when Nagasaki was bombed, military officials refused to accept surrendering though the Emperor now suggested to accept the U.S. terms. It was not till days of continuous bombing after the atomic bombs usage that the Emperor firmly declared that Japan would indeed surrender the war. Thus, though there may have been implications of the Japanese surrendering, it was unlikely that they would have surrendered given the militaryââ¬â¢s obstinacy. That said those against the United States exploitation of the atomic bomb dispute that the United States not only violated the Geneva Protocol and principles of war but also legitimized the usage of the atomic bomb in wars to come. Though the United States targeted civilian cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, these cities were chosen because they centered around military production (ââ¬Å"Hiroshima and Nagasaki Death Tollâ⬠). And though the Geneva Protocol banned chemical weapons use during war, the atomic bomb is not categorized under chemical weapons but rather as a nuclear weapon. However, in spite of not breaching the Geneva Protocol, the U.S. set the precedence for future countries to use nuclear weapons in future wars. It was also argued that the usage of the atomic bomb was not the reason for Japanââ¬â¢s surrender in its place it was the entry of the USSR into WWII. Japanese military officials used the USSR as a means of stalling Japan from agreeing to the terms of surrender, but when the USSR declared war against Japan, rather than concede and surrender, they came up with a different reason to avoid surrendering. Instead of teaming with the USSR to discuss better terms of surrender, Japanese militant officials argued that the U.S. did not have another atomic bomb and that even if she did she would be under public pressure to not use it. No matter what deleterious situation Japan came under, her military officials refused to surrender, whether it be the entry of the USSR or the dropping of the atomic bombs. However, the catastrophe from the atomic bombs was able to move the Emperor from his onlooker position into actively striving for Japanââ¬â¢s surrender. In addition to this proponents against the usage of the atomic bomb also reasoned that had the U.S. invited the USSR to sign the Potsdam Declaration then Japan military officers could not have tried to incite help from the USSR. However, the relationship of the U.S. and the USSR were already on shaky grounds and President Truman did not want to invite the USSR into the war as her objectives for involvement were unknown. And if the U.S. did add the USSR to the Potsdam Declaration then following Japanââ¬â¢s surrender, the USSR would be allowed to occupy a portion of Japanââ¬â¢s land (Heads of Governments). Robert Frank estimated that roughly 300,000 to 500,000 Japanese people, mostly civilians, would have died or vanished in Soviet captivity. Historians have debated over whether the United States was justified in using the atomic bomb against Japan in World War II. Proponents argue that the ingrained bushido in Japanese citizens led to the risk of substantial civilian casualties as well as the necessity to use catastrophic means to shake their conviction to not capitulate. Opponents assert that the U.S. broke principles of war and allowed a precedence to use nuclear weapons in war. As well as arguing that the atomic bomb was not the reason that WWII ended sooner and thus led to lives being saved, instead it was the entrance of the USSR that forced the Japanese to surrender. After evaluation of both sides of the discussion, the strongest argument for the usage of the atomic bomb is that the bushido in Japanese culture startled the U.S. and led her to believe that extreme measures would be necessary to put an end to the war. While the strongest contention against the usage of the atomic bomb is that it legitimized the usage of nuclear weapons in war. Subsequently, though the United States ethically should not have used the atomic bomb since it established the allowance of nuclear weapons in war, given the situation the U.S. was in it is justifiable that the atomic bomb was implemented. Opponents that argue against the U.S. deploying the atomic bomb are not realizing that hindsight is 20/20. After six years of long, gruesome battle the U.S. would want to put an end to the war as quickly and effectively as possible and it would be unlikely that they would carefully consider what the usage of the atomic bomb would entail in future war policies. The options from those who dissented the usage of the bomb are impractical and unrealistic. Perhaps invitation of the Soviet Union onto the Potsdam Declaration would have led to Japanââ¬â¢s surrender, but without knowing whether the USSR would hold up their promise it would be a risky compromise. And the U.S. was right to think that it would take a significant force to make Japan surrender as the corruption from the military officials would continue to thwart any notions of surrendering. The dropping of the atomic bombs was a necessity to influence the Emperor to take control and finally end WWII.
Friday, October 18, 2019
The understanding of genre in animatedfilm Essay
The understanding of genre in animatedfilm - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that choosing on a genre to narrow down on and may be discussed more it is going to form the basics and outline of this proposal. The present research has identified that the reason behind this fact is that going by the different genres in the film industry; one is always tempted to follow their heart in arriving at a conclusion. Therefore, as a result, this paper would love to give out the very impression that the choice of selection lies entirely on my field of interest. The researcher states that science fiction film may perhaps fall onto the authorââ¬â¢s field of interest and become the lead topic of discussion. Since in the researcherââ¬â¢s earlier statement, it was indicated that science fiction films will be my area of specialization, not all science fiction movies will earn a direct entry into the discussion panel. The author has rightly presented that a close look at the marketing strategies employed to sell out the film and most importantly production of the film will be the key factors to consider in the vetting process whose key mandate will be to sieve the very best from the rest. The aim of passing these films through a stringent vetting process will be to ensure that our end result will be able to meet our expectations and set standards. These and other considerations will be put in place to ensure that we come up with an appealing to all end result.
