Psychological Testing Essay

Individual intelligence tests are of two types; Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test and Wechsler tests. They tests individual’s intelligence in arithmetic, vocabulary, comprehension, verbal amongst other disciplines. Individual tests are mostly used in education placement, clinical assessment and to measure an individual’s skills in the event a wide a large of individuals are being examined (Roid, 2003). Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test is used in testing children that are intellectually deficient in order to place them in the special education programmes. These tests are taken individually. Individual tests are characterized by several advantages; they make it possible for the examiner to interact with the examinee establishing a rapport in which the interaction can be observed and assessed. They also provide information on why some methods and tactics used to measure intelligence fail. Individual tests also make it possible for the examiner to assess a variety of abilities in examinees as it is not restricted. Individual tests provide a better way of assessing children are emotionally disturbed (Roid, 2003). These tests make it possible for assessments to be made on examinees that are in any physical or emotional condition such as tired, sick or anxious. Group intelligence tests involve assessing a series of many different problems in a mass of examinees. They are commonly used in schools and the military. They could be aptitude tests, scholastic assessment tests or tests of cognitive abilities. They are characterised by pen and paper, usually are time limited, involve almost nil examiner to examinee interaction are have multiple choices making them easy to score. They are normally used in school and job placements, and in the study of certain norms or phenomena in a population (Santrock, 2008). Group tests have the advantage of simplifying examiner’s role as they are quick and easy to administer. It is also possible to administer them on simultaneously to large numbers of examinees. Scoring in group tests is more objective as compared to individual tests. Group tests are often non-verbal (Santrock, 2008). Group tests give data that is more reliable as they make it possible for large numbers to be studied which provide good representative of the entire population, the resulting data and conclusion is therefore more reliable as it is more representative of the population than if the norms were being studied in an individual as is with individual tests. 7. The advantages and disadvantages of projective versus objective personality assessment methods Projective personality assessment method is a test that involves use of open-ended questions to examine the person being tested. Projective tests involve questions that are unstructured hence give the person being examined more freedom to respond in the appropriate way as compared to objective tests. These tests normally require the examinee to respond to stimuli that is ambiguous (Hilsenroth & Segal, 2004). It is based on the fact that people respond to stimuli that are ambiguous in ways that bring to light their feelings, desires and needs. The advantage of this method is that makes it possible for the psychologist to study and examine unconscious aspects of subject’s personality. These tests are not transparent hence create no opportunity for subjects to lie or fake their personality traits. The weakness of projective tests is that the collected information is not as reliable and viable as is needed. This is based on the fact that the psychologists that use the method assume that the subjects can not lie about their personality. Analysing data collected by this method can be time consuming and tiring as it needs the psychologist to go through it by himself. New technology such as computer scoring which is fast can not be used in this method (Hilsenroth & Segal, 2004). Objective personality assessment method involves the use of questions and items that are standardized, specific and clear in testing individuals under study. These tests are characterized by limited choice of the examinee’s responses. Most of the questions are designed such that they require yes or no, and true or false responses. Objective testing has several advantages. Objective methods fast to carry out. This is attributed to the fact that the answers required are directive and do not need the respondents to think or expand on the answers giving unnecessary details that waste time (Hilsenroth & Segal, 2004). This enables the data to be collected and analysed within a short time availing results within the required time. This method is also more economical as compared to the projective testing method. This because the questions are easy to prepare and the fact that all they need is yes or no responses implies that they do not require a lot of space. This saves on the cost of printing the questionnaire as less pages are required. The questions are also easy to answer making the researcher to collect the needed data very fast hence does not spend a lot of time in the field which saves money that would have been used on upkeep and transport. Objective test methods also make it possible for technology to be used such as computer scoring which is faster, less tiring and more efficient as compared to projective tests that require the researcher to go through the responses by himself in order to come up with the results ( Hilsenroth & Segal, 2004). . Like any other method, objective assessment methods also have disadvantages. These methods usually involve questions that are transparent which makes the individuals under study to know what the psychologists want to study in them. This makes them lie or forge answers. In the event the individual carrying out the test does not include lie scales which provide information to the researcher on the likelihood of the subject lying then wrong data is collected. This tests also characterized by collection of biased data as it provides opportunity for the subject to respond not the way things are but the way they wish things were. (Hilsenroth & Segal, 2004). The structure of the questions does not allow the subjects to add more information on their yes or no, true or false answers. This could cause the psychologist to miss out o9n vital information. 3. Some of the misconceptions concerning the differences between aptitude and achievement tests. Achievement tests are the common tests that are usually given out in classrooms and educational assessments. They are used to test what an individual can do or what they know. They are usually administered after some activity to test if individuals have grasped whatever was being taught. Examples are classroom quizzes, continuous assessment tests, driving tests, final examinations amongst others. Achievement tests in school are used to determine whether students understand what has been taught, which classes to place them, they are also used to rate schools and predict an individual’s success in certain disciplines in future if they are doing well. Aptitude tests usually are carried out to assess the mental abilities of individuals. These tests based on the concept that innate mental abilities of individuals can be measured. Aptitude tests are usually carried out to test student’s mental ability as they are believed to give a picture of how the student can perform academically. It is believed that those who pass the test qualify academically for what course they are applying for. Examples of aptitude test include SATs. Aptitude tests have been referred to as quality measurement on ones mental ability. However, critics of the concept argue that innate abilities can not be measured hence the test just like any other test is used to measure what an individual has been able to achieve by the time the test is being carried out. The results of this test hence demonstrate the individuals’ achievement in the subjects that were being tested on. This is true in spite of what the subject the questions are testing on. As such, aptitude tests are very much the same as achievement tests. The difference between the two tests however is in the assumption about individuals that take the two tests. With aptitude test, there is a misconception that there is equal opportunity to learn for everyone taking the test. It also is assumed that the interest of individuals taking aptitude test in learning is equal and also in demonstrating the learnt ability on the test. With achievement test it is assumed that the tests usually are based on instructions of a course or on some training that is not necessarily available to all the individuals taking the test. The misconception concerning the difference between the two tests therefore lies in the assumption that there is equal opportunity for passing in aptitude tests while achievement tests can only be passed by those who have access to the course or training instructions. 6. Information is presumably gathered by the typical projective technique Projective techniques are methods of assessing personality traits of individuals that use questions that are unstructured and not specific. The questions used in this technique are not transparent implying that the individuals being studied can not identify what the researcher or a psychologist is looking from them (Lilienfeld, Wood & Garb, 2001). Usually projective technique is used to study response of subjects to questions or situations that are ambiguous. It is perceived that the fact that these situations are not known to the subjects will enable them to respond appropriately without having to lie or change their personality. It is believed that individuals respond to ambiguous situations and questions in an honest way. Their response to these situations that they do not clearly understand brings out their true personality as it there is no opportunity for lie or personality to be altered or changed. Psychologists who use the method to collect information on personality argue that human being’s always respond to ambiguous stimuli in a way that brings out their personal needs, wants, wishes and desires (Lilienfeld, Wood & Garb, 2001). This technique is believed to make it possible for psychologists to assess the unconscious aspect of the individuals being studied character. As such, it provides no room for personality faking. Human beings are believed to have no control over the unconscious part of their psychology. The unconscious aspect of our psychology is believed to be what really defines us in terms of character. Psychologists argue that humans thought, actions hence character originate from their unconscious aspect of psychology. The fact that this technique enables the psychologist to study the subject’s unconscious aspect of personality has therefore been used in gathering personality information. This technique unlike the others makes it possible for individuals being studied to consciously give information that is biased and accurate. The notion that individuals are not restricted in responding to ambiguous has made this method to be used for collecting data on personality. 4. The reasons which dictate that an organization, whether industrial or governmental, to use valid selection procedures for hiring workers. There are several reasons as to why organizations use valid selection procedures for hiring employees. These procedures are useful in the several processes that involve hiring. In selection of employees to hire, the assessment tools that are used in valid selection procedures enable organizations to identify the best individuals for the job as they are able to identify the individual’s character traits that are required of the specific job. An assessment tool that is well properly developed will guide the recruitment team in selecting successful and suitable individuals for the particular occupation and position they are recruiting for. Valid selection procedures also eliminate cases of unfairness from arising making the whole process efficient and professional (Weiner & Graham, 2003). Valid selection procedures for hiring are important in job placement. They enable organizations’ management to assign employees to the right job responsibilities and levels. Assessment helps provide information that enables organizations to make the right decisions assigning of responsibilities which increase performance hence productivity of the organization. Valid assessment procedures are important in training and development of employees. The assessment enables an organization to determine which employee needs what training. The organization is able to know if its employees have mastered training procedures and materials that are vital for operation and running of the organization (Weiner & Graham, 2003). Assessments carried out enable the organization to design or make changes in training programmes so that the most needed ones are given priority. Assessment procedures also enable individual employees to identify their weaknesses hence can embark on self-development. This has positive results as it enables it to have employees that are skilful and well trained hence increasing productivity. Assessment procedures also play a great role in promotion or demotion of employees. The procedures enable the organization’s management to identify employees that have been improving in their performance and skills. Those who possess managerial characteristics or even higher capabilities are identified hence promoted to greater positions that have more responsibilities (Weiner & Graham, 2003). On the other hand, those who seem to making no progress or have decreasing performance are demoted as ant serious organization would not want to have employee especially those holding positions of great responsibility that are not performing. Valid assessment procedures provide a professional and fair way of carrying out promotions and demotions ensuring that the right employees are assigned to the right positions and responsibilities. Assessment procedures are also significant in career guidance and exploitation. These assessments help individuals make not only educational but career choices as well. The assessments make individuals identify the subjects they are good in hence accordingly choose careers that they will be successful in without have to strain their mental capability. The assessments procedures also enable organizations to carry out evaluation of programs. The organization is able to identify programs that benefit employees and those that do not so that it can stop wasting resources on irrelevant programs. Word Count: 2280. References Hilsenroth, M & Segal, D. (2004). Comprehensive Handbook of Psychological Assessment: Personality assessment / editors. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons. Lilienfeld, S. O. , Wood, J. N. , & Garb, H. N. (2001). The scientific status of projective techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 1, 27-66. Roid, G. H. (2003). Stanford Binet Intelligence Scales 5th Edition: Examiner’s Manual. Riverside Publishing, Itaska, Illinois. Santrock, J. (2008). A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development (4th Ed. )Concept of Intelligence. New York: McGraw-Hill. Weiner, I. & Graham, J. (2003). Handbook of Psychology: Assessment psychology. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons.

