Free Essays on Iq Testing

IQ Testing The task of trying to calculate a person’s intelligence has been a goal of psychologists since before the beginning of this century. The Binet-Simon scales were first proposed in 1905 in Paris, France and various sorts of tests have been evolving ever since. One of the important concerns that always arise regarding these tools is what are the tests really measuring? Are they measuring a person’s intelligence? Their ability to perform well on standardized tests? Or just some arbitrary quantity of the person’s IQ? In this paper I will try and answer some of these concerns. When probing the situations around which IQ tests are given and the content of the tests themselves, it becomes apparent that however useful the tests may be for standardizing a group’s intellectual ability, they are not always the best indicator of intelligence. To issue a truly standardized test, the testing environment should be the same for everyone involved. If anything has been learned from the psychology of perception, it is clear that a person’s environment has a great deal to do with their cognitive abilities. Is the light flickering? Is the temperature too hot or too cold? Is the chair uncomfortable? Or even worse, are the individuals ill that day? To test a person’s mind, it is essential to employ their body in the procedure. If everyone is placed in different conditions during the testing, how is the test expected to get standardized results. Therefore it’s because of this assumption that everyone will perform equally independent of his or her environment. Intelligence test scores are skewed and cannot be viewed as standardized, and definitely not as an example of a person’s intelligence. It is obvious that a person’s intelligence stems from a variety of traits. A few that are often tested are reading comprehension, vocabulary, and spatial relations. But this is not all that goes into it. What abo... Free Essays on Iq Testing Free Essays on Iq Testing IQ Testing The task of trying to calculate a person’s intelligence has been a goal of psychologists since before the beginning of this century. The Binet-Simon scales were first proposed in 1905 in Paris, France and various sorts of tests have been evolving ever since. One of the important concerns that always arise regarding these tools is what are the tests really measuring? Are they measuring a person’s intelligence? Their ability to perform well on standardized tests? Or just some arbitrary quantity of the person’s IQ? In this paper I will try and answer some of these concerns. When probing the situations around which IQ tests are given and the content of the tests themselves, it becomes apparent that however useful the tests may be for standardizing a group’s intellectual ability, they are not always the best indicator of intelligence. To issue a truly standardized test, the testing environment should be the same for everyone involved. If anything has been learned from the psychology of perception, it is clear that a person’s environment has a great deal to do with their cognitive abilities. Is the light flickering? Is the temperature too hot or too cold? Is the chair uncomfortable? Or even worse, are the individuals ill that day? To test a person’s mind, it is essential to employ their body in the procedure. If everyone is placed in different conditions during the testing, how is the test expected to get standardized results. Therefore it’s because of this assumption that everyone will perform equally independent of his or her environment. Intelligence test scores are skewed and cannot be viewed as standardized, and definitely not as an example of a person’s intelligence. It is obvious that a person’s intelligence stems from a variety of traits. A few that are often tested are reading comprehension, vocabulary, and spatial relations. But this is not all that goes into it. What abo...

How to Get a Job as an Online High School Teacher

How to Get a Job as an Online High School Teacher Teaching online high school courses can be a full-time profession or a rewarding way to supplement your income. New online high schools start up every year, and qualified online teachers are in high demand. Typically, virtual instructors are expected to monitor students in several courses, grade assignments, interact through message boards or emails, and be available when students have questions. The curriculum for online high school classes is often pre-determined by the school and online teachers are generally expected to follow a particular syllabus for each course. How to Qualify for Positions Teaching High School Online Online charter schools are publicly funded and must follow some state and federal guidelines. Generally, online teachers hired by charter schools must have a valid teaching credential for the state the school is based in. Private and college-sponsored schools have more flexibility in hiring, but they also tend to favor online teachers with credentials or an impressive work history. The best online high school teachers usually have classroom teaching experience, technological competency, and excellent written communication skills. Where to Find Online High School Teaching Jobs If you want to become an online high school teacher, start by looking for jobs locally. Contact the online charter schools in your district to see if they are hiring, send in your resume, and be prepared for an in-person interview.Next, take a look at online high schools that enroll students in multiple states. Large online charter and private schools generally accept applications through the internet. Programs such as K12 and Connections Academy have streamlined application processes. Finally, try applying individually to smaller online private schools throughout the nation. Some of these programs offer online job information; others require potential employees to research the appropriate contact info and make a few phone calls. How to Stand Out as a Potential Online High School Teacher Your application probably won’t be the only one sitting on the principal’s desk. Stand out from the crowd by emphasizing your teaching experience and your ability to work in an online environment.During the application process, keep deadlines and respond to phone calls and emails promptly. Keep emails professional but not overly formal or stuffy. Resolve any technical problems (such as email attachment issues or difficulty accessing online application materials) quickly. Since ​online teaching jobs are all about virtual communication, consider every interaction with the school an opportunity to prove yourself.

Environmental management and quality system Essay

Environmental management and quality system - Essay Example Some such efforts towards environmental protection made by the company are high quality insulation throughout the company premises, de-stratification fans that helps re-circulate high level warm air and aluminum framed double glazed window units. In addition, the company has recycling stations throughout the company premises. This helps them recycle nearly five tonnes of plastic every year. As a result of these steps, the company has reduced the amount of waste it sends to landfill sites by 53% between 2006 and 2007. The recycling projects recycle cardboard, plastic cups, paper, metal, wood and plastics (Press Exposure). The company has its own environmental policy that states that the company will try to meet and exceed the various environmental protection legislations by introducing minimisation, reuse, and recycling. For its excellent environmental management system, the company has won ISO14001:2004 certification. Also, following the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive guidelines, the company makes a contribution to the Product Recycling Fund. Thus, the environmental protection measures by Slingsby include making its manufacturing, warehousing and distributing centers effective through repairs and energy efficient systems, and improving office environment through the installation of ECA approved products. Also, there is waste management system that considerably reduces the disposal of wastes at landfill sites. In order to see that these measures are properly taken, there are meter reading, invoices, and other internal and external measures. A look into the concept of Quality Management proves that the purpose is to consistently meet or exceed customer requirements through management practices which will result in long term success through customer satisfaction. The company has already won ISO9001 that is the result of improvement of indirect operation by standardization. Admittedly, quality