Report for the head office of Electrocom Ltd(Case Study) Essay
Report for the head office of Electrocom Ltd(Case Study) - Essay Example The notion of learning is applied to the organization as a whole, not as a sum of the parts of individual learning of individual employees. Organizations like these encourage continuous learning and innovation and advocate an integrated knowledge management structure for the organization. Other features of such organizations include being proactive, flexible, innovative and able to tap into potential to gain competitive advantage. (Cors, 2003). Another important introduction is one that focuses on organizational learning. Organizational learning in an organization relies on three factors, the first one being routine, the second being dependency on the companyââ¬â¢s history and the third one being the targets that the organization has set for itself. Organizations add to their knowledge bank through practice and over time, that is through practical experience. This experiences interpreted and the lessons learned are applied to future scenarios to ensure that mistakes are not repeat ed and good practices are adopted. Learning can also occur by looking at other organizations, competitors or those who are similar to the organization in question so that generalizations can be studied and applied to own organization. (Levitt and March, 1988). Electrocom needs to focus on knowledge acquisition; this will have two pronged benefits for the organization. First, it will provide them further consumer insight which will help them better understand, connect with and cater to their consumer base. Second, it will help them build a knowledge bank from which they can take assistance in the decisional process and which will enable further learning for the companyââ¬â¢s employee base. Knowledge acquisition can be done through surveys, R&D activities, reviews of performance and a thorough analysis of competing firms in the market. Another aspect to be focused on is how this knowledge and information is disseminated throughout the organization. Organizational structure should b e flatter so information can flow quickly from source to destination without any hold ups or barriers to stop the flow. Electrocom also needs to focus on how the information is interpreted, for this will determine how the information impacts the organization, if at all. Lastly, through revision and incorporation of this knowledge over and over again in practice the organization needs to make sure that it remains fresh in the organizationââ¬â¢s memory. (Huber, 1991). In the same vein, Schein (1993) writes about how it is important for organizations on the modern business environment which is becoming increasingly globalised and culturally diverse, to engage in dialogue. To effective in this business environment, it is necessary for Electrocom to increase and improve communication to enhance levels of integration within the organization and across borders and cultures. Organizational learning will only take place once there is an established healthy level of communication and integ ration internally and creating dialogue will be the first step in this direction. This approach will also improve cohesiveness of work groups, thereby improving their performance. Once a healthy level of communication has developed internally within the organization, subcultures will develop, often providing a motivational source for better performance at work because they promote
The Quest for Power or Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
The Quest for Power or Control - Essay Example Conforming to the observations by these authors we are now in the formative period where there is great respect for the worker as an important stakeholder and is greatly empowered. This has motivated the worker to greater outputs and closer ties with his organization. The culture of the company has become the cornerstone of judging the governance level of the company. Performance of the company is now tied with the performance of its workers. This human capital is now considered as the prime source of competitiveness. A new wave of bonhomie has pervaded the corporate world and with the onset of globalization and multi-cultural workforce, companies are vying with each other to ensure that this normative pattern is not only maintained but enhanced. The technology was always the driver of change. New Internet-based technologies not only produced the knowledge worker but also introduced the concept of virtual offices and remote workers. Control got diluted and the operational normative pattern has been disrupted. Rationalism too has no role in the current environment as the worker is no longer bound by geography. Today output has become the sole criteria for judging performance. All other system factors like discipline, culture, work rules, and others have become worthless. Both rational and normative theories have to be replaced by a new paradigm that has emerged out of them. A new culture is being evolved with the interactive web which is a common platform being used by all stakeholders and there is free interaction between all of them, including the final consumer. The new order comprises of flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness; the result is action-oriented produced by high-skilled workers.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Midterm paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Midterm paper - Essay Example Around me, I have an adoring music family; my father is a big fan of opera while my mother enjoys all classical and country music. Interestingly, both my grandparents listen to the old Taiwanese song every day and my sister who likes heavy metal and rock songs. In addition, I also play different categories of instruments since I started kindergarten. From the reading, Burnsed and Gordon took Piagetââ¬â¢s ideas of perceptual development and concept formation and applied them to music. Burnsed discusses Gordonââ¬â¢s application of Piagetââ¬â¢s four stages of development in relation to musical skills. First, sensorimotor stage, a child who is under two years old may identify the loudness, timbre, and pitch of the sound (Barrett, McCoy & Veblen 23). Secondly, pre-operational stage whereby a child who is between three to seven years old may include many movement experiences such as tempo. Thirdly, ââ¬Å"concrete operations stageâ⬠, a child who ranges from seven to twelve can initiate intricate mental operations (Burnsed 27). Finally, from prescribed operations stage, a child who is above 12 can comprehend the cause and consequences. From these statements, it has allowed me to have a better acquaintance of how perceptual progress relates according to my music experiences (Burnsed 27). According to my parents and every child I have interacted with, it is evident that we are all very sensitive to any sounds since we were infants, especially the songs with high pitch and shrill timbre. My mother indicated that during our tender years she used toy with the small sands to make whispery sound to get our attenuation when she feeds us. When she talked, she has to talk in a lofty pitch accent like Mickey Mouse with a funny facial expression to make us chuckle, the same goes for my father. If they did not, we would just stare at our parents until they hoist their voice and make goofy faces. Moreover, my mother said that I have always needed the animal musical mobile when I
Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3
Research Paper Example It is an undeniable fact that the world is increasingly multicultural. Due to the integrations of business and the growing globalization that defines the entire world economy, business faces a fundamental question of how they should define multiculturalism within their respective departments. The crux of this matter must necessarily be contingent upon to key factors. The first of these is with regards to what can be defined as a race and the second with what can be defined as ethnicity and culture. Although these two terms are invariably misconstrued to be one in the same, and appropriate and applicable level of understanding with respect to each of these is necessary with regards to defining an understanding the characteristics of what a truly multicultural organization must engender. Firstly, it must be understood that one of the more nebulous of the concepts which has been discussed above is necessarily that of race. Ultimately, race has been used as means of categorizing humans b y cultural, genetic, geographic, anatomical, linguistic, social, religious, or historical means (Goby, 2007). As a function of this, the very definition of race is something that sociologists and anthropologists continue to argue about. Due to the many determinants of race that exist, is oftentimes been decided that since no working and firm definition of what defines one and what defines another can readily be agreed upon, ethnicity, or the means by which an individual is defined as a result of culture and geographic origin, is a far better identifier of people. Broadly speaking, race, and racial definitions is something that the stakeholder must integrate with; whether or not they are of the opinion that such a definition is ultimately helpful. Due to the fact that the stakeholder is responsible not only for integrating directly with the society but also with explicating and defining the means by which past history has taken place and continues impact upon the stakeholders within the workplace, race is not a topic that can merely be brushed aside and deemed as a prior an unsuccessful method of grouping individuals (Pinder, 2009). The fact of the matter is that even as academia and society as a whole differs upon an approach and appreciation for such a concept, it remains incumbent upon the manager/supervisor to continue to place a level and degree of focus upon the importance that race necessarily engenders. Having a diverse representation of race within the workplace allows for the firm to be able to integrate with the perspectives and needs of an increasingly diverse consumer base (Usry & White, 2000). Moreover, by representing such a range of diversity within the firm, the multicultural aura of business and business competition will be bolstered to allow the firm to compete more effectively. Regardless of the potentially flawed an incomplete understanding and appreciation for how race impacts upon the individual and society that the workers within a parti cular industry might necessarily have, it is incumbent upon the manager/stakeholder to seek to distance himself/herself from any of these faulty pre-conceived and ultimately unscientific interpretations.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
The Quest for Power or Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
The Quest for Power or Control - Essay Example Conforming to the observations by these authors we are now in the formative period where there is great respect for the worker as an important stakeholder and is greatly empowered. This has motivated the worker to greater outputs and closer ties with his organization. The culture of the company has become the cornerstone of judging the governance level of the company. Performance of the company is now tied with the performance of its workers. This human capital is now considered as the prime source of competitiveness. A new wave of bonhomie has pervaded the corporate world and with the onset of globalization and multi-cultural workforce, companies are vying with each other to ensure that this normative pattern is not only maintained but enhanced. The technology was always the driver of change. New Internet-based technologies not only produced the knowledge worker but also introduced the concept of virtual offices and remote workers. Control got diluted and the operational normative pattern has been disrupted. Rationalism too has no role in the current environment as the worker is no longer bound by geography. Today output has become the sole criteria for judging performance. All other system factors like discipline, culture, work rules, and others have become worthless. Both rational and normative theories have to be replaced by a new paradigm that has emerged out of them. A new culture is being evolved with the interactive web which is a common platform being used by all stakeholders and there is free interaction between all of them, including the final consumer. The new order comprises of flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness; the result is action-oriented produced by high-skilled workers.
Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3
Research Paper Example It is an undeniable fact that the world is increasingly multicultural. Due to the integrations of business and the growing globalization that defines the entire world economy, business faces a fundamental question of how they should define multiculturalism within their respective departments. The crux of this matter must necessarily be contingent upon to key factors. The first of these is with regards to what can be defined as a race and the second with what can be defined as ethnicity and culture. Although these two terms are invariably misconstrued to be one in the same, and appropriate and applicable level of understanding with respect to each of these is necessary with regards to defining an understanding the characteristics of what a truly multicultural organization must engender. Firstly, it must be understood that one of the more nebulous of the concepts which has been discussed above is necessarily that of race. Ultimately, race has been used as means of categorizing humans b y cultural, genetic, geographic, anatomical, linguistic, social, religious, or historical means (Goby, 2007). As a function of this, the very definition of race is something that sociologists and anthropologists continue to argue about. Due to the many determinants of race that exist, is oftentimes been decided that since no working and firm definition of what defines one and what defines another can readily be agreed upon, ethnicity, or the means by which an individual is defined as a result of culture and geographic origin, is a far better identifier of people. Broadly speaking, race, and racial definitions is something that the stakeholder must integrate with; whether or not they are of the opinion that such a definition is ultimately helpful. Due to the fact that the stakeholder is responsible not only for integrating directly with the society but also with explicating and defining the means by which past history has taken place and continues impact upon the stakeholders within the workplace, race is not a topic that can merely be brushed aside and deemed as a prior an unsuccessful method of grouping individuals (Pinder, 2009). The fact of the matter is that even as academia and society as a whole differs upon an approach and appreciation for such a concept, it remains incumbent upon the manager/supervisor to continue to place a level and degree of focus upon the importance that race necessarily engenders. Having a diverse representation of race within the workplace allows for the firm to be able to integrate with the perspectives and needs of an increasingly diverse consumer base (Usry & White, 2000). Moreover, by representing such a range of diversity within the firm, the multicultural aura of business and business competition will be bolstered to allow the firm to compete more effectively. Regardless of the potentially flawed an incomplete understanding and appreciation for how race impacts upon the individual and society that the workers within a parti cular industry might necessarily have, it is incumbent upon the manager/stakeholder to seek to distance himself/herself from any of these faulty pre-conceived and ultimately unscientific interpretations.