Nigerian Scams – 419 Scam

Nigerian Scams – 419 Scam Information Nigerian, or â€Å"419†, scams are one of the most common types of fraudulent email currently hitting inboxes. Nigerian scam messages can also arrive via fax or letter. The messages generally claim that your help is needed to access a large sum of money, usually many millions of dollars. In fact, this money does not exist. The messages are an opening gambit designed to draw potential victims deeper into the scam.Those who initiate a dialogue with the scammers by replying to a Nigerian scam message will eventually be asked for advance fees supposedly required to allow the deal to proceed. They may also become the victims of identity theft. The so-called â€Å"Nigerian scam† is one of the longest running that I know about. In fact, it predates the Internet and email. The scams are also known as â€Å"419 scams† after the appropriate part of the Nigerian criminal code. The scammers still use surface mail and faxes as well as email.There are a great many versions of this scam. Although many originate out of Nigeria, hence the generic term â€Å"Nigerian scam†, it is certainly not only Nigerian based criminals that send them. In spite of the longevity of this type of scam and the large amounts of publicity that it has received, many people around the world are still being conned out of substantial sums of money. I regularly receive enquiries from Internet users who have received Nigerian scam emails and do not know what they are about. Basically, the scam works like this.You receive an unsolicited message that masquerades as some manner of business proposition, request for assistance, notice of a potential inheritance, or opportunity to help a charity. In fact, there is a seemingly endless array of cover stories that the scammers use in order to draw potential victims into the con. In spite of this diversity, virtually all of the scam messages share a common theme. The messages all claim that y our help is needed to access a large sum of money, usually many millions of dollars.The scammers use a variety of stories to explain why they need your help to access the funds. For example: * They may claim that political climate or legal issues preclude them from accessing funds in a foreign bank account. * They may claim that your last name is the same as that of the deceased person who owned the account and suggest that you act as the Next of Kin of this person in order to gain access to the funds. * They may claim that a rich businessman, who has a terminal illness, needs your help to distribute his wealth to charity.The messages offer to let you keep a significant percentage of the funds in question in exchange for your assistance. This percentage is the bait that the scammers use to entice potential victims deeper into the scam. Once a recipient has taken the bait, and initiated a dialogue with the scammers, he or she will soon receive requests for â€Å"fees† that the scammer claims are necessary for processing costs, tax and legal fees, or bribes to local officials.The scammers will warn the victim that these advance fees need to be paid before the funds can be procured. In reality, the supposed funds do not exist. The major purpose of these scam messages is to trick recipients into parting with their money in the form of these advance fees. Fraudulent requests for fees will usually continue until the victim realizes he or she is being conned and stops sending money. In some cases, the scammers gain enough information to access the victim's bank account directly or steal the victim's identity.

Houstons Land Use Policy Essay

Houston is a large city with very unique qualities that most cities cannot even begin to understand, but is this just Houstonian pride talking? No, actually one of the unique qualities that Houston has is how we handle our land use planning. Houston is well known for not having any zoning ordinances, which has become a well-known topic for a while now. People argue weather our lack of zoning is chaotic, unorthodox, or independent and distinct. Another unique quality that we have is where our political culture stands. Dr. Elazar’s â€Å"Individualistic – Traditionalistic† study of political culture talks about three categories moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic, which entails what category Texas falls in and why. This study of Political culture can help relate to reasons why Houston lacks at land use planning and whether it is for the best or worse. The land use planning in Houston is different from other cities because we don’t have zoning o rdinance, meaning that we can have for example â€Å"the fanciest restaurant in town right next to a tattoo parlor†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ,UH of Architecture Dean Patricia Oliver. Other cities have a different system that involves color-coded maps that let people know where and what they can and can’t have in those properties. Cities that have regulations do it because they believe that if the government doesn’t tell them what to do with the land it would be chaotic. Houston, on the other hand thinks that property owners decide what works best for their property not the government. Even though everything seems unrestricted in Houston we do have a form of organizing certain areas like neighborhoods with â€Å"deed restrictions† where owners voluntarily agree to certain restrictions when they buy property. We also have â€Å"property rights† which means that one the government cannot tell you what to do with your land. Due to the system that Houston uses to administer the land use, most housing becomes affordable an example is also the way Houston evaded the real estate bubble. The broader picture to Houston is that it comes from the biggest state in the U.S, Texas. Texas has a vast amount of people and within these people there  are different types of mindsets but there are also similar ones things like this are what describe are Political culture which the book, Texas Politics 12th edition, defines it as a shared system of values, beliefs and habits of behavior with regard about politics. Dr. Elazar describes political culture as everyone being impacted by the beliefs and values of the dominant groups in society; these groups can range in between three categories of political culture moralistic, Individualistic, and traditionalistic. According to the book, moralistic political culture is when citizens understand the state and the nation as commonwealths designed to further the shared interest of everyone. In Individualistic political culture, citizens understand the state and the nation as marketplaces in which people strive to better their personal welfare, citizen participation is encouraged. In Traditionalistic political culture, citizens technically believe in democracy, but emphasize respect to elite rule within a hierarchal society and citizen participation is not encouraged. Texas stands right in between Individualistic and Traditionalistic in the scale of political culture. Texas is a midpoint between individualistic and traditionalistic; some people think that there is a correlation between the zoning and the political culture in Houston, Texas. Research has shown that the state has a very strong business oriented perspective which means they’re more open to the ideas of the public, Individualistic. This explains how in Houston we don’t have the government tell us where we can do with our property we can put any business where we please. The traditionalistic culture in Texas comes from the way the elite groups are the ones that rule, this idea is active through the projection of restriction with â€Å"deed restrictions† and â€Å"Property rights† where the majority choose what they want or only approve of government activity if they favor to their likings. The land use planning in Houston is unique compared to other cities in the U.S. We have no zoning restrictions meaning we chose where we want are properties and what we do with them. The only exception is when the majority of people make a decision on what can happen on a certain area like a neighborhood. The political culture of Texas, which is in between individualistic and traditionalistic and it is portrayed in the land use planning in Houston. Citations Newell, Charldean, David F. Prindle, and James W. Riddlesperger. â€Å"Texas Political Culture.†Texas Politics. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print. Teas, Anderew. â€Å"HCC Eagle Online: Login to the Site.† HCC Eagle Online: Login to the Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2014.

The world is getting flatter, and that is not necessarily a good thing Essay

The world is getting flatter, and that is not necessarily a good thing - Essay Example The world according to Friedman has been flattened due to major political events, innovations, and companies. He also cites ten flatterers that have shrunk the world. Information technology has definitely brought the world closer and made it interdependent and interconnected, it has resulted in both economic and social integration but this is not necessarily a good thing. Companies have to plan their strategies with special focus on talent management, cross-cultural diversity and the supply chain. Outsourcing and offshoring have affected the way business work today. Networking too has had an impact on services and product offerings. Thus the phenomenon of flat world gives rise to an emergent ‘mess’ of change that confronts us each new day (Weeks, 2007). Flatness is not a new phenomenon. Members of the same industry cluster together inefficiently in the centre of a straight line. This limits competition as it creates a long-term relationship between buyer and seller due to cost-advantage which benefit both (Leamer, 2006). Flatness can increase the scope of relationships but such relationships need to be maintained which is not as simple as it is made out to be. Flatness means taking advantage of the sun-dial model and getting the tasks to be done in other countries while Americans are still in bed. Friedman does not consider the amount of job loss it has caused the US. A flat world would imply that all nations can sell the same goods at more or less the same price and people have the same culture which enhances adaptability. McDonalds have faced problems in selling the same menu everywhere and do have to make local adaptation. It is not possible to change the culture and taste of a nation even after years of flatness. Flatness would means that labor costs or more specifically the costs of production should be the same all over but MNCs start production in developing nations to take advantage of cheap labor. This just means that relationships have shifted

Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Final - Essay Example he company continued the production of sports car over the next few decades, only venturing outside the sports car market in the 21st century with Cayenne Porsche being released in 2003 and then Panamera Porsche being released in 2005 (Henderson &Reavis, 2009). Nevertheless, the early 1990s were not good business years for Porsche, which saw a slump both in its production and market, such that the company was only selling 14,000 during this period, having been able to sell over 50,000 units before. Regardless of the upheavals in the car product market, the engineering services market for Porsche remained stable, owing to the fact that the company was offering the engineering services to virtually all automobile makers in the market through its Porsche Engineering Group (PEG). It is out of this trading activity that Porsche was able to earn around 60% of its pre-tax profits, with the product market making up for the rest 40% of the company’s revenues (Leffingwell, 2011). Porsche’s move towards acquiring the Volkswagen Group started in 2005 when the company acquired a 20% stake in the company, which was then followed by an increase in the percentage of the shares acquired to 31.5% by 2007. However, the acquisition of Volkswagen by Porsche has remained a controversial issue, owing to the fear that the company’s products will degrade in value, while the customers for the Porsche’s engineering service might eventually quit their engagement with the company, due to its partnering with a large automaker, which produced and sold over 6 million vehicles in 2007 (Henderson &Reavis, 2009). It is this fear that poses the risk for Porsche’s possible loss of revenues, owing to the fact that the engineering services sold to the other automakers contributed the highest percentage of Porsche’s annual revenues, and thus the cutback in selling these services will affects the company’s financial position and profitability. The acquisition of Volkswagen also threatens to