Final Project Of Zirconium oxide Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Final Project Of Zirconium oxide - Research Paper Example The flow chart shown below shows the process of Zirconium oxide production. The main raw material in the production of the nuclear-grade zirconium oxide is the zircon mineral (ZrSiO4) naturally occurring as zirconium sand. The zirconium sand consists of zirconium and hafnium whose properties are almost similar. Special separation techniques of precipitation, filtration and calcination are applied to separate the two products (Dhanaraj & Govindhan 444). The production of zirconium oxide is broken down into three simple steps; extraction of zirconium sand, removal of wastes (including hafnium) and conversion of the resulting compound into the finished product (zirconium oxide free from hafnium). The separation of zirconium and hafnium occurs at temperature ranges of 650-700 degree Celsius (Dhanaraj & Govindhan 444). The zirconium sand is mixed with K2SiF6. This converts the metal into K2ZrF6 which is soluble in water and K2HfF6. A sequential process of crystallization eliminates hafnium. The process results into pure form of K2ZrF6 which is ammonized to produce zirconium oxide. The production of 1kg of zirconia requires 0.7 kg of the zirconium metal that has to be extracted from the zirconium sand (Dhanaraj & Govindhan 444). The by-products obtained from the process of zirconia extraction are washed away in water to the sea. These elements are not harmful to the environment. The other byproducts are sold for utilization in other industries like the refineries of magnesium. The final stage of zirconium oxidation into zirconia requires the use of steam. This is carried out at high temperatures (Dhanaraj & Govindhan 444). The oxidation process is exothermic and yields substantial amounts of hydrogen. The equation for oxidation of zirconium is as shown. The production of zirconia utilizes energy in many forms. Electricity is used to heat up the reactors where separation of zirconium

Effects of video games on children Essay Example for Free

Effects of video games on children Essay Although video games can increase aggressive behavior, they can improve memory and logistical thinking, as well as teach perseverance. Over the course of the last few decades video games have been integrated into the lives of our children. Video games are very appealing to children of all ages, and even to some adults. There is a variety of video games out there, and they range from educational to very violent. Because of this diverse selection of video games, there is a wide range of positive and negative side effects that these games can have on children. Because a large percentage of our children’s time is spent playing video games, there has been a lot of research in recent years on the positive and negative effects these games have on them. â€Å"Among elementary and middle-school populations, girls play for an average of about 5. 5 hours/week and boys average 13 hours/week,† (Gentile, D. A. 2004). Teenagers also spend a time playing video games. According to Media Analysis Laboratory (1998),†Eighty percent of teens said they played at least occasionally and the average amount of time spent gaming for the sample was 5 hours per week† (para. 19). Video game play has become not only a leisurely pastime for children, but for families also. When parents are not involved in some of their game play the outcome can become a little scary. Children who play video games with their families have a more pro-social attitude compared to their counterparts who play alone. Children who are less social or somewhat anti-social tend to develop aggressive tendancies when spending long hours gaming alone especially when violent video games are involved. Video games have been shown to increase aggressive behavior in some children. Neubert, S. P. (2004) said, â€Å"Individuals high in hostility are more likely to become aggressive when exposed to violent video games. † â€Å"Games in which the only positive outcome is the violent demise of enemies reinforces anti-social behavior. Violent video games desensitize people to aggression,† (Neubert, S. P. , 2004). According to a study done by Douglas A. Gentile. References Media Analysis Laboratory (1998). Video game culture: Leisure and play preferences of B. C. teens. Retrieved from http://www. media-awareness. ca In-Text Citation 1. [Insert the paraphrased material] (Simon Fraser University, Burnaby B. C. , 1998). 2. The Media Analysis Laboratory (1998) website [Insert the paraphrased material]. 3. , [Insert the quotation]† (para. 19).

John Rocker :: essays research papers

"Imagine having to take the (No.) 7 train to (Shea Stadium) looking like you're (in) Beirut next to some kid with purple hair, next to some queer with AIDS, right next to some dude who got out of jail for the fourth time, right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing. "The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners," the 25-year-old Georgia native said. "You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?" These were the words spoken from Atlanta Braves Pitcher John Rocker in a December issue of Sports Illustrated. Those powerful lines are what people are chatting over. "Should we forgive him, or should we throw him in jail"? Those are only a couple opinions that are swirling around on what Major League Baseball should do. I, in no way agree with what Mr. Rocker is saying, however he is being treated is fair. In order to fully understand where Mr. Rocker was coming from, we have to go back to the MLB Playoffs. The Cinderella New York Mets take the Braves into extra innings in the 5th game of the National League Playoffs. In comes John Rocker, bursting with energy to try and shut the Mets down and take the Braves to the World Series. The Mets had other ideas and laced a couple base hits off Rocker, which eventually lead to the homerun that ended the game. Then when the Braves made it to the World Series, Rocker faced more harsh words from the New York Yankee's fans. The yelling and objects cascaded down from the stands whenever Rocker was out there. This threw his game off, and once again the Braves got beat in the series 4 - 0. So What? The fans where not very affectionate to Rocker, that's their job. Rocker should be able to deal with it like a true sportsman. He had to turn around and offend every human that is not like him. Was it wrong? Yes. Did he apologize? Yes, at least a dozen tim es, but to some ethnic groups that have been wronged like this for hundreds of years, this is what they have been dealing with. 	 As the people's outrage became more evident, Bud Selig, the commissioner of MLB, got involved.