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Philosophy Skepticism Essay Example for Free
Philosophy Skepticism Essay Definitely the most fascinating thing when it comes to skepticism is not that severely philosophically doubtful people are present it is the opinions that come from guiltless principles and get to amazing deductions. Rationalists like Locke argue that ââ¬Å"all knowledge is based on reason (and the reasoned analysis of certain innate concepts and ideas that are possessed and understood by everyone). â⬠Therefore, the inherent uncertainty of sensory experience (i. e. optical illusions and hallucinations) cannot provide a solid foundation for knowledge. Normally, a skeptic starts from several of explanations for a single situation but they will always end in wrong conclusions. Skepticism can take you to fertile results if you contemplate the following and consider the Sorites Paradox. First of all, admit these three properties. If you have two eyes and can see clearly- that means you are not blind. And if you have mostly no eyes or cannot see either, then you are not blind. Likewise, if you take off one eye, this does not make you completely blind. So keep taking your two eyes off. Agreeing with this evidence, you should not get blind . However; you would get blind (www. philosophytalk. org). In addition, if we make reference to Descartes Meditations dispute. What Descartes argument means is that ââ¬Å"the kind of evidence we have for our beliefs underdetermines what to believe (60). â⬠Hence, we could use Bertrand Russells example. Imagine you had some kind of hallucinations consequence from some kind of drug or substance. In this case, how could someone differentiate their dream life from their real life? Since the skeptic never accepts that we are actually having a dream in the place of living. In fact, the skeptic states that our existing evidence does not regulate the chance that it could be a dream instead of real life. Idealism is definitely a good solution for skepticism. Moreover, skepticism creates the difference among our thoughts or observations and things that provide importance to these thoughts and perceptions such as dreams or any life experience. So, demanding that the universe is part of our ideas would separate the problematic of skepticism. For example, there is nothing concluded about the existence of a chair than just the impression that the table is there. During decades, many philosophers and skeptics have always had an extremist position as a way to give strength to their opinions. Though, idealism is actually more absurd than skepticism and our commonsense should allow us to reject it (Philosophical Reporter (4:50): Polly Stryker interviews Michael Shermer, the director of Skeptic Society). I believe that many skeptical opinions do not necessarily have to be based on a strong formation of knowledge. We can believe whatever we want whether or not those beliefs are based on a complete form of knowledge? If knowledge is hypothetically that type of belief-with that kind of authority- whatever it is, that sustains skeptical opinions, then we probably do not count the privilege of having that knowledge. Nevertheless, we believe in several things and some of those beliefs are more or less acceptable by argument and/or evidence. Undoubtedly, many of the things we believe in are strong enough for this life with a list full of different and infinite purposes, even if the skeptic is right that none of them deserve the honorific label knowledgeâ⬠(Stroud, 96). Whenever we believe in something, we risk more than having some kind of knowledge . When I purely believe something and do not any doubt it and actually have evidences to support it, then that is when I cannot even have the thought or idea that my belief could be wrong for a certain reason. So Knowledge is in a way stronger than that. One cannot know that p, unless p is the case (Nozick, 109). There are serious doubts about the reliability of sensory experience on human beings in the development of ideas, and the possibility of ââ¬Ëcertain knowledgeââ¬â¢ is definitely questionable. So, while experiences are the foundation for knowledge and certainty, we cannot fully trust our experiences, and cannot hope to accomplish certainty in our knowledge of the world. Reasoning a bit, we can realize that knowledge would always be dependable from the passing of time, and that knowledge could change anytime as well. Different kinds of advances, transformations and variations could lead knowledge to be moldable in anyway in any area depending on what we believe now and what we will believe later based on science or the resemblance of the past. All knowledge is a product of human experience, and is not possible that people are born with innate ideas . On the other hand, beliefs will always be based on the criteria of each people that comprise a whole different world, and our beliefs would hardly change the way we see and justify things that surround us in a period of five years or less. I do not think that knowledge is as important as it seems. I tend to believe that the rational part does everything. We want all of our beliefs to be constant under the stress that the rational pressure causes. When those balanced belief are being formed, our goal is to reach those beliefs that are receptive to all the stress of rational beliefs and that even after all that force of a rational belief, they can keep themselves firm. Perhaps a belief that is privileged of having such receptiveness to reasons and could appreciate the stability of not having any pressure by any rational beliefs, and then it would gain the honor to be named knowledge. * www. Philosophytalk. org * Nozick, Robert. An Analysis of Knowledge. Philosophical Inquiry. Indianapolis. Hacket Publishing Company Inc. 2007 * Stroud, Barry. Philosophical Scepticism and Everyday Life. Philosophical Inquiry. Indianapolis. Hacket Publishing Company Inc. 2007 * Descartes, Rene. Meditations on First Philosophy. Philosophical Inquiry. Indianapolis. Hacket Publishing Company Inc. 2007.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Continuous Personal Development Criteria