Fallacious Arguments and Psychological Tactics Essay

Fallacious Arguments and Psychological Tactics - Essay Example A quote used in the article is â€Å"The UK is now ahead of many of its international rivals when it comes to cutting employment and creating jobs† (Gye, 2013). However, obviously being ahead of one’s rivals in the international scene is not necessarily just due to lowered unemployment rates. Another hyperbole is the statement â€Å"This is unlike anything seen in this country since the Second World War† (Gye, 2013). However, it is impossible that there has not been any other good thing that happened in Britain from 1945 to 2014. The author also tries to euphemize the unemployment of the youth: â€Å"Youth unemployment has risen yet again, back towards the million mark [so Britain’s response is] an industrial back-to-work program to match the crisis we face† (Gye, 2013). Therefore, it seems so convenient to think that just because there is a proposed solution, then the problem is already solved. One of the psychological tactics employed by the author is mentioning that more and more young people are actually becoming unemployed. However, aside from the fact that the author makes a headcount of around 1,000,000 for the unemployed youth, his data on the 29.73 million who have jobs include those aged 16 to 64 (Gye, 2013). Thus, it is not clear where the 1,000,000 figure is coming from, as it couldn’t be that the same youth from the age of 16 and above who are among the 29.73 million employed are the same people who are among the 1,000,000 unemployed. Thus, there is not only something missing here but something amiss. Lastly, there is the fallacy of non sequitur for it does not follow that â€Å"the UK is now ahead of many of its international rivals†¦Ã¢â‚¬  merely because the illustrations indicate that â€Å"even though wages have been rising, in recent years prices have been rising at a faster rate† (Gye, 2013). Thus, there is actually nothing good about being employed if the salary is merely good enough to make

Understanding Challenges In The Third Sector Essay - 4

Understanding Challenges In The Third Sector - Essay Example I realized that human resource is a challenge to the third sector. Specifically, distinction between the role of the volunteer and the regular employees often bring many challenges (Tilly, 2011 p 23). among them include planning the activities of the agency with the volunteers. The agency depends on the human resource in running its activities an aspect that makes reliance on the volunteers quite challenging. As the name suggest, a volunteer may seize to be a staff of the agency. I think soliciting funds is a challenge to the agency because it has a direct impact on running the activity of the organizations. Before the children get into the hands of their adopters, for instance, they live under the care of the agency. This means that the agency has to solicit funds that can sustain the program. Moreover, the agency does know when the adopters would knock at the agency’s door. I think this explains the reasons for allocating funds for nearly every person under the umbrella of the organization. Although third sector has been in place for a number of years, lack of understanding between funders and state based purchasers makes the running of the agency quite hard. I believe that this misconception is worrying because it shifts the attention of either group, an aspect that might dent the functions of the organization. Arguably, lack of awareness among the main players contributes to this situation (Tilly, 2011 p12). Further, the recognition of the brands used by the third sector is an important step that would help in changing the situation. I think formalization of the activities of the firm would not only influence the future state of the firm, but also change the present trends in handling issues within the agency. I think distinction between the beneficiaries and the other persons is gnawing at the agency. In turn, the reverberation of this challenge affects normal activities

Nursing Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing Portfolio - Essay Example Usually if a Pedro rating is not incorporated in the article, then a low score will be provided on the scale. I will make exceptions on some of the articles below. Article 1: The Efficacy of Nutrition and Lifestyle Approaches in the Treatment of Depression This article's treatment plan is somewhat believable. The criteria and eligibility of who is in this study is clear to some extent but not clear enough. This study uses random allocation to measure its results. There is no mention that it is a random study nor any indication is given of whether the participants are from different backgrounds or not (1 point). This study conceals allocation by not providing any detailed information on the participants (1 + 1 = 2 points). There is a comparability of the groups at baseline and the study is blind because we have an age range and a control vs noncontrol group (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4 points). The therapists and assessors component is not fully satisfied because there is no mention of therapis t and their techniques included along with no indication of a well established person in charge of administering the treatment. It is a random list of items to deal with finding an alternative to medication for depression. The only followup here is that the participants have no way of curing depression. That would be considered enough of a followup because participants of the study are aware that this is not a cure but rather a possible solution to depression (5 points). In other words, little mention as to a followup study has been recorded. This study does not use enough statistical analysis to provide evidence of achieving its results. Three confident interval scores were used and that is not enough to prove that nutrition and lifestyle changes help. There is mention of point estimates on the mean however this does not provide enough evidence that the items they suggest help to benefit depression. This article is granted a Pedro rating of 5 which means it is fair. I could have go ne to 4 or 6 but I think 5 is more of a proper score. Any article with a score of 6 or above would be considered a worthy study. Overall this article gets a 2b rating. Article 2: Aspirin Use and Lung, Colon, and Breast Cancer: Incidence in a prospective study Random allocation and the concealment of this allocation is clear. We know who is in the study and we also know that it remains confidential. The study is believable and states clear demographics. Also the identities of the participants is secure (1 + 1 + 1 = 3 points). The comparision of groups at baseline is illustrated throughout the research because we are comparing those who take aspirin and get various types of cancer and those who do not. There is a follow up of results with a 12.4 year period (2 + 3 = 5 points). This article provides several charts and provides a lot of analysis on those who use aspirin and whether they are less likely to get cancer. They provide a lot of substantial evidence and use appropriate measure s to establish a list of results. The background on how they use these measures is also quite thoroughly investigated (5 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8 points). Overall, this article has a Pedro rating of 8 which means that it is good in the presentation of experimental methods and it has a clear demonstration of its demographics. It is also easily conceivable that this research would have these results judging only on the presentation and the

Environmental Biology and Conservation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Environmental Biology and Conservation - Essay Example The elephants are particularly killed for their valuable ivory that is used in the manufacture of traditional medicine especially in China and Taiwan and making of game trophies and ornaments. In this respect, the conservation of the animals especially in the African continent has become one of top priorities in order to safeguard their crucial role they play in the ecosystem. Destroying local elephant habitats to create room for human settlement is an important local issue in Africa that has resulted to deaths of the African elephant. This paper examines the impact of killing the African elephant one of the threatened species, with special focus on its role in the ecosystem and the conservation measures put in place to ensure its survival. Population trends of African elephant and its major habitats The population of the African elephant has dropped sharply from about 1.3 million animals in the 1970s to about 450,000 animals today (Chris, 1999). The population of these animals has reduced drastically in their main habitats across the African continent presenting serious ecological challenges in the affected region. In view of the declining numbers, some African countries have established conservancies such as game reserves, game parks and national parks in addition to lobbying for international ban on ivory. According to Chris (1999), the African elephant, Loxodanta africana inhabited virtually all parts of the continent for many centuries. Currently, the animals are mostly concentrated on the southern Saharan desert, and their numbers are scattered and disjointed in the region. The habitats of elephants in the sub-Saharan Africa are divided into four main zones that include central, southern, western and eastern Africa (Anderson and Coe 1974). These regions have varying human p opulation that plays a critical role in determining the destruction of the habits and the subsequent animal population. Human population in the central Africa is quite sparse and this region has one of the largest forest cover on the continent. The forests form an important habitat of the forest elephant, the Loxodonta African cyclotis subspecies (White and Child 1988). Due to the dense forests, low human population and limited destruction of the habitats, central Africa is home to about 45% of the total African elephant population (Chris, 1999). Western Africa is one of the regions in the continent that has the highest human population. Consequently, the elephant habits have largely been interfered with, causing drastic reduction in the animal population. According to Chris (1999), elephant population in the region is restricted in the fragmented habitats raging from the savannah and the remaining forested areas. According to Chris (1999), western Africa comprises of just about 2% on the entire population of the African elephant. The countries with the highest numbers of elephants in western Africa include Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast (Chris, 1999). The eastern Africa is another important habitat for the elephant population. Geographically, the region comprises of highlands endowed with rich volcanic soils. Consequently, the dense human population engaged in crop farming in the fertile highlands has destroyed habitats for the African elephant. From early 1970, to 1980, the region experienced high level of elephant poaching and the high population decimated the elephants further (Bengis, 1996). Chris (1999) estimated that the region accounts to about 20% of the total elephant population in the continent. Tanzania is one of the few countries with high elephant population but Kenya is recording an increasing in numbers after enforcing stringent conservation measures (Bengis, 1996). In southern Africa region, the

Globalism and increased Essay Example for Free

Globalism and increased Essay With the current trends that prevails within societies, globalism and increased connectedness has brought about considerable advantages for people to move and transfer from one destination and culture to another. The patterns then of ethnoscapes transcend to create better means for analyzing the role of individuals in the socialization process. Seeing this, such dynamics then becomes crucial as it shapes the dynamics of the social realm by tapping into social networks, connections, and brings about a new definition and meaning on how people perceive reality and the physical boundaries that bind people together. Applying the principle of ‘ethnoscape’ in my artwork, it can be argued that it seeks to complement the themes provided by the term. In particular, the two females in the picture demonstrate the connections and scope of how the process can be applied in the way people view the world today and its associated realities (Nowakoski, p. 1). The two females then justify the existing perspectives of how one can now transcend over common boundaries and become vital instruments in the development of an ‘ethnoscape’. To better understand this transition, it is first important to look at the woman in the background and determine her relevance of how the term ‘ethnoscape’ is applied. Here, it can be argued that the symbolism of the woman facing backwards and in fetal position exemplifies the relative constraint felt by people to move. There are specific boundaries that bind the woman to exhibit herself and become a vibrant individual in her own right. This analogy can then be related to the trends of the past, where common ideas of nation and government are dictated by the sovereignty and geographical proximities and boundaries of a given land. Here, the meaning of location and place denotes not where the people are but rather the particular standards and norms that derive the place as is (Nowakoski, p. 1). These constraints in meaning then emanate in the woman as she herself feels enclosed with what she has. In addition, she has a fixed boundary that is mandated by the location she is in. On the other hand, the foreground picture of the naked woman demonstrates the liberation from the traditional meanings of place and territory. Here, she portrays the idea of today’s ethnoscape where one is liberal and free to choose wherever she wished to go. In a way, this creates appropriate features as it allows the formulation of what she really wants. These in turn are not limited to the idea that she can only create networks via the use and application of place but rather transcend over territories and debunking the meaning and control that place-based networks have over individuals (Nowakoski, p. 1). Overall, the artwork is a depiction of a woman’s transcendence from the common boundaries dictated by location to a more connected and opens means to create networks and affiliations. Here, the idea of ‘ethnoscape’ becomes applied as it showcases the ability of the woman to recognize her abilities and not limiting her roots to mainly the geographical and land boundaries that bind people together. Work Cited Nowakoski, Pete. Transnationalism and Globalism. 1996 accessed 9 August 2010 from, http://english. emory. edu/Bahri/transnationalism. html