Why I Want to Be a Nurse

Why I decided to become a nurse. Growing up I always thought I would someday be a nurse. It was a dream that I always had. Knowing that it would be hard for mom and dad to afford, I considered enlisting into the army to get school and training paid for. As high school graduation got closer, I decided to â€Å"take a break† from school. So, I didn't go to college or enlist. When I started running low on funds, I decided to go to training to become a certified nurse's aide (cna). It didn't take long and cna jobs were plentiful in nursing homes. My first job was as a cna in a nursing home. I loved it, but it was hard work. Next, I got a job as a cna at Cabell Huntington Hospital on the med-surg floor. This reaffirmed the notion that I do love that kind of work. Pay was not bad either. At this time I was single so I made plenty enough money for me. I still wasn't ready to commit myself to school. The years passed by and my life began to take shape. I got pregnant with my first daughter, Jasmine in 1999. My son A. J came along in 2000. I decided to marry their daddy in 2001. Our last daughter Kiana was born in October of 2004. I stayed home with my kids for about 7 years but decided I needed to go back to the adult world. My sister talked me into going to massage school and becoming a certified massage therapist. So, I did and got the job that I currently work at with a chiropractor. I love this job also, but I don't think I can do it much longer because it is very hard on my hands and wrists. My sister failed to mention how hard it was to do this kind of work. Being in the chiropractors office also allows me help people. Nursing jobs will probably always be in demand. I don't think there will ever be a day that the world has too many nurses. Today disease is abundant and the need for good nurses is on the rise. The pay is also a plus. I'm not sure if I want to specialize in a particular area of nursing or not. I like all areas. The hustle and bustle of the emergency room is appealing but I also think working the floors in the different units of a hospital would be exciting. Working in a nursing home is also something that I ouldn't mind. I've done it before, so I know how rewarding it can be. I love working with the older population. I go to a local nursing home and give a couple of my patients massages since they can't get out and come to my office any more. I am very thankful for the opportunity I have been given to finally fulfill my dream of becoming a registered nurse. I can't wait to get this new chapter in my life started. I am anxious to get started helping as many people as I can and help pr ovide a better living for my family. Why I Want to Be a Nurse It was on a Monday morning, the 1st day of December, 2010. I had spent two years preparing and saving money for this memorable day. I was going to be my best moment after my wedding day. The whole village where I was born â€Å"Makupa†led by our local chief Mr. Ndoto, my brothers, sisters members of the Clergy both young and old men and women, no wanted to miss that memorable opportunity of escorting me to Jomo Kenyatta international Airport. One would have thought that there was a very important dignitary visiting the country. Dressed in green and red, women danced and sang patriotic songs, children were not left behind, they recited poems, old men who could hardly stand due to their advance age spoke words of blessing, members of the Clergy invoked long prayers, as though they would never pray again. The whole Airport garden came to a stand-still. A gentleman by the name of John Brown join our group and sort to know about our huge crowd and what it was upto. He introduced himself as the Chief Security Manager. Our Chief, Mr Ndoto took over, he was charge as a bull. When he started talking, her was dead silence, a pin would fall and be notice. He gave along chronology of how our village started and how no one had ever excelled in studies, to a point of winning scholarship abroad. To him that was enough reason to bring the whole Village to the Airport Mr. Brown did not have any choice but allow us celebrate our victory. Clock ticked and my departure time drew neigh, I tried to imagine how Lagos international Airport looked like but I could not fathom. How Nigerians have heavy but good accent, I could not wait! An hour before departure time, the Captain announced â€Å"Passengers KQ 374† please board. There was mix reaction, some of us wept tears of joy, others felt I should have stayed bit longer while still others felt like I was going to heaven and I would never come back again. But in all these, Mr. Ndoto comforted them that I would only be away for two years and my studies would benefit the whole community. After hugging and kissing the much awaited moment came and I boarded the plane. It was a real adventure I had not boarded a plane before, therefore I did not know what to expect, but thank God I was ready to lean. My laugage was put in the cock pit only the carry on was allowed inside the cabin. The whole flight was going to take seven hours. It was meal time and there came a beautiful smiling attendant, ready to serve me. Since no body had told me that the meal was paid for, I thought it was very expensive and I could not afford. I declined the offer! She went ahead and offered a drink, which I neither accepted. Not because I was full but fearful. Six and half hour later, the Captain announced that we about to land, every passage to fasten their belt. I did that with grate excitement because I knew finally we were in Lagos Nigeria. The flight was exiting though fierce being the first time to fly. We disembarked I took my laugage and headed to the Immigration office. I knew the the college which I was joining had sent representative and they were waiting for me at the visitors lounge. No sooner had I entered the office than the officer gave me a card to fill in, Question number one was my religion, I happily wrote Christian, The officer thundered to me , and exclaimed. ‘Stop! ’ Don’t go any further†. His accent scared me to death! He went ahead and told me that I was under