Continuous Personal Development Criteria Continuous professional development (CPD) A case study to examine why we need to have set criteria as to what constitutes continuous professional development. This paper sets out a proposal to establish the means by which certain hypotheses around Social Work CPD may be tested, through primary research. It does so substantively through a limited, ââ¬Ëpilotââ¬â¢ survey of the views of Social Workers themselves, focusing on the value and nature of their own current and previous CPD experience. The latter were also invited to comment on proposals for alternative frameworks for SW CPD. The objective of this process was to evolve specific lines of enquiry and areas of interest for wider research. As recent research by Doel et al. argues, ââ¬ËAt an individual level there is clear evidence that professional development is highly valued, and that participating in these opportunities is more likely to increase confidence, but not for everyone.ââ¬â¢ (Doel et al., 2008: p.563) The question is, what kind of CPD is most valued by practitioners themselves, and who determines the types of development paths they follow? Does the element of c hoice determine the utility of particular CPD for individual practitioners? How far does the current atmosphere of assessment and ââ¬Ëmanagerialismââ¬â¢ impinge upon self-determination in professional development? The issue of self-determination is a theme from the secondary literature which is embedded in this research. As MacDonald et al. argue, ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦social work as an activity can be understood as an integral part of the modernist project of governance developed and institutionalised in the nineteenth and twentieth centuriesâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬â¢ (MacDonald et al., 2003: p.195). Whilst this can be readily accepted, it arguably masks the dynamic of client age which government maintained, not only over social work, but other professional groups. The latter were invariably involved in some form of campaign to exert leverage on official circles for recognition in institutional terms. ââ¬ËIn Britain, social work looked directly to the state for its legitimizationâ⬠¦Accordingly, the political opportunity provided by the publication of the Kilbrandon and Seebohm Reports was seized by proponents of the professional social work project, who campaigned for the implementation of the Reports, f or example through the Seebohm Implementation Action Group.ââ¬â¢ (MacDonald et al. 2003: p.198). As this suggests, Social Work was liable to be co-opted into the social projects of the state on a utilitarian basis, with reciprocal implications for the independence of the profession. As Jordan and Jordan point out, ââ¬ËIn essence, social work is not a means of implementing policy formally and directly, but of mediating the local conflicts generated by new programmes, and engaging with service users over how to fit new measures to their needs.ââ¬â¢ They further argue that, ââ¬ËIt is a waste of its potential for these tasks to treat it as a crude instrument for the imposition of government rules or the quasi-scientific application of research findings.ââ¬â¢ (Jordan and Jordan, 2000: p.10). What are the implications of this tension for CPD in SW? Potentially considerable, it is argued here. The debate around Social Work education has become focused on whether â⬠¦Ã¢â¬Ëthere has been the supplanting of education by training: the sequestering of discourses of depth by those of surface: the setting aside of knowledge for skills, and the general triumphâ⬠¦of ââ¬Ëcompetenciesââ¬â¢ over the complexities of abstraction.ââ¬â¢ (Webb, 1996: p.186) It follows from this that the definition of ââ¬Ëusefulââ¬â¢ CPD represents a continuation of such debates through other means: another area through which to contest who exactly defines what is relevant, or ââ¬Ëbestââ¬â¢ practice, in terms of developing solutions for practitioners and service users. How far, for example, do such resources merely reflect the ideas of Lisham, that official ideas about practice ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦tend to be externally imposed and based more on the requirements of managerial control and less on the professional responsibility to evaluate practice and policy and thereby increase their effectiveness.ââ¬â¢ (Lisham 1999: p.4). Subsumed within this is a more subliminal question, which is, where is the space in which SW practitioners can express their views or develop dialogues about professional issues? It would appear that we now have a situation where the parameters defined by the GSSC represent the only ââ¬Ëlegitimateââ¬â¢ channels for debat e. Methodology and Research Issues In essence the research enquiry followed two themes, one evaluative, one predictive. Within both, it was intended to elicit views without any leading or rhetorical influence, although current conditions in public sector SW may make this difficult to achieve, as will be discussed below. The specific evaluative enquiry offered practitioners the opportunity to briefly assess their own level of satisfaction with their current and previous CPD. The specific predictive proposal made was that CPD be more focused, through the establishment of an agreed range of activities, designed to augment and enhance SW practice. The overall theme of this was to explore the idea that CPD could be more relevant to SW practice, in the perception of practitioners themselves. This proposal acknowledges the necessity for inclusion of both positivist (quantitative) and phenomenological (qualitative) elements in the enquiry. These labels are arguably less important than the characteristics they represent however. These will explored in more detail below, but it is important here to identify the positivist paradigm as supposedly value-free, and the phenomenological as (in relative terms) value bearing. Obviously, these two model absolutes represent the research ideal, and should not, in any case, be assumed to correlate with the parallel categories of objectivity and subjectivity. Research paradigms in either category would arguably rely on objectivity for their integrity and utility. It is here that the design and operation of a particular model will attract the most stringent scrutiny, especially from its assessors or counter-theorists. Also, when ascribing the different paradigm labels to particular research strands and evidence, it is perhaps important to consider Collis and Husseyââ¬â¢s idea of an unavoidable symbiosis between the two. ââ¬ËAlthough we have identified two main paradigms, it is best to regard them as the two extremes of a continuum. As you move along the continuum, the features and assumptions of one paradigm are gradually relaxed and replaced by those of the other paradigm.ââ¬â¢ (Collis and Hussey 2008: p.48). In other words, the quantitative and qualitative paradigms become less discrete and more difficult to distinguish, once the process of interpretation begins. Absolute objectivity is maintained with difficulty, even in the context of an exacting statistical survey: meanwhile purely qualitative work starts to move along the continuum, as soon as repetitive patterns are sought for collateral in phenomenological terms. Various interpretations are possible in any statistical model, whilst even the clearest qualitative conclusions are arguably subject to bias, as soon as a possible conclusion begins to fram e subsequent enquiries. As Patton argues, ââ¬ËA paradigm of choices rejects methodological orthodoxy in favour of methodological appropriateness as the primary criterion for judging methodological quality.