Qualities of Successful Women

Qualities of Successful Women Introduction The contribution of women in the development of the countries has been significant the world over during the last hundred years. In India, women are playing a major part in the economic development during the last four decades. The Indian women have gradually entered in all the spheres and there is no sector where they are lagging behind. BFSI Banking, Financial Services and Insurance sector is no exception. BFSI embraces all type of Banking activities, Insurance, Stock Market, Mutual Funds and all kinds of Financial Institutions. An attempt is made in this paper to trace the role of women in Finance sector and their achievements in the last four decades. Objectives The primary objective of this paper is to study and consolidate the contributions of women in Financial sector and also attempt to correlate the qualities of women that have made them successful in their professional careers in Finance. The secondary objective is to detail some organizations which have realized this aspect and have given opportunities to women to advance in their careers in Finance. What is BFSI? BFSI includes Banking, Financial Services Insurance. The scope for BFSI in India is very promising as on date. According to a study, 51 percent of the Indian population do not possess bank accounts and lack access to financial facilities. There is a great potential for banks in the rural markets. Though the insurance sector achieved about 15 percent growth rate in the last year, Indias insurance accounts for just 0.6 percent of the GDP as against the world average of 2.14 percent. The main reasons for low penetration are low consumer awareness, untapped rural markets and constrained distribution channels. India ranks 136th on penetration levels and lags behind China (106), Brazil (85) and Japan (61). The U.S is ranked 9 in this regard. The scenario of insurance business in India is now changing and the insurance business is growing at an impressive rate. There are 21 Life Insurance and 19 General Insurance companies in both public and private sector put together. Microfinance institutions provide poor people with small amounts of credit at reasonable interest rates. The microfinance institutions can be financial cooperatives, rural banks and NGOs. Although credit is an important part of microfinance, it is just one of the diverse financial services that poor people need to improve their lives. Poor people also need saving services, basic insurance options and affordable remittance systems to best manage their assets and generate income. How can women contribute in Financial Sector? Women leaders in Finance have taken leadership to a new level. Not that men dont excel at being leaders. According to a survey by New Jersey based Caliper Corporation, a new paradigm is evolving and women are in the forefront of creating the same. Inclusive financial growth can be attained if the banks touch upon the bottom of the pyramid which consists of approximately 75 percent of the Indian population. We can say that India is divided into two parts one group of privileged class of people having access to the best of the financial facilities and another class of disadvantaged people unable to get the financial facilities. Women are becoming active and popular in all fields and the Indian Stock Market is no exception. The modern Indian women want to save money and are also prepared to take risks. Women at home i.e. the home makers follow the stock market with the help of internet and invest wisely. The home makers also look at the household products which are very useful and of good quality and invest in those companies. For example, when scotch brite was introduced in the market, they found out which company introduced the same and invested in that company. The product was a success and they gained from their investments. Only a very small fraction of the rural Indian population has access to the Microfinance services. Loans as little as Rs. 5000 can give poor people a chance to set up their own small business and create more jobs. A study reveals that 11 percent of the companies across sectors in India had women CEOs. 54 percent of these CEOs are from the financial services sector. Worldwide organizations encouraging women in BFSI. Women Advancing Microfinance International (WAMI) launched in 2003 is the only global network of and for the advancement of individual women in the microfinance industry. One of their core values is to advance and support womens leadership in the microfinance industry through education and training, by promoting leadership opportunities and by increasing visibility of womens participation and talent while maintaining their work life balance. In India also we have organizations to promote microfinance for women. The Indian School of Microfinance for Women headquartered in Ahmedabad was started in June 2003 to address the capacity building requirements in the microfinance sector. The School particularly focuses upon the lives of women who are the primary participants in microfinance interventions. The School does not look upon microfinance as a means of poverty alleviation but also as a means for womens leadership and the building of womens assets. Women in Banking and Finance (WIBF) is a non profit professional organization committed to empowering its members in the banking and finance industry to realize their full potential. The organization is headquartered in London and was founded in 1980 by five members viz Jane Bradford, Susan Law, Lorraine Paddison, Margery Povall and Anne Watts. The organization is run by a highly professional management team comprising of members who give their time on a voluntary basis. All members are encouraged to join the management team to develop their project management skills. Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank (MDMSB) is a unique cooperative bank run by and for women in Mhaswad, a village in Satara District of Maharashtra. This 10 year old bank has created 16720 women entrepreneurs in the region around Mhaswad. The bank enjoys an excellent repayment rate of 97.5 percent. Successful women in BFSI. One Organization in the BFSI sector in India that can boast of encouraging and able to get the services of women at all levels including the top management is undoubtedly is the ICICI group. K.V.Kamath is one of the lucky persons to be surrounded by women. He has been responsible for empowering many women in ICICI. Out of 11 top management executives reporting to the MD Chanda Kochhar, 3 are women. About 40 percent of the senior management is women and about 25 percent of the total staff is women. The current Managing Director of ICICI bank, Chanda Kochhar is known to be an assertive woman who has climbed the ladder in ICICI both the hard and smart way. She joined ICICI Bank in 1984 as a Management Trainee. She knew nothing about retail banking when she took over the retail operations in ICICI Bank in the year 1998 at the age of 36. She was ranked number 37 in the list of worlds most powerful businesswomen in the year 2006. Shikha Sharma, the current CEO of Axis Bank was the Managing Director of ICICI Prudential and played a major role in the growth of ICICI Prudential. She is an early achiever, fast learner and fiercely competitive. She was responsible for setting up the joint venture with U.K based Prudential and bringing ICICI Prudential in the Indian Insurance Map as the largest private sector insurance company in the country. The first woman to rise to a senior position at the bank was Lalita Gupte, who was hired in 1971 and retired as Joint Managing Director. She played a leading role in transforming ICICI in the 1990s, and then started the banks international business in 2001, servicing overseas Indians and expanding investments abroad. That business now accounts for 15% of ICICIs $56.3 billion in net assets. She joined Alstoms Board of Directors in 2010. She is also the non-executive chairman of ICICI Venture Funds Management Company. Madhabi Puri-Buch joined ICICI Bank Ltd in project finance department in 1989. She served as Senior General Manager of ICICI Bank since 2003. She serves as Head of Operations and Group Corporate Brand Officer of ICICI Bank Ltd. She is in charge of Retail Asset Operations and the Product and Technology Group in the Wholesale Banking Group of ICICI Bank. She has been Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of ICICI Securities since February 1, 2009. Kalpana Morparia now is the Head of India Operations of JP Morgan Chase Co. She joined the legal department of ICICI in 1975 and became a board member in 2001. She was appointed as Joint Managing Director of the bank in 2001. She played a key role in ICICI Groups capital raising exercise as well as the merger of ICICI with ICICI Bank in 2002. After 33 years of service with ICICI, she joined JP Morgan in 2008. Renuka Ramnath was the Head of one of Indias largest private equity fund ICICI Venture. She is often referred to as the mother of Indian private equity. She quit ICICI venture in 2009 to setup private funds with former executives of Indian PE industry. Ramnath has been the Managing Director CEO of ICICI Venture since 2001. During her career spanning over 20 years with the ICICI Group, Renuka has spearheaded various business initiatives. She began her career at the Merchant Banking division of ICICI and then headed the Corporate Finance and Equities businesses at ICICI Securities, an investment banking JV between ICICI and JP Morgan. Vishakha Mulye is currently the Managing Director CEO of ICICI Venture Funds Management Company Limited. Mulye was earlier the Executive Director of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited and the Group Chief Financial Officer of ICICI Bank Limited. Mulye is a Chartered Accountant and joined the ICICI group in 1993. She has worked extensively in the areas of project finance, structured finance, treasury, corporate planning and strategy, investor relations and resolution of distressed assets. She played a key role in the merger of ICICI with ICICI Bank, which led to the creation of the second largest bank in India. Between 2001 and 2005, she set up ICICI Banks structured finance business. This pioneering effort led to the development of an active securitization market in India. During this period, she was also responsible for ICICI Banks client-related treasury and markets operations, capital markets business and relationships with domestic financial institutions and multilat eral institutions. Mulye received the award for Most Powerful Women in Indian Business   2007 from Business Today. The World Economic Forum also selected her as a Young Global Leader for the year 2007. Renu Challu is the current Managing Director, State Bank of Hyderabad. Meera Sanyal is the Country Head Royal Bank of Scotland. Manisha Girotra is Managing Director and Chairperson for Swiss bank UBS in India . Renu Sud Karnad is the Managing Director of HDFC Ltd. Naina Lal Kidwai is the Group MD and Country Head of HSBC in India. Ashu Suyash is the MD and Country Head India of Fidelity International. Tarjani Vakil, former Chairperson of the Exim Bank, is one of the distinguished Indian bankers. She is the first women to head any large bank in India. In 1997, she was recognized by KPMG Worldwide Business as one of the top 50 women to prove her valor in the business. Through the recent economic meltdown and global recession, Reserve Bank of India had two women Deputy Governors Usha Torat and Shyamala Gopinath. Qualities in women that enables them to be successful in BFSI sector: Retail banking is more of relationship marketing rather than transactional marketing. Women excel at relationships. The nurturing and adjusting attitude of women flows into the workplace as well. Women are more practical and moderate risk takers. Women are good listeners and good learners. Women are more resilient and good at learning from setbacks. Women display better empathy and are able to place themselves in the shoes of the customers. Caliper Corporation, the New Jersey based Management Consulting Firm have made the following observations based on their study. Women are more persuasive Women are quick to learn from adversity Women demonstrate an inclusive, team building leadership styles of problem solving and decision making. Women are more likely to ignore rules and take risks. Suggestions for further enhancing the contribution of women in BFSI. The concept of Home Offices should be encouraged so that women may  contribute while raising families simultaneously Flexi time options should be made available to women Affluent Urban women should set up NGOs, Travel to the rural parts and  create awareness about the scope and importance of BFSI sector. Extensive training should be given to the rural women to take up careers  in finance The financial services companies should target the rural households  through the womenfolk. All women Regional Rural Banks should be encouraged. Conclusion It is observed from the secondary research that more and more women are actively participating and contributing to the BFSI sector. Since women are more empathetic, they can better understand customers. Women are more balanced and would take calculated moderate risks. It is high time our leaders realize this and leverage this to the growth of our country. Indian Banks and Financial Institutions with better gender equality on board than their western counterparts, scraped through the economic slowdown unscathed. In the last three decades, the gender equilibrium has become fairly poised.