arrest. I sort an explanation and he said that I was a spy. I could not connect spying and my education. One of the soldiers told me that the northern state of Lagos was a Muslim state and no Christian was allowed in, peradventure one was found, he would be treated as a spy whose penalty was life imprisonment or death penalty. His words made me feel like I wish the ground would open up and swallow me alive. I explained to them how I got a scholarship to their country but all that fell on deaf ears. They gave me two options, either life imprisonment or death sentence. I found myself between a rock and a hard place. None of the options was better than the other. But I chose life imprisonment. They locked me in jail, fortunately the staff from the college arrived. Better late than never. They engage those officers but they held that I was a spy. They realize they were hard nuts to crack and resolved to contact Kenya ambassador . In the prison, I made all kind of prayers repented all known and unknown sins purified my heart in readiness for any eventuality. Two hours later, there was a knock at the door, I was always hoping and expecting a miracle, but I was prepared for the worse. This time the two officers were accompanied by a third person. He introduced himself as the Ambassador of Kenya in Nigeria. I could not wait for a second word, I defied all the decorum and protocol jumped upon his shoulders and wept uncontrollably. He apologized for what had happened and assured me that my scholarship would de transferred to the southern state which was a Christian state. All this time, the immigration officers were speechless. I was ushered out of the cell by our ambassador to a his waiting limousine fly Kenya flag. I thought I was dreaming! He hosted me in his residence until he transferred my scholarship to another college. My morning was turned into dancing. Why I Want to Be a Nurse When I was in high school I was voted most likely to become a Dr.. This wasn’t a big deal except that I went to a Vocational and Technical High School. So I went on to pursue my parents dream to become a Dr. , note it was my parents dream. I just wanted to play baseball and become a nurse. At last there dream fell apart when I got hurt lost my scholarship in my freshman year of college. Funny thing is I could have stayed in school and really concentrate on my sports ops I mean school. My father told me to join the service so I could have the Military pay for school GI bill. After some thought I would no longer be under my father’s thumb and agreed to join the Navy. After taking the ASVAB test the recruiter smiled and asked if I had ever thought of nuclear subs I said no but said I like this 5 year hospital Corpsman thing it sounds good. The next 5 years was awesome I got to play baseball for a Puerto Rican professional team and play competitive softball for the Navy until I hurt my leg again. Now what to do didn’t take long to decide after my father passed away from a massive heart attack a week before my oldest daughter was born. I knew my calling to be a paramedic. This lasted several years but I realized that I could make more money and make my own hours. Now some years later I after some bad health have come back to my High School dream to become a nurse and this time I won’t be called a sissy for wanting to be one! My original reason to be a nurse was I wanted to work in an Emergency Room. From an early age I wanted to be a nurse not a Dr.. I think it was that while in the hospital I found that the nurses were the ones that left the lasting impressions on you. That was the seed. The ability to go to one job and stay there for a long time is a very good thing. In with what the other options in todays economy are. Most places that employ nurses offer good medical coverage. The last but not the least would be the pay. In today’s economy this has to be the number one reason to have brought me back full circle, to my high school days. So today at all most 50 I know that I can start here and then train to be an ER nurse for many years. Maybe even specializing in a pediatric ER unit. Why I Want to Be a Nurse Although my motives for becoming a nurse haven’t always been as set in place as they are now I have always, ever since I can remember, had the idea that this was the profession for me. I am an outgoing person who enjoys working with and helping people. It wasn’t until my father was diagnosed with cancer that I knew that being a nurse is what I wanted to do, to be an advocate to my father and to all the other patients that I would eventually care for.During my first year of study I was kept very busy trying to juggle all of my courses and at the same time taking care of a 4 yr old and a new baby, I was very determine to accomplish my dream to give my family a better life. Once I became a nurse, I was very proud of my accomplishment, even though my father had passed away from cancer, I was doing this for him. The nurses in the hospital taught me so much about care and compassion.They showed me first hand the characteristics of a good nurse and what being a nurse is all ab out. I believe that nursing is a profession that somebody must feel in their heart and truly love. After my experience in the hospital I can honestly say that I am proud to be a nurse and I definitely do feel it in my heart. I am currently working fulltime at Sentara home care as a nursing supervisor. My experience in nursing involved working at Chesapeake General Hospital as an Orthopedic nurse right from nursing school.I realized once I graduated and starting working with the patients that nursing isn’t just doing the task at hand, it involves compassion, sitting at the bedside of a patient that hasn’t had anyone visit them and spending time or just holding their hand. I love nursing and the longer that I am a nurse the more rewarding it is. I chose VCU to further my education because it enables me to continue working as Home care infusion nurse fulltime and taking care of my family. VCU is a reputable school for nursing and I feel that I would get the best education and experience going through your nursing program.