ââ¬â¢ (Patton 1990: pp.38-39). In terms of this study, the methodological issues are basically two-fold. In the first instance, we have a very small sample of data in proportion to the overall scale of what is potentially a national issue. The sample employed here was obtained from one area, and so is immediately vulnerable to the charge that it fails to analyse possible regional variations in both strategy and best practice. Although it reflects differentiated levels of satisfaction with the CPD process, it does not incorporate the views of those who might express ââ¬â with varying objectivity ââ¬â the most exacting critiques: i.e., those who have left the profession due to dissatisfaction with the career structure, or CPD possibilities. In the second instance, we have three discrete form of data to integrate, i.e. binary yes/no questionnaire responses, written answers, and more in-depth, qualitative interviews, as well as information from secondary sources. The necessary fusion of these sources in a coge nt form inevitably becomes an editorial process, vulnerable to charges of subjectivity and bias. This is arguably what Ely refers to as the ââ¬Ëteasing outââ¬â¢ what is considered the ââ¬Ëessential meaningââ¬â¢ of the data obtained. (Ely, 1991,p.140). (Quoted in Wright et al 1995). This, arguably, is especially pertinent because we are researching a matter of public policy, where positivist data tends to be adapted to value judgements by governments, and governing bodies. As Denzin and Lincoln point out, ââ¬ËQualitative research is inherently multi-method in focusâ⬠¦However, the use of multiple methodsâ⬠¦reflects an attempt to secure an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon in question. Objective reality can never be captured. We know a thing only through its representations.ââ¬â¢ (Denzin and Lincoln, 2005: p.5). In term of representation, the specific enquiries made here are designed to produce data at micro level, although their collective implications may have a meso function in terms of the local negotiation of control over CPD standards and access. Only a numerically wider and more varied study could produce data which might function at macro level. However, the eventual connection between micro and macro is implicitly accepted here: as Strauss and Corbin point out, ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦the distinction between micro and macro is an artificial one.ââ¬â¢ (Strauss and Corbin, 1998: p.185). The point is though that this limited sample cannot establish such tautology in absolute terms, only suggest ways in which it may be researched further. To these two empirical issues may be added more complex ethical issues around confidentiality and contractual obligation. To employ the current parlance of Human Resources Management, all employees have a ââ¬Ëpsychological contractââ¬â¢ with their management, wherein informally agreed tenets of ââ¬Ëfairnessââ¬â¢ operate. As Williams indicates. ââ¬Ë..this interpersonal aspect to fairness reminds us that there is a social basis to the exchange relationship between employer and employee and we might expect this to be part of the psychological contract.ââ¬â¢ (Williams, 1998: p.183). It has to be conceded that any debate engendered around CPD has the potential to impinge upon the either side of the psychological contract, a fact which may influence and limit the format of questions. 30 brief questionnaires were sent out, of which 22 were returned: three of these respondents agreed to be interviewed, and the same interview pro-forma was employed in each context. There were 14 female respondents and 8 male: in keeping with contemporary guidelines, age was not elicited. The criteria for subject selection was that the respondent should be an established practitioner, i.e. have at least two years service, but no managerial responsibilities. The interviewees were invited to participate and the customary protocols followed in terms of permission to use the material, based on anonymity and the right to withold use of the material. Analysis and Findings The mode of analysis employed was substantially one of triangulation. The binary responses were tallied and are expressed as percentages. In Question 4 the written responses were sorted into those supportive, unsupportive and uncomitted with regard to the proposal (of an agreed ten-part choice of CPD activities). Based on this polarisation, qualitiative responses were then taken from the interview transcripts to illustrate and expand upon the themes identified. 22.75 per cent of respondents agreed that 90 hours of CPD was sufficient for SWââ¬â¢s over a three year period: 18.2 per cent thought it insufficient, whilst a majority, 59.15 per cent thought the whole idea of a prescribed amount of hours too arbitrary. 18.2 per cent considered that the current SW guidelines were effective, with an equal amount disagreeing with this proposition. A majority ââ¬â 63.7 per cent expressed the view that some kind of change was necessary. Only 13.65 per cent of respondents thought that the CPD options available to them personally had been sufficient for their needs as a practitioner. 27.3 per cent meanwhile thought such resources had been insufficient. 22.75 per cent thought the available CPD had at least been consistent, whilst 36.4% disagreed with this idea. The written responses still produced a fairly polarised set of information. 35 per cent of those who answered supported the idea of being able to select their own CPD activities from a ten choice range. Of the latter, a majority gave some kind of indication that they saw within such a development the opportunity for gaining more control over their own professional development. This was evident from responses such as ââ¬ËYes, great idea, assuming practitioners are involved in drawing it upââ¬â¢, and ââ¬ËYes, perfect. If we get to choose whatââ¬â¢s on the list, otherwise its just another form of management control, and we already have too much of that.ââ¬â¢ (Appendix 3). Interestingly, the same concern underpinned the rationale of the 55 per cent who did not support the idea. As one respondent put it, ââ¬ËI donââ¬â¢t think it could work because CPD is all about standardisation, this idea involves too much individual choice for the ââ¬Ëpowers that beââ¬â¢ to a ccept it.ââ¬â¢ This was expressed more directly in the views of another, who remarked that No. CPD just ticks a management box, it doesnââ¬â¢t really help me, so I donââ¬â¢t want four or ten or whatever it is boxes to tick.ââ¬â¢ (Appendix 3). The 10 per cent who were uncommitted raised concerns about relevance and the numbers of available options. (Appendix 3) The twenty two tallied responses to Question 5, about practitioners preferences for CPD areas, produced an overwhelming choice for a specific vocational focus in the form of Multi Agency Working, at 36.4 per cent. All of the nine other activities suggested scored 9.1 and 4.5 per cent respectively. (Appendix 3) As might be expected, the interview questions produced the most detailed qualitative data. When asked to evaluate the personal importance of CPD for them, two respondents identified pressure of work rather than management imposition as the main impediment to their pursuing more professional development. The first respondent stated that it was ââ¬ËVery Important. I know I donââ¬â¢t spend enough time doing it very often, but thatââ¬â¢s just the nature of the job at the moment, where we are all running to stand still. Itââ¬â¢s very difficult to commit a worthwhile timetable of CPD when you know for a fact that you wonââ¬â¢t actually do half of it, due to unforeseen commitments.