What Is Mental Health Health And Social Care Essay

What Is Mental Health Health And Social Care Essay In view of the strict confidentiality requirements for patient records, particularly in cases involving mental health and illness, both mental health patients and the general public were assured in accordance with the nursing and midwifery council code of conduct (NMC 2008), to respect and observe mental patients rights to confidentiality. Furthermore any information obtained about them as part of this research was not shared or disclosed with/ to any third party without their ultimate permission been given (Mental health and learning disabilities 1998). WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH There have been so many attempts by writers and authors to define what mental health is? So many different definitions have been given and for the purposes of this research only two of them were mentioned. According to The World Health Organisation (2001) health is the state of being complete mentally, emotionally, socially, physically, psychologically fit and not just a mere absence of sickness. But Keyes (2002) pointed out that mental health does not refer to a single instance of an individuals state of mind, but rather, it covers a broad spectrum and describes a collective sequence of behaviour over time. It may be generally explained and the argument is that diverse bodies, environments and settings use dissimilar means of conceptualizing the term. In other words what constitutes mental health in one profession or community might not necessarily mean the same in another. It could be classified as the disturbing toughness which allows individuals to take pleasure in their existenc e and endure pain, distress and depression which can also be said to be a good signal for individual`s interests and a fundamental idea in our personal, and others (Weare 2000). In some cases stating what mental health is? can include a broad scope of capacities which emphasises our potential in growth, change and also social nature (Department of Health 1995a) There are a many of mental health situations that could result to a disability, such as nervousness, sadness, as well as schizophrenia (web 1). In a report issued by the World Health Organisation (2003) it indicated how secretive and covered the shame and favouritism associated with mental health have been and emphasised the need to uncover and bring to the public domain. The extent of agony and challenge with regards to disability and spending for people, relatives and communities are overwhelming. The world has now recognised in the last few years the huge trouble and the probable danger associated with the illness. The discovery here indicated astonishing figures all over the world on the epidemic with it seriousness been sometimes overlooked. Surprisingly more than 450 million individuals go through mental or disorders in behaviour. Almost one million individuals do kill themselves each year and due to neuropsychiatric disorders (depression, alcohol-consumption disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), four of the six leading causes of years lived with disability. Mental disorder can at least be found in every four families and relatives are normally the main care providers for persons with mental health problems. The degree of the challenge on relatives as a result of the complications to measure and as a result often uncared for. Nevertheless, the considerable effect on their relatives` quality of life has always been negative. People affected by mental illness incur both social costs and mental health costs and is victims of discrimination, human rights abuse, stigmatisation and both internal and external dejection (WHO 2003). WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS This is where the functioning of the mind becomes affected due to the series of signs and experiences of conditions, such as phobias, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, mania and substance misuse disorders (Carol and ASH 2004, health welfare 1998, Trent 1999, Tudor 1996). Due to how rampant and common mental illnesses have become in recent years, in the course of an average persons life, it is possible that they will either develop a mental health problem themselves, or have close contact with someone who does (Kitchener and Jorm 2002). In a research conducted in Scotland, it concluded that one in every four adults will experience mental health problems at some stage in their lives (Scottish Association for Mental Health (2003a). Weiss et al (2001) advocated that mental illnesses have been stigmatized in several nations and cultures. Current findings have proved the attempt in some countries to minimise the degree of stigmatisation through scientific approach and educational efforts (Rahman et al 1998). But notwithstanding these efforts, the disgrace and panic attached to mental illness remains a considerable barrier to finding assistance to identify and to treat. The association of stigmatization on mental illness has caused disparities, as oppose to other forms of illnesses, and its` further violation human rights abuse regarding people having these disorders. Even though mental health and mental illness are not the same but they are inter- related and so sometimes used interchangeably (World Health Organization 2003). Mental health is how individuals think, feel, and behave as they cope with daily life. It assists in deciding how people cope with stress, relate to others, and make choices. On the other hand, Mental illness is a collective term for a broad range of mental disorders and the mental disorders are medical conditions that disrupt how a person thinks, feels, and/ or behave, resulting in distress and/or impaired functioning (Austin 2010). CHALLENGES OF MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS WELLBEING Patients with mental disabilities have problems and the range of the challenges encountered in their everyday life are numerous and involves for example reactions to adjustments (external situations normal responses); either short or longer-term disability connected to signs of hopelessness and nervousness (and psychiatrically linked with diagnoses such as gloominess, but may be generally constructed); bipolar disorder, schizophrenia (with a obvious genetics root, more simply clear by its signs but also with important the general public meaning and penalty). There may be coexist between each other, and also with problems linked to the drinking of alcohol or drugs, and with problems ensuing from complications traits and personality types (The Royal College of General Practitioners 2007). The case study below attempted to explain Ms. Catherine who suffers from postpartum depression. CASE SENARIO Ms Catherine suffers from `postpartum depression` Brief Description Postpartum depression is a type of depression that happens to women after they give birth and they are of two different categories which are postpartum or maternity blues, a calm frame of mind problem of minimum period and postpartum chief depression, a painful and likely life damaging illness of a longer duration. The Postpartum blues affect between 50%-80% of new mothers after labour and symptoms are normally begin from 3 to 4 days after delivery, getting worse by days 5 upwards, and may be likely to leave the mother away by the 12 day. The new mother could have atmosphere swings with period of feeling weeping, irritable, interspersed and nervous or with situations of feeling well; and she may have difficulty sleeping. If the signs continue more than 2 weeks, it is essential to look for medical assistance (Moline et al 2001). On the other hand, the starting of Postpartum major depression could be at any period in the initial periods after given birth and is extreme intense than pos tpartum blues. It is the changes in the brain chemistry that causes it and lead to mood disorder; a genetic illness which does not happen by the fault of the mothers or the consequence of a weak or unsound personality. Medically there are professional treatments since it is treatable and curable. The postpartum depression has major symptoms such as dejected atmosphere throughout the day, almost every time, for not less than 2 weeks and leading to loss of activities that were interesting or enjoying before. Other signs involve tiredness, feeling fidgety or slowed losing, a common sense guilt or insignificance, complicatedness in concentration, sleeplessness, and persistent belief of death or suicide (Moline et al 2001). Detailed Analysis- Ms Catherine`s story Ms Catherine story started one day when she came home from the hospital with her beautiful baby daughter after delivery, but her world began to fall apart. She was hit by intense nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, and fainting. Breast feeding her baby became out of question. Every time she held her baby to her breast, she needed to quickly lay her back down so she could run to the bathroom. In the course of the first 3 months of her daughters life, she was hospitalized twice, removed from her children including the newly born. She was completely changed from a very strong, vibrant, healthy and physically active person to something else, unable to carry out even the simplest daily responsibilities. She became devastated and a failure as a mom and couldnt even get out of bed where she even wanted to die. During her second hospital stay, a nurse gently suggested that she might have postpartum depression but was stunned. How could the horrible gastrointestinal symptoms she was exp eriencing be caused by depression? She however understood how she could be depressed because of the sickness she was suffering from, but not the other way around. And she had never heard of `postpartum depression`. But she took the suggestion to heart and quickly sought a diagnosis information, and help. In the process started taking an antidepressant and also immediately began seeing a psychologist for therapy. Ms Catherine showed sign of recovery but has always wanted someone around her to assist her in her daily routine duties. My Encounter with Ms Catherine I found it difficult in interacting with and responding to Ms Catherine initially because little did I know about mothers suffering from postpartum depression after given birth. But later on I realised that it is a common mental illness problem that affect most women after child birth. Immediately afterwards my attitude and behaviour towards her changed and begin to interact with her freely. The instance recognition of Ms Catherine ill health changed my thoughts, attitude, belief and perception of people with mental disability and the need to assist them to cope with their everyday life. Ms Catherine behavioural practices are sometimes strange than normal with her consistence ineffectiveness couple with her cold attitude and responsiveness regarding what ought to be routinely practices. It is therefore imperative that patients with mental disability are treated and dealt with according to their specific circumstances since this helps in addressing their individual concerns effectivel y. One of the weaknesses I have was to getting closer to people who suffer from mental related illnesses but I now come to realise that my fear of not wanting to approach people with mental disability because of how they can be aggressive sometimes has changed drastically. As a consequence I have now been able to build on my strengths in terms of always given a helping hand to patients and more on to people whose mental wellbeing has been challenged. ENGAGING WITH AND ASSISTING MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS The responsibility of assisting, caring and engaging people with mental health disabilities and challenges does not rest with or depend on only one person but rather on every single individual, the society as well as organisations. As depicted in the figure 1 below, the interest and the desire to demonstrate the willingness to help manage the challenges of the mental health patients` wellbeing cat across every angle and borders. MEDIA FAMILIES INDIVIDUALS COMMUNITIES GOVERNMENTS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOUNDATIONS NGOs POLICY MAKERS PRIVATE SECTOR Figure 1: A diagrammatical representation of different identifiable individuals and groups who are to assist in mental health patients wellbeing challenges. Source: Adapted from World Health Organization 2003 But for the purposes of this study the concentration was narrowed down to the role of different health and social care professionals in mental health promotion. Their roles are numerous involving supporting them to keep on with their medication as this will guard against the harmful effects that can cause further breakdowns, try to minimise additional pressure by supporting them to amend to the effects of the illness. Also work with their relatives and the community to support the patient, support them to sort out any difficulties they may face that are causing them stress. Assisting them again to stay away from becoming annoyed or violent of them and avoid being too protective and not to treat them like children (Mental Health Training n. d). The National Mental Health Act of 1946 acknowledged psychiatric nursing as one of four core areas for the provision of psychiatric care and treatment, along with psychiatry, psychology and social work. Since Nurses played an important role in t he treatment of increasing demand for psychiatric services resulting from mental health issues in order to meet the rising demands (Bigbee and Amidi-Nouri 2000). As a mental health nurse I may see patients who are living in the society, normally in the patient`s own home or in a clinical based. As a nurse providing support to mental health patients through difficult periods of their illness is significant. I will see patients who are currently well to ensure everything is going on well with them and be the first point of contact if the patients begin to experience any unusual signs of additional ill conditions. I will also be helping patients with their medication and make sure that the patient understands what they should be taking and when, since that is very important at this stage of their lives. I will provide information to the patients immediate family on the need to understand and cope with their relatives ill condition (s) and not to neglect or reject them. I may also be in volved in cases where the patients transition from hospital back into the community is carried out (Web 2). Within the continuum of mental health interventions, prevention and promotion have become practical and proofing based, backed by a fast increasing body of knowledge from areas as divergent as developmental psychopathology, psychobiology prevention, and health promotion sciences (WHO, 2002). Rutz et al (1992) indicated how the preventive measures and promoting programmes have also been shown to result in substantial cost-effective savings to the public since that stops any occurrences of any mental illness. The mental health professionals have different identifiable roles in the promotion of quality mental health. The World health organisation declared and has set aside a day in the whole world as the world mental health day after recognising the need to promote good mental practices. WHO indicated that the process of assisting mental health patients and the general public to gain increase awareness and control over their own health and better it is essentially worth noting (WHO 1986). As shown in figure 1 above these health and social care professionals are all involve in the daily promotion and sensitization of the challenge. The practices of improving the quality standard of life and the possible good living are interlinked, rather than only an amelioration of symptoms (Secker 1998). Psychosocial issues persuade a number of health behaviours (e.g. proper diet, adequate exercise, and avoiding cigarettes, drugs, excessive alcohol and risky sexual practices) that have a wide-ranging negative effect on the domain of health (WHO 2002). The strategy to improve upon my information technology (IT) strengths will be done through the consistent usage of the IT. With particular attention given to the micro soft excel to improve on my numerical strength with the engagement of an IT professional for additional tuition. My literacy strengths will be enhanced by the regular practice of using the micro soft word with the selling options becoming the dominant material for improvement. CONCLUSION It however became evidenced that mental health illnesses pose a serious threat and damage to our daily lives. It is no doubt mental illnesses are of different kinds and levels of severity. Some of the major types discovered included depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, personality disorders, and eating disorders. But the main frequent mental illnesses are anxiety and depressive disorders and so it was not surprising when the case study above was on postpartum depression. Even though most people go through feelings of strong tension, panic, or depression sometimes, but a mental illness is observe only when these symptoms turn out to be so worrying and devastating that individuals experience immense complicatedness enjoying their normal routine activities, for example work, enjoying relaxation time, and maintaining associations. More attention needs to be devoted to the sickness since failure to over look its existence could result to a potential disaster and furt her deaths. The decision by the world health organisation to declare a day as world mental health day is important and must be observe by all but having regard to the enormous benefits it will yield to us. The cost of treating and caring for mental ill patients increases as the days goes by as oppose to the amount involve in prevent the condition from occurring. The contributions of health and social care professionals over the years have been incredible and therefore ought to continue in order to prevent, reduce and even a further eradication of the epidemic. It must however be noted that the sickness is preventable and even treatable so do not die in silence since the problem shared, is the problem solved. REFERENCES: Austin, (2010) Psychiatric and mental health nursing for Canadian practice, Medicine series; Lippincott Williams Wilkins, edition 2 revised, ISBN 0781795931, 9780781795937 Bigbee, J. L. and Amidi-Nouri, A. (2000) History and evolution of advanced nursing practice, advanced nursing practice an integrated approach (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, pp. 3-32. Brug, J., Lechner, L., De Vries, H. (1995a) Psychosocial Determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption, Appetite, Vol. 25 No.3, pp.285-96. Carol, B. and ASH, S. (2004) Tobacco and Mental Health, Scotland; available at http://www.ashscotland.org.uk/ash/files/tobacco%20and%20mental%20health.pdf Centre for Health Promotion (1997) Proceedings from the International Workshop on Mental Health Promotion; 1997 Toronto, University of Toronto. Keyes, C. L. M. (2002) From languishing to flourishing in life The mental health continuum: , Journal of Health and Social Behavior No 43. Kitchener, B. and Jorm, A. (2002) Mental Health First Aid Manual Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University. Mental Health and Learning Disabilities (1998) a guide to working with vulnerable clients, Guidelines for mental health and learning disabilities nursing, Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. Mental Health Training (n. d) A Mental Health Training Programme for Community Health Workers, Helping People with Mental Illness, University of Manchester. Ministry of Supply and Services (1988) Mental health for Canadians, Health and Welfare Canada: striking a balance. Ottawa: Canada. Moline, L. M., David, A. K., Ruth, W. R., Lori, L. A. and Lee, S. C. (2001) Postpartum Depression: A Guide for Patients and Families, A Postgraduate Medicine Special report, Expert Consensus Guideline Series. Available at http://www.psychguides.com/DinW%20postpartum.pdf. Rahman, A., Mubbashar, M., Gater, R. and Goldberg, D. (1998) Randomised Trial of Impact of School Mental Health Programme in Rural Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Lancet 352 (9133): 1022-25. Royal College of General Practitioners (2007) Care of People with Mental Health Problems, Curriculum Statement 13 Rutz W et al (1992) Cost-benefit analysis of an educational program for general practitioners given by the Swedish Committee for Prevention and Treatment of Depression; Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 85: 457-464. Scottish Executive (2004a) Health in Scotland Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/health/his03-03.asp. Secker, J. (1998) Current conceptualizations of mental health and mental health promotion Health Education Research, 13: 57-66 Trent, D. (1992) The promotion of mental health fallacies of current thinking, Promotion of mental health; 2:562. Tudor, K. (1996) paradigms and practice, Mental health promotion: London: Rout ledge. Weare, K. (2000) A whole school approach, Promoting mental, emotional and social health:. London: RoutledgeFalmer. Weiss, M. G., Jadhav, S., Raguram, S., Vounatsou, P. and Littlewood, R. 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Web3= http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/depression/mentalhealthprofessionals_000358.htm Accessed 12- 06- 2010