Big Fat Globalization Essay

ABSTRACT: It has often been observed that obesity follows a socioeconomic gradient which adversely affects the poor. This paper proposes the outline of a sociological theory of obesity as a consequence of ‘globalisation factors, such as labour market deregulation. Forced to work longer hours – and with lower levels of job-security – workers in low paid jobs have fewer opportunities to burn calories, and are more likely to consume fast-food. This combination has led to higher levels of obesity among the poor in countries that have adopted neo-liberal labour market reforms. There are some human phenomena, which seem to be the result of individual actions and personal decisions. Yet, these phenomena are often – on closer inspection – as much a result of social factors as of psychological ones. In 1897, Emile Durkheim (1997) showed that the suicide – perhaps the most personal of all decisions – could be analysed through the conceptual lenses of sociology. Obesity, much like suicide, is often regarded as a personal problem; result of an inability to control ones desires in front of the fridge. Obesity does have a psychological, and, indeed, a medical, dimension, yet like the suicide, this growing phenomenon also has a social dimension. This paper is an attempt to do the same for obesity as Emile Durkheim did to the study of suicide; to analyse it in the light of the theories of sociology. Obesity and Social Science Interest in the social aspects of obesity is nothing new. Jeffrey Sobal has written extensively about the social and psychological consequences of obesity , including the stigmatisation and discrimination of obese and even overweight individuals (Sobal 2004). Scholars with a more anthropological twist have written about the different social perceptions of obesity, e.g. the positive view of fatness among some indigenous peoples (Swinburne et al. 1996). In an article entitled, â€Å"An anthropological Perspective on Obesity â€Å" (Brown and Konner 1987), the authors found that â€Å"cross cultural data about body preferences for women reveal that over 80% of cultures for which shape preference data are available, people prefer a plump shape† (cited in Sobal 2004, 383). That these ideals are embedded in their respective cultures is perhaps best evidenced by the small statuette Venus of Willendorf, by common archaeological consent the oldest known work of art. Stone age man evidently preferred a big girl complete with multiple love-handles, someone who could both carry and nurture his offspring under the harsh conditions of the Palaeolithic world. Other examples of the cultural acceptance of large people obese Buddha statues in the Far East and rituals of prenuptial fattening in many cultures, where fatness is seen as sexually attractive (Brink 1989). That fat has often been a symbol of status is not merely an anthropological observation. In the 19th Century, in Britain, according to Williams and Germov, â€Å"a large, curved, body†¦connoted fertility, wealth and high status. While poor women were occupied with physical work, the voluptuous women of the middle classes were often viewed as objects of art, luxury, status, virtue and beauty† (Williams and Germov 2004, 342). â€Å"Fatness†, they go on, â€Å"was linked to emotional stability, strength (stored energy), good health, and refinement to leisure† (Ibid). These observations are worth bearing in mind when we discuss obesity. Obesity is – to a certain extend – a social construct. But obesity is also more than this. As an increasing medical problem, obesity is not merely a condition that can be – or should be – analysed in the light of perception and aesthetics. Obesity is also a product of biological, psychological, and social conditions. While not ignoring the importance of the former two factors, this paper presents an account of the latter. While correlations between obesity and  social and economic background variables have been reported (Flegal et al. 2000), sociological analyses have thus far not addressed the question of the social aetiology of obesity. This paper seeks to present a first step towards remedying this. The Obesity Debate ‘Why are we so fat?’ asked American magazine The National Geographic in a feature article in the summer of 2004 (National Geographic 2004). The use of the collective noun ‘we’ seemed particularly warranted as recent statistics show that more than 65 percent of us (the British) are overweight. (defined as having a Body-Mass Index of 25 or above). Still more alarming; 20 percent of us are clinically obese (defined as having a Body-Mass Index of 30 or above).(House of Commons Select Committee on Health 2004). Britain is not alone in this. In America the figure is even higher; 30 per cent of the Americans are obese (US Department of Health and Social Services 2000). According to a recent study of obesity in the USA, diet related illnesses are responsible for four out of the ten leading causes of death. (Bush and Williams 1999, 135). These figures matter for more than psychological and aesthetic reasons. It is estimated that more than 30.000 deaths per year in the UK are attributed to obesity or obesity related illnesses (House of Commons Select Committee on Health 2004, 6). In the colourful words of one medical expert: â€Å"this is an epidemic†¦the likes of which we have not had before in chronic disease†¦[obesity is] making HIV look, economically, like a bad case of the flu† (William Dietz quoted in Greitser 2000, 42). Add to this that close to ten percent of the total NHS budget is allocated to obesity and related illnesses, and it is difficult to dispute that obesity is a major health concern as well as a major socio-political problem. Facts1 such as these more than justify the Chief Medical Officer’s conclusion that obesity is â€Å"a health time bomb† that needs diffusion (Chief Medical Officer quoted in HC Select Committee on Health 2004, 8). But public health is not just about diagnosing and treating conditions, it is also about understanding causes, the identification of which will enable us to take the appropriate prophylactic measures to combat the epidemic. Yet, there is far from agreement on what these causes are. The explanations for the obesity epidemic cited in the popular press, e.g. in The National Geographic and in Newsweek (2004) were all biological in origin and medical in consequence. Quoting the work of medical geneticist Rudolph Leibel, The National Geographic concluded that obesity was down to genetics. â€Å"Our overeating†, the magazine quoted Leibel as saying, â€Å"is not the wilful result of deranged upbringing. It is genes talking† (National Geographic 2004, 62). This biochemical reductionism is not new – though the underlying science has changed. As far back as 1924, the editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association editorialised that ‘obesity’ was purely the result of ‘malfunctions in normal metabolic processes’ (Editorial: The Journal of the American Medical Association 1924, 1003). Contrary to the impression left by features such as those in Newsweek, the National Geographic and the octogenarian editorial, the picture is a good deal more complex than that. This is increasingly recognised within medicine. A report from the American Institute of Medicine is an example of a critique of the geneticist view: â€Å"there has been no real change in the gene pool during this period of increasing obesity. The root problem, therefore must lie in the powerful social and cultural forces that promote an energy-rich diet and a sedentary lifestyle† (Institute of Medicine 1995, 152). There is evidence to support the veracity of the hypothesis that social and cultural forces play a role (Flegal et al. 2000, 