ââ¬â¢ . The second respondent meanwhile acknowledged that it was ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦Not as important as it probably should be. Itââ¬â¢s a box I know I should tick, but in a department where we canââ¬â¢t even recruit at the moment, itââ¬â¢s not a priority. Sorry.ââ¬â¢ (Appendix 5). The third respondent explained their lack of commitment to CPD in terms of their lack of control over it: ââ¬ËI know itââ¬â¢s vital, but who is it for exactly? If itââ¬â¢s just stuff they think I should be doing, rather than what I want to do, then I could well live without it.ââ¬â¢ (Appendix 5). In terms of the specific proposal, i.e. that of providing practitioners with a framework of choice for CPD, the responses were varied. Respondent 1 replied, ââ¬ËI canââ¬â¢t think of tenâ⬠¦.for me personally at the moment, it would be team-building, and risk assessment, plus maybe multi-agency working.ââ¬â¢ (Appendix 5). Respondent 2 indicated ââ¬ËCommunication, risk assessment, leadership, policy developmentââ¬â¢ as their preferred foci. Respondent 3 indicated interest in ââ¬ËIT skills, communication, multi-agency working, risk assessmentââ¬â¢, adding that ââ¬Ëâ⬠¦.the list is endless!ââ¬â¢ (Appendix 5) Provisional Conclusions Concerns about who would take responsibility for more liberal and diffuse CPD should be noted here, as in the response , ââ¬ËWho would supervise it? Iââ¬â¢ll bet it would just be an extra job dumped on somebody like me.ââ¬â¢ (Appendix 3) Such objections reflect trends in management which have already been highlighted in the related literature. As Watson points out, ââ¬ËThe drive for local and central government to modernise and become more accountable has led to a rise in responsibilities of managers for performance management and transparency in decision making.ââ¬â¢ (Watson, 2008: p.330) The extent of interest in multi-agency working as a useful area for practitioner CPD, is something which has already been noted in the related literature. As Farmakopoulou has indicated, ââ¬ËThe main inter-organizational inhibitory factors were related to structural difficulties and lack of joint training. Education and social work departments embody different statutory responsibilitiesâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬â¢ (Farmakopoulou 2002: p.1064). Whilst this specific point is obviously vocationally limited, a wider one about inter-professional cooperation may arguably be abstracted from it. In terms of generalisability, it has to be acknowledged that this research and its findings is vulnerable to usual charges of subjectivity which may be levelled at triangulation. As Denzin and Lincoln concede, ââ¬ËTriangulation is the simultaneous display of multiple, refracted realities. Each of the metaphors ââ¬Å"worksâ⬠to create simultaneity rather than the sequential or linear. Readers and audiences are then invited to explore competing visions of the context, to become immersed in and merge with new realities to comprehend.ââ¬â¢ (Denzin and Lincoln 2005: p.6). However, in terms of putative research questions, enough areas of potential interest have arguably been identified to warrant further investigation. Themes would beâ⬠¦ Involve a larger cohort of respondents. Involve local management as respondents, to obtain views from both sides of the ââ¬Ëpsychological contractââ¬â¢. Involve the GSCC on their views about possible change. APPENDIX ONE: Questionnaire. Are you male â⬠¦.. femaleâ⬠¦.. For each question, please indicate the statement with which you agree most by ticking it. Question 1. a. 90 hours CPD is sufficient for a SW Practitioner over three years. b. 90 hours CPD is insufficient for a SW Practitioner over three years. c. 90 hours is far too arbitrary an amount of CPD for a SWà practitioner: it should be varied for individuals. Question 2. a. Would you agree that the current SW CPD guidelines are effective? b. Would you disagree with the idea that the current SW CPDà guidelines are effective? c. Do you think that changes are necessary in current SW CPD? Question 3. a. Has the available SW CPD been sufficient for your needs as aà practitioner? b. Has the available SW CPD been insufficient for your needs asà practitioner? c. Has the available SW CPD been consistent? Inconsistent? à ¯Ã¢â ¬Ã Question 4 : Please explain why you would support OR not support the idea of a ten-criteria list from which to select SW CPD activities? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ Question 5 : Which areas of professional competence would you include in a ten-criteria list? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ APPENDIX 2: Tables of Questionnaire Results. Question 1. 90 hours CPD is sufficient for a SW Practitioner over three years. 90 hours CPD is insufficient for a SW Practitioner over three years. 90 hours is far too arbitrary an amount of CPD for a SW practitioner: it should be varied for individuals. 5 4 13 Question 2. Would you agree that the current SW CPD guidelines are effective? Would you disagree with the idea that the current SW CPD guidelines are effective? Do you think that changes are necessary in current SW CPD? 4 4 14 Question 3. Has the available SW CPD been sufficient for your needs as a practitioner? Has the available SW CPD been insufficient for your needs as practitioner? Has the available SW CPD been consistent? Has the available SW CPD been inconsistent? 3 6 5 8 APPENDIX 3 Question 4 : Please explain why you would support OR not support the idea of a ten-criteria list from which to select SW CPD activities? Why ten? It should be about relevance, not a number. Yes I would, but only if I got to choose them, so they were relevant to my needs. No, because it would expand what is already a drain on my time. I donââ¬â¢t think it could work because CPD is all about standardisation, this idea involves too much individual choice for the ââ¬Ëpowers that beââ¬â¢ to accept it. No: who would enforce or administer it? Yes, although why settle on that number? Yes, great idea, assuming practitioners are involved in drawing it up. Yes, perfect. If we get to choose whatââ¬â¢s on the list, otherwise its just another form of management control, and we already have too much of that. Yes, if we can get everyone to agree on it. No. It sounds to me like the thin end of a very large wedge which Iââ¬â¢ll have to fit into my diary. No. Iââ¬â¢m still trying to catch up with my existing CPD, so I definitely donââ¬â¢t need any more. No. One CPD target is enough, I wouldnââ¬â¢t want any more than that. Yes, if it happens, but I canââ¬â¢t see it. No. Wouldnââ¬â¢t this just be more ââ¬Ëbig brotherââ¬â¢ stuff from the GSSC? No. I imagine the bureaucracy the government would create around it. No. Who would supervise it? Iââ¬â¢ll bet it would just be an extra job dumped on somebody like me. I like the idea in principle, but I think a smaller number of options would be more helpful. No, because I think the current system is OK, and manageable within realistic constraints of time. No. CPD just ticks a management box, it doesnââ¬â¢t really help me, so I donââ¬â¢t want four or ten or whatever it is boxes to tick. Yes, its just what we need to give us more of a voice in our own professional development. The 20 written responses obtained for Question 4, though qualitative in nature, have been sorted into three categories: supportive, unsupportive, and uncommitted. Supportive: 35% 2.Yes I would, but only if I got to choose them, so they were relevant to my needs 6. Yes, although why settle on that number? 