Grapes of Wrath - biblica comparison Essay -- essays research papers

Many novels written contain parallels to the Bible. This couldn’t be truer in the case John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck alludes to Biblical characters and events with the use of Rose of Sharon, Jim Casy, and also the Joad’s journey to California. There are other events in the book that parallel the Bible, although the portrayal of Rose of Sharon and Jim Casy are the most obvious.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The novel is broken into 3 different parts, the time spent in Oklahoma, the journey on the road, and the time spent in California. Each section is closely related to the three stages of the Biblical Exodus: the Israelites' time in bondage when God sent plagues to free them (chapters 1-11), the forty years of wandering in the desert (chapters 12-18), and the arrival in Canaan, the Promised Land (chapters 19-30). The plagues sent by God are paralleled by the drought in Oklahoma, the Egyptian oppressors by the bank officials, and the hostile Canaanites by the Californians (Monkeynotes , The Grapes...).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rose of Sharon is a character that is most directly related to the Bible. Her name in found in the Song of Solomon, â€Å"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys† (Ganticles, 7:7). Most of Rose of Sharon’s parallels to the Bible take place in the last chapter of the novel. After the birth of her stillborn baby she nourishes a starving man with her milk. This is symbol...

The Global Drinking Water Shortage Essay -- Potable Water Scarcity

" We never know the worth of water till the well is dry." -- Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia #5451 (1732) While it is the single most important substance on earth, we usually don’t think about water other than when we’re thirsty. Most homes have at least two indoor faucets. Almost every public building has water fountains conveniently placed for easy, instant refreshment. Water is simple; it’s always there. Yet despite all this convenience, simplicity, and lack of excitement, water is the most essential part of life. Water is part of every step of the life cycle, every food chain and every organism. Perhaps the effort associated with getting a drink of water is too little to bring to our realization the magnitude of water’s significance. After enough contemplation, it begins to seem too good to be true. Perhaps it is. In Ethiopia, famine due to drought claimed 1 million lives in 1984 (Thurow A8). While Ethiopia has the right temperatures for good agriculture, it lacks consistent rainfall, and crops can only be grown through the wettest season. All of this adds up to a lot of starving, thirsty people (A1). When I say â€Å"Nile†, you think â€Å"Egypt†. When I say â€Å"Ethiopia†, you think â€Å"famine.† The Nile River, which brings life into the hot dessert of Egypt, starts in Ethiopia. In fact, 85% of the water in the Nile River comes from tributaries in Ethiopia (Thurow A1). Ethiopia has a wealth of water running through it; why not use that water to grow food for one of the most impoverished parts of the world? Politics. For years, Egypt has str... ...ntal Psychology. 24 (2004): 91-103. Thurow, Roger. â€Å"Ravaged by Famine, Ethiopia Finally Gets Help From the Nile.† Wall Street Journal. 26 November 2003, eastern ed.: A1,A8. United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Water-Efficient Landscaping. Washington, D.C.: GPO, September 2002. ---. ---. National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Pollution from Agriculture. Washington, D.C.: GPO, July 2003. ---. General Accounting Office. Water quality [microform] : key EPA and state decisions limited by inconsistent and incomplete data : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives / United States General Accounting Office. Washington, D.C.: GPO, March 2000. Weiss, Rick. â€Å"Threats Posed by Water Scarcity Detailed.† The Washington Post. 5 March 2003: A3. The Global Drinking Water Shortage Essay -- Potable Water Scarcity " We never know the worth of water till the well is dry." -- Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia #5451 (1732) While it is the single most important substance on earth, we usually don’t think about water other than when we’re thirsty. Most homes have at least two indoor faucets. Almost every public building has water fountains conveniently placed for easy, instant refreshment. Water is simple; it’s always there. Yet despite all this convenience, simplicity, and lack of excitement, water is the most essential part of life. Water is part of every step of the life cycle, every food chain and every organism. Perhaps the effort associated with getting a drink of water is too little to bring to our realization the magnitude of water’s significance. After enough contemplation, it begins to seem too good to be true. Perhaps it is. In Ethiopia, famine due to drought claimed 1 million lives in 1984 (Thurow A8). While Ethiopia has the right temperatures for good agriculture, it lacks consistent rainfall, and crops can only be grown through the wettest season. All of this adds up to a lot of starving, thirsty people (A1). When I say â€Å"Nile†, you think â€Å"Egypt†. When I say â€Å"Ethiopia†, you think â€Å"famine.† The Nile River, which brings life into the hot dessert of Egypt, starts in Ethiopia. In fact, 85% of the water in the Nile River comes from tributaries in Ethiopia (Thurow A1). Ethiopia has a wealth of water running through it; why not use that water to grow food for one of the most impoverished parts of the world? Politics. For years, Egypt has str... ...ntal Psychology. 24 (2004): 91-103. Thurow, Roger. â€Å"Ravaged by Famine, Ethiopia Finally Gets Help From the Nile.† Wall Street Journal. 26 November 2003, eastern ed.: A1,A8. United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Water-Efficient Landscaping. Washington, D.C.: GPO, September 2002. ---. ---. National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Pollution from Agriculture. Washington, D.C.: GPO, July 2003. ---. General Accounting Office. Water quality [microform] : key EPA and state decisions limited by inconsistent and incomplete data : report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives / United States General Accounting Office. Washington, D.C.: GPO, March 2000. Weiss, Rick. â€Å"Threats Posed by Water Scarcity Detailed.† The Washington Post. 5 March 2003: A3.