6). What is striking about the obesity epidemic is the extent to which it reflects social class conditions. To cite but one example; the Health Survey  for England has shown that in 2001, 14 percent of women in professional groups were obese, while 28 percent of women from unskilled manual occupations were categorised as such (House of Commons Select Committee on Health 2004, 16). Similar examples are legion. As a study concluded; â€Å"the largest rates of obesity occur among population groups with the highest poverty rates and the least education† (Drewnowski and Specter 2004, 6). This correlation between poverty and obesity is likely to be the result of underlying social factors. It is not that there is an automatic relationship between poverty and obesity. This relationship is a new phenomenon, which, consequently, needs to be analysed in the light of recent social, political and economic developments. As Ulrich Beck has observed; ‘the struggle for one’s ‘daily bread’ has lost its urgency as the cardinal problem overshadowing everything else†¦for many people the problems of ‘overweight’ take the place of hunger’ (Bech 1997, 21). The interesting question from a sociological point of view – as well as from a medical one – is why. Globalisation and Obesity: Towards a Pattern It is difficult to dispute that obesity is a social condition, which adversely affects those in low paid/short term jobs. Needless to say, obesity does have a significant biomedical component; what happens inside the body after you have munched your Big Mac obviously requires a physiological/biochemical explanation. However, it is (from a sociological and public health point of view) equally important to determine the factors which lead you to eat the Big Mac in the first place. What we endeavour to answer is the social aetiology of obesity; the social causes, which lead to weight gain. The aforementioned research findings strongly indicate that weight problems and poverty are highly statistically correlated. As a oft-cited study said:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"diet affects the health of socially disadvantaged people from cradle to grave† (James, Nelson, Ralph, and Leather 1999, 1545). Of course a quote does not establish a fact, nor does a statistical association. The question is what lies behind these correlations? Some could – with some justification – argue that these class differences merely reflect and reconfirm the existence of serious inequalities in health – as reported in the Black Report in the early 1980s (Working Group on Inequalities in Health 1982). What has hitherto been missing from the literature on obesity – as well as that on health in general – has been more ambitious theoretical explanations linking medical conditions – in this case obesity – to more general sociological discourses and theoretical trends (such as modernisation and globalisation). One obvious – yet overlooked – hypothesis is that societal changes from a traditional industrial society to a globalised (deregulated) economy has created new patterns of life and work, which have had adverse effects on food consumption, exercise, and hence has contributed to the increase in the growth of the obesity epidemic. According to this hypothesis, the advent of a neo-liberal economic regime has had – and continues to have – profound consequences for working patterns – especially for those in low paid/insecure jobs. This hypothesis is, in fact, consistent with observations made by sociologists such as Anthony Giddens who have observed that â€Å"one of the ways globalisation has affected family life in Britain is by increasing the amount of time that people spend each week at work† (Giddens 2004, 62). In addition to working longer hours, individuals are increasingly working in service sector jobs (such as call centres) with provide little opportunity for physical exercise. With ‘flexible’ working hours, individuals are likely to eat later and more likely to consume fast-food (Dalton 2004, 95). The  medical consequence of this is that they are unlikely to burn the extra calories they consume. While no evidence of this has been published using UK figures, data from America confirm this trend; â€Å"Americans now spend almost half of their food dollars on food away from home – 47 percent, or $354.4 billion in 1998† (Dalton 2004, 94) .That the hurried life-style brought about by changes in labour market is – in part – responsible for this, is underlined by figures from the fast food chains reporting that ‘drive-thru’ sales now account for more than half of their total sales (Dalton 2004, 95)2. That this has contributed to the obesity epidemic is underlined by the fact that â€Å"away from home† foods contain more total fat and saturated fat on a per-calorie basis than â€Å"at home food† (Dalton 2004, 94). As a further consequence of the changes in working patterns – and the less free time available – individuals are less likely to engage in sport and social leisure activities – factors which have been shown to be negatively correlated with weight gain (Dalton 2004, 95). Again American figures illustrate the trend. In 1991, 46 percent of high school students and 57 percent of middle school students were enrolled in sport activities (Sallis 1993, 403). By 1999, those figures had dropped to 29 percent of high-school students and 35 percent of middle school students. On average there is a 3 percent decrease in the number of kids who take part in sporting activities on a daily basis (CDC 2000). Viewed in this light is perhaps not surprising that the countries in the forefront of ‘globalisation’ (especially labour market deregulation) are also the countries with the highest incidence of obesity (See table One). Conversely, countries with less globalised economies, have had lower – sometimes much lower – levels of obesity. A few examples will suffice. In Sweden – a country that has not followed the neo-liberal reform agenda – the number of overweight people is 39 per cent  (the same figure as France – another country that has resisted neo-liberal reforms). The figure for Norway another affluent society in the same category is even lower; 25 percent (www.iotf.org). That labour market dergeulation goes hand in hand with obesity, seems to be confirmed when we contrast the obesity figures from ‘globalised’ countries with similar figures from less globalised economies (as measured by the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom). The Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient between this measure of globalisation (admittedly a gross proxy!) and obesity rate is a Pearson’s R of -.71. In other words, the less globalised the economy, the lower the number of obese people. While this correlation is not all conclusive – and only significant at 0.37 (two-tailed), it does suggest the existence of a causal link between obesity and globalisation. Table One: Index of Economic Freedom and Obesity Rates CountryIndex of Economic Freedom %Obese Australia1.8820 France2.63 8 Finland1.9513 Netherlands2.04 8 Norway2.25 7 United Kingdom1.7917 USA1.8525 Sources: The Heritage Foundation and www.iuns.com (accessed 14 August 2004) While governments of the most globalised economies – such as Australia, the UK and the USA – have gone to great lengths in their efforts to deregulate the economies and give ‘the market’ a stronger role, other countries – especially those with strong corporatist traditions (See Lijphart 1999) –have adopted a different approach to globalisation. In the Netherlands the government, trade unions, and employers associations have negotiated responses to globalisation, which have prevented the growing inequalities and levels of job-insecurity associated with globalisation