7. Yes, great idea, assuming practitioners are involved in drawing it up. 8. Yes, perfect. If we get to choose whatââ¬â¢s on the list, otherwise its just another form of management control, and we already have too much of that. 9. Yes, if we can get everyone to agree on it. 13. Yes, if it happens, but I canââ¬â¢t see it. 20. Yes, its just what we need to give us more of a voice in our own professional development. Unsupportive 55% 3. No, because it would expand what is already a drain on my time. 4. I donââ¬â¢t think it could work because CPD is all about standardisation, this idea involves too much individual choice for the ââ¬Ëpowers that beââ¬â¢ to accept it. 5. No: who would enforce or administer it? 10. No. It sounds to me like the thin end of a very large wedge which Iââ¬â¢ll have to fit into my diary. 11. No. Iââ¬â¢m still trying to catch up with my existing CPD, so I definitely donââ¬â¢t need any more. 12. No. One CPD target is enough, I wouldnââ¬â¢t want any more than that. 14. No. Wouldnââ¬â¢t this just be more ââ¬Ëbig brotherââ¬â¢ stuff from the GSSC? 15. No. I imagine the bureaucracy the government would create around it. 16. No. Who would supervise it? Iââ¬â¢ll bet it would just be an extra job dumped on somebody like me. 18. No, because I think the current system is OK, and manageable within realistic constraints of time. 19. No. CPD just ticks a management box, it doesnââ¬â¢t really help me, so I donââ¬â¢t want four or ten or whatever it is boxes to tick. Uncommitted 10% 1.Why ten? It should be about relevance, not a number. 17. I like the idea in principle, but I think a smaller number of options would be more helpful. Question 5 : Which areas of professional competence would you include in a ten-criteria list? Team Building skills 2 Leadership skills. 2 Multi-Agency Working. 8 IT skills. 1 Risk Assessment. 2 Intercultural Skills. 2 Communication Skills. 1 Policy Development. 2 Strategic Development. 1 Self-Reflection: being a reflective practitioner. 1 APPENDIX 4: Interview Pro-Forma. Time in SWâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ Current Postâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ Question 1. How important is CPD to you as a Practitioner? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â ¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ Question 2. Would you change any aspect of current CPD practice? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â ¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ Question 3. What do you see as the principal issues in current SW CPD practice? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â ¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦. Question 4. Could you identify some of the areas you would include in a ten-item range of activities for SW CPD? â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â ¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦Ã¢â¬ ¦ APPENDIX 5: INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS. Question 1. How important is CPD to you as a Practitioner? Respondent One: Very Important. I know I donââ¬â¢t spend enough time doing it very often, but thatââ¬â¢s just the nature of the job at the moment, where we are all running to stand still. Itââ¬â¢s very difficult to commit a worthwhile timetable of CPD when you know for a fact that you wonââ¬â¢t actually do half of it, due to unforeseen commitments. Respondent Two: Not as important as it probably should be. Itââ¬â¢s a box I know I should tick, but in a department where we canââ¬â¢t even recruit at the moment, itââ¬â¢s not a priority. Sorry. Respondent Three: I know itââ¬â¢s vital, but who is it for exactly? If itââ¬â¢s just stuff they think I should be doing, rather than what I want to do, then I could well live without it. Question 2. Would you change any aspect of current CPD practice? Respondent One: Not all of it, as some of it can be very good. I would definitely give people more choice, and the group/team learning idea is a very good one. Respondent Two: Personally, I think itââ¬â¢s all about resources: I mean, Iââ¬â¢d let people timetable for it, and relate it closely to what they needed as practitionersâ⬠¦butâ⬠¦that would cost money: money which, as far as I can see, we just donââ¬â¢t have at the moment. Respondent Three: Yepâ⬠¦Iââ¬â¢d I either get rid of itâ⬠¦.or do it properlyâ⬠¦I canââ¬â¢t see either happening at the moment though. Question 3. What do you see as the principal issues in current SW CPD practice? Respondent One: Time. All the time itââ¬â¢s an add-on, when it really needs to be a practice-centred activity which you could timetable for, and really concentrate on. Respondent Two: For me its all about relevance and real value. I can spend any amount of time becoming a more reflective practitioner, but that doesnââ¬â¢t help me if my case-load is increasing while Iââ¬â¢m doing it. Respondent Three: Well, I can only comment on what they are for meâ⬠¦.the real issue is, a lot of what I get given ââ¬â or I should say, is inflicted upon me ââ¬â as CPD, has very little to do with my case-load and the real problems I face. Maybe its because Iââ¬â¢m old-school, pre-graduate and all that. Yes itââ¬â¢s all very interesting, but, well, Iââ¬â¢m not an academic! There, Iââ¬â¢ve said it! This is what I do, and no amount of CPD seems to change that. Question 4. Could you identify some of the areas you would include in a ten-item range of activities for SW CPD? Respondent One: I canââ¬â¢t think of tenâ⬠¦.for me personally at the moment, it would be team-building, and risk assessment, plus maybe multi-agency working. Respondent Two: Communication, risk assessment, leadership, policy development. Respondent Three: IT skills, communication, multi-agency working, risk assessmentâ⬠¦.the list is endless! Bibliography Brown, K., and Keen, S., (2004), ââ¬ËPost Qualifying Awards in Social Work (Part 1): Necessary Evil or Panacea?ââ¬â¢ Social Work Education, vol. 23, No 1: pp.77-92. Bryman, A., (1998), Doing Research in Organisations, London Routledge. Bryman, A., (2007), Social Research Methods Oxford, Oxford University Press. Bryant, A., Charmaz, K., (2007), The Sage Handbook of Grounded Theory, London, Sage Publications. Collis, J and Hussey, R., (2003), Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students, London, Palgrave Macmillan. Crombie I 1996 Pocket Guide to Critical Appraisal London BMJ Publication Group Department of Health (1998) Modernising Social Services London H.M.S.O www.doh.gov.uk Accessed 19-01-2006 Department of Health, (2000), Strategy for Social Car,e H.M.S.O., London www.doh.gov.uk Accessed 01-11-2006 Denzin, N.K., and Lincoln, Y.S., (eds), (2005), The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, Thousand Oaks, California, Sage Publications. Doel, M., Nelson
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