Saving the World

Symantec, one of the world’s leading network security software company is facing many managerial obstacles In today’s global market place, where customer expectation and continuously emerging global competitors have drastically shorted the product lifecycle. Symantec is facing over 20,000 virus samples each month, not all of which are unique, stand-alone viruses. On top of that, dealing with this critical and time sensitive challenges, requires exceptional talented employee’s that is Symantec’s divers response team spread out in outsourced groups all over the world.Managers for a company such as Symantec needs to keep the professionals excited about work, even though it is a routine, standardized and chaotic environment they work within. To manage this, they need to use their technical, human and conceptual skills. Conceptual skill is the availability to visualize the organization as a whole. Symantec is spread out throughout the whole world, so the manage rs need to keep track of different time zones so that they have people working 24/7 in case unpredictable viruses would show up.Symantec, as said before, is one of the world’s leading network security company and it is hard for the managers to motivate each employee, and make them feel special. That is where the human relation skills is necessary from the managers within the company. Since new viruses are popping up randomly without preparation, the managers should let the professional employee’s try to work as self-independent as possible, so that they don’t have any guide lines to keep track of since all virus cases are different.In addition, the managers need technical skills. They need to be educated with the equipment that is being used within the company, so when distractions or problems show up, they are prepared and experienced with it, and can deal with it fast so not valuable time goes to waste. The operation manager Patrick Fitzgerald needs to play di fferent kind of management roles in different kind of cases. When Mr. Fitzgerald has weekly security briefing conference calls with coworkers around the globe, he needs to play a so called Liaison Role.This means that he will be a manager that serves as a connecting link between his coworkers and take in information he gets from coworkers on other location throughout the world. When he is assessed the feasibility of adding a new network security consulting service, He needs to be informed by the different possible outcomes, he needs to be prepared for what can go wrong. He needs to have information and be sure that it the intended effect of the new investment is profitable and not something wasteful. A management role such as leader is necessary when he needs to keep his employees focused on the company’s’ commitments to customer.The leader is responsible for deligating tasks and making sure that each task is done properly and reported to the next person in the chain o f management. The information of the Company Symantec we can find on their website, about its emphasis on customer service and innovation is that they are very determined to provide high security for the customers and their computers. They empower their employees by educating them so they can take more decisions on their own without having to go to a higher instance.Conclusion Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help the customers. It is a global company with employees outsourced all over the world which makes the manager’s work even harder. In addition to that, it is a chaotic business with issues and problems popping up such as viruses without be able to prepare for it. Their main focus is to empower their professional employees to think on their own and work independent without take the issue to higher instances.

Mr Gangsta

D1 Evaluate the team’s overall effectiveness in meeting its objectives, making recommendations for improvements In this assignment I will be talking about the overall effectiveness of my team which consists of me, Aman, Boris and Ansaar in meeting its objectives. I will be talking about what went well when constructing this team for a specific purpose and what didn’t go well. I will also be referring to Belbin’s, John Adair’s and Tuckman’s Theories.The second part of this assignment I will be giving recommendations for improvement of how team work in the future may be improved. In the P5 assignment I was given a task to produce a presentation which demonstrates team working as part of a team towards achieving specific goals. In the presentation the following points were included; the benefits of team working, theories of team working and theories of leadership. Each team member in the team was given a specific role to complete which lead to the task ultimately being completed.I was given the role to find information through research about Tuckman’s four stages of team development, Aman was allocated to a role where he had to produce slides for Belbin’s theory, Boris was given the role to produce slides about John Adair and finally Ansaar had the role to provide a few slides about the benefits of team working. This team was a temporary team as it was only formed to complete a task. Throughout the task each team member was motivated to contribute to the success of the task. Throughout the task the leadership was excellent as Boris the leader of this task allocated roles as soon as he becomes leader.Firstly we were supposed to choose the leader, Boris got the most votes for being the leader thus he had the responsibility to allocate us our roles immediately. Before producing our slides we were supposed to produce plans so that every person in the team knew what he was doing. The three steps were to; allocate roles i n the team, start slides and the leader (Boris) has to analyse the work, and finally fix the slides and check for any spelling mistakes included in those slides. After this process was over we were able to finalize the slides. During the task all 4 members of the team were able to interact with the audience very well.While presenting the presentation each team member in the team had good eye contact with the audience which suggested that we knew what we were talking about and were confident in what we were saying. We practiced this presentation several times which reflected in our manner we presented our presentation. No individual in the group red of smart board as we had memorized the sentences thus we could use gestures while presenting the presentation. Hand movements was a essential requirement while presenting the presentation as when describing something you must use your hands for the point to be delivered to the audience.This makes the audience intrigued in what you are say ing as they would want you to continue speaking. Furthermore, each member in the team was allocated with a very specific role which had to be completed before a deadline. Our team leader Borris who was a democratic leader as he encouraged each team member in the team to say what they wanted to so that those points can be brought up in the presentation. Boris gave us a specific date to complete the slides by so that any final areas can be checked for before presenting the presentation to the whole class.All 4 members in the team provided good communication skills as we were loud and clear at all occasions as the audience was able to hear what we were pointing out. Our group performed similar to the Tuckman’s 4 stages of Team development. This gave us a guideline and a way we could perform in the team. The four stages of Tuckman’s team development which are; forming, storming, norming and performing were carried out by our team as we created successful business plans whi ch led to the success of the task. Correction of spelling mistakes and grammar were made as no errors were to be found when we were conducting our presentation.Furthermore Boris had those 3 leadership skills which John Adair had during his time, those 3 leadership skills were; the achievement of goal or task, the group of people performing the task, each individual member involved in the task. Boris followed these 3 leadership skills which led to the performance of our team being very good. These 3 leadership skills rubbed off on all of the other members of the team as Boris led by example. When we were forming our teams which is the first stage of team development of Tuckman’s theory we had a slight problem.Both Ansaar and Warfa had equal rights to the team as they both participated equally. Neither one would oblige to go in another group as they had given equal contribution to the performance of the team. This is something which did not go well as no one was willing to move to some other team. Finally the problem was resolved as Warfa volunteered to make his own group consisting of himself, Aman and Boris. This situation lasted for a prolonged period of time as neither of these individuals wanted to move into a different team.There were several other problems during the P5 task for instance during the presentation my hands were in my pockets which limited my use of gestures during the presentation. Furthermore during the presentation I realised that we communicated well with each other however the slides we presented had too little information. Our overall performance was good however if there was more information on each slide then the overall performance would have improved even more. Moreover Ansaar mostly red of the slides and didn’t show much eye contact with the audience.He was a confident and loud speaker thus everyone was able to hear him however he kept reading of the smart board therefore the team’s overall performance decrease d slightly. Hands in pockets are a key sign of disrespect and shows that you cannot be bothered to present the presentation. On a few occasions I was caught with my hands in my pockets and I was unaware of that. I presented my part of slides well and presented myself well to the audience however the lack of movement of hands slightly decreased the credibility of my performance. There are several recommendations for improvement which can be applied on our team.The first being the point that I mentioned above; hands in my pockets. When I present some other type of business presentation next time I wish to use my hands more for gestures and ways which I can present my point to the class more efficiently. This will improve the credibility of my speech and will make the class more intrigued to listen to what I have to say. Furthermore I would like my team to conduct a presentation more efficiently next time. I want to conduct a presentation where every team member has memorized all the w ords on the slides so that individual doesn’t have to read of the slides.