in  Australia (Bessant and Watts 2002, 306)., Britain and the USA (Giddens 2001, 69). Consequently, the Dutch workers are not under the same pressures as their British and American counterparts in having to seek low paid/short term employment, with all the consequent negative implications on food consumption and lack of time for physical exercise (Freedman 2000). The difference between these two ‘pure types’ of welfare capitalism is not merely of importance for the reasons identified above (food intake with little opportunity to burn calories). There is also evidence to suggest that the ‘Dutch model’ is more conducive to the formation of ‘social capital’, which in turn is negatively correlated with levels of obesity (Putnam 2000, 264). Further globalisation is more than just labour market deregulation. Global liberalisation of trade under the WTO and liberalisation of the market for broadcasting are other factors to be taken into account. Globalisation is a mix of contingent factors which – when combined – create social developments. One of the consequences of globalisation is a society, in which consumers both ‘enjoy’ the benefits of cheap food from around the globe, while at the same time, are being subjected to advertisements from multinational food and beverage producers, such as McDonalds, Pepsi, Burger King, Coca Cola, and others. The level of this influence can hardly be exaggerated; in one year McDonald spent in excess of 1 billion US-dollars on advertising for kids (Brownell and Horgen 2003, 60). Globalisation has profoundly affected capitalist democracies, yet not all countries have responded by deregulating labour markets and unleashing market forces. In some cases, countries have (successfully) attempted to regulate the forces of globalisation, e.g. through restrictions on media advertising (especially on TV). In the Netherlands the public broadcasters  are not allowed to interrupt programmes aimed at the Under-12 year olds with advertisements. Similar restrictions have been introduced in Sweden and Norway (www.childrensprogrammes.org). That such restrictions have been introduced in small countries with relatively open economies is an indication – perhaps even a proof – that the effects of globalisation are not inevitable; that political intervention has not been rendered impossible by globalisation Conclusion â€Å"There is no question that the rates of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes †¦follow a socioeconomic gradient, such that the burden of disease falls disproportionally on people with limited resources, racial-ethnic minorities, and the poor†. Thus wrote two dieticians recently (Drewnowski and Specter 2004, 6). Previously, scholarly studies in the social aetiology of obesity have stopped short of developing these statistically based conclusions into a more general theoretical sociological framework. In this paper a case has been made for the view that obesity is – at least in part – a consequence of the recent political and economic developments commonly known as ‘globalisation’. Globalisation has led some governments (e.g. in the USA, Britain and Australia) to enact and implement labour market reforms (flexible job-markets with less job-security). One of the consequences of this development has been pressures on families and individuals in low paid/temporary jobs. Through this ‘globalisation’ has created conditions, which are conducive to over-consumption of high-energy foods. Forced to work longer hours, individuals have less time to prepare meals opting instead for pre-prepared fast food with a high fat content. In addition to this development, the availability of cheap food from around the globe coupled with advertising from multinationals – has resulted in new pressures which have led to a growth in the consumption of energy-rich food  among the poor. Thus a combination of social factors have contributed to the fast growing epidemic of obesity which is eroding our health budgets, lowering self-esteem and creating premature deaths. References: American Medical Association (1924), ‘What Causes Obesity’, Editorial, The Journal of the American Medical Association, 1924, 83, 1003. Ulrich Beck, Risk Society. Towards a New Modernity, London, Sage, 1997, p. 21. Bessant, Judith and Watts, Rob (2002) Sociology Australia. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen&Unwin P.J. Brink (1989) â€Å"The Fattening Room Among the Annang of Nigeria: Anthropological Approaches to Nursing Research†, in Medical Anthropology, Vol. 12, pp. 131-43). Brown, P.J. and Konner, M. (1987) â€Å"An anthropological Perspective on Obesity â€Å", in Annals of the New York Academy of the Sciences, Vol. 499, pp.29-49 Brownell K.D. and Horgen, K.B (2004) Food Fight : The Inside Story of the Food Industry, America’s Obesity Crisis, and What We Can Do About It., McGrew-Hill. Bush, L. and Williams, R. â€Å"Diet and Health: New Problems/New Solutions†, in Food Policy, Vol. 24, pp.135) Campos, Paul (2004)The Obesity Myth. Why our Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Our Health. London: Penguin. CDC. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, â€Å"Healthy People 2010†, 2000, www.health.gov/healthypeople/document/HTML (Accessed 13 September 2004). Childrens Programmes (n.d) www.childrensprogrammes.org/regulate.html. Critser, G. (2000), â€Å"Let them Eat Fat†, in Harper’s March 2000. Drewnowski, A and Specter, S.E, ‘Poverty and Obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs’, in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004, 79, 6-16. Durkheim, Emile (1997) Le Suicide. Étude de Sociologie. Paris: PUF Flegal, K.M, et al. ‘Prevalance and Trends in Obesity among US Adults 1999-2000, Journal of the American Medical Association, 2000, 288, 1723-27 Freedman, Richard (2000), ‘Single Peaked versus Diversified Capitalism: The Relationship Between Economic Institutions and Outcomes’ Bureau of Economic Research. Working Paper 7526, Washington, NBER. Giddens, Anthony (2004) Sociology, 4th Edition, Cambridge, Polity Press. Institute of Medicine (1995); Weighing the Options: Criteria for Evaluating Weight Management Problems, Washington DC, American Academic Press. International Obesity Task Force, www.iotf.org James, W.P.T, Nelson, M., Ralph, A. and Leather A. (1999), â€Å"Socioeconomic Determinants of Health: The Contribution of Nutrition to Inequalities in Health†, in British Medical Journal, Vol.314, No.7093, pp.1545-49. Lijphart, Arend (1999). Patterns of Democracies, New Haven, Yale University Press. National Geographic, ‘Why Are We So Fat?’, August 2004-09-16 Newsweek, (2004) â€Å"What do You Know About Fat†, in Newsweek Magazine September 20 Putnam, Robert (2000) Bowling Alone. The Collapse and Revival of American Social Capital, Simon and Schuster, New York. J.F. Sallis (1993) â€Å"Epidemiology of Physical Activity and Fitness in Adolescents†, in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Vol.33. no.4-5, 403-408. Sobal, Jeffery (2004), ‘Sociological Analysis of the Stigmatisation of Obesity†, in John Germov and Lauren Williams (Editors), A Sociology of Food and Nutrition. The Social Appetite, Oxford, Oxford University Press Swinburn, Boyd. et al. ‘Do Polynesians Still Believe that Big is Beautiful?, in New Zealand Medical Journal,1996, 109. 100-103 US Department of Health and Social Services, Healthy People 2010, 2nd Ed., US Gov. Printing Office, 2000. Lauren Williams and John Germov (2004)†The Thin Ideal: Women, Food, and Dieting†, in Lauren Williams and John Germov (Editors) A Sociology of Food and Nutrition. The Social Appetite, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 342 Working Group on Inequalities in Health (1982) Inequalities in Health (The Black Report), London, HMSO, 1982.

Abstinence essays

Abstinence essays In the article Abstinence by Ray Hoskins (Slife, 1994) it is stated that abstinence is the only way that a person with an addiction can recover. On the other hand Michael S. Levy states in his article Individualized Care For The Treatment Of Alcoholism (Slife, 1994) that abstinence may not the best way to treat an addiction, but that the best way to treat an addiction depends on each individuals specific needs. It is clear that the only way a person can strive and conquer an addiction is to completely distance themselves from the cause of that addiction, in the case of an alcoholic; they must distance themselves from alcohol. To understand abstinence we must first understand what the terms addict and addiction mean. According to Websters Dictionary (1996) addict is defined as, surrendering (oneself) habitually or compulsively to something, as caffeine or alcohol. To break down this definition, we can say that an addict is a person that creates a habit on relying on a substance (alcohol) or an act (sex). With the understanding of what an addict is we can define addiction as a state of mind where one depends upon a substance (alcohol) or an act (sex) that affects their daily life in some form, usually in a negative way. For example in Levys Individualized Care For The Treatment Of Alcoholism (Slife, 1994) case vignette 5 states; L...a 30 year old, married male...described his drinking most every day, but was most concerned about his heavy drinking with loss of control, which generally occurred three times a week. In this case we can see that L was showing signs of addiction towards alcohol in the ways that he formed a habit, drinking everyday, and it affected his life, losing control. When a person does become addicted to a substance such as alcohol the only way to successfully stop the addiction is through the means of abstinence, or stopping completely ...

Calculations With the Gamma Function

Calculations With the Gamma Function The gamma function is defined by the following complicated looking formula: Γ ( z ) ∠«0∞e - ttz-1dt One question that people have when they first encounter this confusing equation is, â€Å"How do you use this formula to calculate values of the gamma function?†Ã‚   This is an important question as it is difficult to know what this function even means and what all of the symbols stand for. One way to answer this question is by looking at several sample calculations with the gamma function.   Before we do this, there are a few things from calculus that we must know, such as how to integrate a type I improper integral, and that e is a mathematical constant.   Motivation Before doing any calculations, we examine the motivation behind these calculations.   Many times the gamma functions show up behind the scenes.   Several probability density functions  are stated in terms of the gamma function. Examples of these include the gamma distribution and students t-distribution,   The importance of the gamma function cannot be overstated.   Γ ( 1 ) The first example calculation that we will study is finding the value of the gamma function for Γ ( 1 ). This is found by setting z 1 in the above formula: ∠«0∞e - tdt We calculate the above integral in two steps: The indefinite integral ∠«e - tdt -e - t CThis is an improper integral, so we have ∠«0∞e - tdt limb → ∞ -e - b e 0 1 Γ ( 2 ) The next example calculation that we will consider is similar to the last example, but we increase the value of z by 1.   We now calculate the value of the gamma function for Γ ( 2 ) by setting z 2 in the above formula. The steps are the same as above: Γ ( 2 ) ∠«0∞e - tt dt The indefinite integral ∠«te - tdt- te - t -e - t C.   Although we have only increased the value of z by 1, it takes more work to calculate this integral.   In order to find this integral, we must use a technique from calculus known as integration by parts. We now use the limits of integration just as above and need to calculate: limb → ∞ - be - b -e - b -0e 0 e 0. A result from calculus known as L’Hospital’s rule allows us to calculate the limit limb → ∞ - be - b 0. This means that the value of our integral above is 1. Γ (z 1 ) zΓ (z ) Another feature of the gamma function and one which connects it to the factorial is the formula Γ (z 1 ) zΓ (z ) for z any complex number with a positive real part. The reason why this is true is a direct result of the formula for the gamma function. By using integration by parts we can establish this property of the gamma function.

Stay Regionalized of West Morris Regional School District in NJ Research Paper

Stay Regionalized of West Morris Regional School District in NJ - Research Paper Example Representative James Button is one of the most outspoken shareholders on the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education. He is pushing for the school district to build two new high schools and re-appropriating the students from all five counties into the two new high schools. In re-appropriating, the students from all five counties into four high schools would help improve the district's scores on state tests. Kristen Forrester is the president of the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education. Forrester is from Washington Township. James Button claims that students from Washington Township receive $10,000 per student in state funds, Phil Garber (1). The students from the other counties in the district received $22,000 per student in state funds, Phil Garber (1). The Education Commissioner Brett Schundler and New Jersey State Governor Chris Christie support a change in the district; because it could save the towns the cost of a study, Phil Garber (1). The biggest consequence of building a high school for all the towns in the West Morris Regional High School District would be that the taxes in all the towns would increase. If all of the taxes in the towns increase it would be; because the cost to the state to build two new high schools would be astronomical. Another main concern of building a high school for all of the towns is, the cost per student would begin to decrease. The taxes would increase in all of the towns, but this would be to augment the cost of building the two new high schools. If taxes increase in the towns only to augment the cost of building the two new high schools, there would be no money left over to appropriate to the students.