Music Therapy for Health and Wellness

Lilia Grabenstein Professor Lambert Hartman GWRTC 103 11 October 2012 How Does Music Therapy Affect Patient’s Psychological and Physiological Well-being? Many countries that you can travel to, have their own style of music that makes up their culture, which is incorporated into their lifestyles. Music was not only created around the world for enjoyment, but has been used as a form of comfort, a stress reliever, and a healer (â€Å"What Is Music Therapy? †).According to the American Cancer Society, in their Find and Support Treatment section, music therapy was developed in during World War II where it was used in US Veteran Administration hospitals to treat soldiers from suffering from shell shock (â€Å"Music Therapy†). From a personal experience, I feel that music eases my tension, helps me focus, and relates to how I am feeling. In addition to my personal experience and connection with music, I was curious to see how music can be even more therapeutic. I am int erested about the profession of music therapy as well as the effects that it has on patients and people with disabilities.For my research, I decided to choose the question, â€Å"What effect does music therapy have on various patients’ physical and mental wellbeing? † I wanted to examine this question more intently, because I believe that music therapy can provide evidence for a new method of healing for people that suffer from illnesses including cancer, disease, and depression as well as mental disabilities like autism. As I started my research, I first wanted to find out what music therapy was and what type of audience it was aimed toward.The first resource that I found to steer me in the right direction was the Music Therapy Association website where I read, â€Å"What is Music Therapy? † This provided me with the basic definition of music therapy and how it aimed to help their patients. Music Therapy is defined as, â€Å"the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program (â€Å"What is Music Therapy? †). Here, I learned that the entire website is geared toward people who find it difficult to express themselves and feel strengthened by the music that the program is creating for them. For many years music therapy has been developing and helping to ease the pain of many patients ranging from various ages with illnesses and disorders. Specialized in this area, music therapists are â€Å"trained professionals who assess the well being of the physical health, communications, and functions of client needs† (â€Å"What Is Music Therapy? ). Some of their main goals are to â€Å"promote wellness, alleviate pain enhance memory, and promote physical rehabilitation† (â€Å"What Is Music Therapy? †). The website gives you the opportunity to sign up as a Music Th erapist, attend conferences for the program, and provides many stories and quotes about personal experiences with musical therapy. Although this website was beneficial to the start of my search, I knew I needed more to do more in depth research about my topic.I decided to expand on my previous topic so I searched the LEO Library Website on the JMU page for further research. Here, I found a book called Interactive Music Therapy, where Amelia Oldfield shares her experience from traveling to a Child Development Center where she conducted a study the developmental relationship on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their parents. Since Oldfield specializes in studying children with ASD, I knew she would provide quality information for me to include.For eighteen to twenty-six weeks Oldfield studied ten children and their parents by video analysis, semi-structured parent interviews, music therapy reports, and Parenting Stress Index questionnaires. After hours of recording data at t he end of the study, nine out of ten parents felt the sessions proved to have a positive impact after participating in the program. The children resulted in increased levels of engagement, communication levels, playfulness, and interaction with their parents.Parents PSI levels all lowered, but it was proven that two pairs of parents PSI levels decreased dramatically. The video analysis data was not as positive as the music report, which proved to be more helpful in the study (Oldfield 157-169). After reading this excerpt, I gained more insight into understanding how interactions, communication, and even relaxation levels can increase based on music therapy treatments. At this point in my study, I knew that I had made progress in researching he topic of music therapy and how it increased interaction of children with ASD. I knew that I had to dig even deeper if I wanted to support my question. Oldfield’s study seemed like children with ASD were increasing their connection with their parents. I wanted to learn even more about how music therapy could potentially improve autistic children’s learning methods. In my next source, Hayoung A. Lim shares a perspective of children with ASD in the classroom. In addition to my last research source, I decided to go to the library to further my research.I took about six books off the shelf, and one that stood out to me was Developmental Speech-Language Training Through Music for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, by Hayoung A. Lim, which provided me with another variation of a test on children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In a study Lim shares, Carla Hoskins investigated sung and spoken versions of three standardized speech tests, which included a verbal test, verbal with pictures, and a sung version with guitar. This was used to see if it would produce better short-term memory.Through multiple tests with regular verbal talk, music, and music with words, there was a significant difference in learning ex perience of the children in each group. It appeared to be evident that the tests with the verbal music with pictures improved short-term memory, increased communication, created more focus in the classroom. The results of this research was the cause of enjoyment in accordance to the method using music and pictures, which took away from the boring learning atmosphere compared to other methods (Lim 73-77).After reading this excerpt, I came to the conclusion that these tests and studies on children with ASD and delayed speech development started to clarify the first part of my question about the improvement of the psychological well-being of people. This information gave me a clearer perspective of how music and learning combined makes it more exciting, especially for children to gain knowledge about certain subjects. Besides children, I wanted to understand how music could also affect adults and teens.Another great article that I found on the LexisNexis Academic database was about how music therapy can be an â€Å"effective tool in enhancing the quality of life among cancer survivors and people suffering from chronic illnesses† (Wee). May Wong Mei-lin found the Hong Breast Cancer Foundation after she experienced breast cancer herself, where the Hong Kong Music Therapy program had professionals perform for patients. A breast cancer survivor that attended Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, Pollina Ip Lai-chun, joined a program called Melody-in-Mind after experiencing depression after chemotherapy.She stated that singing lifted her spirits and she feels that she has become â€Å"more cheerful† (Wee). In Wee’s article, she included the four types of intervention in a music therapy session: performing including singing or playing instruments, composing, improvising, and listening. In addition, Wee included some studies in her article like one that was conducted in 2009 by the University of Maryland Medical center that found that, â€Å"Alzheime r’s patients who received music therapy experienced lower levels of anxiety and depression†.She also discovered a study from Drexel University by Joke Bradt provided that, â€Å"music can reduce anxiety in cancer patients, and may also have positive effects on mood, pain, and quality of life†. Lastly, another study included from Nature Neuroscience showed that listening to preferred music could cause the brain to release a dopamine chemical that improves our moods. This information created answers to my questions and even expanded on the side effects music therapy can have on the brain. This positive feedback made my research process look even more promising.After numerous amounts of research, I kept finding articles that discussed the improvement in psychological areas, but I was very adamant about learning if music therapy truly could help the physiological state of being for patients that had were in worse conditions of illness. If I could find more informatio n about physical improvement, I could answer my initial question confidently. In some cases, I have heard that music can be a factor in curing sicknesses and diseases, so I was also curious to see if this information was factual.In my final day of research, a study that I read from the American Cancer Society called â€Å"Music Therapy†, included that in a clinical trial, musical therapy provided for cancer patients was proven to reduce symptoms like high blood pressure, heart rate, insomnia, and breathing rate. This information provides evidence that music therapy can help our physiological state. While reading this article, I found the author included that music did help short-term pain after surgeries, but a key factor that I noticed was that he stated, â€Å"there were no difference in survival rates† (â€Å"Music Therapy†).Soon after I read this, I realized that the method of musical therapy might help emotional well-being and decrease in levels like stress , but it would not actually cure a patient of a medical illness. After I searched through different data bases on the LEO Library, my eye caught various titles like â€Å"Music Therapy Cures Stroke Patients† and â€Å"Music Therapy Cures Cancer Patients†. However, the articles and excerpts I read were very short and did not have factual evidence to support the claims. With that, I have concluded that Music Therapy does not help our physiological wellbeing as much as it helps our psychological wellbeing.Although I could not find too much supporting evidence about the physical aid that music therapy provides patients besides reducing things like heart rate, the last article I stumbled upon provided a new angle of vision toward my topic. Although I found many article about curing illnesses, this story provided a unique twist to my research about the use of music therapy in a hospice setting. The article â€Å"Music Therapy Taken To Hospice Patients†, Sarah Pitts, a trained musical therapist, worked in a four-year musical therapy program at the Hospice of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa.Pitts brought instruments like drums, which helped release tension in children that had cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Pitts saw improvement in patients who had overcome strokes and had other similar impairments. She even played music for a family that requested here while the patient died peacefully. As Pitts simply played on her guitar and sang for patients, she was able help reduce anxiety in her patients and even a few patients became well enough to leave hospice (â€Å"Music Therapy Taken To Hospice Patients†).This article did provide evidence of physical improvement in relation to patients with physical impairments, however, not enough information was provided that signified dramatic physical improvement. After hours of research spent in the library and online, I found that the art of music therapy provides a healing power for people everywhere. Whether we are elderly, youth, or teenagers, we all can find a comfort while listening to music. The goal of music therapists is to provide an interactive atmosphere where patients can socialize and physically watch a performance wherever they may reside.In response to my initial research question, I have concluded that music therapy is beneficial in augmenting the intellect of children with disabilities, lowering anxiety levels, easing tension, and lowering heart rate, to name few. In addition, my research provided that music therapy alone doesn’t cure cancer and illnesses. There is a possibility that it has cured patients, but many studies that I read concluded that the music only eased short-term pain. Overall, I have found that music therapy has been proven to increase our psychological well being more than our physical wellbeing.I would have to conduct more research about music therapy and its capability of physically curing patients fully in order to answer my research question more accurately. Annotated Bibiographies Lim, Hayoung A. Lim. Developmental Speech-Language Training Through Music for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2012. 73-77. Print. This book provides copious amounts of information for parents that are curious in learning about how they can help their child become more at ease by using music therapy.In the chapter I read, there was a test that was made for children that tested the short term memory of children with ASD which improved after testing with musical therapy. This article is important because it informs us about different ways autistic children can enhance their development of intelligence with this unique approach. â€Å"Music Therapy†. Find Support and Treatment. American Cancer Society. 1 Nov. 2011. Web 10 Oct. 2012. The article from the American Cancer society website about music therapy is geared toward readers curious about alternative methods of relieving the pain o f cancer patients.It talks about the benefits of attaining an overall sense of well-being that patients receive from music therapy at the bedside in hospitals. This article is helpful in providing information about the many physical reliefs that music can help to treat various cancer patients. â€Å"Music Therapy Taken to Hospice Patients†. Hospice Management Advisor (2010): LexisNexis Academic. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. Written for readers who are interested in methods of healing during hospice, this journal article provides how a music therapist improved spirits of patients in critical conditions.This article shares how being part of interactive musical therapy can help patients in hospice to ease their anxiety and maintain their peace by listening to therapists like Sarah Pitts. This information is valuable because it promotes the development of both psychological and physiological wellbeing that can improve attitudes of people that are suffering from illness. Oldfield, Amelia. I nteractive Music Therapy: A Positive Approach. Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006. 157-169. Print. In this interactive online book, Oldfield creates her focus toward parents of children with disabilities.Specifically, in one of her studies, she observed interactions of parents and their children who took many music therapy tests and structured interviews. This chapter in the book provided that music therapy does have an impact on how children with autism interact with their surroundings, providing that they were more open to self-expression, learning, and interaction while listening to music during the tests. Wee, Margaret. â€Å"Music Therapy is Proving to be an Effective Tool in Enhancing the Quality of Life Among Cancer Survivors and People Suffering From Chronic Illnesses†.South China Morning Post (2011): LexisNexis Academic. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. This is a journalistic article that features a story written for readers who are curious about cures for breast canc er. While music therapy is not exactly a cure for breast cancer, this article provides information about how it acts as a temporary healer for patients suffering from depression and anxiety during chemotherapy. This is an important article because it provides valuable information that can help researchers gain more insight about the healing music therapy promotes. What Is Music Therapy? † Music Therapy Association. 2011. Web. 7 Oct. 2012. This website provides stories about various patient’s who experienced the healing of music therapy. The website provides an opportunity for music therapists to sign up online and join for a good cause. The website provides basic definitions and information about what the association is geared toward. From this there are many beneficial links about AMTA and how it is utilized in places like schools, nursing homes, and hospitals.